Chapter 2

Norris gestured for the butler to escort Liam away, and the lively full moon ceremony came to an early end.

The pack members dispersed in small groups, but before leaving, they didn't forget to throw me gloating looks.

Norris walked up to me, placed a hand on my shoulder, and leaned close to my ear.

"A son is never as thoughtful as a daughter. Why don't we have another pup?"

His eyes were full of desire, and he made no effort to hide what he wanted.

He knew exactly what I had meant earlier, but he didn't care.

In his eyes, what could a shewolf who couldn't even summon her wolf spirit possibly do?

He probably never truly believed I would leave.

After all, he was the mighty Alpha, the revered leader of Keplin Pack.

I was merely a shewolf the pack had taken in, a shewolf who had only been given the title of Luna because of him.

As long as he was still willing to reach out his hand, I should be grateful and stay by his side.

I backed away and put some distance between us. My voice grew cold and distant. "Your beloved Evelyn is coming back soon. Since you're looking forward to seeing her so much, go to her."

Back then, Garcia Pack and Keplin Pack had arranged a political marriage. Evelyn had said she wanted to pursue her freedom.

So she secretly followed an expeditionary force to the battlefield, directly violating the agreement between the two packs.

Enraged, Norris completed a marking ceremony with me on the night of the full moon.

That was how I was forced to become Norris' mate in name and return with him to Keplin Pack.

Later, I unexpectedly became with pup and was forced to give birth to Liam.

His birth gave the two packs, which had been on the verge of breaking apart, a reason to remain connected and ultimately stabilized their relationship.

I thought they would treat me better because of that, but looking back now, I had merely fulfilled the purpose they needed me for.

Once Liam was born, the last bit of my value had been used up.

Norris' hand remained suspended in midair. Seeing how quickly I was trying to distance myself from him, he didn't get angry.

"Are you seriously getting upset over something a pup said when he doesn't even know better? You know that the role of his mother and the position of Luna both belong to you."

I snorted. "Then what do you think the daughter you have with Evelyn should call Liam?"

He froze.

I didn't want to stay there any longer. I only said one thing. "Do you really have nothing to do with the way Liam turned out?"

I turned to leave, but Norris' mocking laugh came from behind me.

"What? You can't summon your own wolf spirit, your own son despises you, and now you want to blame me, his father?

"You should be grateful he's still young and doesn't have the authority to drive you out of the pack.

"A loser is a loser. Are you going to stop me from speaking the truth?"

Before my pack fell apart, I had possessed a wolf of my own.

After the war, I lost my family and everyone I loved. Evelyn's mother, Mariah Garcia, took me in, and I became a member of Garcia Pack.

When we were young, Evelyn was always crying and throwing tantrums. She was always demanding to know why I was trying to steal her parents from her.

She even turned the other pack members against me, saying I was an unwanted orphan with nowhere to go.

After that, I could no longer summon the wolf inside me.

Back then, Norris would find me whenever they locked me away and sternly warn them, "Christiana is one of your pack members. You're not allowed to bully her."

He had been like a ray of light in my dark world.

I thought he loved me.

In the end, it had only been my own illusion.

I lowered my head, and my voice filled with self-mockery. "We never formed a mate bond. All these years, you haven't even marked me. In a way, you still don't have a real mate."

Norris froze for a moment before laughing dismissively. "You're only saying that because you're afraid your position as Luna isn't secure without a mate bond. So you're worried you can't compete with Evelyn after all."

No one knew that even though we already had a pup together, we had never formed a mate bond or even registered our marriage. It didn't matter anyway.

We were going to separate in the end. There was no point in registering it.

My clenched fist slowly relaxed, and I turned to leave.

From behind me, I heard him ask, "Are you really in such a hurry? Fine. When I have time, I'll take you to Moon Goddess."

The sound of the door closing was my only response.

Not long afterward, someone knocked on my door.