Chapter 1
Turns out, for five years, all Callum ever saw when he looked at me — the wolfless one — was a stain on his Alpha reputation.
Everyone knew he was about to marry Elvira, the pureblooded heiress of the Silverfang pack. The entire Blood Moon pack was already gearing up for their bonding ceremony.
My best friend Tessa, a Beta, fed them updates on my every move in their group chat, laughing along as I made healing broths for Callum like I was a joke to them.
They figured as long as they dangled my brother's medical care over my head, I'd swallow my pride and stay their dirty little secret forever.
Until the day Elvira decided to prove who was in charge, and threw my brother into a pit lined with silver spikes.
Watching Callum shield blood-soaked Elvira behind him, I didn't cry. I didn't scream.
I just pulled a knife and drove it into the bond mark on my neck.
The scent of cold fir—another Alpha's scent—had been clinging to Callum's coat collar for half a month now.
Today was our bond anniversary.
I pushed open the study door carrying freshly made calming broth, finding him leaning back in his oversized leather chair, brow furrowed as he stared at a territorial map spread across his desk.
"Selina, I told you I'm dealing with pack business. Don't just walk in." He didn't even look up, his tone dripping with undisguised irritation.
I set the bowl on his desk, my gaze catching on his collar. There, barely visible, was a silver wolf fang emblem—the mark of the Silver Fang pack.
"Callum, today is our five-year anniversary." My voice came out steady as I searched his golden eyes—eyes that had once looked at me with warmth—for any trace of guilt.
He paused, then rubbed his temples dismissively.
"Sorry, there's been some trouble with the border between Blood Moon and Silver Fang lately. I've been swamped. I'll have Tessa take you shopping downtown tomorrow for one of those necklaces you like. Oh, and I already had someone transfer the money for Ryan's follow-up appointment. Don't worry about it."
My brother's name, tossed out like a handout. I didn't respond, just pushed the bowl closer to him.
Tessa. Hearing her name sent something cold through me. My Beta best friend had been avoiding me lately, always with some excuse.
Just as Callum reached for the bowl, his Alpha-only communicator on the desk buzzed to life.
He hadn't put in his earpiece, so it broadcast straight into the room—the pack's private mind-link channel.
Only Alphas and core members had access to that channel. Me, the wolfless one? I didn't even qualify to listen.
But now, the voices echoed clearly through the study.
"Callum, Elvira's bonding gown arrived. The measurements are perfect for her wolf form. That wolfless girl still hasn't caught on, has she?" An elder's voice.
My fingers tightened around the spoon.
Then a familiar voice, light and cheerful in a way that made my blood run cold. Tessa.
"Don't worry, Elder. That idiot Selina was just in the kitchen making soup. She actually thinks the Alpha's been working late to plan an anniversary surprise for her. Pathetic. A creature who can't even shift, actually believing she's Luna material."
Laughter rippled through the channel.
"Tessa, don't be cruel." A syrupy, condescending voice cut in. Elvira. "Selina's looked after Callum long enough, hasn't she? It's only fair we let her stay—in the back courtyard, of course. She can keep cooking for him."
"You're so generous, Elvira. That waste is only good for servant work anyway."
Each word was a blade dipped in silver, and it went in clean.
I stood frozen, throat tight, unable to say a word.
Everyone had known. Every elder, every friend I'd called a sister—all of them in on the joke.
Callum's expression shifted. He stabbed the disconnect button and stood, moving toward me.
"Selina, let me explain." He reached for me, actually looking wounded. "It's not what you think."
I jerked away, stepping back, staring at this man I'd loved for five years.
"Not what I think?" I laughed bitterly, pointing at the communicator. "Then what is it? Elvira's bonding gown? Tessa mocking me? Callum, how long have you people been playing me for a fool?!"
"Shut up!" My tone cut him, and his Alpha dominance rolled out instinctively.
"You're wolfless! You have no idea how hard it is to lead a pack! Blood Moon needs a Luna who can bear pureblooded heirs! Elvira is the Silver Fang heir—bonding with her will make Blood Moon the strongest force in this territory!"
"So you lied to me?" I bit out, eyes burning though I refused to let a single tear fall. "When you were dying in that rogue camp, I was the wolfless one who carried you back! You said the bond mark was sacred above all else!"
"I'm not abandoning you!" Callum frowned, his tone maddeningly reasonable. "Elvira is generous—she's agreed to let you stay. You can still live in the estate. Except for the Luna title, you won't lose anything."
Looking at his face, nausea rolled through me.
"Callum, you make me sick." I turned toward the door. "I'm done. This bullshit bond—whoever wants it can have it."
My hand had just touched the doorknob when the door swung open from the outside.
Tessa stood there, a self-satisfied smirk still lingering on her face.
When she saw me, she sighed with exaggerated sympathy.
"Selina, come on. Enough." She crossed her arms, looking down at me. "Callum is an Alpha. He has responsibilities. You're wolfless—being allowed to stay in the pack is already a huge privilege. Be the bigger person and don't make this harder for Callum, okay?"
I stared at this face that had once shared countless secrets with me. I didn't give her a chance to say another word.
I raised my hand and slapped her hard across the face.
"Who the hell do you think you are to lecture me?" I stared coldly at her shocked expression, her hand clutching her cheek.
"I'm not just leaving. I'm taking Ryan with me. You people can rot here together."
