Howl for Me, Not Her

Chapter 1 Howl for Me, Not Her

Chapter 1 Howl for Me, Not Her

“We’re fated mates, Elena. You’re really ending this over a necklace?”

Yeah.

The necklace I custom-ordered with my name etched in the moonstone.

Now dangling off my sister’s collarbone like it belonged there.

I didn’t scream.

I didn’t beg.

I ripped off the matebond seal the Moon Goddess gave us and threw it at his smug face—hard enough to echo.

“You think she’s pathetic? Great. Go pity her forever. Just don’t you dare disgust me again.”

That night, I stepped down as Luna.

I shattered the bond.

And with it, I buried the last shred of my delusion.

What I didn’t expect…

Was someone else showing up two weeks later.

Not Marcus.

Someone worse.

The useless little tagalong from my childhood—now wearing the Alpha crest of Northwatch like a second skin, flanked by an elite Wolf Guard unit.

He looked me dead in the eyes, voice cold enough to split stone:

“Had enough yet?”

I blinked.

“If not, I’ll help you bury the whole pack.”

I smirked. Lifted my chin.

“Start with my sister. Make her cry first.”

Shortly before the pack’s annual Mating Ceremony, my mate, Alpha Marcus, had shelled out a hefty sum for a custom-made moonstone necklace—a sacred symbol of eternal devotion in werewolf culture.

I hadn’t even received the necklace.

But Lila had already posted a photo on PackChat:

[@Alpha Marcus Moonstone Necklace Day ]

She smiled like she’d just won a contest I was never even invited to.

As the Luna of the Moonridge Pack, I’d been buzzing with anticipation, expecting this token to reaffirm our bond.

But on the day of the ceremony, he handed me a bouquet of wolfsbane flowers—stunning yet toxic to our kind. With a shrug, he said, “We’ve been paired up forever, yeah? Let’s chill out—these blooms are plenty.”

That night, scrolling through pack chatter online, I froze. A post from my sister, Omega Lila, popped up—she was flaunting that moonstone necklace. A chill sank into my bones. When I confronted him, Marcus growled, “She’s been struggling solo, so I felt bad—since when’s that a crime?”

I snapped back, venom dripping, “Oh, pitying her? Why don't you just claim her as your mate then?”

He stopped dead, his eyes narrowing into icy slits. “Elena, what’s your deal? You’re flipping out over a necklace?”

He shot up, gesturing toward our den, his voice cutting like claws. “When have I ever skipped a gift for any pack event? Who’s been snagging you enchanted trinkets, rare pelts, and fancy cloaks to strut around in?”

“You always think about what you want—never about how exhausted I am.”

“You gonna unravel our bond over this? Why can’t you be laid-back like Lila? She’d kill for half the stuff you take for granted. Ain’t you happy yet?”

His roar bounced off the walls. At Lila’s name, my claws dug into my thighs, grief crashing over me like a tidal wave. It was the same old song—every fight looped back to her.

Biting my lip, I forced a brittle smile. “I’m the one who’s not chill? I’m not happy?” My voice climbed, “Marcus, am I supposed to fix Lila’s rough life? Is it my job to pamper her?”

“And yet here you are, my mate, showering her with gifts you’d never dream up for me! Ask the pack—who’s the unreasonable one here? You’ve never given a damn about my heart!”

I locked eyes with him, fury and betrayal churning inside. Last Mating Ceremony flashed in my mind—we’d planned a trip to the sacred Moonlit Grove. I’d prepped everything, buzzing with excitement, only for him to ditch me last-minute. “Pack business,” he’d barked, brushing me off. It stung like frostbite. When I pushed, He’d snapped. “Urgent stuff, Elena. We’ll reschedule—quit nagging about these dumb rituals and your neediness.”

He’d tossed me his amulet like it was trash and stormed out. Since then, he’d bailed on every moment that mattered. I’d chalked it up to a mate bond gone stale—until today. Now I saw it: his heart had bolted elsewhere.

Chest tight, I sucked in a breath to steady myself. Marcus blinked at my outburst, surprise flickering before his face went blank again. Not cold, just… indifferent. Silence stretched until his communicator buzzed. He glanced at it, sighed, and muttered, “Elena, I’ll get you a necklace. But can we skip the theatrics? You know I’m swamped with pack crap.”

Marcus, if you think she needs it more—great. Then the two of you can need each other forever. Don’t come near me again.

My voice echoed in the silence.

So that’s what we were now—done.

I’ve known Alpha Marcus since we were pups.