chapter 1

When I was eight months pregnant, my mate—Jackson Shaw, Alpha of the Darkridge Pack—was accidentally hit with a Moonblight-laced aphrodisiac during a battle to annex another pack.

His body burned with an unbearable urge to mate, his arousal so intense that he swelled beyond control.

In order not to betray me, Jackson spent the entire night submerged in the icy spring alone.

The wolves in our pack praised how lucky I was. They said Jackson, the powerful Alpha of Darkridge, would rather endure the torment of Moonblight than lay a hand on his pregnant mate.

They called it the ultimate display of loyalty from an Alpha to his mate.

But on the day I gave birth, I saw the faint glow of wolf markings on the bellies of four female wolf servants brought over from the Whitemoon Pack.

I knew those were signs of a high-ranking wolf’s mark—and they were pregnant.

When I asked who their mate was, all four trembled, avoiding my gaze.

Just as I was about to ask the Alpha how he planned to deal with them, Jackson’s mother burst into my birthing chamber, haughtily announcing, “The Alpha of Darkridge is full of vigor! Harper Slade, the fact that these four are carrying my son’s pups is proof of the blessings and prosperity coming to the Darkridge Pack!”

That’s when it hit me. That night, Jackson had used them to satisfy his urges.

When he saw the blood drain from my face, Jackson pulled me into his arms, looking ashamed.

“Harp, when the Moonblight kicked in, I couldn't control my urges. I couldn’t bring myself to touch you, so I had to take them instead.”

Then he added, “Even if they give birth, their pups will never be as pure-blooded as ours. It won’t threaten your place as Luna. Please, let them stay in the Darkridge Pack.”

I stared at his deceitful face and said coldly, “I will never share my mate with four other women. I want our fated bond dissolved before Selene.”

…

Back then, as the eldest daughter of the Shadowmoon Pack, I was supposed to mate with the rightful heir of the Whitemoon Pack, completing a political alliance between the two clans.

But during a banquet, Jackson laid eyes on me. He insisted I was his fated mate and begged to form a bond.

At the time, my wolf hadn’t awakened yet.

I was sixteen—naive, sheltered, and had never seen much of the world, let alone a man.

Jackson pleaded sincerely, even threatening suicide. In my foolishness, I said yes.

On the night of our mating, Jackson swore before Selene to love only me and never touch another wolf.

During our first painful union, he used his fangs to mark me.

But less than a year after that mating and marking, he secretly slept with four women in a single night.

And got them all pregnant.

Jackson’s eyes were red as he clutched me tightly, shouting, “No! I won’t agree to sever the bond!”

His body shook as he held me tighter.

“Harp, I had no choice! Don’t you remember the vow we made before Selene? We would never break our bond—not even in death!”

He went on, “Them getting pregnant was an accident! My mother just wanted to strengthen the pack and told me to find more females. I swear, once they give birth, I’ll drive them out. It won’t threaten your position as Luna.”

I said nothing, but Jackson only got more worked up.

“It was just a one-night stand. They’re from your Shadowmoon Pack anyway! Why are you making such a big deal out of it?”

Watching the once-mighty Alpha of Darkridge—who had cut down his enemies without blinking—now spewing sweet lies like poison, trying to make it seem like I was the one betraying our vow?

My heart was dead.

I looked down at the four wolf women—Clara Bloom, Saddie Summers, Autumn Gale, and Elsie Snow.

We had grown up together, closer than sisters. They only followed me here to Darkridge because of me.

I had even promised that, when the time came, I’d find them the best warriors in the Darkridge Pack to witness their mating.

But now their stomachs were already slightly rounded, their faces pale as they exchanged nervous glances. Two months along and close to delivery—yet not one of them had said a word to me about what happened that night.

Jackson gave them a signal, and they all dropped to the ground before me.

They begged for my forgiveness. Clara kissed the hem of my pants and pleaded, “Luna, please don’t banish us. We grew up with you, and now we’ve been marked by the Alpha. If you drive us out, we’ll become lone wolves without a pack. Rogues will use us as breeding tools!”

Clara was always sharp and clever—my closest friend.

And now she was the one leading them in forcing my hand.

I bent down and calmly pinched her chin.

“Clara, you’ve always known me best. Do you remember what I hate the most?”

Her face turned ghostly pale. She glanced at Jackson, then stammered, “You… you’ve always said you’d never accept a mate who breaks Selene’s fated vow.”

I grew up in the Shadowmoon Pack. My father was nothing but a lustful wolf.

To him, Selene’s mate vow meant nothing.

He slept with nearly every female wolf in the pack.

My mother couldn’t bear the pain of watching him betray their vow, so in the end, she took her own life.

Since then, I swore before Selene that my fated mate would only ever belong to me.

That’s why I gave up my political marriage to Whitemoon Pack and became the Luna of Darkridge.

Because Jackson once vowed he would love only me.

I clenched my fists and stared at Clara, who was still on her knees.

“If you knew that, then why did you say yes to him? And now you dare guilt-trip me?”

Saddie, eyes red, stood up and pulled a silver dagger from her clothes, placing it at her throat.

“If Luna won’t let us stay in Darkridge, then we have no reason to live. We’d rather die here and now!”

As soon as she spoke, Autumn and Elsie followed suit, drawing their own silver daggers.

Jackson’s mother turned pale. She rushed over to shield them, then gave me a cold, mocking glare.

“Harper, how could you be so heartless? You’re the one who failed to give birth to a male wolf! Now you want to kill my son’s four sons?”

She sneered and continued, “You’re nothing but a useless she-wolf. Don’t think being the daughter of the Shadowmoon Pack gives you the right to do whatever you want. Since you bonded with Jackson, you’re Luna of the Darkridge Pack now. That means you must make sacrifices for the prosperity of the pack. I order you to let the four of them stay and bear more pups for my son. If you refuse, I’ll have Jackson exile you and leave you to fend for yourself!”

I looked at the farce unfolding before me, curled my lips, and slowly stood up.

“You’re the ex-Luna and Jackson’s mother. How could I possibly defy you? If you insist on keeping the four of them, I’ll allow it. But…”

I looked at the man I once loved, forcing down the pain as I spoke coldly.

“Sever our fated bond. And terminate all business ties between Shadowmoon Pack and Darkridge Pack. Then they can stay.”