Chapter 1

Just before our mating ceremony, my fated mate, Keane Blackwood, told me out of nowhere that he had to mark his widowed sister-in-law, Elara, first. He needed a pureblood heir.

And I was a half-blood werewolf.

"Talise, Elara is the best choice. Don't worry. This is purely political. You're the only one I love.

"It's only for a year. Wait for me."

His warm palm cupped my cheek, and he looked at me with the same love I'd always seen in his eyes.

I believed him.

But the very next day, news broke that Elara was pregnant. Three months along.

They'd been sneaking around behind my back for a long time.

"Why did you hide it from me?" I ran to confront him, my eyes red and my lips trembling.

"It's all for the pack." He sighed, looking tired.

For the Blackwood pack, he could put off our dates, stay out all night, and put my feelings dead last.

In the end, even my anger was dismissed as immature, and I was supposed to graciously hand over my own mate.

Suddenly I was so tired I could barely stand.

But Keane didn't seem to notice. He even asked me to give up the Luna's master suite on the top floor.

I scoffed, turned, and stormed home.

Then I opened my laptop and replied to the email from the Mediterranean medical project. "I accept your offer," I wrote.

Chapter 1

The moment I hit send, I let out a long breath. For the first time in ages, I felt light.

Finally, I didn't have to stay trapped in this twisted relationship anymore.

My suitcase lay open on the floor. I pulled my clothes out of the closet one by one and tossed them in.

Keane pushed the door open and stood in the doorway.

Even in a casual blazer, he filled the room. Alpha power rolled off him with every breath.

When he saw me crouched by the suitcase, he paused. "What are you packing for?"

I didn't look up, just shoved my lab notebook inside. "Making room for Elara."

Keane was quiet for two seconds. Then his warm, rough palm settled on my waist.

"Talise, thank you for giving up the master suite. When all this is over, I'll make it up to you and then some."

His voice was low and husky.

He smelled like whiskey and tobacco, the same as always.

Last winter, after too many all-nighters in the lab, I passed out, and Keane held me just like this. "Sweetheart, you never take care of yourself," he teased with a laugh. "Guess I'll have to look after you from now on."

I called him bossy, but secretly my heart was full.

Now, in those same arms, all I could think about was him holding Elara and stroking her belly.

My eyes stung.

I gently pushed him away. "I still have to help Elara move in tomorrow."

"No need to wait until tomorrow," he said with a quiet sigh. "Elara's already downstairs. The Elder Council wants her moved in as soon as possible."

I froze.

I ran straight downstairs. Elara stood at the door, stroking the small curve of her belly.

She wore a proud, smug smile.

But my eyes locked on the skin above her collar. Her neck had been smooth before. Now there was an Alpha's mark on it, plain as day.

I stood rooted to the spot.

Keane had told me he was saving the mark for the night of our mating ceremony.

I'd laughed at him for being old-fashioned, but it had made me feel cherished.

And now the mark that should have been mine was on another she-wolf.

"Talise?" Elara tilted her head. "Did you come down to welcome me?"

"That mark on your neck. When did that happen?" My voice came out cold.

Everything went silent.

The Omegas carrying her bags held their breath. Nobody dared say a word.

Keane, who'd followed me down, hesitated. "The doctor said Elara is too weak. An Alpha's mark helps her feel better... It's not what you think."

He shoved a chair out of his way and strode over to take my hand. "It's only a temporary... mark. Once the baby's born, it can be removed. I promise."

"A wolf can't mark more than one mate," I said, my lip curling as I looked at him. "So you don't plan to touch me for a whole year, right? For the sake of your baby."

Keane went rigid.

He opened his mouth, but nothing came out.

Maybe it was guilt.

Maybe it was stubbornness.

Maybe he felt torn.

In the end, silence was the only answer he gave me.

I turned to go, but Keane grabbed my wrist, his voice raw. "Talise, don't do this. I told you, you'll be the only Luna. Next month, I'm giving you the biggest, most perfect mating ceremony. I swear!"

I almost laughed out loud.

What good is a mating ceremony if we can't even bond?

He'd already marked someone else.

He'd given me up.

"Talise," Elara said, giving Keane a sympathetic look, "the Alpha and I did this for the pup. You have to understand what a hard position he's in—"

"Shut up," I cut her off flatly. Then I turned to Keane. "Of course your mark should protect Elara. She's pregnant, after all. I'll send over the rest of the blessing charms from the Moon Goddess suite too."

"Talise..." Keane hesitated, sounding pained.

I ignored him, pulled my hand free, and walked away.

Behind me, I heard Elara soothing him softly. "Alpha, the Luna is a half-blood, after all. She doesn't understand what a pureblood heir means to the pack..."

I walked faster. I didn't want to hear another word.

Back in my room, I locked the door. My laptop screen showed two unread emails.

One was the onboarding packet from the research team.

The other was from my mentor, Dylan Mercer. "Talise! The team lost so much when you gave up your research. Now you've finally come to your senses. On behalf of the Mediterranean International Medical Team, welcome back!"

I covered my eyes. So many emotions hit me at once, but no tears came.

Chapter 2

Early the next morning, Keane brought me a velvet box. Inside was a moonstone necklace.

"Talise, let me put it on you, okay?" he asked softly.

I ran my fingers over it and felt the moonlight energy flowing through it.

It was a piece meant only for the Luna.

Back then, on the grass by the Moon Spring, he'd told me, his eyes red, "Only you are good enough to be my Moon Goddess, my fated mate."

His voice had been full of conviction. "Talise, I swear, no matter what happens, you're my only one."

My heart fluttered, and I let him put it on me.

He fastened the clasp, wrapped his arms around my waist from behind, and looked into the mirror with me. "It suits you, sweetheart."

In the mirror, Keane was looking at me with so much love, as if I were still the most precious thing he had.

Maybe the Elder Council really is just putting too much pressure on him...

Maybe I really am the only one in his heart...

I took a deep breath, ready to tell him. "Keane, the institute has a project—"

His phone rang and cut me off.

Keane frowned. "Who'd be calling at this hour..."

He glanced at the caller ID, and his expression changed instantly.

"The clinic?" He picked up right away. "What is it?"

A frantic voice came through the line. "Alpha! Mrs. Blackwood has severe abdominal pain, and we can't find the cause!"

"What?" Keane went stiff.

"The pureblood heir's power may be so strong that it's destabilizing the pregnancy."

I watched Keane's face.

The moment the healer said "pureblood heir," something flashed in his eyes. Wild, hungry, possessive.

It was that damned Alpha hunger for an heir.

"I'm on my way," he said, already grabbing his coat.

"Keane." I caught his hand, refusing to give up. "Let me finish first..."

But he shook off my hand without a second's hesitation. The warmth was gone from his eyes. All that was left was cold authority.

His voice left no room for argument. "Talise, the heir comes first. Don't make a scene right now."

What I'd been about to say died in my throat.

I'd forgotten again. Elara and the pup came first now.

I'd always come after them.

I stood up, and my voice went cold too. "Fine. Then I'm coming with you."

Keane turned, his hard gaze edged with suspicion.

"For what? Talise, Elara doesn't need you."

His words cut me like a knife.

"I'll protect them. You don't need to come," he snapped, shoving past me toward the door.

I stumbled, and the back of my head hit the sharp corner of the coffee table. Pain shot through me, and I felt something warm seep through my hair.

"Keane!" I cried. When I pulled my hand away from my head, it was covered in blood.

He paused at the door for less than a second.

Without turning around, he said, "Talise, I have to protect my heir."

I stared at the spots of blood on my hand and couldn't say another word.

Once again, Keane had chosen his pack over me.

I sat alone in the living room, lonelier than I'd ever been, until something on my phone caught my eye.

A post was going viral on Instagram. In the picture, Keane had one hand on Elara's waist and a checkup report in the other.

The caption read, "The Alpha is so sweet taking Elara to her prenatal checkup. That baby pup is so lucky."

The comments exploded.

[I heard Talise is a half-blood. No wonder the Alpha went looking elsewhere.]

[Right? She's not even good enough to give the Alpha an heir.]

[And the Alpha still wants to bond with her? That's real devotion.]

[Elara is so beautiful and gentle. She's the one who should be the pack's Luna.]

My mate got someone else pregnant, and they're calling him devoted?

And me? Because I'm a half-blood, it doesn't matter that I'm a senior researcher or his fated mate. I'm still not good enough to have his heir?

I gave a short, bitter laugh.

I grabbed my car keys off the table and drove straight to the clinic. If nothing else, I wanted to hear Keane say it himself. Was I good enough or not?

Even that late at night, the clinic was lit up. I ran into Keane the second I got to the door.

He walked up to me frowning, clearly annoyed. "What are you doing here this late? Talise, don't forget you're my Luna—"

"Oh, really?" I laughed. "Then who are you? Elara's Alpha?"

His jaw tightened. He took a deep breath, like he was fighting to hold on to his temper.

Then he went still. The hard look left his face, and his eyes softened.

The pack mind-link.

Elara was reaching for him.

Sure enough, Keane stepped back and moved off to the side with his back to me.

I stared at him.

Suddenly I couldn't speak.

Then he spoke, his voice resigned. "Talise. The mating ceremony... might have to be pushed back for a while. Elara's pregnancy hasn't been stable, and the Elder Council wants me to spend more time with her."

I fought back the tears and forced a smile. "Sure."

Keane was obviously caught off guard.

He'd probably had a whole speech ready to talk me into it. Maybe he'd even braced for a fight.

He frowned, looking confused. He seemed both relieved and hurt that I cared so little.

Right then, my phone rang. It was a number I didn't know.

"Hello, is this Ms. Hart? I'm calling to confirm your flight details—"

"Yes, that's me," I said quickly. "One moment, please."

But Keane snatched my phone, suddenly on guard. "What flight details?"

Chapter 3

I grabbed my phone back. "A project for the institute. I have to travel."

"What project?"

I picked up a glass and drank some water to steady my voice. "I mentioned it to you before."

"No, you didn't."

"Maybe I forgot." I rubbed my forehead and stepped around him. "You've been so busy lately. There was no need to bother you with something this small."

"Talise, something's off with you today." Keane blocked my way and studied me. "Is this because I left early this morning? I can explain. The pup, he—"

"Alpha? Are you there?" a voice called out behind him.

"What's taking you so long?" Elara walked over and slipped her arm through Keane's like it was the most natural thing in the world. "The pup just kicked me. It's the first time he's moved. Do you want to feel?"

He crouched down at once and reverently laid his hand on her belly.

"He really is moving." Keane's face glowed as he felt the pup kick. "He's strong. He's going to be a powerful warrior someday. He'll be the best heir I could ask for."

I stood there like I was invisible.

Elara glanced up at me and tugged on Keane's sleeve. "Don't get too excited. Talise is still here."

I stopped and looked at her.

Her expression was soft and innocent.

The picture of a selfless woman, ready to sacrifice herself for the good of the pack.

"Oh, by the way, I heard Talise has the moonstone necklace," Elara said sweetly. "Could I have it for now? The moonlight energy in it is so strong. With it, I might be able to sleep better."

I looked at Keane, but he just stared at the floor and wouldn't meet my eyes.

After a long pause, he said, "Talise, go get the necklace."

I didn't know what he'd been thinking during that silence.

But I reminded him anyway. "That necklace is only for the Luna."

"But Elara needs it more right now." Keane's voice left no room for argument. "Go get it."

Everything went quiet.

They were both waiting to see what I'd do.

Maybe they expected me to get angry, cry, or make a scene.

But I just nodded.

The pain had gone so deep it had turned into a protective numbness.

I refused to give them the satisfaction of watching me fall apart.

Maybe I'd never really been one of them.

I took a deep breath, hurried back to my car for the velvet box, and handed it to Elara. "Here. If you want anything else, tell me now."

Elara clung to Keane's arm timidly. "Alpha, I think Talise is mad."

Keane frowned and fixed me with a stern look. "Talise, can you stop being so selfish? Is caring about power and status the only thing your human blood taught you?"

I stared at him in disbelief.

"You think I accepted your proposal because I wanted power?" I heard my own voice shaking.

Keane paused. "I didn't say that."

"You don't have to push back the mating ceremony," I said, swallowing past the burning ache in my throat. "Just cancel it."

"What did you say?" Keane looked stunned.

"Cancel the mating ceremony!"

"Are you out of your mind? Over a necklace?" Keane yanked my arm, his voice tight with anger. "What do you think a fated mate is? The Moon Goddess won't forgive this."

"And what about you? What do you think I am? A useless human girl? A fake Luna whose blood isn't pure enough to give you an heir?" I glared at him, my eyes red.

"That's not your fault." Keane faltered. After a long silence, he said, "Don't say things just because you're angry."

"I've never thought it was my fault." I lifted my chin and forced the tears back.

I was never going to cry in front of him again.

He wasn't worth it.

I tried to walk away, but Elara hurried after me and grabbed my wrist.

"The Elder Council agreed on the heir. It wasn't my choice. Could you... stop being mad at Keane?" She sounded so wounded.

"That has nothing to do with me," I said coldly. "Let go."

Instead, she pressed closer, putting herself between me and Keane. "Talise, you're smart. But you have to understand. Even if Keane loves you, that won't change your blood. I'm the one who can actually help him..."

I tried to pull my arm free.

But Elara stumbled back two steps as if I'd shoved her, and hit the wall.

She clutched her belly and cried, "Ah!"

Chapter 4

Keane rushed over and shoved me aside.

My head hit the edge of a handrail, and pain sent a flash of white across my vision.

He didn't spare me a single glance. He crouched to check on Elara.

Elara was pale, choking on sobs as she clutched his arm. "Alpha... it hurts so much... the baby... my baby!"

Keane scooped her up and glared down at me. "Talise! Do you have any idea what you've done?"

A vein throbbed at his temple.

I'd never seen that look on his face before, like I was a sinner who belonged in hell.

"I didn't touch her!" The words tore out of my throat, sharp and shrill. "I didn't!"

"I saw it with my own eyes." Keane's voice carried an authority only an Alpha could wield. "She's pregnant! You know exactly how important this pup is to the whole pack!"

Nurses and patients had stopped in the hallway to stare.

Someone pulled out a phone to record.

"Isn't that the Alpha?"

"Is that... Talise? How could she push Elara?"

"She must be scared of losing her spot. I always thought she seemed shady. I heard she's a half-blood, too."

I braced myself against the wall and stood up straight.

My forehead throbbed from the blow, and white spots swam across my vision. "Check the security cameras."

"Alpha!" Elara cut in. "Don't blame Talise... I lost my balance. She didn't mean it."

Keane's face darkened.

"Guards!" he barked. "Take Talise outside the room and make sure she stays there. She doesn't leave without my order!"

Two warriors held me outside the door of Elara's room.

People whispered all around me, but the noise inside me had finally gone completely quiet.

I really needed to go. There was no place for me here.

I belonged in a lab, not here waiting for an Alpha's pity as a half-blood Luna.

An hour later, Keane finally came out. He looked a little calmer. "The doctor says Elara needs to stay a few days for observation."

"Okay."

My flat response obviously made him angry.

He leaned down, gripped my chin, and glared at me. "You owe her an apology."

The fury in his eyes made him seem like a stranger.

I said through my teeth, "I didn't push her."

"The cameras don't cover that corner." He scoffed, his eyes indifferent. "No matter how much you dislike Elara, you shouldn't hurt the pup. The pup is innocent!"

He didn't believe me at all.

He was sure I'd done it for revenge.

"Talise, you really disappoint me." Keane dragged me to Elara's bedside. "Apologize."

I stood rigid and didn't move.

Elara lay in the hospital bed, her eyes flickering. "Alpha, Talise just doesn't know any better. Don't be hard on her."

I saw Keane swallow.

A few seconds later, an invisible weight came down on my shoulders like a boulder.

Alpha command.

My chest locked up. I could hardly breathe. The force drove me down.

My knees hit the floor with a thud. I tried to push myself up, but it was no use. My vision started to blur.

I'd never imagined it would one day be used on me.

I heard my own breath coming in quick, ragged gasps, and tears I couldn't control fell onto the floor.

When Keane saw my tears, he seemed to snap out of it. The command lifted all at once.

I knelt there gasping, my throat so dry I could taste rust.

I couldn't tell if my face was wet with sweat or tears.

"Enough." For an instant, his voice softened with concern.

I didn't understand why he suddenly cared. He was the one who'd brought me all this pain and humiliation.

In the end, he didn't help me up. He just said coldly, "You... you've been out of line lately. Go home and think about what you did."

I pushed myself up off the floor and didn't give him another look.

It was raining when I walked out of the clinic.

I hailed a cab, stopped at home for the suitcase I'd already packed, and headed straight to the airport.

In the dead of night, no one in the Blackwood pack noticed me leave. No one tried to stop me.

And Keane Blackwood was probably sharing his joy with his Luna and their child.

Leaning against the plane window, I slowly let out a breath.

Finally, I could leave.

Finally, I'd get a new life of my own.