Chapter 1

Valerie’s POV

Rowena and I wanted to keep a low profile—no flaunting our status, no drama. That plan? Ruined.

So much for a peaceful afternoon.

As the former Luna who once ruled this entire pack with an iron fist, Rowena didn't even blink.

"Who do you think you are, barking at us?" Rowena’s voice was lethal. "Only an Alpha's mate blessed by the Moon Goddess gets to be called Luna. What the hell are you?"

The woman looked ready to explode, but Rowena didn't even give her the time of day. She turned to me.

"Valerie, let's just soak. She's not worth ruining our mood. When we get back, I’ll go with you to ask Caleb what the hell he’s thinking."

That struck a nerve. Being ignored? She couldn’t handle it. Her face turned beet red, and she sneered.

"Fine. You like the water so much? Stay in it. Don't come out."

She pulled out her phone and made a call.

A bulky guy came running over like a lapdog. "Tessa, what's wrong? Want me to clear the place?"

She pointed right at us, smiling like a total brainless villain. "Bruno, teach these two bitches a lesson. Show them what happens when you cross the future Luna!"

He got the hint immediately. "Don't worry. I know exactly how to make wolves behave in the water."

Bruno jumped right in. Before we could react, he shoved a silver-tipped pole against Rowena's shoulder. He pinned her underwater.

The silver sizzled. It burned right through her skin.

Rowena's wolf spirit was damaged years ago. She had zero defenses against silver.

The shock was instant. Her damaged lungs collapsed.

She started choking on the water. Terrifying, wet wheezes ripped from her throat as she thrashed for the surface.

I panicked and lunged at Bruno, but he was faster. Suddenly I was shoved under too, choking on pool water and pure fear.

My wolf eyes flashed gold. I grabbed his arm and bit down hard. My fangs ripped a chunk of his flesh.

He screamed in pain and let go.

I yanked Rowena out of the water. Her face was turning purple. Her eyes rolled to the back of her head, her chest heaving as she gasped for air. She was suffocating.

This woman was a legend. She was the badass former Luna who built the Silvercrest pack's golden age from scratch. Wolves used to bow when she walked into a room.

And now? She was being tortured like trash in her own pack's healing pool.

I roared at him, "You almost killed the former Luna! Are you crazy? The Council of Elders will execute you!"

Tessa just laughed like a maniac. "What former Luna? Don't try to scare me with those outdated titles! My mate is the king of this territory. His word is life or death. The Council? Please. Like you'll ever see them."

This was just one of the territories Rowena let Caleb manage.

And Tessa? She was dumb enough to act like she was the queen of the whole pack.

My stomach churned. Did Caleb really have a mistress?

I rubbed Rowena's back, trying to calm her down, and stared dead into Tessa's eyes. "Your Alpha—is his name Caleb Sterling?"

She tilted her chin up, looking so smug. "Exactly. Good to know you realize who you're messing with. Now, bare your necks and apologize. Lick this pool clean, and maybe I'll let you go. Otherwise—when he gets here, you're dead meat."

My chest went numb.

Caleb—the mate who swore to the Moon Goddess he'd love me forever—did he really do this?