Chapter 2

At first, he said I was a Beta—too young, too inexperienced to bear the responsibility of becoming a Luna.

He didn’t want to bind me with a mate bond, claiming it would be unfair to me.

Later, he changed his tune. He said he wanted to establish his own territory and career in the border city first. Once he was powerful enough, he would give me the honor of being the wife of a successful Alpha.

Every excuse sounded noble, like he was thinking of me, thinking of our future.

And I—like a fool—believed every word.

I thought he was a responsible Alpha. I even helped him reject the mate-pairing my family arranged, defying the Elders, just to follow him down an uncertain path.

For five whole years, I never doubted him.

Every time my brother Robin questioned whether he was just playing with me, I would shield him without hesitation, defending him with every ounce of my trust.

I waited five years. My friends had started settling down, some even had children already.

And I was still waiting—waiting for him to say, "It’s time. Let’s bind the mate bond."

Finally, that night, he took out a silver box.

Moonlight spilled across his kneeling figure, and my heart nearly burst from my chest.

At that moment, I truly believed I was the happiest she-wolf in the world.

We set a wedding date. We began preparing for the mate ceremony.

But strangely, he still refused to visit my parents. He said he wanted to “surprise” my family on the day of the ceremony.

Looking back, it wasn’t a surprise—it was an insult.

Just as everything seemed to be falling into place, Noah returned to town—bringing with her a dying mother suffering from soul core collapse.

Only then did I finally understand.

From beginning to end, I was just a backup in his plan.

A placeholder. A mate he could replace at any moment.

I laughed.

Then I pulled open the drawer and grabbed the ID tag he had left behind—engraved with his border pack’s registration number and bloodline rank.

I hurled it at him without mercy.

“Don’t worry,” I said. “I’m not interested in an Alpha someone else has already used.”

The words struck him like silver claws straight into his pride.

His expression shifted. His voice turned hoarse.

“I’ve told you, Abigail—again and again. It’s just a symbolic ceremony, to fulfill her mother’s last wish. There’s no real bond. You are my true Luna.”

“Then go act out your little drama with her,” I snapped.

Alpha Josh silently picked up the ID tag, his fingers trembling.

The once-firm, gentle face I knew now looked worn, exhausted—like a stranger’s.

Still, he tried to explain.

“There won’t be a blood oath,” he insisted. “It’s just for show. Just a process. A way to settle an old woman’s dying wish...”

I stared at him, my voice flat. “Oh.”

My emotions had frozen over, like a lake in the dead of winter.

He tried to move closer, probably thinking he could kiss the anger out of me like he used to.

But before he could even touch me, Noah burst in from the hallway, as if she’d been waiting for the perfect cue.

Like a madwoman, she shoved me to the ground.

I lost my balance and slammed onto the hardwood floor.

As I struggled to get up, she threw herself into Alpha Josh’s arms.

His reflexes kicked in—he caught her. And they collapsed together.

I watched as Noah climbed on top of him, breathless, cheeks flushed.

She leaned down and whispered in his ear, just loud enough for me to hear:

“Josh... your Alpha scent still makes me feel so safe…”

Alpha Josh froze. His expression turned rigid.

He didn’t push her away.

His hands… were still on her waist.

I sat up slowly and stared at the disgusting display in front of me—badly acted, yet revolting all the same.

“Noah,” I said, rising with a cold smile, my voice sharp as a blade,

“Why don’t you just go ahead and mark him?

That way, you won’t have to put so much effort into pretending.”

Noah looked at me, tears brimming in her eyes, her face twisted in pitiful guilt.

“Abigail, I’m sorry… You can hit me, yell at me, anything—but don’t take it out on Josh. If he gets hurt—”

I couldn’t listen to another word. I turned and walked away.

“You two need some private space, right?

Then take your time and see if your ‘connection’ is working properly.”

I reached the door and slammed it shut behind me with a loud BANG.

As I stood waiting for the elevator, I heard the rapid click of high heels behind me.

Noah had chased me out, lips still red, eyes still wet—like she’d just been ripped from something intimate.

“Abigail, please. I never meant to take your place. My mom is dying.

Once the ceremony is done, we’ll terminate the bonding contract right away.

I don’t want a future with Josh. Please… believe me.”

She even dropped to her knees mid-sentence, as if about to beg.

But before she could touch the ground, the Alpha—who’d just been panting beneath her—stormed out and yanked her into his arms.

He looked at me, his expression ice-cold.

“Abigail, don’t push me,” he warned, his voice laced with Alpha command.

“If you cause a scene at the mate ceremony, if things spiral out of control—you’ll be the one paying the price.”

I stood still, letting his Alpha aura crash over me.

But inside, all I felt was bitter amusement.

“Until the ceremony’s over,” he said, voice like an order,“you’re not going anywhere. I’ve already posted guards around you.”