Chapter 3

Christine POV

I take a deep breath, forcing down the ache in my chest, and turn to look out the tall windows of the pack office, trying to calm my nerve. 

I suddenly remember how this pack office was once just a small building in the past. Back then, I gave up my position in my father’s pack, betraying alliances and facing exile threats, all to help Harlan rebuild after the rogue attacks weakened his pack. Now, he controls the entire territory as the supreme alpha.

I remember that moonlit night we first claimed this space. “Let’s make this the heart of the pack,” I’d said, my voice full of hope. “I’ll always be by your side to lead my love.” I’d told him and he never said otherwise.

In excitement of how I succeeded in helping him grow this pack, I’d rush into his arms. My wolf was thrilled at the contact, but he pushed me away gently and coldly. “I don’t like being touched like that.”

I’d smiled anyway, ignoring the hurt, and hugged him tighter and he didn’t attempt to push me away this time.

I’d vowed to the moon goddess I’d help him become the strongest alpha in the clans. And I’m glad I made it possible. I hadn’t let him down. And today, I’m leaving it all behind.

I have so many things scattered around the office. Files on alliances, maps of territories I’ve helped secure. Packing takes forever because every item pulls at my wolf’s instincts, reminding me of the blood and sweat I’ve poured into this place. And it hurts. It hurts that I’m finally going to leave.

Even though the office is his domain, it’s my creation too. strategies for battles won, messes cleaned up after his impulsive decisions that almost destroyed this pack some moons ago. 

Pack members watch me from their desks, exchanging glances, but no one says a word. They’ve heard about the canceled mating ceremony, the humiliation under the full moon’s gaze and I see their gazes are filled with questions but they didn’t ask. 

Harlan is the supreme alpha, no one gossips unless they want to face him.

Just as I zip up the last bag, my phone buzzes on the desk. It’s from one of the pack maids from Harlan’s mother’s pack.  

“Hello? Is this Miss Christine?” the voice asks.

“Yes,” I reply, my hand tightening on the phone in curiosity.

“Alpha Harlan’s phone isn’t going through. His mother suddenly fell ill, she’s been rushed to the pack clinic. Can you come? She keeps asking for you.”

My stomach twists. Harlan’s mother, Elder Lila, the ex Luna, is sick. “Okay, I’ll be right there.” 

I grab my keys and head out.

When I arrive at the clinic, I find Elder Lila sitting up in bed, nibbling on a piece of fresh venison the pack doctor brought for her. Her gray hair is tied back, and her eyes are filled with excitement when she sees me.

“Christine, what in the moon goddess’s name is going on with you and Harlan? A mating ceremony is sacred, how could you be so foolish? Canceling it on the day of the ritual? That will bind you too. The clans will hear, and it’ll shame us all!”

I feel speechless and seeing her strong enough to scold me eases the knot in my chest a bit. It’s probably just a flare-up from the stress of the news, her BP acting up. “Mother, please don’t get worked up.”

“How can I not?” She knits her brows. “You can’t bring shame to this pack child.” She adds.

I inhale deeply, keeping my voice steady as I explain, “While we were on the stage, about to seal the bond, Rebecca jumped from the rooftop.”

“What?” Elder Lila’s face pales, her hand flying to her chest in panic. “Is Becca alright? Where is she? I hope she is not hurt?”

“She’s fine. Harlan already took her to the doctor.” I say nonchalantly.

Elder Lila pats her chest, exhaling in relief. “Moon goddess, that scared me. Good she’s okay.” She says. 

“And the mating ceremony…. You need to fix this, Christine. Don’t make trouble for Harlan, he’s got enough on his plate as supreme alpha.”

The words hurt. Does she not feel any conscience that her son had abandoned me on the stage to be with his ex? Does it sound like a joke? Why am I looking like I’m the one who has committed a greater offence because I cancelled the mating ceremony?

All my stay there, I say nothing and allowed rant until she finally fell asleep.

Soon, one of her personal maids approached. “My Luna, sorry to drag you here. I’ll take over you and handle your things.”

I glance at Elder Lila’s sleeping peaceful face. I didn’t like the way she spoke to me earlier and my era of enduring her harsh words are over. I turn to the maid.

“From now on, don’t call me about her. I…”

But the maid cuts in quickly, her eyes apologetic. “Please don’t be mad. Don’t take what she said to heart. She’s just… like that. You know she’s getting old and it’s affecting her sometimes.” She pauses and continues. She cares about Rebecca because Rebecca grew up around her, so she favors her a bit, but she really does care for you too…”

A bitter smile tugs at my lips. Even the maid sees it. Elder Lila has always preferred Rebecca, the childhood friend to her son, over me, the outsider beta’s daughter. 

I smile again and take a step forward.

“I’m not angry with her. But I’ve ended things with Harlan. From now on, his matters aren’t my business. If something happens with Elder Lila, call him and not me.”

I turn to leave, and there they are, Harlan and Rebecca, standing just down the hall. Harlan’s piercing eyes lock onto mine. He’s dressed casually with a jeans trouser and a polo. 

His face is as flawless as ever, strong jaw, slicked-back hair with those loose strands framing his sharp features. No matter how many times I see him, my wolf stirs, drawn to his alpha presence.

Of course. If not for that pull, I wouldn’t have fallen so deep.

“Why aren’t you handling the pack rumors about the canceled ceremony?” Harlan says, his brows knitting slightly in fury, voice emotionless. “The other alphas are already sending messages to me.” 

Sourness swells in my chest, he truly doesn’t care about me. He just wants someone to fix his problems, to keep the pack stable while he chases his instincts, his ex lover.

And I’d been fool enough to mistake that for a bond. I thought being the supreme Luna was everything even though his heart may belong to another. But i thought wrong.

We’ve had good moments. Moments I shared with him and cherished even though he didn’t feel that way, the way I did. They kept me holding on, believing his wolf would claim mine fully one day. Just one day. That day came but never lasted. Everything is shattered now.

Just then, Rebecca reached me, having all teary look.

“Christine.., I’m so sorry for ruining your mating ceremony with Harlan,” Rebecca says, her voice dripping with fake sincerity, no real remorse in her eyes, I can see it. Her pale face tilted up. “I apologize.” She says, putting both hands together in apology.

“You don’t need to do all this,” Harlan says, his expression unchanging.

A smug smile that only I could see curves on Rebecca’s lips as she glances at me, her fingers tracing his arm possessively.

These games, she’s played them before and always, playing weak to pull him to her.

“I need to go back to the office and finish packing,” I say, my voice cold as I step forward, excusing myself.

As I brush past Harlan, his hand shoots out, catching my wrist in a firm grip. 

“I have something to—”

Before he finishes, Rebecca sways dramatically, collapsing as if feeling dizzy  but he is quick to catch her instantly, his arm wrapping around her waist,

. “What’s wrong?”

“I… I’m dizzy. The injuries from the jump… I need healing soon… I think I’m running out of blood.” Her voice is weak. It looks so real.

Rebecca has that rare lunar blood type, tied to the moon cycles, hard to match for werewolf healing. It makes her wounds slow to mend without a transfusion from someone compatible.

And me? As a beta’s daughter with ancient lineage, I have the same rare type as her. Back when I was naive, the first time she had blood shortages, I donated to her. Volunteered my vein without question.

After that, it was to please him after all, to show my loyalty as his future Luna and that’s why I donated to his ex mate when he told me to.

I’d been so stupid, always donating to her and healing the drain on my wolf each moon.

Harlan turns to me, his grip on her steady. “Christine, prepare yourself. You’ll donate blood for Rebecca soon. She’s short on blood again.

I almost chuckle out  a laugh, at his already existed audacity. Was that all I was? A walking blood source for his precious ex?

“I won’t,” I reply, my voice firm,  looking right at him, 

That calm aura rolls off him immediately as he takes a step, standing each from me, his dark eyes piercing through me as he speaks emotionally. 

“Rebecca’s condition is critical and you know it. Without the blood now, she could die, her wolf won’t heal from the fall.”

“Then let her die.”