Chapter 1

Everyone in South Dania was convinced that my coming-of-age would also be my engagement ceremony with Daniel, the crown prince.

Under the moonlight, he laid the Moon Tiara on my head—the symbol of our alliance and betrothal.

The guests were cheering thunderously as they offered their blessing, already seeing visions of the future where the Alpha King and Luna Queen ruled over them.

Only I was aware of the coolness of the tiara as it pressed against my skin, and it had nothing to do with blood.

After all, the golden spark of the mate bond no longer flared between us.

And he never Marked me.

“Susan."

He held my hand, his voice booming in the air. "After my coronation, we shall hold the grandest Marking ceremony in my kingdom, with the Moon Goddess witnessing our eternal mate bond."

That was when Blake, his Beta, arrived and used an ancient wavelength to communicate without words.

"Anna has been waiting for a while. She's getting anxious."

Daniel was just passing me a glass of moonshine, and the air around flickered with adoration and impatience.

He replied to Blake in the same way. "She always knows when I need to unwind. Watch out—don't let Susan notice."

They were convinced they wouldn't get caught, unaware that my wolf soul was special—it heard everything.

Anna.

Relax.

These were simple words that were also icy needles that pierced the balloon of affectionate fantasy he had conjured around me.

As it turned out, Daniel kept delaying our Marking and insisted it would be 'soon' to appease another she-wolf.

My fingers clenched around my glass, but I didn't feel the pain of betrayal, only the cool fury that was spreading throughout my bloodstream.

We weren't bonded as mates, so he could do whatever he liked.

That was when Daniel pressed toward me, his gaze concerned as he breathed into my ear, "What's wrong? Is the hall getting too noisy for you?"

"No." I put down my glass as I avoided his touch. "Just a little cabin fever. I'd like some fresh air."

Even as I turned, I could hear the other nobles nodding and clamoring in approval.

"Susan is the best—she already carries the splendor of a Luna Queen."

"Daniel keeps hovering around her. That's how much he cares about her."

Hovering around me?

Cares about me?

I could laugh right then.

Nonetheless, I strode out to the balcony, letting the evening breeze cool my boiling blood.

It could well be a stroke of luck that I wasn't bound by a Mark—when I left, I wouldn't feel the agony of my own soul being ripped asunder.

If anything, the one who would be hurting wouldn't be me.

I quietly tapped into my mind link with Lulu, my bestie from my old pack.

"Everything's read. In three days, during the new moon, I will wipe out all traces of me and my connections to this place."

"Understood. But be careful—Daniel has been increasing patrols to the east, allegedly to fend off skirmishes by rogues."

"Don't worry about it."

I pulled out of the mind link, snorting.

The only reason Daniel would enforce security to the east was nothing more than a cover story for his trysts.

"Three more days…" I breathed silently to thin air, reinforcing my resolve to end this once and for all.

That was when I heard soft footsteps that stopped at the doorway.

"What are you doing here, spacing out all by yourself?" Daniel asked, his tone mild as ever.

Walking up to my side, he kept a polite distance as 'engaged couples' would.

He clearly heard my whisper but was trying to appear unconcerned.

I turned slightly, smiling faintly, shyly and hopefully as the future queen would. "Just thinking about the prayer to the Moon Goddess in three days."

That was the truth.

New moons were the moment when the Moon Goddess' power would wane, and it would be most suited for a grand farewell and a quiet escape.

Daniel chuckled in turn, turning away and looking up to the distant skies. "The Moon Goddess will protect you, Susan."

He sounded confident as if the Moon Goddess promised as much, never understanding that I was praying for a safe departure from this place.

"It's getting cold out here. Let's get inside," he said, the perfect gentleman as always.

I nodded, following him inside the dazzling banquet hall, filled with endless deception and anticipation.

The shadows behind us made it look like we were together, when there was actually an insurmountable distance between us.

Just like how our Mark would never be complete.