Chapter 2

After breaking the bond, I erased every trace of Alpha Lucas from my life.

Yet here he was—again—standing just across the ceremonial hall at the Blackthorn Alliance Festival.

I had no intention of speaking to any of them. I turned quietly, hoping to slip away—

But an old acquaintance with a sharp voice called out:

“Winnie? Why are you dressed so plainly? Not even your Luna ceremonial robes?”

His voice was loud. Too loud.

Heads turned—Alphas, Betas, Omega envoys alike—all now staring in my direction.

My heart thumped. I met Lucas’s gaze—his eyes had been locked on me from the moment I entered.

Beside him stood Noah, our son. And next to them—Bianca, wrapped in a golden lunar robe, glowing in the spotlight of Pack prestige.

I forced a polite nod.

“It’s been a while.”

Alpha Lucas hesitated, eyes unreadable.

Then—he smirked, his voice cold:

“So this is what you’ve become after breaking our bond? You really don't deserve to be called Luna anymore.”

I had just come from a Land Treaty hearing beneath the Elder Council.

My makeup had faded, my robe was plain.

But Bianca stood beside him like a living monument—elegant gown, flawless paint, Luna’s halo firmly in place.

She tightened her grip on Lucas’s arm, then murmured with false tenderness:

“Don’t say that, Alpha Lucas… Winnie’s had it hard enough. No need to twist the knife.”

Then she turned to me, her face feigning pity:

“Still so proud, aren’t you, Winnie? You were the one who left Alpha and Noah behind.

If things are really that bad for you now… why not ask for help?

For old times’ sake, we wouldn’t leave you on the streets.”

I scoffed.

Others might not know why I broke the bond.

But she knew. Bianca knew.

I opened my mouth to reply—

But Alpha Lucas had already stepped forward, eyes cold, hand outstretched with a thick wad of cash.

His fingers were like ice. His voice even colder:

“When I gave Noah to Bianca after Ross’s death, it was to honor my late brother.

I took on double the duty. You never understood that.”

“You were the one who insisted on severing the bond.

Now you show up here—trying to win my attention?

You want me back? It's not happening.”

“But we were once mates, and we share a child.

Take this money. Buy yourself something decent—so no one has to laugh at you anymore.”

From behind him, Noah looked at me—his face complicated, unsure.

“I… I don’t see you as my mother anymore. But you gave birth to me. If you're struggling, we’ll help you.”

Their words pressed like stone on my chest.

In my past life, I had stood here before—pleading, hoping to mend a mother’s bond with her child.

But how could I forget?

Back then, I’d scraped together every coin to buy his favorite starwolf toys and honey biscuits.

Noah had thrown them into the trash in front of everyone, sneering:

“My mom is Bianca. Not you.”

And Lucas? When I tried to hug Noah,

He slapped me.

“Winnie, Noah belongs to Bianca now. Stop making a scene.”

That slap sent Wendy, the wolf inside me, into a howling rage.

“Stop bowing to them, Winnie. They are not worthy of you.”

I snapped out of it.

Staring at the money in Lucas’s hand—

I raised mine and swatted it away.

The bills scattered like snowflakes, slapping across his stunned face.

“Take it back. I don’t need it.”

His face darkened.

He forced out through gritted teeth:

“I’m only doing this for the child’s sake—”

Bianca pulled on his arm gently, her fake smile stretching.

“Oh, Winnie. It’s just a few hundred silver coins—no need to embarrass yourself.”

Then, as if struck by inspiration, she added:

“Actually, our office is looking for a janitorial omega.

Room and board included. A roof over your head.

Wouldn’t that be better than sleeping on the streets?”

I glared at her.

Disgust twisted in my gut.

I couldn’t hold it back. I turned and retched violently.

Bianca's eyes teared up instantly. She put on her well-practiced victim face:

“Winnie, I know you’ve always misunderstood me.

You think I stole your Alpha and your child… but I didn’t. I swear I didn’t…”

I laughed. Low and cold.

Wendy whispered inside me:

“You owe them nothing.

You didn’t abandon them—

they abandoned the right to stand beside you.”

Then, a vision seared across my memory—

I was three months pregnant, and fainted.

Rushed to the Pack hospital.

Before the doctors could even speak, Lucas grabbed my hand and shouted:

“Save the mother. She's my Luna!”

But that night, I overheard nurses whispering:

“They say she reacted to the lilies in her room.

But wasn’t it supposed to be scentless roses, per the Alpha’s orders?”

Later I learned—

Those herbal soups I drank for a month had been laced with silver-induced miscarriage extract.

And every bowl had been prepared and delivered… by Bianca.

And Lucas?

He watched me drink it. Every day.

Until I collapsed in blood.

Only then did he call for help.

Wendy roared inside me, fury reawakening my wolf soul.

I looked up—cold, sharp, unmoved.

“I said: I. Don’t. Need it.”