Where Can I Read 'When I Heard The Learn'D Astronomer' For Free?

Astoria Winters lost everything on one mundane weekday. The man she loved for the last five years betrayed her and cast out of the only place she had come to call ‘home’. She finds herself with nowhere to go…until a mysterious man comes to take her to her estranged mother, who is apparently getting remarried. And just like that, she is thrust into a world that she never knew existed outside novels. Viktor Romero is the Alpha heir of the Black Moon Pack. Polite but detached, controlled but cunning, he has spent his life reining the beast inside him. Over the years, he has come to believe that there wasn’t anyone fated waiting for him. And he was okay with that. That is until Astoria walked into his life. She was human and forbidden because she was his step-sister by marriage. A story of fated mates, forbidden desire, and a love powerful enough to challenge the moon itself.

Labeled the harbinger of calamity from birth, she was nameless, discarded, and hated by the kingdom. Yet, she moved through life, hoping to awaken her wolf and find her mate. It was her consolation, only to be slapped in the face with the brutal reality shortly after: she was wolfless and rejected by her mate for her twin sister, the darling of the kingdom. She awaited death, the brutal end of every Harbinger of Calamity who couldn't redeem themselves with a wolf or a mate. However, at the last minute, she was forced to take her twin sister's place, and become the bride of the Grand Preceptor/Tutor, an enigma who only left his legend but no face. Rumor said he was the oldest man in the kingdom, barely holding on to his last breath. "He is desperate for an heir," Her father, the Duke said, "Give him a child by all means. Everything he owns must belong to this family. If you can do that, I'll make sure you own land, properties, and titles." "Don't blame us for how we treated you all those years, it's your fault that you were born with a curse. So, don't let this opportunity to redeem yourself go." Her mother. "I could even take you as my concubine if you succeed," her ex-mate, the crown prince. But why is the man who was said to be old and feeble, and dying soon, looking younger and stronger than the crown prince himself? Why is the man who was said to be desperate for an heir telling her, "Put your clothes back on, you're not a vessel for my heir, you're my Luna."? And why does he look at her like she's the air he breathes? "We will make them pay," he kissed her tenderly.

He had once sworn I was his fated Luna, the Omega he cherished above all. However, just a month shy of our bonding, he decided to repay a life-saving grace by fathering a child with his old flame. To add insult to injury, he swiped the herbal research I was on the cusp of unveiling. He claimed he was trapped, obligated to both sides. I, however, was done with him. I cut ties, called off our Bonding Ceremony, and set off for the Northwood tundra to lose myself in my research. Two years on, he pleaded for my return, professing I was his one true love. However, by then, I was renowned far and wide, and he was nothing to me.

When my husband once again chooses to abandon me to celebrate his true love's birthday, I finally let go. He takes his true love stargazing; I don't cause a fuss. He buys her an expensive scarf, but all I do is smile. I even tell him to buy another hat—it's pretty cold. He thinks I've finally learned to be obedient. However, he has no idea I've secretly renounced my citizenship to join Doctors Without Borders. By the time he comes to his senses, I've vanished without a trace.

On the day Christian Starr held his celebratory banquet to celebrate his company going public, I was forced to return to the country. I couldn’t afford my rent abroad anymore, so I had no choice but to take a job as a food delivery rider. Every single eye in the luxury private lounge snapped toward me. It wasn’t until the man sitting right in the center raised his head and his eyes met mine that someone broke the silence with a playful, mocking sneer. “Well, look who it is. Isn’t this Nova, Christian’s little sister who used to follow him around all day long?” “Back when Christian hit rock bottom, she took all her family’s money and fled abroad to live it up. I guess she got tired of the good life and came back to experience how the other half lives, huh?” The room erupted into a chorus of laughter. Feeling completely out of place, I nervously set the gastric medicine I had delivered onto the table and turned around, wanting nothing more than to leave. “Nova.” The deep and familiar voice rang out, forcing my footsteps to a sudden halt. “If you walk out that door right now, I will leave you a one-star review.” One bad review, and my three days’ worth of food delivery was practically for nothing. I could handle starving if I didn’t have money for food, but if I couldn’t pay my rent, I wouldn’t even have a roof over my head. I clenched my fists tightly and forced myself to meet Christian’s eyes once again. “Is there anything else you need, sir?” The corners of his mouth curled into a smirk. With his long, slender fingers, he casually knocked over a glass brimming with wine. Then, he pulled out a black card and tossed it onto the table. “Didn’t you always love money? Clean up all the spilled wine on this table with your mouth, and all the cash on this card is yours.”

Harold missed our fifth anniversary. He said Rogues had attacked the border, and as the Alpha, he had to fight to protect the pack. However, the she-wolf who came to fetch him was dressed in a tight little dress and heels—she looked more ready for a date than a battle. Worried for Harold, I went to the Moon Goddess's altar to pray for his safety, like I always do whenever he's called to fight. However, on the way, a witch told me there was no war at the border at all. He lied to me. At that moment, I knew it was time to walk away. "I want to break my mate bond with Harold," I said. She turned the pages of an old, dusty spellbook. "Harold won't accept this. He was even willing to give up his claim to the Alpha title just to be with you." "I don't need his permission," I said. "I'm willing to pay any price." She sighed. "If your heart is truly set on leaving, I can brew a potion for you. One sip, and your scent will vanish from the pack's memory—as if you never existed. "However, think carefully. You'll lose your title as Luna, leave behind your home, your people. You'll start over somewhere new, where no one knows your name. Not even the Moon Goddess will be able to find you." I said, "I've made up my mind, I refuse to stay in a love built on lies. "How soon can I have the potion?" "Three days." Three days. Just enough time to say goodbye to everything I once called home.