Chapter 1

When my Alpha mate, Logan noticed I hadn't submitted a single expense request in three days, he reached out to me on his own for the first time ever.

"Baby, I've already approved the next phase of your wolf's healing. See? As long as you learn to behave, there's nothing I won't give you."

He thought I had finally learned how to be a submissive and quiet Luna. His deep, gentle voice played through the voice message, a verbal pat on the head for a good pet:

"I know Omegas are naturally fragile and sensitive, unused to the responsibilities and rules that come with being an Alpha's mate. I'm only doing this to help you build good habits. For our future."

His tone was still so affectionate, as if he were truly a good Alpha, worried sick over his mate.

But he didn't know that as his "Baby" flashed across my phone screen, I had already finished drafting the agreement to sever our mate bond.

Before I left, the only thing I could take with me was the old T-shirt I had worn when he marked me.

No one would ever believe that the beloved Luna of the Blackmoon Pack, in the three years since our bonding ceremony, couldn't even scrape together five decent dresses of her own.

Every household expense I incurred had to be approved by the Luna's seal, the very symbol of my power.

"Sienna, managing the books is too tiring. It will wear you out."

"Just let Chloe handle the tedious work with the seal. All you have to do is be beautiful, be my perfect Luna."

And so, the Luna's seal, which should have been mine, became something I had to beg for from Chloe, the Alpha's secretary who was supposedly "handling the tedious work for me."

Three days ago, my wolf was on the verge of collapsing. I cried and begged him for the two hundred thousand needed for an emergency intervention.

But Chloe deliberately withheld the seal, delaying approval by claiming improper procedure.

Finally, my already fractured wolf went completely silent in the depths of my soul.

Logan didn't know that I had endured his indifference and humiliation for three years because I truly loved him. I stayed for him, and I believed he would heal my wolf.

But now, both reasons were dead.My wolf is dead.

And with that, I was done with this Alpha, too.

...

When I walked out of the examination room at the pack hospital, the healer's quiet words still echoed in my ears:

"You've missed the optimal window. Your wolf can't be healed. There's no need to come back."

My own heart went silent, sinking into the abyss alongside it.

When I reached Logan's penthouse office, he was busy signing a document for Chloe.

When I proposed severing the mate bond, he didn't even look up, just let out a soft laugh.

"Throwing another tantrum? Are you upset that I didn't come home for dinner with you last night?"

"Sienna, don't make jokes like that. It's not funny."

I lowered my gaze, suppressing the hollow ache in my chest, and said firmly, "Logan, I'm not joking. I want to sever our mate bond."

Logan finally looked up at me.

He came around his desk and walked toward me, gently reaching for my hand, but I pulled away.

His hand froze in midair, a frown flickering across his brow before it vanished.

"I know you're upset about the interruption to your treatment. But it was to help you break your dependency on the medication. I was doing it for your own health."

"Chloe was just following my orders to the letter. How could you make a scene at the council hall and scream at her?"

"I restored your access to the funds yesterday. Baby, my time is precious. I have an entire pack to run. Stop making me waste it on coddling you, alright?"

Before I could answer, he glanced at his watch. "I have a meeting. I'll bring you your favorite cake tonight. Be a good girl and wait for me at home."

He was certain I couldn't leave him, and certain that if he offered the slightest bit of sweetness, I would bow my head in gratitude.

After all, in the past, even when he left me in a downpour to pick up Chloe, all it took was a simple "She's like a sister to me" for me to wipe away my own tears.

But now, I no longer liked cake.

And whether the treatment was restored or not didn't matter anymore.

If Logan had answered my call in the middle of his damn meeting three days ago, I might still be a fool living in a dream.

Back then, I had pleaded with him, begging him not to hang up, to just listen to my last sentence.

But it was no match for Chloe's cooing voice in the background:

"Alpha, do you think the Luna misunderstood me? I was just reminding her that the amount is too large. I wouldn't dare approve it without a detailed breakdown."

"If the Luna truly needs it urgently, I'd be willing to approve it even if it breaks the rules, but I'm afraid if the elders investigate later, it might tarnish your reputation, Alpha..."

"That's why I was a bit stricter with the approval, so the Luna can develop the good habits befitting the Blackmoon Pack."

Hearing this, Logan was clearly convinced, completely forgetting my pleas.

"Sienna, you see? Chloe is so considerate, always thinking of me."

"Can't you learn from her? Stop being so impulsive and undisciplined."

"Listen to Chloe. Get the breakdown sorted out, and we'll talk."

It was always the same whenever I needed him for anything.

"I'm inspecting the territory, talk to Chloe if you need something."

"Follow Chloe's arrangements."

"Do whatever Chloe tells you to do."

I was his Luna, the supposed mistress of this pack, yet I had no dignity.

Forget about normal outings. Even for social galas a Luna was required to attend, or sacrificial rites where I had to stand by his side,

I had to request a dress and jewelry from his secretary.

And every time, Chloe would smile sweetly as she casually rejected my requests.

"Luna, this dress isn't the Alpha's favorite color, and this ruby necklace is unbecoming of your status. Please rewrite the request."

"Oh, Luna, you submitted the request too late. The designer gowns are all gone. How about you wear this one from last season? You're a natural beauty anyway, the Alpha won't mind."

"Luna, why are you always like this? Just look at the list you wrote. Didn't I tell you to submit it for my seal only after making sure there are no issues?"

She always dragged things out until the last possible second,

watching me stand awkwardly beside a dazzling Logan in an ill-fitting, dated dress.

And Logan would gently wrap his arm around my waist, whispering in my ear, "Sienna, why are you wearing this one again? I don't mind you being frugal, but don't embarrass the Blackmoon name."

"You can't even handle something this simple. You still need Chloe to sort it out for you. When will you ever grow up?"

The only reason I couldn't handle such "simple tasks" was entirely because of Logan's "good secretary."

But he couldn't see it, and he didn't care.

Just like how he knew my wolf was extremely unstable, that the medication couldn't be stopped, and the treatment couldn't be delayed.

Yet he still told me, matter-of-factly, to just go find Chloe.