Chapter 1

Allen Foster, the Alpha of the Silvermoon Pack, dropped tens of millions to host a solo art exhibition for his pet Omega. Yet, he refused to let the pack Healers lift a finger to save my pup, Caden.

While playing, Caden had accidentally been cut by a silver dagger. The wound festered, poisoned and rotting away.

When he breathed his last breath in front of me, my world collapsed. Right there in front of Allen, I ripped off the mating pendant around my neck.

Allen actually let out a chuckle.

"Come on, Lynn. I never thought a tiny silver scratch could actually kill someone. He clearly didn't inherit my bloodline."

"I know you're hurting, but it's fine. Lily is giving birth in three days."

"She's sensible and grateful. We already agreed that once her pup is born, we'll give it to you to raise. You can just focus on being a proper Luna. There's just one condition: you have to let Lily visit the pup whenever she wants."

"No need," I said with a bitter scoff. "I just want to sever our mate bond."

After begging Allen for help yielded nothing, I pawned the priceless mating pendant he had forged for me years ago at a fraction of its value.

Clutching the cash, I sprinted back to the clinic. From down the long, cold corridor, I could hear Caden's faint, ragged breathing fading away.

A few seconds later, the world went dead quiet, as if someone had hit pause.

"I'm so sorry, Luna Lynn. My condolences..."

"Honestly, if Alpha Allen had ordered the Healers to treat the wound just a few days earlier, this wouldn't have happened. You know how silver poisons our kind, but it isn't fatal in the beginning. A few poultices of moonstone powder would have drawn out the toxicity completely... But Alpha Allen never authorized it, and we don't have clearance to touch the pack's moonstone reserves. I'm so sorry, Luna Lynn. We really did everything we could..."

I opened my mouth, but my throat felt choked with razor blades wrapped in cotton—stifling and excruciating.

Dragging my leaden legs toward the bed, I didn't know how to face the lifeless body of my child.

Just this morning, my little boy had managed a weak smile from that very bed and called out, "Mommy."

The wall sconce cast a dim, sickly glow, framing the pack plaza outside the window. Allen's silhouette stood tall on the elevated platform in the square. He was smiling. The man who was always cold and aloof to outsiders was now standing attentively behind the Omega he had taken under his wing, greeting the exhibition guests with gentle warmth.

Some bolder pack members openly gossiped about their relationship.

"From what I've seen, Alpha Allen and our brilliant artist Lily are definitely more than just a benefactor and his ward, right?"

"Spill it! Are wedding bells ringing soon?"

Surrounded by the teasing, Lily Dixon blushed crimson, gazing up at Allen with eyes dripping with adoration and bashfulness.

Allen didn't deny a single word. From the curve of his lips, anyone could tell he was thoroughly pleased.

"Wait, doesn't Alpha Allen already have a Luna? Their pup, Caden, is five years old. Did they sever their mate bond in secret?"

A sudden silence fell over the crowd. The person who asked shrank back, not daring to utter another word.

Lily's eyes rimmed with red, looking fragile and embarrassed. She turned timidly to the man beside her.

"Allen, why didn't Lynn come to the show? Is she still mad about the auction?"

"Maybe I should go to her house and apologize in person."

Without a second of hesitation, Allen shut her down.

"No need."

"I've spoiled her, and now she's petty and narrow-minded. It was just a set of custom jewelry, and she actually laid a hand on you over it. Since she cares so much about money and material crap now, I won't give her a single penny. I won't let you take that slap for nothing."

"Seeing her take her anger out on you just pisses me off."

His protective, doting tone convinced everyone that our mate bond was already broken. It also painted me as the bitter, jealous shrew responsible for ruining our relationship.