Chapter 2

Growing up, our families were so close that I practically trailed behind Kieran everywhere, and everyone knew I had a puphood crush on him.

Over time, we went from childhood friends to mates, then engagement, and eventually, we became the Alpha-Luna couple everyone in the pack admired.

But a year ago, everything shifted when he started expanding our pack’s territory.

His duties as Alpha became overwhelming, and that’s when he took on a new Beta assistant.

At first, I barely noticed her—Mira Thornclaw was plain, easy to overlook in a crowd.

Turns out, that was my mistake.

That seemingly unremarkable she-wolf somehow caught Kieran’s attention.

He started nitpicking things he never cared about before. My love for steaks? Suddenly, that was wasteful and extravagant.

Shopping for ceremonial Luna gowns? He had endless complaints about the cost, accusing me of spending recklessly.

He even had the audacity to say that just one of my outfits could have funded supplies for the warriors or helped struggling Omega pups.

Eventually, I figured out why.

He was comparing me to her.

Mira came from a rough background—an Omega-born girl who had to claw her way up in a pack that favored sons. She’d earned a scholarship to an elite shifter academy through sheer willpower.

Even now, she still sent half her salary back home.

Kieran admired that about her. And the more he sympathized with her, the more he resented me—his spoiled Luna who had never known hardship.

Last month, I decided to surprise him at his office.

Between constant meetings and pack matters, he barely ate properly. Too much stress, too much raw meat, and he’d been having stomach issues for weeks.

I had a pack chef prepare a meal just for him.

I walked into his office, smiling, lunchbox in hand—only to see an empty plate already sitting on his desk.

Kieran looked at the meal I brought, expression unreadable.

Then my gaze landed on a small wolf-shaped lunchbox sitting beside his files.

A chill spread through me.

It was the kind of thing a she-wolf would pick out.

Doubt sank its claws into me, deep and unshakable.

Forcing a smile, I asked lightly, “New meal plan, Alpha? Did the pack start sending catered lunches now? What happened to the ones I used to bring?”

Before he could respond, the door to the Alpha’s private lounge creaked open.

Mira stepped out, holding an identical lunchbox.

A matching set.

My stomach twisted.

Everything clicked into place.

I let out a cold laugh, walked straight to his desk, and without hesitation, tossed the lunchbox into the trash.

Mira paled, eyes darting to Kieran, but she didn’t say a word.

I turned to him and spoke, voice like ice.

“Looks like your Beta’s got your meals covered, Alpha. I’ll stop wasting my time.”

“She can take care of you from now on.”

I walked out without looking back, my throat burning.

And after that? I never brought him food again.

If I ever mentioned it, he brushed it off—I was overreacting, I was being unfair, I wasn’t as understanding as Mira.

Eventually, I got tired of the whole thing.

Stopped fussing over him. Stopped checking in on whether he made it home after meetings.

Instead of thinking about what he needed, I focused on what I wanted.

I even sent him shopping lists instead of waiting around for him to remember to ask.

A few days ago, Ravara—the Gamma’s mate—invited me to dinner, her voice laced with excitement.

“Selene, did you hear the news?”

I blinked. “What news?”

“About you and Kieran.”

I frowned, confused. “What about us?”

She grinned. “He ordered a diamond pendant infused with moonstone from my family’s shop. Over a hundred thousand—extravagant, even for him.”

“Honestly? I’m jealous.”

Since her family owned one of the most renowned jewelry businesses among werewolf packs, I knew she wasn’t lying.

And for the first time in months, hope flickered inside me.

Maybe he was trying. Maybe things weren’t as bad as I thought.

The more she talked about it, the more I started to believe.

But then, Valentine’s Day came.

And that hope shattered like fragile glass.

Instead of the carefully selected, Elder-blessed moonstone pendant, he handed me a hastily bought bouquet of roses.

And the custom-made Luna’s necklace?

It was sitting around Mira’s neck.

A bond built over two decades—reduced to nothing compared to the she-wolf he’d only known for a year.

I let out a bitter laugh at myself.

The moment Kieran left, I collapsed onto the den’s leather sofa, drained.

I pressed a hand over my eyes, fighting back the sting of tears.

And in that moment, I swore I could hear it—

The sound of my mate bond breaking apart.

I had finally reached my limit.