Chapter 1

I had been with Derek, an Alpha six years younger than me, for ten whole years. He always complained that condoms ruined the mood and swore he would mark me the moment I got pregnant.

On the night of the Full Moon Festival, I came to surprise him with the news of my pregnancy.

Instead, outside the Pack Tavern, I saw him with his arms wrapped tightly around a young human girl, kissing her like his life depended on it.

His pack members cheered and whistled:

"Derek’s got great taste! Lara is so young and damn hot!"

"Right? Did you see Sienna every time Derek brought up the Mate Ceremony? That desperate old woman threw herself at him like she was in heat."

"Even if Sienna gets pregnant, she could never compete with Lara, right?"

I gripped the positive pregnancy test so tightly my fingernails bit into my palms, drawing sharp pain. I couldn't even breathe.

Derek gave a careless, dismissive smirk. "Obviously. Who'd be stupid enough to marry a starter woman you only kept around for practice?"

"Derek only stayed with that old woman back then because she had money and was obedient. You think he actually liked an older hag?"

"I can't even imagine what she looks like in bed. Makes me want to puke."

I stood there, frozen to the spot. The blood in my veins turned to ice.

An old hag. A desperate, clingy woman... I never thought I’d hear those words come out of Derek’s mouth.

"A full moon is too precious to waste, Derek! Hurry up and spend it with Lara!"

My phone lit up. A text from Derek popped up on the screen: [Pack business tonight. Don't wait up for me. Go to bed.]

I stared at the words, a suffocating ache squeezing my chest.

The screen reflected my pale, ghostly face.

If I hadn't seen this with my own eyes, I would have kept believing every single lie about his endless "pack business."

Derek pulled the girl onto his lap, his hand gripping the back of her head as he crushed his lips against hers again.

Someone nearby remarked, "Honestly, Sienna is kind of pitiful. Better to rip the band-aid off and dump her."

Derek released the girl and lit a cigarette.

The swirling smoke blurred his face.

"She's loved me for ten years and helped me secure the Alpha title. She poured her entire youth into me. Dumping her right now might drive her to kill herself. Let's wait a bit longer."

A shrill ringing filled my ears.

I grabbed an empty liquor bottle from a nearby tray and charged straight at their booth.

The bottle shattered violently over Derek’s head.

Blood trickled down his forehead, but with his Alpha healing, the wound began to close almost immediately.

I blinked, tears rolling down my cheeks without warning.

Derek stiffened, shoving Lara off him as if he’d been struck by lightning.

"Baby? What... what are you doing here?"

Lara shot me a sideways glare, curling her lip in disgust.

"It was just a harmless joke. Don't tell me you're actually petty enough to make a scene over this?"

Derek’s face darkened. "Shut up!"

Ignoring the blood on his forehead, he reached out and gently wiped away my tears.

His voice softened to a tender purr. "It was just messing around. Don't take it seriously."

"Stop crying. I'll take you back right now to celebrate the Full Moon, okay?"

Lara grabbed his arm, tears welling in her eyes. "What about me?"

"She completely ruined our Full Moon! She really is an old lady—getting up in everyone’s business the moment she ages!"

Derek turned his back to me and shrugged nonchalantly.

Then, his voice echoed in my head: *I have no choice. Older women are just insecure and possessive. Let me handle her first.*

He was using the Mind Link with his friends, thinking he could hide it from me. But he had no idea my wolf could hear every single whisper.

If I wanted to, I could dominate his mind with a single thought.

Because pure Lycan royal blood ran through my veins. My father was the most powerful Lycan Alpha in the entire shifter world. But for Derek's sake, I had hidden my true lineage and even walked away from my birthright.

I turned and walked away.

The pain in my chest went numb. The words of my mother, Luna Elara, suddenly echoed loud and clear in my mind.

"Sienna, was it really worth giving up your Alpha inheritance for a man who had nothing?"

"If he truly loved you, he would have claimed you as his mate years ago. Why wait until now?"

"Listen to your mother. Come home and accept the pack’s arranged match."

I wiped my tears, pulled out my phone, and dialed Luna Elara.

"Mom... I was wrong. I'm coming home soon. The marriage... I'll leave it in your hands."