Chapter 2

Kira froze.

She probably didn't expect me to hand over the ring so easily. She even forgot to keep up her fake sobbing.

I didn't look at her again. I crouched down and picked up a piece of the shattered snow wolf.

The sharp edge immediately cut my finger.

Blood beaded up, but I felt no pain.

On the night we mated seven years ago, Jaxson had held my hand and pressed it solemnly against this very statue.

"Feel the ancestors' power, Ayla," his voice was deep and loving then. "It will bless our mate bond, until death do us part."

Then, he bit into the back of my neck in front of the altar, leaving a deep mark.

For seven years, he was passionately devoted to me in bed, treating me like his greatest treasure.

Now, the statue was broken.

And our relationship seemed just as broken, impossible to piece back together.

"My wolf isn't feeling well." I stood up, gripping the bloody shard. My voice was cold. "I won't ruin the festival for you all."

I ignored Jaxson's ugly expression and turned to leave the hall.

Back in the master bedroom of the packhouse, I leaned against the door, finally letting my tense spine relax.

My phone buzzed. It was an encrypted text from my brother, Ryker.

"The Lycan Guard is heading to Stonecrest territory at full speed. Hold on, Ayla. I'm bringing you home. No one messes with my sister!"

Looking at the screen, my eyes grew uncontrollably wet.

But a second later, the door was kicked open.

Jaxson stormed in, reeking of violent Alpha energy.

He snatched my phone away. Luckily, the screen had just gone dark.

He didn't pry and tossed the phone onto the rug.

His large hands cupped my face, forcing me to look up at him.

"What kind of tantrum were you throwing at the banquet?" he gritted out, his golden eyes churning with anger.

My cold detachment bruised his Alpha ego.

He was used to my begging and submission. He absolutely couldn't accept this calm detachment.

"I wasn't throwing a tantrum." I met his gaze calmly. "Haven't you always wanted me to be a good girl? Since you were so willing to give her the Heart of the Moon, giving her my ring was the right thing to do, wasn't it?"

Jaxson paused.

Then, he actually laughed.

He scooped me up and threw me onto the big bed we had shared for seven years.

His large body pressed down, his rough hands expertly sliding under my dress.

But the sweet, cloying perfume on him—Kira's scent—made me physically gag.

"Ayla, you're jealous." He lowered his head, seductively kissing my mating mark.

I turned my head, dodging his lips.

"Kira's brother died defending this territory," Jaxson said in a condescending tone. "I swore over his dead body that I would give her everything she wanted."

"So you're giving her my place too?"

"I promised her the Heart of the Moon before she mated with Liam. It doesn't mean anything." He pinched my chin, looking down at me. "I'll give her the Luna title in name only, so she can hold her head high in the pack. Just be a good girl and stop making trouble. I promise you're still the woman I love most. You are the real Luna."

How ridiculous.

Giving the Luna's glory to another woman, and expecting me to accept his leftover love like some dirty little mistress.

He was so sure I'd beg like a dog for his scraps.

Just as he leaned in for another kiss, frantic knocking pounded on the door.

"Jaxson..." Kira's weak, whiny voice filtered through the wood. "My wolf hurts so much... The backlash from breaking the mate bond is kicking in. I feel like I'm dying..."

Jaxson flipped off me without a second of hesitation.

None at all.

He straightened his messy shirt and strode toward the door.

But as he grabbed the handle, he stopped.

He turned, his eyes landing on my collarbone, and gave a casual command:

"Oh, take off that bone pendant and give it to Kira. She's too weak. She needs pure energy to heal."

My heart violently seized. I almost thought I heard him wrong.

Three years ago, he took a lethal hit from a rogue wolf's poisoned blade for me and was dying.

To save him, I used a forbidden ritual and gave up half my life force for him.

Later, with red eyes, he made this bone pendant infused with his own life force and Alpha energy, and put it around my neck.

"I'll never fail you, my Luna. This pendant means my eternal loyalty and our unbreakable love."

Two years ago, I accidentally dropped it in the snow.

I was running a high fever, sobbing that I had to go find it.

Heartbroken, Jaxson mobilized the entire pack, flipping the territory upside down until they found it for me.

That night, he carefully placed the pendant back in my hands.

He held me tight, kissing my teary eyes.

"Don't worry, Ayla. No one will ever dare steal what's yours."