Chapter 1

"Like it?"

Silas’s voice was a low rumble in my ear. He was still hard inside me.

I leaned against his broad chest, feeling his heart hammer against his ribs. The air was thick with our mingled scents—sweat and sex. Dangerous. Addictive.

"I do," I answered honestly.

My body would always betray me for him. It was the curse of being his fated mate.

Not even now. Not even when I knew what was coming next.

Silas chuckled, satisfied. His fingers traced the scars crisscrossing my back. Trophies from battles I’d fought and won for him. Each one was a testament to my worth as the pack's deadliest warrior.

"This is the last time, Ember."

There it was.

My body went rigid, but I didn't push him away.

"In seven days, on the full moon, I’m holding a mating ceremony with Ravenna, the Alpha’s daughter from the Sunfire Pack," Silas said, his voice flat. "When that happens, our fated mate bond will just… sever."

I closed my eyes, forcing my breathing to stay even.

Fated mates were supposed to be forever. The Moon Goddess herself had bound our souls. A sacred promise that he was about to break.

"Ember?" Silas sensed my silence. "What's the hesitation?"

I opened my eyes and met his deep, dark gaze.

"Nothing, Alpha. Congratulations on finding a suitable mate."

Silas raised an eyebrow, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.

"You need to understand. You were nothing more than a tool to keep my wolf in check," he said, sitting up and pulling on his clothes. "You did a good job this past year. I'll see you're well-compensated. Gold, jewels… whatever you want."

A tool.

The word shot through my heart like a silver bullet.

"Thank you for your generosity, Alpha," I said with a smile. "I wish you both a long life and many strong pups."

Thunder cracked outside, and lightning tore across the sky.

A blinding white flash filled the room.

I started shaking, unable to stop myself.

"Ember." Silas's voice turned soft. He pulled me back into his arms. "You're still scared of bright lights?"

His hand gently stroked my hair, the same way he used to comfort me when I was a frightened pup.

"Weakness is a death sentence for a Beta," I mumbled, biting my lip.

"But you're my Beta." He leaned down and kissed my forehead. "One last time. Let me comfort you one last time."

Tears streamed silently down my face as I nodded into his chest. His powerful Alpha scent wrapped around me, chasing away the terrible memories for a moment. This was the power of the mate bond. The warmth I was about to lose.

A phone rang, shattering the quiet.

Silas answered, his voice instantly filled with concern. "Ravenna? What's wrong?"

"I twisted my ankle, it hurts so much…" a delicate voice cried from the other end. "Silas, I need to see you."

I almost scoffed. A sprained ankle? An Alpha-blooded she-wolf would heal from that in minutes. Pathetic.

But Silas was already on his feet.

"Go to her," I said softly. "Your future Luna needs you."

Silas glanced at me, a complex look in his eyes.

"Get some rest," he said, then left.

The room was empty, except for me and the storm.

I pulled the blankets around myself, letting the memories wash over me.

Ten years ago, the explosion of silver bombs ripped the night apart. A blinding white light swallowed everything. My pack fell, screaming.

That night, the Silver Moon pack was wiped out.

I lay in the rubble, my eyes nearly blind, listening to the dying howls of my family.

It was Silas who found me. Just a fourteen-year-old boy Alpha then.

He brought me to the Black Moon pack and gave me a new name.

First, I was his servant. Then, his weapon. Finally, the pack’s deadliest Beta.

When I turned eighteen and our mate bond snapped into place, I thought I’d finally found my happiness.

But Silas said I could only be his secret lover.

"The pack needs an alliance to be strong," he’d said. "Once I am the Alpha King, I will claim you publicly."

I believed him.

I waited for three years.

And now he was telling me it was all just for convenience.

I pulled the mysterious letter from my nightstand.

Two days ago, a mysterious letter arrived. It spoke of another survivor from the Silver Moon pack.

It might be my little brother.

It was time to leave.

I got dressed and went straight to Marcus's office. As Silas's second-in-command, he was the only one who could process my request.

"I want to leave the pack," I said, getting straight to the point.

The papers in Marcus's hands fell to the floor.

"What did you say?" he stared at me, shocked. "You want to leave the pack?!"