Chapter 2

After leaving the Pack Council, I printed out the agreement to break my mate bond, just as Harold's call came through.

Harold, the so-called perfect mate, spoke with a softness that belied the chaos of recent events. "My dear, I'm so sorry. Those rogues blindsided us, and I missed our fifth anniversary. Beating them back was only half the battle, and I owed you an apology gift."

As the printer churned out the agreement, Harold was clueless that I was plotting my departure.

"Why would I be mad at you? I vowed to be the most empathetic Luna. With all these rogue attacks, you've been stretched thin. I've got a surprise for you, too."

Harold's voice buzzed with excitement. "Anita, you're too kind. Even when I mess up, you still think of me."

I signed the agreement, my tears falling faster than my pen, blurring the ink. "You didn't mess up. Defending the pack is always the right move."

Harold sidestepped my comment, simply telling me to meet him at the Howl Office for a belated anniversary celebration.

I locked the signed document in a time-coded safe, set to unlock in three days. "What will you feel when you find this, Harold?" I wondered.

The welcome was overwhelming when I stepped into the Howl Office. A crown was placed upon my head, moonflowers pressed into my hands, and the room bathed in the soft glow of a moonlight projector.

Harold dropped to one knee, his hand outstretched with the shimmering Moonshadow Stone. "My mate, will you accept this overdue token of my love?"

My eyes drifted from Harold to Selena, the fierce fighter who had come for him that day. Then, she stood behind him, eyeing me curiously as she pushed a cake cart.

"Anita, are you upset? Why the silence? Have I been too wrapped up in my duties? I haven't been by your side enough, have I?" Harold's voice was laced with unwarranted worry, his striking golden eyes locked onto mine.

I laughed softly, accepting the stone. "Promise me you'll stay out of the forest. Hunting there worries me."

Harold's relief was palpable as he kissed my hand tenderly. "Being your mate, the mightiest of werewolves, is my pride—hunting for you, my privilege."

I handed him my own carefully wrapped gift. "Here's my response, but you'll have to wait three days before it reveals itself."

"Three days? That means I'll be left guessing about your surprise." Harold rose, his embrace warm, his whispers intimate. "Darling, you're always full of surprises, making life with you an adventure." Applause and cheers for our love story filled the air.

"Seeing them together makes me long for a mate of my own," someone sighed dreamily.

"Do you sense the shift? The Alpha's only this tender with his Luna."

"Our secret anniversary redo for Luna's leaked, and it's all over the headlines now."

I could already picture the online frenzy: [#True Love Approved by Moon Goddess#] and [#Alpha's Wife Routine#]. The envy, the cheers—they would soon take over our pack's online world.

It was laughable, really. There I was, wrapped in Harold's arms, but he reeked of a perfume that was not his—a sickly sweet stench, like fruit left to rot.

I let Harold hold me tight, yet my eyes could not help but stray to Selena. If only I had the senses of a wolf, I might have sniffed out the remnants of their secret affair.

Selena offered me a smile, but the green-eyed monster was plain to see in her gaze.