Chapter 1- The Anniversary Betrayal

I spent all day setting the table, lighting candles, and cooking his favorite meal. Ten years of marriage. Five losses. I still believed we had a future.

I still believed I was his Luna.

So when he walked in holding another woman—and a baby—I thought I was hallucinating.

“Happy anniversary, my Luna,” Andre said, as if nothing was wrong.

I dropped the wine glass. Red wine exploded across the white marble like blood. My heart froze.

“What is this, Andre?” My voice cracked, eyes locked on the woman cradling the infant.

The woman stepped forward with a smile. “I'm Tasha, Andre's true mate. And this is Dylan—his son and heir.”

“True mate?” The words hit like a punch to the stomach. “Andre, what is she talking about?”

Andre loosened his tie and poured himself a drink. “Lara, meet the mother of my heir—the baby you could never give me as Luna.”

“I lost five babies because of you!” I screamed, my voice breaking with ten years of pain. “You know why I couldn’t carry them!”

“You failed five times,” Andre said coldly, not even looking at me. “Tasha gave me a strong son on the first try—like a real Luna should.”

Tasha laughed and bounced the baby proudly. “I already moved my things into the Luna suite upstairs, by the way."

You’re kicking me out of our bedroom?” I stumbled back, hitting the wall behind me.

“You can stay in the guest room,” Andre replied, sipping his whiskey. “Help take care of Dylan. You always cried about wanting babies.”

“You want me to be your nanny?” Anger surged through me like wildfire.

“I want peace in this pack house,” Andre snapped, his Alpha voice making the windows tremble. “No more drama from you.”

Tasha touched the Luna necklace around her neck—my mother’s necklace. “Some women are born to be Luna. Others are just born to serve.”

“That’s my mother’s necklace!” I lunged forward to rip the family heirloom from her throat.

Andre caught my wrist and squeezed until I cried out. “Everything here belongs to me—including you and your jewelry.”

“Let go of me right now!” I struggled against his grip.

“She’s attacking me!” Tasha screamed, stumbling backward with the baby. “Help me,

Andre! She wants to hurt Dylan!”

She faked a fall—and nearly dropped the baby.

Without thinking, I dove forward and caught him just before he hit the marble floor. Pain exploded through my knees and shoulder as I shielded him.

“YOU CRAZY WITCH!” Andre roared, Alpha power crackling in the air. “WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY SON?”

“I saved him!” I gasped, still holding the crying infant. “She dropped him—I caught him!”

“She pushed me!” Tasha wailed, fake tears streaming down her cheeks. “She’s jealous of our bond!”

Andre snatched Dylan from my arms and examined him like a prize. “Call the pack doctor!

Now! Emergency!”

An omega rushed to Tasha's side while I stayed collapsed on the cold, bloody floor. 

“You jealous, broken Luna!” Andre growled, looming over me. “You tried to hurt my son because you’re bitter!”

“I would never hurt a baby!” I pushed myself up on shaky legs. “I protected him!”

“Like you protected the five you lost?” His words stabbed deeper than any knife.

“You killed those babies!” I screamed. “You hurt me every time I was pregnant. You destroyed them all!”

His hand crashed across my face. My lip split. Blood filled my mouth—metallic, bitter, and familiar.

“How dare you blame me for your weak body?” Andre’s eyes glowed with Alpha rage.

“I gave you everything,” I whispered, spitting blood on the marble floor. “And you destroyed it.”

“You gave me nothing but disappointment,” he hissed.

Tasha cackled from the couch, stroking Dylan. “Look at her. Bleeding and pathetic.”

No one helped me. No one moved.

“Clean yourself up,” Andre said, adjusting his shirt. “Then apologize to Tasha for acting crazy.”

I wiped my mouth with trembling fingers. “I’m sorry, Tasha.”

Andre smirked, thinking he’d broken me again.

“I’m sorry you’re about to learn what kind of Alpha you mated with,” I added, my voice rising.

His face twitched.

“I’m sorry you’ll find out Andre destroys everything he claims to love.”

“Get out before I call the guards!” he shouted, his voice cracking with rage.

I limped to the door, leaving bloody footprints behind—ten years of abuse staining the floor forever.

“She’ll come crawling back,” Andre muttered. “She always begs.”

I paused at the door, then turned to face him one last time.

“You’re right, Andre. I always came back before,” I said softly. “But tonight, you made your biggest mistake ever.”

He scoffed and pulled Tasha close. “What mistake?”

“You showed me I was never the monster in this mating.”

I walked into the night—alone, bleeding, but finally free.

At the gate, footsteps echoed behind me on marble.

My nightmare wasn’t over yet.