Chapter 2

In my dreams, I was back to when Jaxon and I first became mates.

At an Alliance banquet, he fought the Council hard for our pack's rights. Many she-wolves swooned over him. Me included.

In that moment, my wolf knew he was our one and only mate.

I fought tooth and nail to join his pack, to prove I was a warrior worthy of standing by his side.

Later, after winning a mine merger, I asked him out to dinner. I noticed a shift in his eyes. He looked at me differently.

I seized the chance and pursued him hard.

Our wolves confirmed their feelings during our moonlight walks. Finally, I got my wish. He marked me and made me his mate.

I thought it was the start of our happily ever after, but it was just the beginning of my nightmare.

After the mark, he grew colder. Every time we had a date, he was either busy with pack duties or dealing with "emergencies."

I never doubted him, until the day of our mating ceremony.

Hattie blew up my phone with cocky texts, bragging about how Jaxon was always there to clean up her messes.

I knew Hattie was his late Beta's younger sister. I told myself he would never cross that line.

But every time he ditched me over one phone call from her, my heart couldn't help but ache.

The sad part was, I didn't even have the guts to confront him. I was terrified he'd leave.

In my past life, when Hattie died, he was so calm I actually thought I had won his heart.

For the sake of me and the pup, he scoured werewolf auction houses across the continent for rare herbs, just to stabilize my wolf spirit and keep me safe.

The sudden flood of affection went straight to my head. I completely lost my ability to think straight.

It wasn't until I held our dying pup and felt his dagger in my own heart that I finally understood. The more he loved me, the more he wanted that baby, the more his morals tore him apart when he decided I was a murderer.

In the end, all that was left was his revenge.

I used to despair, thinking Hattie was the only one he truly cared about.

When I woke up, I was already in the Pack Medical Center. But the face beside my bed wasn't Jaxon's. It was a stranger's.

"Luna, you're awake? I'm Liam, a newbie on the Alliance rescue squad. I heard there was a crash. I drove by and saw you lying in a pool of blood all alone, so I brought you here to the Alliance Medical Center. How are you feeling?"

I struggled to move my stiff limbs. But the moment my hands brushed my stomach, I froze.

"I'm sorry. The doctor said the pup was already gone when you got here..."

I forced a bitter smile. "It's not your fault. I know. Thank you for bringing me to the hospital."

Even a stranger from another pack could tell something was terribly wrong with me at a glance. Yet my Alpha mate of five years just thought I was putting on a show.

Even after all the times he had caressed my belly, eagerly dreaming about our pup's arrival.

Seeing me so down, Liam was more furious than I was.

"What the hell is wrong with that patrol? They just left you there?!"

"If I hadn't driven by, you'd be dead! Where is your mate? Which pack are you from? I'll call them for you."

"I already reported that patrol. They seriously violated Alliance laws!"

I nodded. "My mate," my voice came out as a raspy, broken whisper, "is dead to me."

Pity washed over his face. He offered to look after me until I was discharged.

I turned down his kindness. After settling the medical bills, I convinced him to leave.

After he left, I checked my phone. The topic "Silver Moon Alpha's Mate Causes Car Crash" was already trending hard on PackLink.

Out of good intentions, Liam had posted the picture of me lying in a pool of blood in the comments. It sparked an instant internet storm. Everyone was trashing the patrol for only caring about the wreckage and completely ignoring a pregnant woman and an Alpha bloodline.

People were saying they should be disbanded for being unworthy to be pack protectors.

I scrolled through the comments, feeling like internet backlash was way too light of a punishment for Jaxon.

I pulled up Jaxon's contact, ready to text him about rejecting the mate bond.

But Hattie's gloating texts popped up first. Turns out, she was admitted to the same medical center, just one floor down.

In the photo, Jaxon was hand-feeding her nutrient broth, carefully blowing on every spoonful so she wouldn't burn herself.

Seeing the stern yet indulging care in his eyes, I felt absolutely nothing.

I silently closed the chat and called Jaxon. On the fifth try, he finally picked up. His voice was heavy with extreme exhaustion and rage.

"Are you finally done with this ridiculous stunt?" Jaxon's tone was ice-cold. "Anya, do you have any idea that you almost killed her?! All because of your jealousy!"

"If you're calling to see if Hattie is dead, you're out of luck. She's perfectly fine. What's the deal with that photo online? Take it down right now. Stop this ridiculous game, Anya. Think about your health, about our pup! Get down here and apologize to Hattie right now, and I might forgive you."

Before I could even speak, I heard Hattie's pitiful sobbing in the background.

"Jaxon, don't blame Luna. It's all my fault. As long as she doesn't hurt your pup anymore, I'll pack up and leave the territory..."

Jaxon sighed heavily, sounding utterly disappointed. "You're just too kind. That's why she walks all over you. What right does she have to hurt you?"

"Listen to me, Anya. I'll give you half an hour. If you don't come down and admit you're wrong, I'm rejecting the mate bond!"

Just when they both thought I'd cave and beg like I always did, I answered calmly, "Fine," I said, my voice perfectly calm. "Let's reject the bond. I accept."