Chapter 1

I remember how I broke all the protocol and had broken through the holy sanctuary—a place reserved exclusively for dying wolves and solemn ancestral prayer— my last hope. If I could just dip Jenna into the luminescent waters, the moon’s grace would pull the dark veins from her skin.

I pushed open the heavy oak gates of the holy ground, sobbing, ready to beg the ancestors for forgiveness.

The sound that met me wasn’t solemn prayer. It was laughter.

Water splashed against the ancient carved marble pillars. In the center of the crystal pool—the sacred pool whose waters were measured out drop by drop to save lives—swam Chloe, Lucian’s childhood friend, and her young son. They were tossing ancestral relic pearls into the water like toys, splashing around, using the sacred healing ground like a private resort pool.

On the edge sat Lucian. He was pouring blood-wine into a goblet, laughing as Chloe splashed him.

"Lucian!" I gasped, my voice breaking.

He turned, his brows pulling into a deep frown of immediate annoyance. "Lyla? How dare you step onto the holy grounds without permission? And why are you bringing your unrefined chaos here?"

"Jenna... she’s dying," I sobbed, holding our limp boy out toward him. "The Ash Fever. The elder denied my application because of your locks. Please, Lucian, let me put her in the water!"

Chloe’s son quickly pooled the water around himself, pouting softly. "Uncle Alpha, she’s ruining our afternoon... You promised today was just for us to relax after my first year result day."

Lucian’s gaze hardened into ice. He stepped between me and the water. "Enough of your dramatic antics, Lyla. You think you can break protocol, feign an illness, and barge in here to ruin Leo’s celebration day? You haven’t changed at all. Still reckless, still manipulative."

"Look at her!" I shrieked, pulling back the blanket to show Jenna’s graying lips and the black veins creeping up her neck. "Look at your daughter!"

A flicker of something like worry crossed his eyes. He swept his gaze down towards Jenna. But before he could take one step closer to us, Chloe screamed from behind.

“Lucian… Leo is drowning!"

Lucian immediately turned back. He swooped Leo into his arms and helped him out.

“Call all the pack healers to Chloe’s quarters. Everyone of them. Quickly!” He commanded before turning to look at me, his eyes reflecting lethal fury. "I am sick of your constant attempts to bypass my authority. You will return to the manor immediately and await your punishment. If you hadn't distracted me, Leo would have been just fine."

He was still fine. The water level was below his waist, and Lucian had spent the entire summer teaching him swimming. How could he possibly be drowned?

Guess Lucian was too blind to see that.

As he forced me out the heavy gates, the truth hit me with the force of a physical blow.

It was never about making me a better Luna. It was never about teaching me restraint or honoring procedure. It was about stripping my power, controlling my every breath, and keeping me bound while he paved the path for Chloe.

I dragged Jenna’s small body down the mountain on foot, trying to warm her with my own body heat. But by the time the moon reached its peak, the thin thread of her life snapped. In the silent, frozen woods, her chest stopped moving.

I didn't cry.

The fire inside me didn't burn; it turned to ash.

Sitting beside my dead child, I reached deep into my soul, located the shining, golden thread of the mate bond connecting my heart to

Lucian's, and pulled a jagged piece of dark magic I had hidden for years.

‘With blood and breath, I break what the moon forged.’

I severed the bond. The pain was excruciating, like ripping my own heart from my ribcage, but I didn't make a sound. When it was done, the silence in my head was total.

I returned home looking like a ghost. Lucian was in the main hall, commanding his subordinates.

I didn't look at him. I simply walked past him, heading towards Jenna’s room to pick up her toys. I didn't want her to go alone. I couldn't comfort her while she was dying. Perhaps she would feel less scared if her favourite toys were there to accompany her in her funeral.

I didn't notice when Lucian chased after me. Shutting the door behind my back, he snapped, “What's this attitude, Lyla?”

“Despite knowing how you feign Jenna’s sickness just to interrupt Leo’s big day, I had someone deliver you the holy water, and this is how you pay it back?”

“You and you should understand that I will not tolerate this behaviour ever again. The holy water is precious. Not something you two can waste around.”

“Waste around?” I gritted my teeth. “And you still think I was feigning our daughter’s sickness? And for what?”

“We both know you felt jealous because I allowed Chloe and Leo in the sanctuary.” He replied, his voice devoid of any emotion. “Leo has just witnessed his father's death, Lyla. He is pitiful. You must understand.”

He later sighed. His voice softened as he added, “Where is Jenna, by the way? Call her and ask her to write an apology letter along with you. She must learn etiquette.”