Chapter 1

On the seventy-third night my Alpha mate went to her bed, she got pregnant.

Seven years ago, on the night of the lunar eclipse, I dragged him out of a pool of blood. He said: "I owe you my life."

Seven years later,his mother announced before the entire pack—my six-year-old daughter, Willow, no longer deserved to call him “Daddy.”

On my daughter’s birthday, he tricked us into coming to his engagement ceremony.

She let go of my hand, ran forward, and called out “Daddy.” He shoved her to the ground in front of everyone.

I watched her stand up by herself, brush the dust off her dress, and give an awkward little curtsey:“I’m sorry, Alpha Thorne. I was out of line.”

In that moment, my daughter's heart died. Mine had died long ago.

walked out that door with a smile, holding my daughter in my arms, and glanced at the plane tickets I had booked seven days earlier.

But this time, Willow and I would never look back.

……

The television in the living room was broadcasting a grand charity gala—"The Sterling-Thorne Alliance Charity Night."

A bonfire blazed in the courtyard of Sterling Manor while guests raised their glasses in celebration. The entire pack was buzzing about this event.

It was also my birthday, but no one remembered except my six-year-old daughter, Willow.

My Alpha husband, Fenris, stood beside Moiraine, the backdrop behind them covered in red roses. Even through the screen, I could smell that night lily fragrance—Moiraine's signature scent, one that had gradually seeped into my husband's skin over the years.

"Are we waiting for Daddy to come home?" Willow tugged at my sleeve.

"He's busy tonight." I brushed the hair from her forehead. "Let's celebrate on our own."

She frowned. "But it's your birthday. Why is Daddy over there?"

I froze for a moment, forcing a smile. "Having Willow with me is all the happiness I need. Come on, blow out the candles and make a wish?"

She took a deep breath, puffed out her cheeks, and blew out the candles. Eyes closed, she said: "I wish Mommy could have a really, really big cake next year, and... that Daddy will remember this day."

My throat tightened. I looked down at her small face lit by the candlelight, digging my nails into my palm to keep the tears from falling.

Moiraine Sterling, pureblooded heiress of the Sterling Pack.

Six years ago, when negotiations between the Thorne Pack and the Sterling family reached a deadlock, Moiraine arrived with her family's territorial resources and noble bloodline, becoming the perfect bargaining chip for an alliance marriage.

The year Fenris was elevated to Alpha, I had just saved his life from an ambush in the border canyon. He held my hand and said, "I owe you my life."

But fate has such a cruel sense of irony. He needed the pack's approval, and the pack needed Moiraine's bloodline and resources. So those late nights when he didn't come home, the night lily scent on his skin, the barely-deleted intimate messages on his phone—all of it was packaged as "for the good of the pack."

I once believed that saving someone's life would earn me at least some respect. I didn't realize that in the face of power, gratitude is just an IOU that can be voided at any time.

Just then, the host's excited voice came through the television: "Let's welcome Alpha Fenris Thorne!"

The camera pushed in. Moiraine turned and threw herself into Fenris's arms. His arm wrapped around her waist as fireworks exploded behind them, the light casting their embrace in intimate relief.

"Are you angry, Mommy?" Willow asked.

"Let's just enjoy our cake." I cut a slice and handed it to her.

She took a bite, then suddenly remembered something. "My birthday is the same day you first met Daddy, right?"

"Yes." I pulled out an old envelope. "That day during the eclipse, a werewolf was ambushed and badly wounded in the border canyon. I dragged him out of a pool of blood. He grabbed my hand and said, 'I owe you my life.' A week later, I received this letter."

"That person was Daddy?" She leaned in closer.

"Yes." I gently traced the yellowed edges. "He said he knew I was the one from the moment he saw me. But gratitude and love are two different things."

"What does that mean?"

"It means some promises aren't worth believing in."

She nodded solemnly.

The only light in the living room came from the television flickering on the walls. No knocking at the door. No messages.

A caption appeared on screen: "Tonight's biggest surprise is about to be revealed." Moiraine smiled mysteriously: "You'll see the surprise tomorrow."

"Did Daddy text you?" Willow asked.

"Not yet." I placed my phone face-down on the table.

She was quiet for a few seconds. "Mommy, can I make another wish?"

"Of course."

"I wish you'd stop waiting for him," she said softly.

I looked at her, somewhat surprised. A six-year-old child, far more perceptive than I'd imagined.

"Go wash up and get ready for bed." I stroked her head.

She scampered off to her room, her slippers pattering against the wooden floor.

I drew the curtains, opened my laptop, logged onto the airline website, and entered my destination: Moonshade Bay.

The date field hovered for a few seconds before I typed in a date seven days from now—the anniversary of our first meeting, and Willow's birthday.

And I knew that if I stayed just one more day, on the morning of the eighth day, we would leave this place.

The ticket price appeared on screen. I clicked "Confirm Booking."

Just then, my phone rang.

"Are you watching the livestream?" Fenris kept his voice low. "Today is important for the alliance. Don't overthink things."

"I'm celebrating my birthday." I leaned back in my chair. "My birthday, Fenris."

He was silent for a moment. "I didn't forget. It's just that tonight wasn't the right occasion. I'll make it up to you tomorrow—dinner, flowers, whatever you want."

"I want you to tell me the truth." I stared at the confirmation page on the screen. "She matters more to you than me and Willow. Doesn't she?"

"You know the situation—"

"So you chose her." My voice was calm. "In front of the pack, in front of the cameras, every single time you had to make a choice."

"Don't make this sound so ugly." His tone hardened. "Sienna, I'm working on it. Once this blows over, once the elders stop objecting, once—"

"You're always waiting." I cut him off. "Always making promises you can never keep."

"I never stopped loving you."

"But I don't believe that anymore," I said quietly.

His breath caught. "You're just upset right now."

"I'm perfectly calm." I glanced toward the bedroom. "Willow's birthday is next week. You remember that, right?"

"Of course. The gift's been ready for a while."

"Good." I lifted the corner of my mouth. "That's also the anniversary of when we first met. It would be even better if you remembered that detail."

"Of course I remember." His voice softened. "Sienna, just give me a little more time."

"I already gave you time six years ago." I hung up.

A minute later, he called again. I didn't answer.

The broadcast had ended, the fireworks had stopped. Outside the window, there was only the night wind rattling against the glass.

I removed my moonstone pendant and held it in my palm, studying it. The stone glowed cold in the lamplight.

I set it down beside the flight confirmation email, then closed my laptop and turned off the last light in the living room.

"Mommy." Willow turned over in bed, her voice drowsy. "What time are we going to watch the moon rise next week?"

"Very early." I lay down beside her. "Before the sky is fully light."

"Why so early?"

"Because that day," I patted her gently, "we're going to start a new life."

"What's a new life like?"

"Free as moonlight," I said.

She made a contented little "mm" sound and fell asleep clutching her moonstone bunny plushie.

I opened the notes app on my phone and typed a single line: A mistaken encounter ends on the same day, years apart.

I stared at those words until my eyes began to sting.

Then I set my phone to silent and placed it beside my pillow.

Eight days. Just eight days left.

When that day came, I would return the man I'd pulled from the lunar eclipse seven years ago to his pack.

And then I would take my daughter and leave without looking back.