Chapter 1

The truth was suddenly and mercilessly laid bare, and I stood there frozen in place.

For an entire month, I had lived in fear. I even injured my organs protecting Ronan Thornwood during a chaotic fight. Even now, I hadn't fully recovered.

It wasn't until just now that I learned he had Asher Crowe put on this whole act with him just to drive me out of the pack.

I couldn't believe Ronan would go that far just to drive me out. Did he really despise me that much? But I'd known him since we were pups!

I was born with the mark of the Moon Goddess, symbolizing my identity as the Luna. The former Alpha, Lucian Thornwood, took me in and raised me alongside his heir, Ronan. We lived and ate together, all under one roof.

Since I was young, I knew I was the Luna chosen by the Moon Goddess and that I'd become Ronan's mate once I turned 18 years old.

But it never occurred to me that being with me made Ronan feel trapped instead of happy.

In the healing center room, Asher kept pressing him.

"Freya turns 18 years old next month. Aren't you worried that once she's at the Onyx Wolf pack, she'll take a liking to someone else and choose another mate?"

Ronan let out a chuckle. "That's impossible. She loves me so much that she can't even bring herself to look at another wolf. Not to mention, she bears the mark that says she belongs to me, so she can only ever be my fated mate in this life. Besides me, who else would ever dare to want her?"

His voice took on that final note of pride unique to an Alpha.

The laughter that erupted in the room hit me like a slap in the face.

My face burned with searing pain. I wanted to leave, but my feet felt like they were made of lead—I couldn't move a single step.

"I bet even if Freya found out you already gave the Luna Ring to Willow, she wouldn't even be mad. That's how devoted she is to you."

"It's just a ring. Since Willow likes it so much, what's the big deal about letting her wear it for a few days?"

Ronan's dismissive laugh was like a knife to my heart.

In that moment, I finally realized that Ronan didn't love me. Instead, he was merely passively accepting me as his Luna and hoping I would never discover the truth.

A dense, stabbing pain bloomed in my chest, and tears slid down my face uncontrollably.

The second I learned the truth, whatever I'd felt for Ronan died once and for all.

Since he wanted so badly to be rid of me, then I'd grant him his wish.

After wiping the tears from my face, I turned and headed toward the main stronghold at the heart of the pack, where Lucian lived.

The great hall was thick with the mingled scents of cedar and smoke from the fire beacon.

The elderly Lucian sat at the long table, looking at me with kind eyes. "Freya, why do you look so unwell? Has that punk Ronan upset you again?"

Ever since I was little, Lucian had doted on me because I bore the Moon Goddess mark. In fact, all these years, he had practically raised me as the future Luna.

I lowered my eyes and said softly, "Lucian, I want to go to the Moon Goddess' Sacred Ground in three days."

The air suddenly went still, and Lucian's gaze darkened sharply. "Freya, you should know what it means once the Sacred Ground is opened."

Among the werewolves, only those truly chosen by the Moon Goddess would receive the summons. To set foot on the Sacred Ground was to renounce one's former life of one's own free will.

If I entered the Sacred Ground, it would mean giving up the bond of becoming Ronan's mate.

A sharp pang shot through my chest, yet all I did was nod softly. "I know."

Lucian was silent for a long time before letting out a low sigh.

"Freya, you've always been more sensible than others your age. If anything, your thoughtfulness is sometimes heartbreaking."

He turned and walked toward the altar to retrieve a silver crescent token from beneath the statue of the Moon Goddess. It was a pass that only those acknowledged by the Sacred Ground had the right to hold.

Lucian placed the token in my palm and said hoarsely, "Since the Moon Goddess has summoned you, then you must go. It's just… if Ronan ever finds out, I'm worried he'll go mad."

I quietly accepted the token. Before leaving, I said to Lucian earnestly, "Ronan isn't going to go mad just because I'm gone."

Because this was what he wanted. My leaving simply made things easier for him and Willow Langston, and I had no doubt he'd be absolutely delighted.