I Was the Starter Mate

"Zara, the silver poisoning in your body has already spread to your organs. If you don't do the purification, you've got less than a month. Are you sure you're refusing treatment?"

"I'm sure."

I stepped out of the healing lodge. A sharp burn ripped through my chest.

I'd thought it was an old battle wound flaring up. Didn't realize it was silver poison—crafted to wipe out wolves like us.

I made it back to the house, barely steady on my feet.

My eyes landed on the old photo frame on the table.

In it, Eric was still a teenage wolf, staring at me like I was his whole damn world.

Even now, I remember that day.

Up in the frozen north, two rogue pups curled together just to survive the cold.

He shoved the last piece of venison into my hands and grinned. "Zara, when I'm Alpha, you'll never go hungry again. I'll make sure you've always got meat."

I teased him. "What if I get fat?"

He ruffled my hair, smiling like it was obvious. "Even if you turn into a pig, I'd still want you. You'll always be my Mate."

That promise used to make me dizzy.

We grew up as rogues, claimed each other as mates on the northern ice fields.

To help him build a pack, I forced myself to get stronger.

We fought for scraps beside corpses. Ripped out rival wolves' throats without blinking.

I stood by him while he built Moonveil from nothing—until it became the territory we rule now.

Later, he put the crown on my head—his Luna. The whole pack looked up to me.

I liked human fashion. Every new luxury drop showed up at our door the second it launched.

I loved to roam. He'd ditch pack business just to run wild with me.

Every anniversary, he went all out.

Even after I lost the pup... after they took my womb and I could never carry again—

He claimed it was his fault. Told the Elder Council he didn't want heirs. Said just the two of us was enough.

The pack swore their Alpha worshiped his Luna.

Then year five of our bond hit.

He brought a rogue named Velda into our territory.

Set her up right next to what used to be our home—and built hers.

The Alpha who used to come home every night?

He stopped coming home at all.

As my body changed, he softened with her and went cold with me.

Every time he looked at me, his eyes dragged over my figure like it offended him.

"Zara, Velda just reminds me of who you used to be. Don't overthink it."

I stopped thinking and rubbed the fang pendant in my palm.

After we killed the rogue who used to bully us, he polished this fang himself. Said it was ours.

Last week was our mate-bond anniversary.

Same day I got ambushed by a vampire.

I called him. Told him I'd been poisoned.

He sounded annoyed. Said I needed to quit pulling tricks like that. Said he'd come back.

I dragged my injured body into the kitchen and made his favorite meal. Waited.

Eric didn't walk in until two in the morning.

I asked why.

"Velda's scared of the dark. What's so special about this stupid day?"

We fought. Hard.

And that's when he finished it.

"Zara, this pack needs a strong heir to take my place. You can't give me one."

Right then, I knew.

Whatever we had?

It was dead.