CHAPTER 1

For five years, Alpha Ethan hid Maya—the mate he had marked and the Luna his pack never knew existed.

Whenever he abandoned her for another woman, he gave Maya a blood-signed token promising her anything she desired.

After his hundredth broken promise, Maya finally used them.

Not for wealth. Not for revenge.

She asked to dissolve their mate bond and leave his pack forever.

Only when the bond shattered did Ethan realize what he had lost. But beyond his borders, the feared Rogue Alpha was already waiting to offer Maya everything Ethan never did:

A home. A family. And the chance to become someone’s first choice.

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Maya's POV

For ten years, the entire pack called Celeste Vale their future Luna. Nobody corrected them.

Not even my mate, Alpha Ethan Black.

Even though she found her mate five years ago and left to join his pack, everyone still anticipated when she would return to rule beside Ethan as his Luna.

Today was finally the day she returned, and the excitement radiating through the pack was impossible to miss.

Ethan signed the documents on his desk one after another without even looking at them. Instead, his eyes remained fixed on the television mounted on the wall, displaying Celeste's convoy almost arriving at the border of Ironclaw Pack.

Pack members lined the streets, holding placards and chanting, "WELCOME BACK, LUNA CELESTE!"

Ethan stood to leave when a throat cleared in the room.

His Beta, Gavin Vale, Celeste's elder brother, stalked forward.

"Alpha, my sister can come visit you later. Luna isn't well. Maybe you should stay with her instead?"

Ethan's lips curved into a frown. "Celeste is my best friend who has been away for so long. I have to welcome her back."

"But, Alpha—"

Ethan raised his hand. "Enough, Gavin! I'll only be gone for a few hours. Maya will be o—oh, Maya." He froze on seeing me. "What are you doing here? I told you to rest."

He rushed towards me, his eyes full of concern.

"Go back and rest, okay? So you can have strength for your birthday celebration."

I just nodded, unsure how to respond.

Ethan sighed. "I really don't want to leave you, darling, but as Alpha, I am needed somewhere. Please understand. In fact, let me show my sincerity."

I smiled weakly, my eyes stinging with tears I refused to let fall. I knew what was coming.

"Gavin."

"Yes, Alpha?"

"Give her another token. Whatever she asks for, jewelry, money, cars, property, even half of the pack, just give her. You can use my stamp on my behalf."

Gavin's jaw tightened as he nodded. Without another word, Ethan hurried out the door.

We grew up as best friends, and although Ethan had feelings for Celeste, she eventually found her mate and left. Years later, Ethan and I discovered we were mates. I thought he'd reject me because of Celeste, but he told me I was his mate and we were going to make things work.

A year later, just when we were to announce our bond, Celeste returned. I had spent the entire day preparing myself for the celebration. I waited until midnight, but Ethan never came.

Instead, he sent his Beta to deliver a blood-signed promise token.

"I owe you one token. You can request anything from the pack and it'll be yours."

Every time Celeste appeared, Ethan left me behind. For each failed promise, he signed a binding Alpha decree document that gave me anything I wanted.

That was the first token. In just a few years, I had accumulated ninety-eight tokens.

Now, number ninety-nine.

A hand landed on my shoulder. I looked up into Gavin's softened eyes.

"I'm sorry about what Ethan is doing. I'll talk to—"

"Please hand me the signed token," I choked out.

In the entire pack, he was the only one who knew that I was the Luna.

He sighed and walked towards Ethan's desk.

"This is what I want this time." I slipped a note to him.

Gavin stilled. For all the past tokens, I had refused to ask for anything.

But not anymore.

This time, my only request was this:

"If tokens reach one hundred, whatever is requested by Miss Maya Reed, will be irreversible, including dissolution of mate bond and voluntary departure from pack territory. Alpha Ethan Black’s signature stands as a promise to not interfere in any way."

Gavin stared at the note, stunned.

"L-Luna, are you sure about this?"

I nodded and walked out with my head lifted.

Once this was signed, I would be free in six days.

Six days.