Chapter 1

At the bedroom door, the sound of moans seeped through the thick wood.

A shiver ran down my spine, and my whole body started trembling.

It turned out I was nothing but a useless Luna. A tool good enough to manage the pack, but never strong enough to seize power.

I shoved the door, desperate to force my way in.

It didn't budge, for the door was locked.

The suggestive sounds inside the room stopped immediately.

I frantically twisted the handle. Silence pressed against my ears.

Ten minutes later, Xavier Callahan finally opened the door. Warm steam clung to him as if he had just come out of the shower.

He tried to look calm, but the panic in his eyes hadn't completely faded.

"Zoey, weren't you supposed to be at the pack office? What are you doing back so soon?"

My hand shook as I pointed at the hickey on his neck. "Explain yourself."

His expression froze, but he quickly recovered.

Then, he pulled me into his arms.

"Weren't you the one who left these last night?" he said casually.

His matter-of-fact tone made me want to laugh. "Really? Because I clearly heard—"

He gently brushed my hair. "Zoey, I was just taking a shower. Losing your wolf has affected you more than you realize. You must've have misheard. It's just your imagination."

Was it just my imagination? Was the unfamiliar scent of another she-wolf in the bedroom just my imagination, too?

Seeing that I wasn't convinced, Xavier suddenly grabbed my hand and guided it downward.

"Why don't you check for yourself?" he whispered. "See if I've cheated."

Something warm brushed against my palm. My stomach churned.

I wanted to tear him apart, but ever since I lost my wolf, my fighting skills were worse than even the lowest-ranked Omega.

I couldn't do it.

Plus, most of the pack now listens to his command. I wasn't strong enough to oppose him now.

I lowered my eyes and pretended to give in. "It's fine. I trust you."

He carried me to the couch before heading into the kitchen to make dinner.

I felt strangely dazed as I watched his tall figure from behind.

Everyone said that as an Alpha, he had already done more than enough for a Luna who had been stripped of her wolf.

The elders urged him to choose a new Luna as soon as possible.

Betas and Gammas even sent him she-wolves. Even the former Luna had advised him to think of the pack's heirs.

Xavier refused them all.

"No matter what happens to her, Zoey Jamison will be my only Luna!" he swore before the pack.

Back then, I was moved—and overcome with guilt.

But I finally learned that love could be faked.

Just then, my fingers brushed against a whip.

It had a snakeskin tassel at the end, and along the handle was a line of tiny letters engraved into the leather. "Punish me, Master."

I barely had time to study it before Xavier rushed out of the kitchen and snatched it from my hand.

"I saw this at a shop and thought we could try it together," he said quickly. "If you don't like it, I'll throw it away."

He sounded sincere.

If I hadn't witnessed everything today, I might've believed him.

Lowering my gaze, I calmly wiped the sticky residue from my fingertips and murmured a soft response.

At dinner, Xavier was even more attentive than usual.

He placed a roasted deer heart in front of me. "The pack hunted a deer today. I saved your favorite part."

The sight of the red-white flesh made me gag. I loved deer heart, but I had never eaten it cooked.

He didn't remember that. Maybe he had someone else's preferences memorized instead.

A shrill ringtone suddenly cut through the room.

Xavier glanced at his phone and hurried toward the door. "Something urgent came up in the pack. Go ahead and eat."

By the time I looked up, he had already left the villa.

His voice drifted faintly from outside.

"Couldn't wait, huh? I'll be right there."

The front door slammed shut, and silence fell over the room.

I drew a deep breath and pulled out my phone. "Dad, I want to dissolve my mate bond with Xavier."