Chapter 1

The lunar deity was aware of my deep longing for a child, not to satisfy my partner, Alpha Owen, but to experience the joy of nurturing my own offspring—creating a family of my own. However, my aspirations for a complete family were shattered when rogue attackers struck one night, leaving me gravely wounded.

I attempted to reach Owen through our mental connection until my head ached from the effort, but he remained unresponsive. It seemed as though he was intentionally blocking our link.

After the pack's fighters had cleared away the bodies following the assault and I had recovered from my injuries, I returned to the pack residence. I headed straight for Owen's study, hoping to uncover some explanation for why the Alpha of Hidden Spring Pack was absent during a critical moment when his pack was on the brink of collapse.

It was then that I accessed his computer, frantically searching for any information that might explain his sudden vanishing act. That's when I stumbled upon an email from Amber, Owen's former flame.

[Alpha Owen, I've returned. Let's meet at my old pack to catch up. -Amber]

So while his pack was under siege, he was off on a cozy reunion with his ex-girlfriend. The betrayal made my blood boil. It now made sense why I had been discovering bruises on my skin, which I had been concealing with cosmetics. My mate was unfaithful!

Five days later, Alpha Owen came back. I immediately detected a change in the air as he entered our sleeping quarters while I was drying my hair. My inner wolf was furious as I sensed another scent mingled with his, but I tried hard to suppress my emotions and those of my animal counterpart, pretending to be engrossed in my reflection at the dressing table.

"I know you tried to contact me mentally, but I was in the southern region, negotiating an alliance with Alpha Jude," my mate explained, placing his hands on my shoulders. "To earn his trust, I had to cut off all telepathic communication, even with you. I hope you can understand."

I met his gaze in the mirror and smiled, though it didn't reach my eyes. It was absurd how he was seeking alliances while we were under attack. But since I had instructed his second-in-command not to inform him of the terrible incident, he was oblivious to the rogue ambush.

Despite my desire to strike him for his foolishness or let my wolf tear him apart for his ignorance, I nodded and said, "That's fine, then."

His apologetic smile faded, replaced by a puzzled frown. "A-Are you sure you're not upset with me?" he asked cautiously.

"No. Why would I be? You were just acting in the best interest of our pack," I replied, shrugging, while internally I was seething with rage.

"Well, that's a relief. Besides, you can't really stay mad at me, can you?" he added, his voice brimming with overconfidence. "That's why, on my way back, I stopped by your favorite bakery and got you some treats as a peace offering," he said, placing a small ribbon-tied basket on the table before me.

I examined the package, inhaling its scent. My breathing tightened as I leapt from the chair as if it were about to explode. "I hope you remember that sesame seeds can trigger a severe allergic reaction for me," I said, striving to remain composed despite my rising panic.

He blinked. "I thought you liked...oh no. I'm so sorry, Aleli. I'll be more careful in the future."

Sesame seed bread—those were actually Amber's favorites.

Folding my arms across my chest, I said, "Perhaps you confused them with someone else's preferences."

"Of course I bought them for you. Who else would I buy them for?" Owen responded, looking bewildered. "I recall you mentioning how much you loved bread with sesame seeds. I wanted to surprise you."

"I never said that. Ever," I thought to myself. My heart felt like it was being crushed in a vise. "Maybe the staff would appreciate it if you gave them the bread instead."

"O-Okay?" He nodded slowly, picking up the basket. "I'm very sorry if you feel neglected, honey. These past few days, rogue attacks have become more frequent, and I've been focused on strengthening our defenses."

"I told you I understood," I replied, exhaling deeply.

"By the way, why were you trying to reach me mentally during my inter-pack meeting? Did something serious happen in our pack while I was away?"

"No," I answered promptly, anticipating that foolish question.

Just as he was about to speak again, his eyes turned completely yellow—the color of his wolf's eyes. It was evident that he was communicating mentally with someone. Our eyes didn't always glow when we used our mental link—only when our wolves were experiencing such strong emotions that they nearly surfaced.

He then shook his head and began to speak again, saying, "I have a situation to handle. I'll return as soon as I can."

Once he left the room, I found myself collapsing to the floor, my limbs shaking. He hadn't even noticed the bruises on my arms—the proof of his infidelity. But even though I was on the verge of a breakdown, I pulled myself together and mentally contacted Dr. Payne, my father.

"Dad, I accept your offer to be a pack doctor in the Onyx Werewolf's Committee. Please send me the details so I can prepare, as soon as possible."