Chapter 1

Camille's POV

"Camille, I've got a surprise for you tonight."

Lucian kissed my forehead this morning before leaving.

"Wait for me at home. Be a good girl. I want your blood-orange venison for dinner."

Today was our fifth anniversary—and my birthday.

Knowing the pack had been secretly prepping for a massive celebration the past two days, I couldn't help but smile. I really thought this cold-hearted alpha had finally learned how to love his mate.

Night fell. I was still in the kitchen finishing dinner when the bells at the square started tolling like thunder.

I was caught off guard. Why didn't anyone tell me? I didn't even stop to take off my apron before I ran toward the square.

I pushed through the crowd, then froze.

Lucian was standing right in the middle of the altar. He was holding the hand of our son, Rowan, while his other arm was wrapped around a shewolf's waist.

Lara was wearing the moon-white gown that only a luna is allowed to wear. The necklace around her neck caught the moonlight.

That was my mother's last possession.

Rowan stood on his tiptoes to hand her a moonstone charm, nuzzling her hand.

"Lara, will you be my new mommy?"

Lara picked him up with a bright smile. "Oh, I'd love to, baby."

Rowan turned and yelled to Lucian, "Daddy, kiss my new mommy!"

And Lucian actually did it. Right there, in front of the whole tribe, he leaned down and gave her a deep, passionate kiss.

"From this day on," Lucian's voice carried his wolf spirit's aura to every corner of the square, "Lara is the only luna of the Aurora Shadows."

Applause hit me like a wave, drowning me in the freezing air.

I slowly turned around, crumpled my stupid apron into a ball, and walked back to the house.

The venison was still warm on the table. The candles on the blueberry cake were waiting to be lit.

Because of one thing Lucian said this morning, I'd spent all day working in the kitchen like a cheap servant.

I looked down at my hands. They were still stained with sauce I hadn't had time to wash off.

It was so ridiculous I felt sick.

For five years, I stayed with Lucian like some lowly breeder, only to be thrown away.

The kid I gave everything to raise was calling someone else "mommy."

In this house, I was the outsider. It was time to leave.

I don't know how much time passed, but eventually, I heard the door.

Lucian walked in with Rowan. His pheromones flooded the room—sharp and overbearing.

He saw me sitting in the dark and hesitated.

"You're still up?"

"Lucian, we need to talk."

Lucian looked at Rowan.

"Go upstairs, buddy."

Rowan yawned and headed up, but he stopped when he got to me.

"Mommy, happy birthday." He looked up at me.

"I... I didn't forget. It's just that Lara only has six months left to live. I want to be her son for a little while to make her happy. You aren't mad, right?"

I forced a smile and rubbed his head.

"Of course not, sweetie. You can pick whoever you want to be your mother, even if she doesn't belong in that spot."

Lucian frowned. "Camille, you know that's not what he meant."

"Daddy is the only one who gets me! Mommy, I hate you!"

Rowan gave me a resentful look and ran upstairs crying.

I slid the mating-severance papers over to Lucian.

"We're done. Let Lara be your mate while she's still alive."

Lucian's face went hard.

"What are you acting out for now? I only did that to make her happy. Are you really going to be this petty?"

"Lucian, look at her. She's wearing my moon soul stone."

That stone held my mother's scent. It was the only thing I had left of her.

"It's not some expensive diamond. I just let her borrow it. She'll give it back in a few days."

I stood up, glaring at him.

"My mother's things are not toys."

"She only has six months to live! Even Rowan is being mature about this. Why can't you just deal with her being around?"

"Haven't I dealt with enough? She's taking my mate and my son!"

That was the first time in five years I'd snapped at him. Lucian's voice went cold.

"Camille, I thought we had an agreement about Lara."

I just laughed.

"She wanted to travel, so you took her around the world, hitting every spot we ever went to. She said her biggest regret was not having a ceremony in front of the Moon Goddess... so you threw her the biggest wedding in New York."

"That ceremony was supposed to be mine! I spent six months planning it, and you gave it to her three days before it was supposed to happen."

"Lucian, you've never once claimed me in front of the Moon Goddess. Never. For five years, the pack hasn't even looked at me like a luna, because they know your wolf belongs to someone else."

"I'm the only one who's been playing dumb."

Lucian's eyes were like ice.

"Shut up. Don't push me."

I knew this arranged mating was just a business deal for the pack.

But I didn't care back then. My wolf fell for Lucian the second she saw him.

I put myself through three years of brutal luna training. I thought if I was perfect, he'd eventually love me.

Then Lara showed up, and I realized he could be obsessed with a woman—it just wasn't me.

"You want to leave? Fine. But Rowan stays here."

"Fine with me. After tonight at the square, I'm not his mother anymore anyway."