Chapter 1

“That’s wonderful, Maeve. You’re finally coming home. Your grandmother and I are so proud of you.”

My uncle’s deep Alpha voice filled with relief on the other end of the line.

The moment I hung up, Darian pushed open the bedroom door.

The sickly sweet scent of jasmine—Amara’s perfume—flooded the room.

I frowned. He knew I was allergic. He just didn’t care.

“Who were you talking to?” he asked casually, his eyes already on his own phone.

Before I could answer, his phone buzzed.

A voice message.

Amara’s tearful voice spilled from the speaker. “Darian, thank you for today... After losing Damien, you’re the only friend I have left who still cares about me…”

I saw Darian flinch, trying to cover the phone a second too late.

I laughed bitterly to myself.

She did it on purpose.

Amara could have used their mind link for a private conversation. She sent a voice message so I would hear it. A little show for my benefit.

But it didn’t matter. The mate bond I once treasured would soon be broken.

Darian’s fingers flew across the screen as he texted her back.

For a full ten minutes.

He completely forgot I was there.

He only stopped when he was heading toward his side of the bed.

“Where’s my sleep-aid tea? The one with moon primrose.”

I looked at him, my face a blank mask. “I didn’t make it.”

“What?” His brow furrowed instantly. “Maeve, what's this tantrum about now?”

“I’m not throwing a tantrum.”

“No?” he scoffed. “Don’t tell me you’re still sulking about your birthday. I already signed the agreement. You’re getting your assets. Why are you still angry?”

Assets.

He thought this was about money.

“Even if you were scared, your healing is strong. Your heart would have been fine,” Darian said impatiently. “A powerful Luna shouldn’t be so emotional. You always make a big deal out of nothing.”

I stared at him, my mind flashing back to two years ago.

The mine attack. A traitor’s claws laced with poison.

I’d thrown myself in front of him, taking the fatal blow. My heart was never the same after that.

He held me then, promising to stay by my side forever, to heal me with the best medicines.

He forgot that promise the moment Amara’s mate died.

And he forgot my birthday, three days ago.

I had been so excited to open that beautiful gift box, only to find the skinned silver fox, our sacred totem, curled inside. The profane runes carved into its flesh had sent a shockwave through my bloodline. My wolf had screamed and shattered.

An icy pain seized my heart. Every beat was agony.

I’d cried out to him through our bond. “Darian… help me… My wolf… my heart…”

I felt no worry from his end. Only suppressed annoyance and the cloying scent of Amara’s jasmine perfume.

His words had pierced my soul. “Maeve, stop being so dramatic. It’s just a prank. A Luna should be stronger. Amara has a fever. I’m with her.”

Then, he just cut the bond. The warmth and strength I drew from him vanished, leaving a cold, empty void. Being abandoned by my own mate was a pain worse than my failing heart.

But now… it was almost over.

“I’m not angry,” I said quietly. “I just didn’t feel like making tea today. And I won’t be making it anymore.”

His eyes turned dangerous.

“Maeve!”

A water glass exploded against the wall, sending shards of glass everywhere.

He stormed toward the door. “You’d better think about what you’re doing! You are my Luna. This is your duty!”

The door slammed shut.

I stood in the living room, looking at the mess on the floor. I felt nothing.

His rage meant nothing to me now.

I finished packing, drank a glass of ice water, and took a long shower, letting the water wash over my cold skin.

At 11 PM, a text message from him arrived. An order. “I’m at the Shadowmoon Club. Drank too much. Bring me a hangover cure and pick me up.”

Always the same. I was a tool to him, an accessory, not a beloved mate.

To avoid another fight, I threw on a jacket and drove to the club.

But as I approached the Alphas-only private room, I heard a familiar laugh.

It was Darian, talking with his Beta, Rhys.

I stopped, hidden in the shadows.

“Boss, are you sure about treating the Luna like this? What if she actually gets angry and leaves?” Rhys asked in a hushed tone. “Breaking a fated mate bond has consequences, a backlash.”

Darian snorted. “So what if we’re fated? Where is she going to go?”

“But…”

“She has no pack. Her parents are dead. Who else would have her?” Darian’s voice was full of smug confidence. “The mate bond is her leash. She can never escape.”

Rhys seemed hesitant.

Darian waved a hand dismissively. “Relax. I’m just giving her the cold shoulder. Let her panic a little. She’ll come crawling back, begging for my affection. You have to keep them in line.”

“She doesn’t seem like the type to give in…”

“She will,” Darian said, picking up his glass. “Because she has no choice. What can an orphan do against me?”

I leaned against the wall, listening.

My heart was calm. But deep in my soul, my dormant wolf let out a low, repressed growl. My eyes flashed gold in the darkness.

He thought I was a powerless orphan.

He had no idea. This bond wasn't my cage. It was his.