Chapter 1

On the day of our mating ceremony, Silas Blackthorn broke his promise in public, bonded with another woman, and had me thrown out of the ritual hall.

He looked at my heartbroken, confused eyes and said coldly,

“Serena is carrying my pup. I won’t let my child be mocked because of his status, so I’m bonding with Serena first. That way, the pup can be registered under the Blackthorn bloodline.”

“After I dissolve the bond with her, I’ll give you a grand mating ceremony.”

Everyone thought I would wait for him again.

After all, I had already waited seven whole years.

From the boy he used to be, to the Alpha heir he had become.

But I was done waiting.

That very night, I accepted my family’s arrangement, left the Southern Territory, and went north to marry into the Greystone Pack.

From then on, I vanished completely from his world.

Three years later, I had to return to Blackthorn Pack.

I never expected to run into Silas at the airport.

He had no idea I was now the most honored Luna of Greystone Pack.

He still thought I was the same miserable woman from three years ago, someone he could mock and humiliate whenever he wanted.

He stood in front of me, arrogant as ever.

“You’ve made enough of a scene.”

“It’s time to come back.”

He paused, then added as if it were only natural,

“Serena’s child is starting at the pup academy. From now on, you’ll be responsible for picking him up and dropping him off.”

...

His absurd words almost made me laugh.

But the people around him were still sneering.

“Look at you. Bare-faced, no fitted dress, no expensive makeup. Looks like these three years have treated you badly.”

“You used to care so much about how you looked. Now you show up like this? Don’t tell me that after leaving Silas, you can’t even afford a decent dress.”

They burst into laughter.

In the past, because Silas liked it, I paid attention to everything.

I wore perfect makeup.

I chose the most delicate dresses.

Because I loved him, I wanted to give him the best version of myself.

But now, none of that mattered anymore.

Because I was pregnant, my mate, Adrian, wouldn’t let me wear heavy makeup or tight gowns.

He said comfort and safety mattered most during pregnancy.

The soft dress I was wearing had been custom-made for me by the Greystone Pack tailor.

I had no interest in their meaningless mockery.

The welcoming banquet for Greystone Pack was about to begin.

As Greystone’s Luna, I had to arrive on time.

I looked at the name board in their hands.

It said Helena.

That was the name I used in Greystone Pack.

So Silas and Serena had brought these people here to welcome me.

They just had no idea that I was Helena.

I didn’t want to waste any more time with them. I was about to reveal my identity when Serena spoke first.

She looked me up and down, her eyes full of undisguised contempt.

“Elena, don’t blame Silas. He’s only doing this to help you.”

“After all, you disappeared for three years. Who knows what you went through out there? Who knows which rogues you mixed with?”

She sighed hypocritically.

“Now that you’ve fallen this low, even working as my nanny would be embarrassing. But don’t worry. I’ll take care of you.”

“As long as you take good care of my son, I promise no one will dare look down on you.”

Her arrogance disgusted me.

But Silas mistook my silence for jealousy.

He thought I was still angry about what happened three years ago.

A trace of satisfaction flashed through his eyes.

His tone became even more condescending.

“You should know your place by now. After disappearing for three years, you can never be my Luna again.”

He paused, then added lightly,

“Serena is being kind. Don’t worry. There are plenty of servant rooms in the manor. You can choose whichever one you like.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the people around him burst into malicious laughter.

“Elena, see? Silas is so good to you.”

“He’s afraid you’ve suffered outside, so he even arranged food and shelter for you.”

“You’re only helping Serena take care of her child. Isn’t that better than living in poverty?”

“Hurry up and thank Silas.”

Serena touched her earrings and pretended to be gentle.

“Elena, don’t worry.”

“If my son is naughty or disobedient, I’ll discipline him for you. I won’t let you suffer.”

Silas let out a low laugh and glanced at me casually.

“What suffering could she have?”

“She disappeared over one little thing back then.”

“Now that she can’t survive outside and has come back, it’s only right that she suffers a little.”

Even though I no longer cared about him, my heart still tightened when I remembered the humiliation from that day.

So even after three years, he still thought abandoning me at our mating ceremony and bonding with another woman was just one little thing.

So the Silas who once loved me had already become unrecognizable three years ago.

He was no longer the wolf who had nothing, yet stood under the moonlight and swore he would give me everything.

He was no longer the future Alpha who, after gaining power, would still cook soup for me with his own hands and brush my hair.

But that was fine.

It was all in the past.

There was no point mentioning it anymore.

After all, I was about to give birth to Adrian’s second child.