Chapter 1
Ella's POV:
On the day of my mating ceremony, my fiancé left me alone at the Moon Goddess's altar and went straight to my older sister, Serena Mercer.
The wolves mocked me without mercy. "That's the fifth mate Ella's lost to Serena. No one can resist her."
Serena looked helpless.
"I'm sorry, Ella. I just wanted to test his loyalty. I didn't mean to ruin another mating ceremony."
I stood there, humiliated.
Then Kellen Voss stepped forward. He was the continent's most feared Alpha, leader of the Blood Moon Pack.
He took my hand, turned to the pack elders, and marked me as his Luna on the spot.
After we mated, Serena tried more than once to lure him with the scent of her heat. Every time, he humiliated her in front of everyone.
"Know your place, Serena. You're a low-ranking wolf. Stop throwing yourself at me."
For three years, Kellen had given me everything. He made me feel safe and cherished, as though I were the luckiest she-wolf alive.
Then one day, I came home early and heard his Beta speaking inside the room.
"Alpha... the Luna's sister is carrying your pureblood pup. What if the Luna finds out?"
Kellen's voice was low and calm. "What happened with Serena was a one-time accident during my rut. Keep the pup a secret from Ella. I'll make it up to her later."
I froze, heartbroken. I didn't rush in to confront him.
When he'd marked me, he'd sworn before the Moon Goddess that he'd never betray me.
But he had.
I would sever our mate bond.
And I would never look back.
As I backed out of the corridor outside his study, the mating mark at the nape of my neck still throbbed.
For years, that mark had made me feel safe. Now every pulse reminded me of what Kellen had just said.
"Ella, you're back?"
Serena approached with a bowl. Her knitted dress was looser than usual, and one hand rested protectively over her belly.
"Was the patrol that exhausting? You look awful."
She held out the bowl, her face full of concern.
"I made some broth to help you rest. The Alpha went into rut while you were away on patrol. I took care of him and gave him some too. It worked wonders."
When I didn't take it, she sighed softly.
"You're so frail. You've been mated for years and still haven't conceived. You really should build up your strength."
As she spoke, she stroked her rounded belly. Her neckline slipped a little, exposing a bite mark on her neck.
It was in the same place as my mating mark.
"What are you trying to say?"
Serena looked hurt.
"Ella, I'm only worried about you. The Alpha needs someone to look after him, and you're always away. Is it so wrong for me to help?"
The study door opened.
Kellen's expression darkened the moment he saw us together.
Serena went to straighten the collar of his suit.
"Alpha, your cough was so bad last night. I asked the kitchen to make you..."
He turned away, then briskly brushed the sleeve she'd touched.
"Who said you could come near me? Take that bowl back to the guest room and stay away from my Luna."
Serena stepped back, her eyes reddening.
"I'm just worried about your health, and..."
"Get out."
She left with a hand over her belly, biting her lip. Before she went, she glanced at me.
I knew she was gloating.
Kellen pulled me into his arms. His palm settled against the back of my neck, carefully avoiding the aching mark.
"When did you get back? Why didn't you tell me?"
"Just now."
He cupped my face and kissed my forehead, then the corners of my eyes.
"Don't believe anything she told you."
"Which part?"
His lips stilled against my temple.
"She said she took care of you during your rut."
Kellen frowned.
"You were at the northern border that night. She barged in with medicine, but I had her thrown out right away."
He lied so easily. He didn't even hesitate.
I studied his familiar face and asked quietly, "Was that really all?"
"Of course."
He held me tighter.
"Ella, you're the only woman in my heart. That will never change."
Back in the master bedroom, he took off my coat and went to run me a bath.
The phone on the nightstand lit up.
A color ultrasound image from the hospital appeared on the screen. The not-yet-fully-formed pup was clearly visible in the womb. Serena's name was in the patient field.
Kellen came out of the bathroom and hurried over to turn the phone facedown.
"Who messaged you?"
"The southern outpost. They spotted some roving wolves and sent a thermal map. I'll go deal with it myself tomorrow."
I lowered my gaze to hide the coldness in my eyes. I said nothing about the ultrasound.
"All right. Be careful."
Relieved that I hadn't pressed him, he bent to tuck the covers around me.
Late that night, once he was asleep, I went to my workshop alone and called Owen Calder, the Alpha of the Far North, on his encrypted line.
Two weeks earlier, he'd offered a fortune for my Ice God Totem. If I came north, he'd promised to erase every trace of me from Blood Moon territory whenever I wished.
"Owen, does your offer still stand?"
His low reply came almost at once.
"Whenever you're ready."
"Our mating anniversary is in two days. I'll be on Sacred Moon Isle. When the tide is right that day, please have your boat meet me at the maritime boundary."
After hanging up, I took the death-mimicking drug I'd prepared from a hidden compartment.
Those three years of devotion had been a joke. I wouldn't expose his lies. I would sever our mate bond myself and leave for good.
