Chapter 1

Sophia

"Pack members, I, Marcus Foster of the Nightfall Pack, am officially declaring that my destined mate Lila is now part of our pack. I trust you'll all show the same level of respect to both Lila and Luna Sophia going forward."

A brief hush fell over the room before it exploded with excited applause.

"Congratulations, Alpha Marcus! May the Nightfall Pack thrive forever!"

"Congratulations!"

I gazed emptily at the pair nestled together in the middle of the hall, a dull numbness spreading through me as I heard the pack members offering their sincere well-wishes.

My thoughts were utterly blank, and right then, I couldn't muster a single protest.

My husband Marcus had just revealed to the entire pack, on the day marking our third year of marriage, that he'd discovered his true mate.

The issue was, this true mate turned out to be someone else entirely.

Worse still, rather than reacting with surprise to this announcement, they embraced it immediately and offered their approval without hesitation.

Rage and shame flooded me in an overwhelming rush as my wolf Luna snarled fiercely within my mind.

"Sophia... what in the world is happening?!" she barked, her fur bristling with anger, obviously primed to shred this intruder's neck.

"Luna, settle down," I urged, striving to soothe her and rein in my own fury while stopping her from triggering a transformation in her wild outburst.

Being the Luna of the Nightfall Pack and the Alpha's daughter from the Ironclad Pack, I couldn't risk losing my cool in front of everyone, particularly during such a significant event...

"Screw holding back, Sophia, what's the matter with you? I couldn't care less about opinions—I want to shred them both! Those arrogant jerks, just see how they're acting!" Luna fumed, nearly frothing in her refusal to relax.

"How dare he betray us like this?! We've been wed for three years, and I've handled his responsibilities flawlessly while never forgetting my role as Luna..."

All I could manage was a pretense of calm. I was boiling inside from this shocking betrayal.

"Don't sit there like a pushover, Sophia! March over and demand to know what game he's playing! Do it now!" Luna thundered angrily in my thoughts.

My limbs felt unresponsive as I compelled my stiff fingers to gather my skirt with as much poise as possible and approached Marcus.

It demanded every bit of my remaining strength to hold back the furious, heartbroken tears on the verge of spilling.

The numerous stares following my path served as a stark prompt of my obligations as their Luna, aiding me in upholding my poise as I advanced with feigned assurance.

I succeeded in restraining Luna during my walk, though I'm certain her wrath shone vividly in my gaze for anyone paying close attention.

Upon reaching him, I bent slightly, forcing a strained grin as I murmured to him, aiming to keep our words private from the gathered pack.

"Marcus, what on earth are you thinking? Do you really intend to humiliate me like this on our anniversary? Couldn't this have been postponed?"

"Sophia, I apologize. I do love you, but Lila... she's my destined mate, you see... I can't turn my back on her..." Marcus replied feebly, his face etched with obvious guilt as he met my eyes.

Yet he lacked the courtesy to release that woman; he clung to her firmly, showing no sign of loosening his grip.

He was simply a vile, unfaithful liar. I couldn't find any kind words for the female beside him, who smirked triumphantly at me from her seat, devoid of any regret.

This had long loomed as our greatest challenge.

Marcus and I had fallen for each other at only 16, vowing eternal commitment. We'd prayed fervently that the Moon Goddess would pair us as mates upon turning 18 and gaining our wolf forms, but to our heartbreak, it never came to pass.

Even in those days, Marcus had declared ardently: "Sophia, you're the one I love. Though we're not destined mates, the pack would never welcome another; you're the sole choice they'd approve as Luna! No one else, I promise!"

The guy who'd resolutely selected me and pledged everything now faced me, embracing a different woman securely.

Amid my fury, recollections from recent years raced through my head as I confronted them, shaking with contained rage and vision hazy from held-back tears.

I gripped my skirt firmly, attempting to divert from the agony of my shattering heart and refusing to succumb to sorrow by allowing those betraying drops to escape.

I refused to grant them that victory.

"Sophia, darling, you're aware of what a destined mate signifies for an Alpha. Lila's just a unfortunate soul whose pack faced a recent disaster; I can't abandon her. Rejecting her would leave her homeless." Marcus begged without remorse.

Noticing my prolonged silence, he still reached out, grasping my hand as always, while gazing at Lila with open sympathy and warmth.

"Naturally, I understand the meaning of a destined mate! But heed this warning, Marcus: don't forget who your Luna truly is!" I snapped in a hushed, fierce whisper audible only to us three, as I flung off his touch and locked eyes with him defiantly.

"Sophia, my dear, it's beyond my control—you get how the connection works, all those moments we longed for it to be genuine so we'd experience that unbreakable attraction... from the instant I first saw Lila, my wolf's been frantic, content only with her near. You're well aware that a real Mate boosts an Alpha's power.

Sophia, I beg your pardon; I truly can't dismiss her..." Marcus implored, at last releasing the girl to attempt hugging me, murmuring in my ear, "Lila's kind-hearted; she could assist with pack duties."

I glanced at Lila, with her wide eyes and delicate build.

She gazed at me timidly, clutching Marcus's attire firmly, embodying the vulnerable image he urged me to accept.

I let out a cold snort directed at both of them, and Lila appeared jolted by it before hastily grabbing a glass of red wine from the table beside her and offering it to me with care.

"Esteemed Luna, I implore you to let me remain here. I have no desire to spoil your celebration, I assure you! Marcus rescued me purely from compassion, and I never meant to create any discord between the two of you!" Lila's lovely features were etched with worry, her large, teary eyes gazing up at me in supplication.

"Would you like to hear my opinion?" I remarked, staring down at her with clear disdain.

Lila looked stunned and remained frozen with the wine glass in hand, unsure of her next move. Marcus moved in front defensively, positioning her safely behind him as he addressed me.

"Sophia, you have to relax."

"You're the one who needs to relax!" I snapped in rage, "You're not satisfied with the mate you chose, so now you're introducing another woman into our lives? Destiny aside, Marcus, you gave your word..."

My heated exchange with Marcus was evidently causing Lila to freak out, as the young woman abruptly dropped to her knees in front of me, raising the glass of red wine while tears streamed down her face, pleading, "I'm begging you—if I can just have a roof over my head, I won't meddle in any matters, Luna! I'll handle the washing, prepare meals for you, and manage your everyday needs! Please, just permit me to stay!"

"Oh, this unfortunate girl seems so heartbreaking." A stifled voice emerged from amid the gathered pack members, soon echoed by another.

"She is, after all, Alpha Marcus's true mate; she belongs here. Luna Sophia shouldn't treat her so severely..."

The whispers that drifted to me pierced my heart like sharp blades. I glanced toward Marcus, only to find him regarding Lila with warmth and affection in his gaze. I shut my eyes, abruptly consumed by bewilderment. This romance that had flourished over six years, starting back in high school, now felt like a cruel farce.

"Screw these bastards!" Luna snarled deliberately, battling for dominance and yearning to charge forward to rip the pair before us to pieces.

However, I wouldn't allow it.

"It's not the moment for rage just yet. For the time being, I'm still this Pack's Luna." I responded evenly, compelling her to quiet down.

"I completely disagree. You ought to handle this immediately, and in front of everyone!" Luna shot back moodily as she retreated deeper into my consciousness.

"Once the feast concludes, we'll deal with them appropriately. I refuse to handle it amid all these witnesses, Luna."

I drew in a steady breath and seized the wine glass from Lila, downing its contents in a single swallow. Then I extended my hand, clamping firmly onto her arm and yanking her to her feet, making her rise. With a scornful smirk, I shoved her in Marcus's direction.

"Marcus, my respect and affection for you stop right now. You've selected your path, and I'll choose mine. When the banquet wraps up, we'll resolve this once and for all." I declared icily.

Marcus parted his lips as if to add more, but I had no interest in hearing it. Instead, I took my place in the chair reserved for the Luna, patiently awaiting Luna's reemergence after she'd stepped away to compose herself.

"Luna, the moment has come," I urged gently as I neared the forest's boundary. It was our cherished haven for unwinding during tense times, where we'd passed endless hours dashing and wandering through the cool shadows of the lofty trees.

Yet something odd was unfolding.

No matter how often I summoned her, she failed to materialize.

For the first time since we'd connected at age 18, there was absolute silence from her.

This left me profoundly disturbed, and I was on the verge of utilizing the pack's mental connection to consult the Pack's personal physician about the issue when abruptly, it felt like my heart exploded, excruciating pain surging outward through my arms and legs, my form twisting in torment before I collapsed onto the earth.

What in the world was going on with me?

"Esteemed Luna, how did you find the wine from before?" A taunting tone rang out from above.

I writhed on the dirt, my limbs ignoring my commands to shift as I strained to raise my head, yet all that met my eyes was the lone silhouette of a small-framed woman.

"Damn it, Lila!"