Chapter 1

"Ah... fuck... yes! Harder... Alpha! You're going to break me!"

"Shut up and take it!" My Alpha mate Eric growled. He didn't slow down; instead, he shoved her head down even harder.

It was the full moon. I stood pale-faced outside the master bedroom, watching through the crack in the door as my Alpha mate, Eric, gripped the waist of the woman beneath him.

I knew her. Victoria.

She was a high-born Beta's daughter, and the Luna candidate Eric's mother wanted.

"Alpha... aren't I better than that fragile human?" Victoria cooed. "Can she even handle you?"

Eric roared low in his throat. "Shut up! Don't talk about her!"

His breathing was heavy, and his movements sounded even more violent than before.

"Remember your place, Victoria. If she weren't so weak—if my power wouldn't kill her—I wouldn't even look at you."

I clutched the stalk of Moonlight Herb tightly, unaware that my fingernails were digging into my palm, drawing blood.

Eric was an Alpha, and I was human.

Every full moon, his wolf went into a frenzy. He needed to mate to relieve the pain.

But as a human, I couldn't withstand the feral power of an Alpha.

I remembered two years ago, when Eric first brought me back to the pack.

Everyone objected. Especially his mother, Megan.

She despised me. "A human who can't take your Alpha power or even give you an heir? How can she be Luna? Eric, you're gambling with the future of the entire pack!"

She sent Victoria to Eric's bed, claiming a high-blooded she-wolf would breed the strongest heirs.

Eric pushed Victoria away without hesitation and shielded me. "I love her. She isn't a breeding tool. Even if I never have pups, even if I suffer every full moon, I will never touch another she-wolf."

I was so moved back then. I swore to love this man who fought the world for me.

For two years, I begged the Forest Witch until she finally relented.

I traded ten years of my life for this Moonlight Herb. It could soothe an Alpha's full moon frenzy.

But I didn't need to give it to him anymore.

Eric had a better antidote.

Suddenly, Victoria met my gaze through the crack in the door.

The lust in her eyes vanished, replaced by a malicious, triumphant smirk. She didn't panic. Instead, she wrapped her legs tighter around Eric’s waist and arched her chest.

Her moans grew louder. "Ah... Alpha... It's been two years. Have you thought about it? Why not dump that useless human and make me your Luna?"

"In your dreams," Eric said. His body was burning hot, but his voice was ice cold.

Victoria let out a scornful, satisfied laugh.

"Really? Your body says otherwise. Admit it, Alpha. I'm the only one who can satisfy you."

"I said, shut up."

Eric's voice held none of the gentleness he showed me. As he reached his climax, his voice was raspy.

"You know the rules. If she finds out, I will rip your throat out myself. Finish and get out. Don't be here when she gets back."

I clenched my fists. It had been two years.

Every full moon, he sent me to the villa at the foot of the mountain.

He always told me gently, "I'm afraid I'll lose control and hurt you. I don't want you to see me like a monster."

I believed him.

I used to watch the veins popping on his forehead when he sent me away, thinking he was in agony all night. I couldn't sleep from the worry.

It was all in my head.

He wasn't suffering. He just sent me away so I wouldn't interrupt him mating with other she-wolves.

I couldn't listen anymore. I turned and went back to the villa.

Since Eric had a better antidote, I’d let him have it.

I threw the Moonlight Herb into the trash can, pulled my spare phone from under the bed.

I called my best friend and one of the world's top mercenaries, Alex.

Two years ago, when I decided to follow Eric to the pack, Alex warned me that a human and a werewolf would never have a happy ending.

I didn't listen. I thought true love conquered all.

The call connected instantly.

"Alex, help me fake my death."

He was silent for a few seconds, asking no questions. "Okay. I'll pick you up in two days."