Chapter 1

One week before my bonding ceremony with Kane, he left to pick up my best friend, Lyra.

They were traveling back to our sacred lands together.

While I waited, I was scrolling a private forum for our kind.

It was called "Moonshadow Whispers."

A thread popped up: "What's the most reckless thing you've done this year?"

The top comment was from my own tribe, Blackrock.

"My bestie is about to become our tribe's Luna. But I started a forbidden affair with her Alpha. It's an amazing secret to have. I get double the attention, double the rare tributes.

The thrill of being the secret favorite is intoxicating. He gave me his secondary sigil, the one representing the tribe's treasury. My combat skills are nothing special, but I still outrank my 'best friend' on the council…"

Someone in the comments asked why they didn't just get together.

"Are you kidding me? The entire tribe watched them for eight years. I'm not taking the fall for breaking a sacred bond. I'll enjoy what we have until the ceremony. That's more than enough for me."

A soon-to-be Luna. An eight-year relationship. A seat on the council…

I tried to convince myself it was all just a horrible coincidence.

In response to the doubters, she posted a picture.

It was a photo of two hands, intertwined.

"See this? He'd just returned from a border patrol. I complained my medicine box was too heavy. Without a second thought, he left his official mate in the freezing snow. Just to come back for me."

The memory of that biting wind hit me.

My fingers started to tremble with rage.

I zoomed in on the photo, my stomach churning.

On their wrists were matching silver cuffs.

The laurel pattern was unmistakable.

I had forged them myself.

She was clearly proud of her little games.

"Besides, the forbidden fruit is always the sweetest. I can use his favor to climb the tribe's ladder for more power, more resources. And powerful males? There are plenty of others out there."

The comments exploded, calling her shameless.

Asking how she could do that to her best friend.

"Sorry? For what? I'm the one who delivered his courting rune etched on birch bark. I played matchmaker for them in the shadows. She never would've landed a pure-blooded Alpha like him without me."

She deleted the picture of their hands.

Then she posted a new one.

A set of expensive leather armor, forged by a Dwarven master.

"See? It's not like I treat her badly. I just wanted some private time with him before the big day. After all, his days of holding back that final mark are almost over."

The notifications kept popping up.

Each one felt like a hammer to the skull.

The world started to spin.

After our bonding date was announced, Kane moved out.

He left the stone house we'd shared for years.

His excuse was renovating the Alpha's nest.

And he said he wanted every detail to be perfect for me.

Lyra would always tease me about it.

She'd say how devoted he was, pouring everything into one woman.

I remember them sharing a look then.

A knowing, meaningful smile.

Then he turned to me, his voice full of warmth.

"My Elara deserves the very best."

For the last six months, he barely touched me.

He claimed he was saving his primal energy for the ceremony.

So our union would be blessed by the Moon Goddess herself.

I was so confused that I even confided in Lyra.

I asked if our passion was fading after so long.

She just laughed and told me not to be silly.

She said it was proof of how much he cherished me…

So his "saving the final mark"…

It wasn't for me, was it?

It was for her.

Looking back, I must have looked like such a fool.

Just a pawn in a game they played together.

Played by the two people I trusted most in the world.