Chapter 1

The firelight in the elder council hall threw the wolf-head totem on the high walls into stark, snarling relief.

I huddled in the corner, my thin coat the only shield against the first bite of winter.

"On the night of the full moon, three days from now, I will hold a coronation ceremony for Ella."

Kayden sat on the throne at the center of the hall, announcing his decision to the pack.

The room erupted at once.

The elders on both sides of the long table glanced at one another.

Some sighed. Some shook their heads. And some let their eyes drift straight to me in the corner.

"A wolf-less one—how could she ever be worthy of an Alpha…"

"She can't even shift. Our Luna is a waste."

No matter how low they kept their voices, a werewolf's ears catch everything.

I sank my head lower.

A wolf-less one doesn't deserve the Frostmoon Pack. I'd heard it for years. I should've been used to it by now.

That topic closed.

Next came border defense—the Alpha and the elders.

As someone with no place in it, I was supposed to leave with the others.

Then the doors swung open from outside, and Beta Lydia walked in.

Snow still clinging to her from patrol, she headed straight for Kayden.

"Alpha, the night patrols are arranged."

Her voice rang bright and clear, pride and intimacy written all over her face.

Kayden turned to her, and the coldness in his expression melted away.

He shifted, gesturing to the empty seat beside the throne.

"Sit. You've worked hard."

Lydia settled in next to him, her shoulder nearly brushing his.

A draft cut in through the window crack, and I couldn't help but hunch my shoulders again.

Kayden pulled off his black coat and draped it over Lydia's shoulders without a second thought.

"It's cold at night. Don't catch a chill."

Lydia gathered the coat tight and gave him a sweet smile.

The two of them sat side by side—one the powerful, commanding Alpha, the other the battle-hardened elite Beta.

Anyone could see it. They were the perfect match.

And me? His true fated mate—standing in a dark corner, shivering like an outsider.

A bitter, choking ache rose in my throat.

I reached for the mind link I hadn't used in so long, and in the end, I couldn't stop myself from sending him one question:

[Kayden, if this is about defense, why do you have to sit so close to Lydia? Why did you have to give her your coat?]

"Ella!"

The second the message landed, Kayden's furious voice exploded through the hall.

He whipped his head around, his sharp gaze cutting into me.

"Lydia is one of our finest Betas. We're discussing real business! And you—you choose this moment to be jealous? To question something so trivial?"

"A Luna can't be this small-minded. If you're going to chase shadows and doubt everything, how can you carry the pack's responsibilities?"

"These past six months, I thought you'd finally grown into a proper Luna. That's why I decided to crown you. But why—why would you choose this critical moment to fall apart?"

The hall went dead silent. Every eye snapped to me.

Lydia nestled into Kayden's coat, the corners of her mouth curling into a smug little smile.

I clenched my fists, cold shooting up from my feet straight into my chest.

Kayden, I only wanted a little respect as your mate. Is that so wrong?

I looked up again. Kayden had already turned away, back to discussing tomorrow's hunt with Lydia, that smile still on his face.

Something inside me shattered completely.

I wiped the tears from the corners of my eyes. I couldn't stand another second in that suffocating hall. I forced myself to turn and walk out.

I waited outside until the meeting ended, but Kayden never came out. So I went back to our cabin alone.

The room was empty. Not a trace of warmth.

I lay down slowly, staring at the empty half of the bed beside me, tears sliding down in silence.

These six months, I'd thought if I were obedient enough—if I learned the rules, the etiquette, how to be a proper Luna—one day Kayden would truly accept me.

But seeing his coat on Lydia's shoulders, hearing the merciless words he threw at me in front of everyone, the last bit of hope I'd held for him died.

Today he'd announced the coronation.

But three days from now, did he really mean to acknowledge me?

And if he'd decided I wasn't enough—then why go through the motions at all?

A thousand thoughts surged and scattered just as fast.

The place in my chest that once beat for Kayden was frozen ground now.

Maybe this time, Kayden really did mean to accept me.

But an Alpha's mind is too complicated. I was done guessing.

I made up my mind. Whatever happened on coronation night, I was leaving him for good.