Chapter 1

My fated mate, Alpha Cayden, rejected me at my own Luna ceremony.

"Lilith is pregnant with my heir," Cayden announced from the stage, his eyes locked on me. "She will be the new Luna of the Silver Moon Pack. The mother of my pup. As for Becca, she has failed to give this pack an heir. For this failure, I, Alpha Cayden, hereby reject her. However, the pack will still grant her the rank of Beta…"

He spoke of the position as if it were a great mercy.

My world shattered. The searing pain of our broken bond ripped through me.

Slowly, I lifted my head and met their gaze on the stage.

The golden aura that always surrounded Cayden fractured, replaced by a jarring, ugly gray.

The color of deceit. A color I’d never seen on him before.

Lilith was caressing her flat stomach, a triumphant smirk on her face.

Whispers grew louder in the grand hall.

They were waiting for a show. Waiting to see the Alpha’s rejected mate make a fool of herself.

But there were no tears. No screams. No hysterics.

I just wanted to escape.

I held Cayden’s gaze for a long moment, then turned and walked out of the hall, hundreds of pairs of eyes burning into my back.

Every step felt like walking on broken glass.

Back at our home—no, his home—I began to pack. Clothes, makeup, a few books. My movements were numb, mechanical.

My hand hovered over an exquisite magic music box on my vanity.

It was the last thing my mother left me. The only thing, she’d told me, that could soothe my gift when the world was full of lies.

Yes, I have a gift. I can sense lies.

It was a curse that made being around anyone unbearable. Until Cayden.

His aura was pure gold—a sign he would never lie to me.

I endured the pain of my gift to help him, using it to see through any deception, winning countless negotiations and expanding our territory.

And now, he had lied too.

"Becca."

I flinched. He was here. He should have been with his new Luna.

"I know this is hard for you, but—"

"Get out," I said. My voice was terrifyingly calm.

"Let me explain. You know I love you. I’ve always loved you. But Lilith is carrying my child. I have to do right by her."

Every word was coated in a magically enhanced, false sincerity that buzzed like static in my head.

I turned to face him, staring directly into his eyes. "You know I can sense lies."

"I'm not lying," Cayden said, stepping closer, trying to take my hand. "I do love you. That part is true."

And it was.

Beneath all the lies, his love for me was real.

And that made everything so much worse.

"If you love me, why did you betray me? Why did you sleep with her? Why did you get her pregnant?"

“You used the power of Alpha to hide all this. I didn't even notice it and had no idea how many times you had slept together!”

A flash of pain crossed his face, quickly replaced by resolve. "It wasn't a betrayal,It's a helpless choice!" he said, the gray in his aura deepening. We have never completed the Luna ceremony. And the Elders... they would only accept you as Luna after you bore an heir."

"The Elders?" My eyes turned red. "Eight years. Our fated bond. You're throwing it all away because of what the Elders said?"

"Becca, please." He reached for me. "Stay. Even if I can't make you my Luna, you can still be my lover. We can be just like we were before..."

I took a step back. "Like before? And watch you raise your pups with her? Watch you have a family?"

Just then, the door creaked open.

Lilith walked in, her face a mask of concern.

But I could feel the victory and malice radiating from her.

"Cayden, I heard you two fighting." Her voice was soft and helpless. "I don't want to come between you. Maybe I should just leave—"

"No." Cayden turned to her instantly, his tone firm. "You're not going anywhere. You're carrying my child."

Lilith looked at him, "moved," then turned to me. "Becca, I know you hate me. But I never meant to take him from you. It was all just… an accident."

More lies.

More static.

It was obvious. She’d planned this from the day she got close to me. Planned to steal my mate.

But what truly made me sick was when she tucked her hair behind her ear, revealing the mark on her neck.

It was identical to the one on Cayden’s neck.

A unique mark of a soul-bound contract. A mark only true mates could share.

The magical pulse from the mark sent a spike of pain through my head.

Lilith saw my shocked expression and her lips curved into a slight smile.

"This mark," she purred, stroking it lightly. "It just appeared. The Moon Goddess herself has blessed our union."

The gray aura around her flared.

My wolf couldn't take it anymore and snarled at her.

"Shut up! Stop talking!"

The next second, she screamed and threw herself backward toward the vanity.

"Cayden, help me!"