Chapter 4

The scent of milk and floral body balm still lingered on Alpha Yves’s trousers. It didn’t take much imagination to know what he and Wendy--his sister-in-law had just done behind that closed door.

My stomach turned violently.

Becky scoffed in my mind,

“What a pair—Alpha and fake Luna. The stench in this place is enough to make a wolf vomit.”

Just then, the pack’s infant healer knocked frantically at the door.

“Alpha Yves! Luna Wendy has a blocked milk flow. Someone must have upset her today—the milk's backed up, her chest is hard as stone, and Vincent hasn’t eaten all day. She’s in pain and crying nonstop. Please come quickly!”

Alpha Yves shoved me aside. My leg, torn years ago during an Alpha battle, gave out beneath me and I crashed to the ground. He didn’t spare me a glance.

“Wendy’s in that much pain and you’re only reporting now? What are you healers even good for?”

“Starting today, she’s not feeding Vincent directly anymore. Bring in more bonded nursemaids. I don’t want her to feel even a second of pain—and Vincent must never go hungry again!”

With that, he stormed off, leaving me kneeling in the corridor like discarded trash.

As his footsteps faded, memories came flooding back.

I was heavily pregnant then—weak, dizzy, and nauseated beyond control. One time, I clutched at Yves’s sleeve, voice trembling. “Yves… I feel so dizzy. Can we please call a pack doctor?”

He frowned, brushing my hand off harshly.

“Don’t exaggerate. Every pregnant female wolf goes through this. You’re Luna—act like it. Wendy’s been in a bad mood lately. I need to be with her.”

And he left. Not even a flick of his tail to acknowledge me.

Another time, my legs were so swollen I couldn’t get out of bed. I cried, sending him a mind-link.

“Yves, my legs hurt so much. I can’t move. Can you please come home?”

He cut the link with irritation.

“Miya, stop being so dramatic. Wendy’s unwell today. I need to care for her.”

That was it. The link was gone.

Becky roared in my head,

“You were his bonded Luna! And he cut the mind-link—for her? That’s not an Alpha, that’s a coward!”

When Lambert was born, barely three days later, I developed a severe breast infection. The pain nearly made me black out. I begged him to summon an omega nurse or a Luna healer.

He replied coldly,

“You’re Luna. Learn to endure. Pain is part of a mother wolf’s sacred journey.”

“Healers from outside can’t be trusted. Enemy packs might plant spies. I won’t risk Wendy’s safety for that.”

“You’re the most sensible one, Miya. Just bear with it.”

So I bore it. Alone.

No aid. No warmth. No voice to soothe me.

Those wounds never truly healed. My body still carries the damage—the headaches, the limp, the fatigue.

But now? For Wendy, he would do anything.

So what am I, really?

“Mom… don’t cry.”

I hadn’t realized I was crying until Lambert padded over from the bed. Her tiny hand touched my cheek, warm and steady.

“Mom… this is the 200th time he’s left us to go to Aunt Wendy.”

“I’ve thought about it. Let’s not wait anymore. Let’s leave.”

Becky murmured gently,

“She’s been saying it to herself for the past two hundred times.”

So the child knew. She had always known.

She just gave him chances—until there were none left.

I pulled Lambert into my arms and smiled through my tears.

“Okay. Mommy will take you away.”

—

The next morning, Wendy showed up uninvited.

She offered to take me to the Alpha District’s bespoke shops, saying it was an apology for not caring for Lambert properly.

She wrapped her arm around Yves’s naturally, like she’d always been his Luna.

“Alpha Yves, you’ll have to come pay, of course. Miya’s been through so much these two years—we need to make it up to her.”

I said nothing. Yves frowned in annoyance.

“Wendy means well. You and Lambert upset her so badly yesterday that she had a blocked milk flow and cried all night. And she’s not blaming you. Miya, don’t be ungrateful.”

He’d forgotten something.

The walls of the Alpha manor are paper thin.

I heard every sound they made last night—their moans, their gasps, Wendy calling him “Alpha” in her breathy voice.

Becky hissed,

“He made sure we heard them louder than they heard each other.”

In the end, I said yes.

—

We arrived at the Alpha Tier Luxury District of the pack lands.

Wendy wore a Moon-blessed silver-feathered gown, Yves a tailored Alpha formal suit. They walked ahead like they were carved from moonlight, soaking in the admiration of their doting omega attendants.

And me?

I limped behind them in a worn coat from two years ago, still smelling faintly of medicinal herbs.

Every servant gave me side-glances. Curious. Dismissive.

Whenever someone dared ask Yves who I was, he would glance at me briefly and reply coldly:

“She’s just an omega. She’s helping Wendy choose some outfits.”

Becky laughed bitterly,

“An omega? Then let’s take that bond ring off, Alpha Yves, and give it to someone who deserves it.”

The bystanders would nod and smile with reverence:

“Alpha Yves and Luna Wendy—such a perfect match. So kind, too! Taking care of even omegas like that… truly blessed by the Moon Goddess. A bond that will last a century, with strong heirs to come.”

I smiled slightly.

So this is what I’d become.

From fated Luna… to nameless omega.

He says he loves me. But in truth, he already buried me—alive.

Becky whispered like wind through the bones of wolves:

“The Moon Goddess watches. Our awakening starts the moment they pretend we never existed.”