chapter 1

**CHAPTER ONE**

Ella’s world shattered with a doctor’s quiet pronouncement. “Luna, you… only have one year to live.” Dr. Evelyn slowly removed her glasses, her gaze fixed on the floor. “Your wolf has entered a dormant state.”

I couldn’t believe her words.

“My wolf… is dormant?” I breathed. “Surely there must be a mistake—”

“I’m sorry, Luna, but we double-checked the results. This condition can be triggered by prolonged stress and…” She paused, giving me an uncertain look. “… a lack of intimacy with one’s found but unmarked fated mate.”

I swallowed hard. Stress and a lack of intimacy with my mate… That sounded exactly like my life.

“Based on the few rare cases I could find, the prescribed course is to mark your fated mate or reject each other completely. But you are my Luna, and your fated mate is our Alpha…” Dr. Evelyn’s voice trailed off, heavy with doubt.

“We’re not even marked yet,” I whispered, not wanting to further confuse this kind woman.

Dr. Evelyn looked up, surprised. “You and Alpha Alexander aren’t marked? But you’re married.”

I bit my lip, my face flushing with hot embarrassment. It was true. For five years, I had been married to my fated mate, Alpha Alexander Solace of the Ashclaw Pack. By all rights, we should have been marked by now.

But we weren’t.

From the moment I recognized him as my fated mate at the annual Alpha Ball, I was captivated. His handsome, stubborn jaw, the shock of red hair, his sage-green eyes—he was everything. He was a remarkable leader, too: intelligent, headstrong, the perfect Alpha.

However, on our mating day, Alexander had handed me a contract.

“Our relationship will be purely contractual,” he stated. “For my reputation, I can’t reject my fated mate. But I won’t mark you, and there will be no intimacy. End of story.”

I had considered rejecting him after discovering his true nature, but my father, Alpha Richard Eden of the Stormhollow Pack, insisted I accept to secure Ashclaw’s support. He was too old to manage Stormhollow alone, and my younger half-brother, Brian, was too naive. We were desperate.

Alexander was a formidable Alpha. He had taken over Ashclaw as a teenager after his parents’ untimely deaths and hadn’t just survived—he’d made it thrive.

Besides, my father raised me to be the perfect Luna: gentle, obedient, a steadfast partner to an Alpha. It was my destiny. So, when he pleaded with me to set my feelings aside and marry Alexander, I obeyed. As always.

Like a good girl, I married him. I signed the contract.

I became his Luna in title and duty, but behind closed doors, we were strangers. I moved into the west wing of his mansion, as far from his quarters as possible.

Intimacy was out of the question. Even my early attempts—preparing meals, arranging chance meetings—were met with cold indifference. Eventually, I gave up. I remained obedient, quiet, and hardworking, bottling everything up even as my heart broke knowing my husband would never love me.

Somehow, I knew that even if I told Alexander about my death sentence now, it would change nothing.

“One year, Luna,” Dr. Evelyn said gently as I gathered my things. “If you want to live, you must decide: mark Alpha Alexander or reject him.”

My Gamma maid, Lilith, waited in the lobby. Her silver hair was in its usual neat bun, and she wore a simple gray cardigan and skirt. She rose quickly when she saw me.

“Well? How did it go?”

I took her hand and led her outside into the cool spring air. The breeze cooled my flushed cheeks, and the scent of blooming flowers offered a sliver of comfort. I always loved spring most; the thought of never experiencing another one was almost too much to bear.

“I’m dying,” I said simply.

Lilith stopped short. “You… what?” Her voice choked. Tears already welled in her weathered hazel eyes.

The sight made my own eyes sting. Lilith was old enough to be my mother but felt more like a sister. The thought of leaving her was worse than missing another spring.

I squeezed her hand.

“My wolf is dormant,” I said calmly, as if discussing the weather. I feared that if anyone saw me break, they would gossip about the lovelorn Luna of Ashclaw finally crumbling. “I have a year to live.”

Lilith sniffled. “I told you to see the doctor sooner, you silly girl. The moment you felt your wolf fading—they could have caught it, treated it before—”

“There is a cure,” I said, pulling my shoulders back and meeting her gaze evenly. “Alexander must mark me or reject me. One or the other. If he chooses, I will live.”

Relief washed over her features, but it was short-lived. “Which do you think he would choose?” she whispered, low enough for only me to hear. “Can you handle it if he ends it?”

I hated to admit it, but the thought of our marriage ending made my heart stutter painfully. We had no real relationship, but… a small, stubborn part of me still hoped he would mark me, not reject me.

Finally, I managed, “We’ll have to find out.”

“So you’re going to make him choose,” she said.

I nodded. Lilith’s eyes widened as I turned abruptly toward the car.

Her shock was warranted. I had always suppressed my own needs to be the competent, selfless Luna for the pack and for Alexander. Advocating for myself was entirely out of character.

But what choice did I have? I had to save myself. I could no longer be Ella, the selfless Luna who endured heartbreak, loneliness, and sickness without complaint.

For once, I had to stand up for myself.

It was either that… or lose my life at twenty-two.

Upon returning to the mansion, I was unsurprised to find Alexander holed up in his study. He always was. Rather than enjoying the ancient manor’s vast halls or sunrooms, he remained locked in that stuffy office, poring over paperwork.

I strode to the large wooden double doors, hearing his deep voice rumble from within. His Beta, Gabriel, stood sentry outside and stepped into my path as I reached for the handle.

“You don’t have an appointment,” Gabriel grunted.

“I need to speak to my husband.”

“Then you should have scheduled one. The Alpha is indisposed—he’s in a meeting. One you are not invited to.”

I bristled at his insubordination. Gabriel had always looked down on me, always disrespected me. And I had always let him.

But no more. When you have only a year to live, you suddenly have no time to maintain the image of a gentle wolfling who rolls over at the slightest provocation. Especially not with subordinates.

“Move,” I commanded.

Gabriel stiffened. His brown eyes took on an ethereal golden glow—a reaction I had only seen before when Alexander used his Alpha voice.

I had never used my Luna voice before. I had to admit… it felt good.

His jaw clenched. He didn’t want to obey, but he had no choice. His muscles moved against his will, his neck tilting slightly as if to bare his throat. I lifted my chin, my face a mask of authoritative calm.

Finally, he stepped aside. “As you wish, Luna.”

I gritted my teeth, flung the door open, and stormed inside.