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"""Please, Liam, I just lost our baby. Don't let them take my blood."" My voice was barely a whisper, my body still trembling from the surgery—from the emptiness where our child used to be. But my husband didn't even look at me. His gaze was fixed on the ER doors, where doctors shouted about Breanne's critical blood loss. Breanne Telder. The Beta's daughter. His best friend. The woman he swore was""just like a sister.” The same woman who caused the fall that cost me our pup. ""She's RH-negative and we're out of stock. Find donors—now!"" The surgeon said urgently. ""Take hers."" Liam's arm slid around my waist—not to comfort me, not to hold me—but to push me forward like an offering.""Wolfless born shifters are universal donors. Her blood will save Breanne."" I froze as if struck by lightning, my disbelieving eyes lifting to meet his. Did he and his wolf even realize what they'd done? They didn't have to say the rejection—offering their mate's blood to another woman screamed it loud enough. ""Liam,"" I managed to whisper, ""I just lost our pup—"" ""Spare me the lies. I am done believing you!"" His eyes were cold steel. ""Breanne's life comes first right now."" The words cut deeper than any blade. I straightened, ignoring the spinning in my head, every inch of me trembling but unbroken. ""You've made your choice, Liam. And after today…"" my voice didn't crack this time ""I'll make mine."" The doctor's hand gripped my arm, leading me toward the blood lab. ""I'll donate the blood,"" I didn't fight it. ""But in return, you will agree to end our mate bond.”" ***** Chapter 1 Dropping the Mate I stood at the gate of the Sterling Moon Packhouse, clutching a cake box that had begun to melt in the summer heat. My usually pristine blonde hair was now stuck to my neck and face in damp strands, and my designer dress was now ruined with mud and swamp stains. I hadn't meant to arrive at my third mating anniversary looking like I had been dragged through a hedge backward and then tossed in the swamp lands beyond the pack grounds. But then again, being cornered and ambushed by rogues, conveniently knowing my whereabouts without an escort or protection, wasn't exactly part of my agenda either. A mysterious yet heroic stranger had rescued me and driven me back to the edge of my mate’s pack territory when Liam Sterling, my mate and the pack's Alpha, hadn't answered any of my fifteen frantic calls. I had almost convinced myself he was simply busy orchestrating some grand anniversary surprise. That had to be it. Otherwise, why else would he send me out alone for the cake retrieval and then not bother to answer my calls? I quickened my pace toward the entrance of the packhouse, not wanting to delay the celebration any longer than I already had. I rounded the corner only to stop dead at the sight before me. The entire packhouse had been transformed with floral arches, helium balloons, and an enormous banner. My fingers tightened around the cake box. I had doubts about walking into the grand hall; perhaps I should slip upstairs to change first. Then Liam's familiar voice called out. "There's my beautiful mate! Took you long enough, sweetheart. Everyone's waiting for the cake. Were the directions not clear enough?" He teased, not taking in the dishevelled state of my appearance or the fact that my smile didn’t reach my eyes. He often failed to see me. I looked up to find my mate looking devastatingly handsome in a white Tom Ford suit, his gray waistcoat accentuating those broad shoulders I used to trace my fingers over. He hadn't dressed like this for me in years. I pushed aside the gnawing doubts starting to fill my heart and embraced the fact that he was trying to make things right. This was not the time to voice my disappointments with his lack of attention or concern. We're here to celebrate our mate bond with the pack. This was also the year that he promised to swear me in as the official Luna, to lead by his side. Three years of proving myself capable despite not having a wolf of my own, and now here we were. My lips began curving into a smile despite myself. Maybe the rogues and the ambush, the ruined dress, the ignored calls—perhaps none of it mattered now that I was home. Liam would keep me safe, and we were going to announce that I was stepping into a role that should have been mine when we first mated. "Liam, I was just—" I was about to explain the rogues, the ambush, the mysterious saviour, but was cut off mid-sentence. "Liam! Is that my cake?" A shrill voice interrupted as Breanne Telder materialized behind Liam, looping her arm through his as though it was where she belonged. She was Liam’s father's Beta’s daughter. Otherwise known as the third wheel in our relationship and the pick me girl that Liam always did. She was also not supposed to be here. She was sent away a while ago, and Liam promised to focus solely on us. "You flew me home just for this birthday surprise? Best Alpha bestie ever!" The cake box slipped from my fingers, landing with a sickening splat on the custom marble flooring beneath me. The same flooring I wanted to either swallow me or Breanna up in this moment. Birthday surprise? What the hell did that mean? Those two words echoed in my skull like gunshots. For weeks, I had known Liam was planning something secretive. The custom-ordered flowers were delivered under the cover of darkness. The expensive Eclipse Stone rough he'd purchased at auction. All those whispered phone calls I had pretended not to hear. It all led to this moment, but it wasn’t the moment I had expected. I had woven every scrap of evidence into fantasies of candlelit vows renewed, of Liam dropping to one knee all over again. Even when he hadn't picked up during my attack from rogues, I had made excuses for him. Now Breanne's smug smile shattered those delusions like a hammer through stained glass. "What the hell were you thinking, Claire?" Stephanie Sterling's razor-sharp heels clicked across the flooring as she advanced. "We've been waiting two hours for that cake! You can’t do one single task; no wonder you will never be Luna material for the Sterling Moon pack." Stephanie was Liam's mother. From the moment I mated into the Alpha family, Stephanie had made no secret of her dislike; she was the reason Liam was convinced to hold off and force me to prove myself as Luna material. Over time, that contempt had only grown bolder, more vicious, no longer even pretending to hide it. Failing to see Liam, their Alpha, standing up for me, much of the pack started to support and see the validity in the points that their retired Luna was making. My hands shook. "This was supposed to be our anniversary party." Liam caught my elbow and steered me out of the room for privacy. "Baby, I'd planned a surprise for you, but Breanne asked for a pack-wide birthday celebration when she returned, so—" "So, instead of standing up for your mate, yet again, you conceded and did what they wanted. It’s fine for me to be let down, but not her? Message received, Liam." I wrenched my arm free, the movement sending fresh pain through my bruised ribs from the attack. I doubled over with a gasp. Before Liam could reach for me, Stephanie's voice sliced through the garden again. "Liam! Stop coddling her and get over here. This is why the wolfless should never hold ranks; they're weak and attention grabbers. Forget the cake, we'll just serve the petit fours instead." "Coming." He hesitated, then pressed a kiss to my temple. "We'll talk later." I remained crouched in the foyer of the packhouse as another wave of pain, this one far deeper than physical, crashed over me. Not a single pack member had asked why I looked like I'd been in a car wreck, why I'd been crying. From the other room where everyone gathered, the opening chords of "Happy Birthday" floated toward me. Each syrupy note felt like another papercut to my heart. It hit me suddenly—I hadn't celebrated a birthday since mating into the Alpha family, not once, though my own fell just days apart from Breanne's. And Liam had known this; he made a joke about the coincidence of his two best gals' being birthday buddies, but mine was always overshadowed. He quickly forgot about mine. I wiped my cheeks, giving myself a self-mocking smile. I should have known better than to hope for something more than what I already received. As the sun dipped low, I rose, my shadow stretching lonely behind me. Without a word, I climbed the stairs and clicked the bedroom door shut of the Alpha suite. Under the bathroom's harsh lighting, I peeled off my ruined dress and threw it in the trash. Steam fogged the mirrors as I scrubbed at skin that still felt dirty from the rogue's hands. I stayed under the scalding water until my fingers pruned. Wrapped in an oversized robe, I sat curled on the window seat watching party lights twinkle below until the last guest departed. At 11:00 PM, the bedroom door finally creaked open. I didn't turn when Liam's familiar cologne filled the room. I heard him hang up his jacket, then felt his whiskey-warm hands on my shoulders. "Happy anniversary, my beautiful, stunning mate." His lips brushed my ear. "Guess what I got you?" I shrugged him off. "I honestly don't care." He knelt before me, producing a velvet box with the flourish of a magician. "I had this carved from that Eclipse Stone rough. It is rumoured to help awaken latent wolfen spirits, strengthen auras and bring new beginnings.” Liam fastened the pendant around my neck. The cold stone settled between my chest like a brand. "Stunning." He kissed the hollow of my throat. "I was thinking that it’s been three years since we mated, and you have done so well proving yourself to me and this pack. I want us to now try for a pup. Bring this pack a new heir.” "Yeah, that’s not happening," I rejected the idea instantly. His chuckle was dark velvet. "You won't have to lift a finger, darling. I'll do all the—" "Liam." I met his gaze for the first time that night. “I want to submit an official request to break our mate bond!” Chapter 2 This Time, His Sweet Talk Won't Work My mind was made up before he finally came to our room. This wasn't like my previous impulsive threats in an attempt to get him to see the mistakes he was continuously making in our bond. This time, I was genuinely determined to leave. Three years of mateship flashed through my mind. I had lost count of how many times Liam had prioritized Breanne over my feelings or dismissed me because his mother said so. Who was his mate, and who was just a friend? I could no longer answer that question, and I was tired of trying to defend us. We weren’t bonded. Not the way the typical Alpha and mate were. It was usual for an Alpha never to leave his Luna’s side. She was his number one priority, even though the pack came second. The Alpha's mate was the heart of the pack and respected as an equal, but I was neither of those things. I haven’t been from the start. Breanne, even though she was briefly sent away, was still respected and noticed more than I could even hope for. If someone kept treating you in ways you disliked, it was because you allowed it. I had let it slide every other time. But today, Liam had crossed my final line. This day was our third anniversary. I didn’t care that he forgot my birthday, dinners, or events we planned together. I did, however, care about this milestone moment. A promise he made was long forgotten. This was that tipping point for my patience. “Really, Claire? You are threatening to reject our mate bond again? Don't say that every time you're upset, sweetheart. I was wrong about today. I'll make it up to you tomorrow." My eyes showed no emotion. “Don't bother. Not everything can be made up, and you can only backburner your mate for so long before she grows tired of being at the bottom of the priorities, Liam.” "Of course, this can be fixed. There's always next year. We will have a pup by then, and you will have long forgotten this little hiccup and tantrum." Liam pushed me down onto the sofa, kissing my face tenderly. With my hands pinned above my head, I wasn’t able to push him off. He expected the topic of having pups would appease me and calm my boiling anger. I had had enough of his nonsense and non-committal ways. I stared blankly at the ceiling as tears unexpectedly rolled down my cheeks. I lay like a dead weight. In the past, whenever we would fight or I would throw a tantrum, as Liam would title it, all he would do was use the mate bond against me. His kisses, his touch, his desires would wear me down, and I would accept his hollowed words of apology and his flashy gifts as though they meant something more than pacifying childish behaviour, in his mind. But this time, even though he held me down and I couldn’t resist, I was also not participating or encouraging him to continue. He was so self-absorbed that he couldn’t even realize that I wasn’t a willing participant. I was motionless, soundless, non-responsive. As Liam kept kissing me, his hands touched every part of my bruised body, utterly unaware of the pain he was inflicting both physically and emotionally. I felt his body suddenly freeze at the sound of a whimpered sob that slipped out of me. He looked out with hooded eyes, which quickly sobered and turned serious when he saw the tears in my eyes. His expression was frozen in panic. "Baby, why are you crying?" He quickly turned on the light. "Wait—you seemed off when you came home. Did something happen?" Finally, he remembered, but the damage between us was already done. My heart twisted, wishing that it didn’t take crying while he wanted sex to cover his mistakes for him to notice something was wrong. At the thought of how much distance was between us, more tears fell. Under the light, Liam finally saw the slight swelling on my face, the scratches on my arms and body, and the deep gash on my right leg with dried blood. His pupils contracted. "What happened?" I could sense his wolf stirring under the surface. It was clear that someone had hurt me, but they were only now realizing it. Just as I opened my mouth, his phone rang. I looked at the screen and rolled my eyes. Of course, it was Breanne. Liam sighed and offered a small apologetic smile before he answered in front of me. "Breanne, what's wrong?" "Liam, I think I ate something bad. My stomach hurts so much. Can you take me to the hospital?" Breanne's sugary voice came through. Liam automatically started to agree. I could see his eyes widen with panic at the thought that she was in pain. But right before he responded, he looked at me and my reddened, tear-filled eyes. "It's late. Claire and I are already in bed. Ask Mom if there's any medicine at home." Stephanie's sharp voice interrupted, "Liam, come now! This isn't ordinary pain. It could be appendicitis! She's pale as a ghost!" Liam's brow furrowed. "Fine. I'm coming." My heart sank like a stone. I shook my head in disbelief and turned away, refusing to meet his eyes. Yet again, I was pushed aside. Liam dressed quickly but hesitated at the door. After a long moment, he took my hand. "You're hurt too. Come with me, we'll get you checked at the hospital." That single word, "too", cut like a knife. I laughed dryly. "No need. Go ahead, play hero for another woman. If your mate's pain is less important than staying and understanding what happened, then your friend who has a stomach ache, don’t bother dragging me around like an accessory with false concern. I'd rather be alone." Liam stiffened. He opened his mouth to speak, but the phone kept ringing insistently. Finally, he sighed and pressed his black card into my hand. "Buy whatever you want. Consider it an apology." The door slammed shut. I weighed the card in my palm and smiled bitterly. Liam only ever had two ways to appease me—sex or money. It used to work. I fooled myself into believing it meant he cared, that he wasn’t good with expressing emotions, but I saw it for what it was now. This time, his sweet talk won't work. I walked to the closet and in the back corner, I pulled out my old suitcase. Inside was the most valuable thing I owned. My freedom. It was an official Rejection agreement signed the night before our mating. Back then, Liam had insisted on accepting our mate bond despite his family's objections. Afraid of being trapped in a toxic pack and mating, I had made him sign this; if I ever wanted to break the bond, he had to agree unconditionally. I thought we’d never need it. Liam had probably forgotten it existed. But I hadn't. During one fight, I had even consulted a lawyer who confirmed its validity. I could file for an official rejection of the bond with just this document and 30 days cooling-off period. Since he had already signed it, there was no need for Liam's consent for me to file it now. The Elders within the Council would perform the rejection ceremony within their own chambers. There was no need for either of us to be present. That was typically why Alphas refrained from preemptively signing these types of contracts. It relinquished control without their knowledge. Now was the time. Chapter 3 The Breaking Point I didn't sleep all night; I couldn’t. Instead, I spent those hours cutting up every photograph of us together. There weren’t many, I realized. My phone was filled with pictures of Liam whenever I could sneak photos when he was distracted or busy. He was honestly an Adonis of a man. But three years together, we had exactly twenty-three pictures of us together as a couple, and only thirteen of those were just Liam and me. The remaining ten were with Breanne. I snuck downstairs before anyone else woke up and went into Liam's office. There on the desk was a picture. It was of him and Breanne, hugging and smiling into the camera. They looked happy. Too happy. My inner bitter bitch was vomiting at the sight. On the other side of the desk was a picture of the three of us. That's right, not me and my mate. It was Breanne pressed against Liam's side, smiling up at him, and I was smiling at the camera on the other side. My arm was linked around his, and he was smiling, but for which female in the picture, your guess was as good as mine. I took the picture out of the frame, and bent it so that I was folded to the back. There, now he had two perfect couple pictures of him and Breanne. I will simply bow out of this weird three-way relationship. By dawn, I had already filed the official rejection agreement papers at the Council's registry office. Then I donated all the designer outfits Liam had bought me to charity. Afterward, I drove out of the pack grounds for a few hours to pawn every piece of jewelry he'd ever given me at the local broker's. I didn’t want it getting back to Liam, or the pack gossip mill to run rampant with their own speculations. Not yet anyway. It was a surprisingly large chunk of money in return, one thing I knew for sure about Liam. When he was grovelling for his indifferences and mistakes, he never cheaped out on the apology jewelry. The broker didn’t have the full amount on hand, so I opted to have it wired, which worked fine for me. I opened a new bank account and provided them with the necessary information. I returned to the packhouse early that afternoon. I had requested that the gardener cut down the Cherry Blossom tree in the pack’s courtyard. He was ordered to burn every branch and leaf until only ashes remained. When I agreed to mate with Liam, I had my reservations because his family didn’t support their Alpha heir accepting the bond to a wolfless orphan with average financial standings. Liam planted the tree as a token of his pledge of devotion to us and our bond. I fell for it, thinking it would make us stronger. But I was wrong. By late afternoon, I had either sold, donated or destroyed every token of Liam and his devotion to me and our bond: everything but the Eclipse stone pendant. Some legends state that the Moon Goddess herself blessed the eclipse stone to strengthen the will of the wolfless. Call me a fool, but it still served as a sliver of proof that at some point, he did care enough to seek out the stone for me. Now that everything was removed, it was time for me to step out and prepare everything for my new life after this month-long cooldown period ended, and I was no longer the unwanted mate of Alpha Liam Sterling. I knew I had to be smart and figure out my path now, as I had no family to turn to once the rejection was completed. When I was seven, my father had disappeared after a mountain climbing accident. It was speculated that rogues were involved, as they were heavy in the area at the time. My mother re-mated not long afterwards, and we became part of the Thorne family. They were the overlords, if you will, of the Crown of Thornes Pack, rivals of The Sterling Moon pack and next door neighbours to the territory. My mother left the Thorne family after accusations and rumours of her infidelity and gambling debts. I didn’t believe it, but it seemed that everyone else did. I had no idea where she even went. She certainly didn’t seek me out after she left that night, abandoning me. The only person who would even be considered family at this point was Lucien Thorne. He was my former stepbrother from my mother's second mating. However, Lucien was notorious for his short temper, and he constantly mistreated me while we lived under the same roof, so I would sooner wind up homeless than seek his help. The heat of Liam’s black card was burning a hole in my pocket, serving as a reminder of his literal words: “Buy whatever you want and consider it as an apology.” Okay! I will. I went to the bank and after the teller spoke with the branch manager to confirm my approval of using the Alpha’s account for a withdrawal, yup, that's right, I held no status, so I wasn’t even recognized with authority over our marital account; I withdrew one million dollars from his account. It was insulting and frustrating to know that Breanne can walk in here and not have as many hoops to jump through to get at my mate’s money. But that’s fine. I have already started to let go of my hold on him emotionally. My head has already done so. As I waited for the teller to return with the funds, my phone rang. Liyah Cruz. She was my closest friend before I accepted the bond with Liam. Liam didn’t like her influence on me, as he put it, so over the years, our friendship became strained. For her to be reaching out and calling me now, it had to be important. "Liyah? What's wrong?" I answered right away. "Oh, thank the Goddess. Claire, the International Equestrian Championships start in a month, but I just got injured during training." Liyah's voice was thick with disappointment. "Claire, you were the most talented rider we knew. I could think of no one else to take over. Could you compete in my place?" The memories came flooding back. Had I not mated with Liam, I might have become as renowned as Liyah in equestrian circles. But Liam had disapproved of me riding; he often called it unladylike. He'd gone as far as going behind my back and selling my beloved white stallion, Mirage, to a good owner, cutting off my last connection to the sport. The silence stretched until Liyah sighed. "I forgot your mate doesn't allow—" "I'll do it," I interrupted. "One month. I'll be ready." Liyah's excited squeal pierced through the receiver. "Really? Oh my Goddess! Everyone always said you shouldn't have given up your talent for mating! You're finally coming back to us!" My hand trembled around the phone. Yes, before mating into the Sterling Moon pack and Alpha family, I had shone so brightly. Before Liam, I used to be many things. I was the university's star student—straight A's in every subject. A gifted painter, champion rider, runway model, master chef, and award-winning debater—there was nothing I couldn't excel at. But three years of mating had eroded it all. I hadn't touched a paintbrush in years. I have forgotten how to walk a runway, and even lost my sharp tongue in arguments—forced to submit to even my mate's family and house staff. Only my cooking skills remained polished because I have cooked for Liam every single day since the beginning of our bond acceptance. Only now did I realize how much of myself I had sacrificed. But it wasn't too late. I could still start over. This was that chance to start taking my life by the reins, so to speak, and returning to the Claire that used to walk proudly with her chin held high. Chapter 4 Meeting on Horseback I met Liyah at the stables we once rode at together. “Thank you, Claire-bear. I can’t believe you are actually here.” Liyah launched herself on top of me, despite her knee brace. I thought I understood what I gave up to be with Liam, my mate, but I didn’t understand a fraction of it. This crazy woman, who used to be my world, wrapped around me. How did I let him separate us? “It’s me who should thank you, Lee-Lee. I’ve missed you. I’m sorry. No more boys between us, I promise.” I sobbed. Liyah looked up, and I saw the understanding in her eyes. We both wiped our faces and laughed at our equally blotchy faces. “Okay, later, we'll discuss everything!” She looked at me with as much conviction as her tiny body could muster. I nodded and smiled. “But now, let me introduce you to Diva, my stallion. Just a warning, he lives up to the name periodically. I think it’s an adorable quirk for him and refuse to break it out of him. You’ll love him!” Liyah leads us to the stables, where we meet the horse. Liyah was right. We matched instantly. It isn’t easy for a shifter to bond with a stallion, but I never had those worries. I was always able to click with any animal, to the point where Liyah's brother spent a year calling me freaking snow white! I hated it, but he wasn’t wrong. I galloped across the equestrian field at dawn, the stallion I rode was kicking up dew as it raced toward the rising sun. Then I saw them. Liam and Breanne shared a white mare, ambling toward my direction. Breanne was dressed in her pristine white riding jodhpurs with the matching show coat, leaned back against Liam's chest. Liam's attire was the stark contrast of black on black. I watched him bend his head low, whispering something in Breanne’s ear, causing a fit of giggles from her. I had waited for him to return all night. When I had reached out and called him to ask if he would be returning that night, I was told, by him, that since Breanna needed an emergency appendectomy, he would not leave her side until she recovered. That was when I cut up our photos, burning them to ashes. As I watch them now, a question came to my mind, causing my brow to arch. When did appendectomy patients start riding horses the next day? My grip tightened on the reins just as Breanne spotted me. “Oh! Liam, how spooky. Doesn’t that woman look just like Claire!”At her teasing words, I watched as Liam's head snapped up. There, I sat astride my stallion, the tailored navy riding jacket accentuating my hourglass figure, my gaze glacial. I knew he felt it. Dismounting, Liam approached until he could only see the sharp angle of my jaw. "Sweetheart, since when do you ride? I thought you quit that. You should've told me you were coming." The memory of his and Breanne’s intimate pose churned my stomach. I pressed a hand to my mouth to keep from being sick at the thought before answering flatly. "Would you have answered if I called?" This acidic tone only emerged when I was furious. Liam's smile turned placating. "My fault—left my phone in the car. It turned out to be a false alarm about Breanne's appendix. Since she's competing in the International Equestrian Championships next month, I was only helping her practice." Breanne urged her mare forward, pouting. "Liam, why must we explain everything to her? Come back, we have more important things to focus on. You haven't finished teaching me." "An International Championship contender needs amateur instruction? How curious. I wonder if anyone else here is getting that kind of coaching? But, Liam, if she requires coaching, I'll do it." As Liam turned, my voice froze him. Liam’s expression initially fell flat at my words, but he quickly brightened at my offer. "Exactly! Breanne, Claire won that championship years ago." 'How touching that he finally remembered I have value,' I thought bitterly. Breanne bit her lip. "But—" After years together, I knew Breanne’s games. She wasn’t as nervous on a horse as she portrayed. It was all an act for Liam. "No buts." I raised my riding crop. "Let's ride." The crop came down on Breanne's mare, which bolted forward with a whinny as Breanne shrieked. Liam paled. "Claire! She wasn't ready—" "Real trainers surprise their students." My amber eyes glinted. “Your coddling would've kept her mediocre forever.” Dust sprayed Liam's face as I galloped after Breanne, leaving him standing there, cheeks burning as if slapped. Good. This was just the beginning of my resistance. Breanne and I raced across the field. Though I was starting late, my black stallion, Diva, was not one to be outshone, and we soon overtook Breanne's white mare. For three years, Breanne had only seen the docile, obedient Claire. This commanding version, I’m sure, was unnerving. I could hear her growling, which, to be honest, was only slowing her own horse down. Her mare would not be able to focus on a race, with its rider losing its hold over herself. It was bound to spook her mare soon, and if she weren’t careful, she would get bucked. But as the saying goes, not my circus, not my monkeys. Diva and I were focused on ourselves. I could sense Breanne's determination to beat me. But, no matter how she pushed her champion mare, I remained ahead. As Diva and I passed her again, I caught a flash of movement from Breanne out of the corner of my eye. She pulled a hairpin out of her pocket and hurled it at Diva. That hairpin had been a gift from her friend at her birthday party, and she had been keeping it close to her chest just now. It was made of silver, and the sharp end drove hard into Diva's rump. Diva was instantly startled. Despite my expert handling and calming charm, which I have often used in the past to soothe a panicked horse, Diva threw me. I felt the gnash from the rock sticking out from the ground, which I hit my head on. The impact sending black spots across my vision—and a cry in absolute agony. My abdominal area pinched and screamed with a sharp and sudden pain like nothing I have ever felt before. There was blood on my hand when I touched it. I needed to get up. I needed to get back and get medical help because I knew Breanne wasn’t going to get me any. As I tried to push myself up off the ground with one hand, while the other was wrapped tightly around my stomach, still crying in sheer pain, a polished boot came forcefully down, cracking the bones in my hand. "Ah—!" The pain forced a gasp through clenched teeth. Chapter 5 The Two-Faced Woman "Claire, weren't you so impressive on horseback just now? How did you end up on the ground so fast?" Breanne crouched down, blinking her wide, innocent-looking eyes as she taunted me, pressing her boot harder against my hand, breaking the bones. She knew I was wolfless, and the pain she was causing; this was why she was doing it. To send me a message. I was hoping someone would come and find us, but the odds of this far from the training grounds were unlikely. "Oh my, I'm so sorry!" Breanne feigned surprise, finally lifting her foot with exaggerated remorse. "I didn't even see your hand there. How careless of me." “It’s to be expected with those massive feet of yours. What is that a size ten in men's?” I watched her eyes flash in anger briefly before she reined it back in. I yanked my hand back, and when Breanne reached out to help me up. I would always refuse her help; it was always a ploy for something worse. When she tried again, I recoiled, pushing myself up to my feet with gritted teeth. "Claire, that must've hurt. With riding skills like yours, how could you possibly think you were qualified to teach me?" Breanne smirked. "Only a fool would believe such a pitiful act, Breanne.” I glared, refusing to back down. "Oh, please. Can't accept that you're just not as good as I am? No wonder Liam doesn't like you much—you're such a sore loser." Breanne let out a mocking laugh. Breanne wasn’t hiding her petty, vindictive behaviour. She wanted me to know her intentions of returning and that she hadn't forgiven me for having her exiled. The reason Breanne was sent away a year ago was that I had walked in on her and Liam in the throes of passion. They were both half-naked and stuck to each other. Liam seemed to snap out of his daze the moment I entered the room and yanked Breanne off him. The thud of her head to the edge of the dresser brought out her wolf, and warriors nearby who heard the yelling managed to catch Breanne just in time before she could attack me. Liam sobered up instantly and demanded answers. Breanne played the confused card. That, like Liam, she had drunk a little too much at the pack celebration. She must have gotten confused about which floor she was on and passed out in mine and his bedroom, thinking it was hers. After all, his scent calms her, so she made sure to add that part—one extra little jab between Liam and me. Liam swore up and down that he was confused and thought it was me under the covers in bed. That, with the amount of wolfwine he had consumed, he didn’t realize it wasn’t me until my scent entered the room, and his wolf halted their action immediately recognizing their error. I moved to a different room, and Liam tried to separate himself from Breanne. Then he learned that Breanne approached me afterward and told me that Liam was aware it was her. After all, why would they confuse their mates? Unfortunately for Breanne, she did it in front of a witness, and they told several others, which led Liam to ask me about it. I confirmed that I knew he was aware that it was Breanne, as she told me so herself, and that I wanted to break the bond if he didn’t send her away as proof of his devotion to the mates' bond. I could see that he didn’t want to, but Liam was also someone who cared too much about image to have the wolfen community know that he lost his true mate over the Beta’s daughter affair scandal. With the third wheel gone, our mate bond had finally stabilized. I had hoped to start trying for a pup on our anniversary after I was announced as the new Luna of the Sterling Moon pack. But now Breanne was back, something of which Liam failed to inform me—especially considering it nearly ended us only a year ago. His lack of consideration over that confused me. Did his wolf also agree with this decision? Surely his wolf would realize better than Liam that this would ultimately bring out the bond to an end. "Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about," I said coolly. "But don't worry. I'll be out of your way soon. Then you two can do whatever you want." I turned away, whistling sharply for my horse. Breanne's face flushed crimson. She grabbed my arm and pressed her fingers deep into the flesh. “What the hell are you implying? What plans could I possibly have?” "You know exactly what I mean. But just a heads-up—mistresses in ranked mate bonds are illegal without Elder consent. And bastard pups tend to be shunned by packs altogether. So think carefully." Breanne's face went scarlet. "You—you're disgusting! How dare you accuse me and Liam of—" The sound of galloping hooves cut her off. Her eyes widened as though she hadn't expected us to be interrupted so soon. I turned to the sound of approaching Hooves, which gave Breanne time to growl her threat before she partially shifted and lunged at me with the intent to maul me where I stood. A chill ran down my spine—only to be overshadowed by the thunderous sound of a horse's disapproving whinny. Next thing I knew, Breanne was whimpering on the ground, crying in sheer agony as a scarred, filthy white stallion trampled her. My breath hitched, my eyes widened in disbelief. I knew this stallion. And then I saw it—the faint brown patch on the stallion's head. My blood turned to ice. No. It can’t be. "Mirage?" My voice cracked. The horse stopped mid-stomp, ears twitching. The sound of my voice stopped the Stallion from continuing its attack on Breanne, who had now reverted to her bruised human state, no longer partially shifted. The Stallion turned and looked at me. "Mirage!" I choked out, rushing forward to grab the reins. "It's really you!" I hadn't summoned my borrowed stallion. I had summoned him. My champion. My partner. My horse that Liam sold from under me, promising he went to a good home. Now, his coat was matted, his skin was patchy with disease, and his body was crisscrossed with whip marks. He was abused. Mirage had once been a regal, snow-white stallion, bought at auction by the Thornes. He had carried me to victory in countless competitions. He wasn't just a horse. He was my family. One of the most precious things I had. It took everything in me to forgive him for going behind my back and forcing me to stop riding by selling Mirage off in the first place, but it helped soothe the pain to know that at least he was being taken care of wherever he was. Liam had promised he'd be cared for. He lied. He looked me in the eye and lied to my face. He gave Mirage to a home that had continuously abused and neglected him. These wounds were a combination of old and recent. This was what Liam considered a good home? Tears burned my eyes as I ran my hands over his ruined coat. My heart was breaking. The abuse Mirage would have been enduring all this time, thinking I abandoned him. "Claire! Breanne!" Liam's voice cut through the air as another set of hooves approached. Chapter 6 The Fall The injuries and now Mirage, I was breaking inside and now outside. Just as my knees gave way, a firm hand caught my arm. "What took you so long out here? Are you all right?" Liam's voice, usually so tender, sounded distant in my ears. Through my tears, I turned to confront him about Mirage's condition, but Breanne's weak whimper cut through the air. "Liam.” She whimpered weakly. “Please, help me,” she pleaded. Liam stiffened as if struck. He released me immediately, like he was catching fire at just the mere touch of me. I staggered from the sudden loss of assistance and contact from my mate, and watched in disbelief as his attention snapped to Breanne's crumpled form on the ground. "Breanne!" His eyes reddened as he gathered her into his arms, cradling her close to her chest, "Oh my Goddess, what happened? How did this—?" I watched as he gently wiped away the tears staining her cheek. His eyes began to mist up. It was as though I were watching a live-action romance. The long-lost lover, dying in her beloved's arms. It would have been touching if it wasn't for the fact that that was my mate, holding another woman so tenderly while I stood five feet from them in significantly more pain. "Claire couldn't handle her horse. When I offered to help her back up, she then turned it around and blamed me! When I tried to explain I wasn’t at fault, she set that wretched beast on me!" Breanne's tears fell like broken pearls. Her voice grew faint as she added dramatically, "Liam, please, I can't feel my legs. What if I never walk again?" Liam's expression darkened as he listened to Breanne’s version of events. He turned to me with a sudden coldness I had never seen before. "Is this true?" He growled in anger, clutching Breanne closer to him protectively. A searing pain tore through my abdomen before I could respond. I cried out at the suddenness of it, and clutched my stomach, gasping through clenched teeth as metallic bile rose in my throat. Liam didn’t even flinch at the sight of my obvious pain before him. "I'm taking Breanne to the hospital," he said coldly. "If you did this, Claire—" He left the threat hanging as he cradled Breanne closer. I have never heard of an Alpha, or any rank member in my school studies or observations, threatening his mates and Luna over just a friend. It was against Wolfen code and ethics, but I suppose that didn’t matter to Liam or the Sterling Moon pack. This was going to become a regular occurrence, I could already sense it. I watched through blurred vision as Breanne gave one last performance. "Liam, I—" Her eyelids fluttered shut with theatrical perfection. "Bree-Bree! Stay with me! Please don’t leave me, baby. I’m here. Don’t you dare leave me!" Liam shouted, already running partially shifted into his wolf to allow himself to cradle her and use his Alpha wolf strength and speed at the same time. Behind him, I collapsed with a thud that echoed across the field. I briefly saw Liam hesitate mid-stride—just for a second. Regardless, he didn’t turn around at the sound of my collapse and shallow, laboured breaths. I watched as they continued to run away with Breanne in their arms, leaving me where I lay. My heart broke, even though I had filed and decided to leave both Liam and this horrible pack; a small part of me still held onto a sliver of hope that Liam would see the path he was taking and how far it was from us. But he didn’t, and that was when everything went dark for me. ***** When I regained consciousness, the sterile glare of surgical lights assaulted my vision. Cold metal instruments clinked nearby as my legs were positioned apart. I tried to speak, but the drugs held me paralyzed. The doctors' voices floated above me like ghosts. I could sense the movements around me, but I was awake, unable to move, feel, or speak. It was a surreal experience, but oddly familiar to my life since I had mated with the Sterling family. Nothing more than an ornament on the wall to all, including my mate. "Such a shame—two months along. Who goes horseback riding when they're pregnant?" "The fall detached the embryo completely. Must have been quite the impact. She is lucky to be alive." "Without a wolf, another hour, and she wouldn’t have been." "That man who brought her in—was that her husband? He was colder than a block of ice, but as Handsome as the Devil himself. Can’t say much about their mateship part, he simply paid the bill and left without a word." "Enough chatter. Let’s finish this up before she hemorrhages." Each medical term floating to my ears—pregnancy, embryo, hemorrhage, dilation and curettage—pierced my drugged haze like silver blades to the heart. The one that stuck out the most was broken. I knew they were talking about my hand, but it was so much deeper than that. I felt broken. I lost my pup. Until recently, I would have loved to have Liam and my first pup. Everything about us seemed happy and together, but now, it seemed symbolic to lose the pups I never knew I had. I was losing a mate I should never have had to fight this hard to keep. Everything was perfect until I saw it was all a smoke screen and not meant to be. Just like this pup. False hope. I struggled against the numbness, but my body refused to obey. Something sharp scraped inside me, painless but violating. The crushing weight of realization dragged me under before I could scream, I was once again enveloped by empty darkness. "Claire ... Claire ..." Time lost all meaning. A distant voice called my name while someone shook my arm. With monumental effort, I forced my eyes open. Once again, the antiseptic glare of hospital lights assaulted my vision—I was in a hospital room.
"""Please, Liam, I just lost our baby. Don't let them take my blood."" My voice was barely a whisper, my body still trembling from the surgery—from the emptiness where our child used to be. But my husband didn't even look at me. His gaze was fixed on the ER doors, where doctors shouted about Breanne's critical blood loss. Breanne Telder. The Beta's daughter. His best friend. The woman he swore was""just like a sister.” The same woman who caused the fall that cost me our pup. ""She's RH-negative and we're out of stock. Find donors—now!"" The surgeon said urgently. ""Take hers."" Liam's arm slid around my waist—not to comfort me, not to hold me—but to push me forward like an offering.""Wolfless born shifters are universal donors. Her blood will save Breanne."" I froze as if struck by lightning, my disbelieving eyes lifting to meet his. Did he and his wolf even realize what they'd done? They didn't have to say the rejection—offering their mate's blood to another woman screamed it loud enough. ""Liam,"" I managed to whisper, ""I just lost our pup—"" ""Spare me the lies. I am done believing you!"" His eyes were cold steel. ""Breanne's life comes first right now."" The words cut deeper than any blade. I straightened, ignoring the spinning in my head, every inch of me trembling but unbroken. ""You've made your choice, Liam. And after today…"" my voice didn't crack this time ""I'll make mine."" The doctor's hand gripped my arm, leading me toward the blood lab. ""I'll donate the blood,"" I didn't fight it. ""But in return, you will agree to end our mate bond.”" ***** Chapter 1 Dropping the Mate I stood at the gate of the Sterling Moon Packhouse, clutching a cake box that had begun to melt in the summer heat. My usually pristine blonde hair was now stuck to my neck and face in damp strands, and my designer dress was now ruined with mud and swamp stains. I hadn't meant to arrive at my third mating anniversary looking like I had been dragged through a hedge backward and then tossed in the swamp lands beyond the pack grounds. But then again, being cornered and ambushed by rogues, conveniently knowing my whereabouts without an escort or protection, wasn't exactly part of my agenda either. A mysterious yet heroic stranger had rescued me and driven me back to the edge of my mate’s pack territory when Liam Sterling, my mate and the pack's Alpha, hadn't answered any of my fifteen frantic calls. I had almost convinced myself he was simply busy orchestrating some grand anniversary surprise. That had to be it. Otherwise, why else would he send me out alone for the cake retrieval and then not bother to answer my calls? I quickened my pace toward the entrance of the packhouse, not wanting to delay the celebration any longer than I already had. I rounded the corner only to stop dead at the sight before me. The entire packhouse had been transformed with floral arches, helium balloons, and an enormous banner. My fingers tightened around the cake box. I had doubts about walking into the grand hall; perhaps I should slip upstairs to change first. Then Liam's familiar voice called out. "There's my beautiful mate! Took you long enough, sweetheart. Everyone's waiting for the cake. Were the directions not clear enough?" He teased, not taking in the dishevelled state of my appearance or the fact that my smile didn’t reach my eyes. He often failed to see me. I looked up to find my mate looking devastatingly handsome in a white Tom Ford suit, his gray waistcoat accentuating those broad shoulders I used to trace my fingers over. He hadn't dressed like this for me in years. I pushed aside the gnawing doubts starting to fill my heart and embraced the fact that he was trying to make things right. This was not the time to voice my disappointments with his lack of attention or concern. We're here to celebrate our mate bond with the pack. This was also the year that he promised to swear me in as the official Luna, to lead by his side. Three years of proving myself capable despite not having a wolf of my own, and now here we were. My lips began curving into a smile despite myself. Maybe the rogues and the ambush, the ruined dress, the ignored calls—perhaps none of it mattered now that I was home. Liam would keep me safe, and we were going to announce that I was stepping into a role that should have been mine when we first mated. "Liam, I was just—" I was about to explain the rogues, the ambush, the mysterious saviour, but was cut off mid-sentence. "Liam! Is that my cake?" A shrill voice interrupted as Breanne Telder materialized behind Liam, looping her arm through his as though it was where she belonged. She was Liam’s father's Beta’s daughter. Otherwise known as the third wheel in our relationship and the pick me girl that Liam always did. She was also not supposed to be here. She was sent away a while ago, and Liam promised to focus solely on us. "You flew me home just for this birthday surprise? Best Alpha bestie ever!" The cake box slipped from my fingers, landing with a sickening splat on the custom marble flooring beneath me. The same flooring I wanted to either swallow me or Breanna up in this moment. Birthday surprise? What the hell did that mean? Those two words echoed in my skull like gunshots. For weeks, I had known Liam was planning something secretive. The custom-ordered flowers were delivered under the cover of darkness. The expensive Eclipse Stone rough he'd purchased at auction. All those whispered phone calls I had pretended not to hear. It all led to this moment, but it wasn’t the moment I had expected. I had woven every scrap of evidence into fantasies of candlelit vows renewed, of Liam dropping to one knee all over again. Even when he hadn't picked up during my attack from rogues, I had made excuses for him. Now Breanne's smug smile shattered those delusions like a hammer through stained glass. "What the hell were you thinking, Claire?" Stephanie Sterling's razor-sharp heels clicked across the flooring as she advanced. "We've been waiting two hours for that cake! You can’t do one single task; no wonder you will never be Luna material for the Sterling Moon pack." Stephanie was Liam's mother. From the moment I mated into the Alpha family, Stephanie had made no secret of her dislike; she was the reason Liam was convinced to hold off and force me to prove myself as Luna material. Over time, that contempt had only grown bolder, more vicious, no longer even pretending to hide it. Failing to see Liam, their Alpha, standing up for me, much of the pack started to support and see the validity in the points that their retired Luna was making. My hands shook. "This was supposed to be our anniversary party." Liam caught my elbow and steered me out of the room for privacy. "Baby, I'd planned a surprise for you, but Breanne asked for a pack-wide birthday celebration when she returned, so—" "So, instead of standing up for your mate, yet again, you conceded and did what they wanted. It’s fine for me to be let down, but not her? Message received, Liam." I wrenched my arm free, the movement sending fresh pain through my bruised ribs from the attack. I doubled over with a gasp. Before Liam could reach for me, Stephanie's voice sliced through the garden again. "Liam! Stop coddling her and get over here. This is why the wolfless should never hold ranks; they're weak and attention grabbers. Forget the cake, we'll just serve the petit fours instead." "Coming." He hesitated, then pressed a kiss to my temple. "We'll talk later." I remained crouched in the foyer of the packhouse as another wave of pain, this one far deeper than physical, crashed over me. Not a single pack member had asked why I looked like I'd been in a car wreck, why I'd been crying. From the other room where everyone gathered, the opening chords of "Happy Birthday" floated toward me. Each syrupy note felt like another papercut to my heart. It hit me suddenly—I hadn't celebrated a birthday since mating into the Alpha family, not once, though my own fell just days apart from Breanne's. And Liam had known this; he made a joke about the coincidence of his two best gals' being birthday buddies, but mine was always overshadowed. He quickly forgot about mine. I wiped my cheeks, giving myself a self-mocking smile. I should have known better than to hope for something more than what I already received. As the sun dipped low, I rose, my shadow stretching lonely behind me. Without a word, I climbed the stairs and clicked the bedroom door shut of the Alpha suite. Under the bathroom's harsh lighting, I peeled off my ruined dress and threw it in the trash. Steam fogged the mirrors as I scrubbed at skin that still felt dirty from the rogue's hands. I stayed under the scalding water until my fingers pruned. Wrapped in an oversized robe, I sat curled on the window seat watching party lights twinkle below until the last guest departed. At 11:00 PM, the bedroom door finally creaked open. I didn't turn when Liam's familiar cologne filled the room. I heard him hang up his jacket, then felt his whiskey-warm hands on my shoulders. "Happy anniversary, my beautiful, stunning mate." His lips brushed my ear. "Guess what I got you?" I shrugged him off. "I honestly don't care." He knelt before me, producing a velvet box with the flourish of a magician. "I had this carved from that Eclipse Stone rough. It is rumoured to help awaken latent wolfen spirits, strengthen auras and bring new beginnings.” Liam fastened the pendant around my neck. The cold stone settled between my chest like a brand. "Stunning." He kissed the hollow of my throat. "I was thinking that it’s been three years since we mated, and you have done so well proving yourself to me and this pack. I want us to now try for a pup. Bring this pack a new heir.” "Yeah, that’s not happening," I rejected the idea instantly. His chuckle was dark velvet. "You won't have to lift a finger, darling. I'll do all the—" "Liam." I met his gaze for the first time that night. “I want to submit an official request to break our mate bond!” Chapter 2 This Time, His Sweet Talk Won't Work My mind was made up before he finally came to our room. This wasn't like my previous impulsive threats in an attempt to get him to see the mistakes he was continuously making in our bond. This time, I was genuinely determined to leave. Three years of mateship flashed through my mind. I had lost count of how many times Liam had prioritized Breanne over my feelings or dismissed me because his mother said so. Who was his mate, and who was just a friend? I could no longer answer that question, and I was tired of trying to defend us. We weren’t bonded. Not the way the typical Alpha and mate were. It was usual for an Alpha never to leave his Luna’s side. She was his number one priority, even though the pack came second. The Alpha's mate was the heart of the pack and respected as an equal, but I was neither of those things. I haven’t been from the start. Breanne, even though she was briefly sent away, was still respected and noticed more than I could even hope for. If someone kept treating you in ways you disliked, it was because you allowed it. I had let it slide every other time. But today, Liam had crossed my final line. This day was our third anniversary. I didn’t care that he forgot my birthday, dinners, or events we planned together. I did, however, care about this milestone moment. A promise he made was long forgotten. This was that tipping point for my patience. “Really, Claire? You are threatening to reject our mate bond again? Don't say that every time you're upset, sweetheart. I was wrong about today. I'll make it up to you tomorrow." My eyes showed no emotion. “Don't bother. Not everything can be made up, and you can only backburner your mate for so long before she grows tired of being at the bottom of the priorities, Liam.” "Of course, this can be fixed. There's always next year. We will have a pup by then, and you will have long forgotten this little hiccup and tantrum." Liam pushed me down onto the sofa, kissing my face tenderly. With my hands pinned above my head, I wasn’t able to push him off. He expected the topic of having pups would appease me and calm my boiling anger. I had had enough of his nonsense and non-committal ways. I stared blankly at the ceiling as tears unexpectedly rolled down my cheeks. I lay like a dead weight. In the past, whenever we would fight or I would throw a tantrum, as Liam would title it, all he would do was use the mate bond against me. His kisses, his touch, his desires would wear me down, and I would accept his hollowed words of apology and his flashy gifts as though they meant something more than pacifying childish behaviour, in his mind. But this time, even though he held me down and I couldn’t resist, I was also not participating or encouraging him to continue. He was so self-absorbed that he couldn’t even realize that I wasn’t a willing participant. I was motionless, soundless, non-responsive. As Liam kept kissing me, his hands touched every part of my bruised body, utterly unaware of the pain he was inflicting both physically and emotionally. I felt his body suddenly freeze at the sound of a whimpered sob that slipped out of me. He looked out with hooded eyes, which quickly sobered and turned serious when he saw the tears in my eyes. His expression was frozen in panic. "Baby, why are you crying?" He quickly turned on the light. "Wait—you seemed off when you came home. Did something happen?" Finally, he remembered, but the damage between us was already done. My heart twisted, wishing that it didn’t take crying while he wanted sex to cover his mistakes for him to notice something was wrong. At the thought of how much distance was between us, more tears fell. Under the light, Liam finally saw the slight swelling on my face, the scratches on my arms and body, and the deep gash on my right leg with dried blood. His pupils contracted. "What happened?" I could sense his wolf stirring under the surface. It was clear that someone had hurt me, but they were only now realizing it. Just as I opened my mouth, his phone rang. I looked at the screen and rolled my eyes. Of course, it was Breanne. Liam sighed and offered a small apologetic smile before he answered in front of me. "Breanne, what's wrong?" "Liam, I think I ate something bad. My stomach hurts so much. Can you take me to the hospital?" Breanne's sugary voice came through. Liam automatically started to agree. I could see his eyes widen with panic at the thought that she was in pain. But right before he responded, he looked at me and my reddened, tear-filled eyes. "It's late. Claire and I are already in bed. Ask Mom if there's any medicine at home." Stephanie's sharp voice interrupted, "Liam, come now! This isn't ordinary pain. It could be appendicitis! She's pale as a ghost!" Liam's brow furrowed. "Fine. I'm coming." My heart sank like a stone. I shook my head in disbelief and turned away, refusing to meet his eyes. Yet again, I was pushed aside. Liam dressed quickly but hesitated at the door. After a long moment, he took my hand. "You're hurt too. Come with me, we'll get you checked at the hospital." That single word, "too", cut like a knife. I laughed dryly. "No need. Go ahead, play hero for another woman. If your mate's pain is less important than staying and understanding what happened, then your friend who has a stomach ache, don’t bother dragging me around like an accessory with false concern. I'd rather be alone." Liam stiffened. He opened his mouth to speak, but the phone kept ringing insistently. Finally, he sighed and pressed his black card into my hand. "Buy whatever you want. Consider it an apology." The door slammed shut. I weighed the card in my palm and smiled bitterly. Liam only ever had two ways to appease me—sex or money. It used to work. I fooled myself into believing it meant he cared, that he wasn’t good with expressing emotions, but I saw it for what it was now. This time, his sweet talk won't work. I walked to the closet and in the back corner, I pulled out my old suitcase. Inside was the most valuable thing I owned. My freedom. It was an official Rejection agreement signed the night before our mating. Back then, Liam had insisted on accepting our mate bond despite his family's objections. Afraid of being trapped in a toxic pack and mating, I had made him sign this; if I ever wanted to break the bond, he had to agree unconditionally. I thought we’d never need it. Liam had probably forgotten it existed. But I hadn't. During one fight, I had even consulted a lawyer who confirmed its validity. I could file for an official rejection of the bond with just this document and 30 days cooling-off period. Since he had already signed it, there was no need for Liam's consent for me to file it now. The Elders within the Council would perform the rejection ceremony within their own chambers. There was no need for either of us to be present. That was typically why Alphas refrained from preemptively signing these types of contracts. It relinquished control without their knowledge. Now was the time. Chapter 3 The Breaking Point I didn't sleep all night; I couldn’t. Instead, I spent those hours cutting up every photograph of us together. There weren’t many, I realized. My phone was filled with pictures of Liam whenever I could sneak photos when he was distracted or busy. He was honestly an Adonis of a man. But three years together, we had exactly twenty-three pictures of us together as a couple, and only thirteen of those were just Liam and me. The remaining ten were with Breanne. I snuck downstairs before anyone else woke up and went into Liam's office. There on the desk was a picture. It was of him and Breanne, hugging and smiling into the camera. They looked happy. Too happy. My inner bitter bitch was vomiting at the sight. On the other side of the desk was a picture of the three of us. That's right, not me and my mate. It was Breanne pressed against Liam's side, smiling up at him, and I was smiling at the camera on the other side. My arm was linked around his, and he was smiling, but for which female in the picture, your guess was as good as mine. I took the picture out of the frame, and bent it so that I was folded to the back. There, now he had two perfect couple pictures of him and Breanne. I will simply bow out of this weird three-way relationship. By dawn, I had already filed the official rejection agreement papers at the Council's registry office. Then I donated all the designer outfits Liam had bought me to charity. Afterward, I drove out of the pack grounds for a few hours to pawn every piece of jewelry he'd ever given me at the local broker's. I didn’t want it getting back to Liam, or the pack gossip mill to run rampant with their own speculations. Not yet anyway. It was a surprisingly large chunk of money in return, one thing I knew for sure about Liam. When he was grovelling for his indifferences and mistakes, he never cheaped out on the apology jewelry. The broker didn’t have the full amount on hand, so I opted to have it wired, which worked fine for me. I opened a new bank account and provided them with the necessary information. I returned to the packhouse early that afternoon. I had requested that the gardener cut down the Cherry Blossom tree in the pack’s courtyard. He was ordered to burn every branch and leaf until only ashes remained. When I agreed to mate with Liam, I had my reservations because his family didn’t support their Alpha heir accepting the bond to a wolfless orphan with average financial standings. Liam planted the tree as a token of his pledge of devotion to us and our bond. I fell for it, thinking it would make us stronger. But I was wrong. By late afternoon, I had either sold, donated or destroyed every token of Liam and his devotion to me and our bond: everything but the Eclipse stone pendant. Some legends state that the Moon Goddess herself blessed the eclipse stone to strengthen the will of the wolfless. Call me a fool, but it still served as a sliver of proof that at some point, he did care enough to seek out the stone for me. Now that everything was removed, it was time for me to step out and prepare everything for my new life after this month-long cooldown period ended, and I was no longer the unwanted mate of Alpha Liam Sterling. I knew I had to be smart and figure out my path now, as I had no family to turn to once the rejection was completed. When I was seven, my father had disappeared after a mountain climbing accident. It was speculated that rogues were involved, as they were heavy in the area at the time. My mother re-mated not long afterwards, and we became part of the Thorne family. They were the overlords, if you will, of the Crown of Thornes Pack, rivals of The Sterling Moon pack and next door neighbours to the territory. My mother left the Thorne family after accusations and rumours of her infidelity and gambling debts. I didn’t believe it, but it seemed that everyone else did. I had no idea where she even went. She certainly didn’t seek me out after she left that night, abandoning me. The only person who would even be considered family at this point was Lucien Thorne. He was my former stepbrother from my mother's second mating. However, Lucien was notorious for his short temper, and he constantly mistreated me while we lived under the same roof, so I would sooner wind up homeless than seek his help. The heat of Liam’s black card was burning a hole in my pocket, serving as a reminder of his literal words: “Buy whatever you want and consider it as an apology.” Okay! I will. I went to the bank and after the teller spoke with the branch manager to confirm my approval of using the Alpha’s account for a withdrawal, yup, that's right, I held no status, so I wasn’t even recognized with authority over our marital account; I withdrew one million dollars from his account. It was insulting and frustrating to know that Breanne can walk in here and not have as many hoops to jump through to get at my mate’s money. But that’s fine. I have already started to let go of my hold on him emotionally. My head has already done so. As I waited for the teller to return with the funds, my phone rang. Liyah Cruz. She was my closest friend before I accepted the bond with Liam. Liam didn’t like her influence on me, as he put it, so over the years, our friendship became strained. For her to be reaching out and calling me now, it had to be important. "Liyah? What's wrong?" I answered right away. "Oh, thank the Goddess. Claire, the International Equestrian Championships start in a month, but I just got injured during training." Liyah's voice was thick with disappointment. "Claire, you were the most talented rider we knew. I could think of no one else to take over. Could you compete in my place?" The memories came flooding back. Had I not mated with Liam, I might have become as renowned as Liyah in equestrian circles. But Liam had disapproved of me riding; he often called it unladylike. He'd gone as far as going behind my back and selling my beloved white stallion, Mirage, to a good owner, cutting off my last connection to the sport. The silence stretched until Liyah sighed. "I forgot your mate doesn't allow—" "I'll do it," I interrupted. "One month. I'll be ready." Liyah's excited squeal pierced through the receiver. "Really? Oh my Goddess! Everyone always said you shouldn't have given up your talent for mating! You're finally coming back to us!" My hand trembled around the phone. Yes, before mating into the Sterling Moon pack and Alpha family, I had shone so brightly. Before Liam, I used to be many things. I was the university's star student—straight A's in every subject. A gifted painter, champion rider, runway model, master chef, and award-winning debater—there was nothing I couldn't excel at. But three years of mating had eroded it all. I hadn't touched a paintbrush in years. I have forgotten how to walk a runway, and even lost my sharp tongue in arguments—forced to submit to even my mate's family and house staff. Only my cooking skills remained polished because I have cooked for Liam every single day since the beginning of our bond acceptance. Only now did I realize how much of myself I had sacrificed. But it wasn't too late. I could still start over. This was that chance to start taking my life by the reins, so to speak, and returning to the Claire that used to walk proudly with her chin held high. Chapter 4 Meeting on Horseback I met Liyah at the stables we once rode at together. “Thank you, Claire-bear. I can’t believe you are actually here.” Liyah launched herself on top of me, despite her knee brace. I thought I understood what I gave up to be with Liam, my mate, but I didn’t understand a fraction of it. This crazy woman, who used to be my world, wrapped around me. How did I let him separate us? “It’s me who should thank you, Lee-Lee. I’ve missed you. I’m sorry. No more boys between us, I promise.” I sobbed. Liyah looked up, and I saw the understanding in her eyes. We both wiped our faces and laughed at our equally blotchy faces. “Okay, later, we'll discuss everything!” She looked at me with as much conviction as her tiny body could muster. I nodded and smiled. “But now, let me introduce you to Diva, my stallion. Just a warning, he lives up to the name periodically. I think it’s an adorable quirk for him and refuse to break it out of him. You’ll love him!” Liyah leads us to the stables, where we meet the horse. Liyah was right. We matched instantly. It isn’t easy for a shifter to bond with a stallion, but I never had those worries. I was always able to click with any animal, to the point where Liyah's brother spent a year calling me freaking snow white! I hated it, but he wasn’t wrong. I galloped across the equestrian field at dawn, the stallion I rode was kicking up dew as it raced toward the rising sun. Then I saw them. Liam and Breanne shared a white mare, ambling toward my direction. Breanne was dressed in her pristine white riding jodhpurs with the matching show coat, leaned back against Liam's chest. Liam's attire was the stark contrast of black on black. I watched him bend his head low, whispering something in Breanne’s ear, causing a fit of giggles from her. I had waited for him to return all night. When I had reached out and called him to ask if he would be returning that night, I was told, by him, that since Breanna needed an emergency appendectomy, he would not leave her side until she recovered. That was when I cut up our photos, burning them to ashes. As I watch them now, a question came to my mind, causing my brow to arch. When did appendectomy patients start riding horses the next day? My grip tightened on the reins just as Breanne spotted me. “Oh! Liam, how spooky. Doesn’t that woman look just like Claire!”At her teasing words, I watched as Liam's head snapped up. There, I sat astride my stallion, the tailored navy riding jacket accentuating my hourglass figure, my gaze glacial. I knew he felt it. Dismounting, Liam approached until he could only see the sharp angle of my jaw. "Sweetheart, since when do you ride? I thought you quit that. You should've told me you were coming." The memory of his and Breanne’s intimate pose churned my stomach. I pressed a hand to my mouth to keep from being sick at the thought before answering flatly. "Would you have answered if I called?" This acidic tone only emerged when I was furious. Liam's smile turned placating. "My fault—left my phone in the car. It turned out to be a false alarm about Breanne's appendix. Since she's competing in the International Equestrian Championships next month, I was only helping her practice." Breanne urged her mare forward, pouting. "Liam, why must we explain everything to her? Come back, we have more important things to focus on. You haven't finished teaching me." "An International Championship contender needs amateur instruction? How curious. I wonder if anyone else here is getting that kind of coaching? But, Liam, if she requires coaching, I'll do it." As Liam turned, my voice froze him. Liam’s expression initially fell flat at my words, but he quickly brightened at my offer. "Exactly! Breanne, Claire won that championship years ago." 'How touching that he finally remembered I have value,' I thought bitterly. Breanne bit her lip. "But—" After years together, I knew Breanne’s games. She wasn’t as nervous on a horse as she portrayed. It was all an act for Liam. "No buts." I raised my riding crop. "Let's ride." The crop came down on Breanne's mare, which bolted forward with a whinny as Breanne shrieked. Liam paled. "Claire! She wasn't ready—" "Real trainers surprise their students." My amber eyes glinted. “Your coddling would've kept her mediocre forever.” Dust sprayed Liam's face as I galloped after Breanne, leaving him standing there, cheeks burning as if slapped. Good. This was just the beginning of my resistance. Breanne and I raced across the field. Though I was starting late, my black stallion, Diva, was not one to be outshone, and we soon overtook Breanne's white mare. For three years, Breanne had only seen the docile, obedient Claire. This commanding version, I’m sure, was unnerving. I could hear her growling, which, to be honest, was only slowing her own horse down. Her mare would not be able to focus on a race, with its rider losing its hold over herself. It was bound to spook her mare soon, and if she weren’t careful, she would get bucked. But as the saying goes, not my circus, not my monkeys. Diva and I were focused on ourselves. I could sense Breanne's determination to beat me. But, no matter how she pushed her champion mare, I remained ahead. As Diva and I passed her again, I caught a flash of movement from Breanne out of the corner of my eye. She pulled a hairpin out of her pocket and hurled it at Diva. That hairpin had been a gift from her friend at her birthday party, and she had been keeping it close to her chest just now. It was made of silver, and the sharp end drove hard into Diva's rump. Diva was instantly startled. Despite my expert handling and calming charm, which I have often used in the past to soothe a panicked horse, Diva threw me. I felt the gnash from the rock sticking out from the ground, which I hit my head on. The impact sending black spots across my vision—and a cry in absolute agony. My abdominal area pinched and screamed with a sharp and sudden pain like nothing I have ever felt before. There was blood on my hand when I touched it. I needed to get up. I needed to get back and get medical help because I knew Breanne wasn’t going to get me any. As I tried to push myself up off the ground with one hand, while the other was wrapped tightly around my stomach, still crying in sheer pain, a polished boot came forcefully down, cracking the bones in my hand. "Ah—!" The pain forced a gasp through clenched teeth. Chapter 5 The Two-Faced Woman "Claire, weren't you so impressive on horseback just now? How did you end up on the ground so fast?" Breanne crouched down, blinking her wide, innocent-looking eyes as she taunted me, pressing her boot harder against my hand, breaking the bones. She knew I was wolfless, and the pain she was causing; this was why she was doing it. To send me a message. I was hoping someone would come and find us, but the odds of this far from the training grounds were unlikely. "Oh my, I'm so sorry!" Breanne feigned surprise, finally lifting her foot with exaggerated remorse. "I didn't even see your hand there. How careless of me." “It’s to be expected with those massive feet of yours. What is that a size ten in men's?” I watched her eyes flash in anger briefly before she reined it back in. I yanked my hand back, and when Breanne reached out to help me up. I would always refuse her help; it was always a ploy for something worse. When she tried again, I recoiled, pushing myself up to my feet with gritted teeth. "Claire, that must've hurt. With riding skills like yours, how could you possibly think you were qualified to teach me?" Breanne smirked. "Only a fool would believe such a pitiful act, Breanne.” I glared, refusing to back down. "Oh, please. Can't accept that you're just not as good as I am? No wonder Liam doesn't like you much—you're such a sore loser." Breanne let out a mocking laugh. Breanne wasn’t hiding her petty, vindictive behaviour. She wanted me to know her intentions of returning and that she hadn't forgiven me for having her exiled. The reason Breanne was sent away a year ago was that I had walked in on her and Liam in the throes of passion. They were both half-naked and stuck to each other. Liam seemed to snap out of his daze the moment I entered the room and yanked Breanne off him. The thud of her head to the edge of the dresser brought out her wolf, and warriors nearby who heard the yelling managed to catch Breanne just in time before she could attack me. Liam sobered up instantly and demanded answers. Breanne played the confused card. That, like Liam, she had drunk a little too much at the pack celebration. She must have gotten confused about which floor she was on and passed out in mine and his bedroom, thinking it was hers. After all, his scent calms her, so she made sure to add that part—one extra little jab between Liam and me. Liam swore up and down that he was confused and thought it was me under the covers in bed. That, with the amount of wolfwine he had consumed, he didn’t realize it wasn’t me until my scent entered the room, and his wolf halted their action immediately recognizing their error. I moved to a different room, and Liam tried to separate himself from Breanne. Then he learned that Breanne approached me afterward and told me that Liam was aware it was her. After all, why would they confuse their mates? Unfortunately for Breanne, she did it in front of a witness, and they told several others, which led Liam to ask me about it. I confirmed that I knew he was aware that it was Breanne, as she told me so herself, and that I wanted to break the bond if he didn’t send her away as proof of his devotion to the mates' bond. I could see that he didn’t want to, but Liam was also someone who cared too much about image to have the wolfen community know that he lost his true mate over the Beta’s daughter affair scandal. With the third wheel gone, our mate bond had finally stabilized. I had hoped to start trying for a pup on our anniversary after I was announced as the new Luna of the Sterling Moon pack. But now Breanne was back, something of which Liam failed to inform me—especially considering it nearly ended us only a year ago. His lack of consideration over that confused me. Did his wolf also agree with this decision? Surely his wolf would realize better than Liam that this would ultimately bring out the bond to an end. "Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about," I said coolly. "But don't worry. I'll be out of your way soon. Then you two can do whatever you want." I turned away, whistling sharply for my horse. Breanne's face flushed crimson. She grabbed my arm and pressed her fingers deep into the flesh. “What the hell are you implying? What plans could I possibly have?” "You know exactly what I mean. But just a heads-up—mistresses in ranked mate bonds are illegal without Elder consent. And bastard pups tend to be shunned by packs altogether. So think carefully." Breanne's face went scarlet. "You—you're disgusting! How dare you accuse me and Liam of—" The sound of galloping hooves cut her off. Her eyes widened as though she hadn't expected us to be interrupted so soon. I turned to the sound of approaching Hooves, which gave Breanne time to growl her threat before she partially shifted and lunged at me with the intent to maul me where I stood. A chill ran down my spine—only to be overshadowed by the thunderous sound of a horse's disapproving whinny. Next thing I knew, Breanne was whimpering on the ground, crying in sheer agony as a scarred, filthy white stallion trampled her. My breath hitched, my eyes widened in disbelief. I knew this stallion. And then I saw it—the faint brown patch on the stallion's head. My blood turned to ice. No. It can’t be. "Mirage?" My voice cracked. The horse stopped mid-stomp, ears twitching. The sound of my voice stopped the Stallion from continuing its attack on Breanne, who had now reverted to her bruised human state, no longer partially shifted. The Stallion turned and looked at me. "Mirage!" I choked out, rushing forward to grab the reins. "It's really you!" I hadn't summoned my borrowed stallion. I had summoned him. My champion. My partner. My horse that Liam sold from under me, promising he went to a good home. Now, his coat was matted, his skin was patchy with disease, and his body was crisscrossed with whip marks. He was abused. Mirage had once been a regal, snow-white stallion, bought at auction by the Thornes. He had carried me to victory in countless competitions. He wasn't just a horse. He was my family. One of the most precious things I had. It took everything in me to forgive him for going behind my back and forcing me to stop riding by selling Mirage off in the first place, but it helped soothe the pain to know that at least he was being taken care of wherever he was. Liam had promised he'd be cared for. He lied. He looked me in the eye and lied to my face. He gave Mirage to a home that had continuously abused and neglected him. These wounds were a combination of old and recent. This was what Liam considered a good home? Tears burned my eyes as I ran my hands over his ruined coat. My heart was breaking. The abuse Mirage would have been enduring all this time, thinking I abandoned him. "Claire! Breanne!" Liam's voice cut through the air as another set of hooves approached. Chapter 6 The Fall The injuries and now Mirage, I was breaking inside and now outside. Just as my knees gave way, a firm hand caught my arm. "What took you so long out here? Are you all right?" Liam's voice, usually so tender, sounded distant in my ears. Through my tears, I turned to confront him about Mirage's condition, but Breanne's weak whimper cut through the air. "Liam.” She whimpered weakly. “Please, help me,” she pleaded. Liam stiffened as if struck. He released me immediately, like he was catching fire at just the mere touch of me. I staggered from the sudden loss of assistance and contact from my mate, and watched in disbelief as his attention snapped to Breanne's crumpled form on the ground. "Breanne!" His eyes reddened as he gathered her into his arms, cradling her close to her chest, "Oh my Goddess, what happened? How did this—?" I watched as he gently wiped away the tears staining her cheek. His eyes began to mist up. It was as though I were watching a live-action romance. The long-lost lover, dying in her beloved's arms. It would have been touching if it wasn't for the fact that that was my mate, holding another woman so tenderly while I stood five feet from them in significantly more pain. "Claire couldn't handle her horse. When I offered to help her back up, she then turned it around and blamed me! When I tried to explain I wasn’t at fault, she set that wretched beast on me!" Breanne's tears fell like broken pearls. Her voice grew faint as she added dramatically, "Liam, please, I can't feel my legs. What if I never walk again?" Liam's expression darkened as he listened to Breanne’s version of events. He turned to me with a sudden coldness I had never seen before. "Is this true?" He growled in anger, clutching Breanne closer to him protectively. A searing pain tore through my abdomen before I could respond. I cried out at the suddenness of it, and clutched my stomach, gasping through clenched teeth as metallic bile rose in my throat. Liam didn’t even flinch at the sight of my obvious pain before him. "I'm taking Breanne to the hospital," he said coldly. "If you did this, Claire—" He left the threat hanging as he cradled Breanne closer. I have never heard of an Alpha, or any rank member in my school studies or observations, threatening his mates and Luna over just a friend. It was against Wolfen code and ethics, but I suppose that didn’t matter to Liam or the Sterling Moon pack. This was going to become a regular occurrence, I could already sense it. I watched through blurred vision as Breanne gave one last performance. "Liam, I—" Her eyelids fluttered shut with theatrical perfection. "Bree-Bree! Stay with me! Please don’t leave me, baby. I’m here. Don’t you dare leave me!" Liam shouted, already running partially shifted into his wolf to allow himself to cradle her and use his Alpha wolf strength and speed at the same time. Behind him, I collapsed with a thud that echoed across the field. I briefly saw Liam hesitate mid-stride—just for a second. Regardless, he didn’t turn around at the sound of my collapse and shallow, laboured breaths. I watched as they continued to run away with Breanne in their arms, leaving me where I lay. My heart broke, even though I had filed and decided to leave both Liam and this horrible pack; a small part of me still held onto a sliver of hope that Liam would see the path he was taking and how far it was from us. But he didn’t, and that was when everything went dark for me. ***** When I regained consciousness, the sterile glare of surgical lights assaulted my vision. Cold metal instruments clinked nearby as my legs were positioned apart. I tried to speak, but the drugs held me paralyzed. The doctors' voices floated above me like ghosts. I could sense the movements around me, but I was awake, unable to move, feel, or speak. It was a surreal experience, but oddly familiar to my life since I had mated with the Sterling family. Nothing more than an ornament on the wall to all, including my mate. "Such a shame—two months along. Who goes horseback riding when they're pregnant?" "The fall detached the embryo completely. Must have been quite the impact. She is lucky to be alive." "Without a wolf, another hour, and she wouldn’t have been." "That man who brought her in—was that her husband? He was colder than a block of ice, but as Handsome as the Devil himself. Can’t say much about their mateship part, he simply paid the bill and left without a word." "Enough chatter. Let’s finish this up before she hemorrhages." Each medical term floating to my ears—pregnancy, embryo, hemorrhage, dilation and curettage—pierced my drugged haze like silver blades to the heart. The one that stuck out the most was broken. I knew they were talking about my hand, but it was so much deeper than that. I felt broken. I lost my pup. Until recently, I would have loved to have Liam and my first pup. Everything about us seemed happy and together, but now, it seemed symbolic to lose the pups I never knew I had. I was losing a mate I should never have had to fight this hard to keep. Everything was perfect until I saw it was all a smoke screen and not meant to be. Just like this pup. False hope. I struggled against the numbness, but my body refused to obey. Something sharp scraped inside me, painless but violating. The crushing weight of realization dragged me under before I could scream, I was once again enveloped by empty darkness. "Claire ... Claire ..." Time lost all meaning. A distant voice called my name while someone shook my arm. With monumental effort, I forced my eyes open. Once again, the antiseptic glare of hospital lights assaulted my vision—I was in a hospital room.
"""Please, Liam, I just lost our baby. Don't let them take my blood."" My voice was barely a whisper, my body still trembling from the surgery—from the emptiness where our child used to be. But my husband didn't even look at me. His gaze was fixed on the ER doors, where doctors shouted about Breanne's critical blood loss. Breanne Telder. The Beta's daughter. His best friend. The woman he swore was""just like a sister.” The same woman who caused the fall that cost me our pup. ""She's RH-negative and we're out of stock. Find donors—now!"" The surgeon said urgently. ""Take hers."" Liam's arm slid around my waist—not to comfort me, not to hold me—but to push me forward like an offering.""Wolfless born shifters are universal donors. Her blood will save Breanne."" I froze as if struck by lightning, my disbelieving eyes lifting to meet his. Did he and his wolf even realize what they'd done? They didn't have to say the rejection—offering their mate's blood to another woman screamed it loud enough. ""Liam,"" I managed to whisper, ""I just lost our pup—"" ""Spare me the lies. I am done believing you!"" His eyes were cold steel. ""Breanne's life comes first right now."" The words cut deeper than any blade. I straightened, ignoring the spinning in my head, every inch of me trembling but unbroken. ""You've made your choice, Liam. And after today…"" my voice didn't crack this time ""I'll make mine."" The doctor's hand gripped my arm, leading me toward the blood lab. ""I'll donate the blood,"" I didn't fight it. ""But in return, you will agree to end our mate bond.”" ***** Chapter 1 Dropping the Mate I stood at the gate of the Sterling Moon Packhouse, clutching a cake box that had begun to melt in the summer heat. My usually pristine blonde hair was now stuck to my neck and face in damp strands, and my designer dress was now ruined with mud and swamp stains. I hadn't meant to arrive at my third mating anniversary looking like I had been dragged through a hedge backward and then tossed in the swamp lands beyond the pack grounds. But then again, being cornered and ambushed by rogues, conveniently knowing my whereabouts without an escort or protection, wasn't exactly part of my agenda either. A mysterious yet heroic stranger had rescued me and driven me back to the edge of my mate’s pack territory when Liam Sterling, my mate and the pack's Alpha, hadn't answered any of my fifteen frantic calls. I had almost convinced myself he was simply busy orchestrating some grand anniversary surprise. That had to be it. Otherwise, why else would he send me out alone for the cake retrieval and then not bother to answer my calls? I quickened my pace toward the entrance of the packhouse, not wanting to delay the celebration any longer than I already had. I rounded the corner only to stop dead at the sight before me. The entire packhouse had been transformed with floral arches, helium balloons, and an enormous banner. My fingers tightened around the cake box. I had doubts about walking into the grand hall; perhaps I should slip upstairs to change first. Then Liam's familiar voice called out. "There's my beautiful mate! Took you long enough, sweetheart. Everyone's waiting for the cake. Were the directions not clear enough?" He teased, not taking in the dishevelled state of my appearance or the fact that my smile didn’t reach my eyes. He often failed to see me. I looked up to find my mate looking devastatingly handsome in a white Tom Ford suit, his gray waistcoat accentuating those broad shoulders I used to trace my fingers over. He hadn't dressed like this for me in years. I pushed aside the gnawing doubts starting to fill my heart and embraced the fact that he was trying to make things right. This was not the time to voice my disappointments with his lack of attention or concern. We're here to celebrate our mate bond with the pack. This was also the year that he promised to swear me in as the official Luna, to lead by his side. Three years of proving myself capable despite not having a wolf of my own, and now here we were. My lips began curving into a smile despite myself. Maybe the rogues and the ambush, the ruined dress, the ignored calls—perhaps none of it mattered now that I was home. Liam would keep me safe, and we were going to announce that I was stepping into a role that should have been mine when we first mated. "Liam, I was just—" I was about to explain the rogues, the ambush, the mysterious saviour, but was cut off mid-sentence. "Liam! Is that my cake?" A shrill voice interrupted as Breanne Telder materialized behind Liam, looping her arm through his as though it was where she belonged. She was Liam’s father's Beta’s daughter. Otherwise known as the third wheel in our relationship and the pick me girl that Liam always did. She was also not supposed to be here. She was sent away a while ago, and Liam promised to focus solely on us. "You flew me home just for this birthday surprise? Best Alpha bestie ever!" The cake box slipped from my fingers, landing with a sickening splat on the custom marble flooring beneath me. The same flooring I wanted to either swallow me or Breanna up in this moment. Birthday surprise? What the hell did that mean? Those two words echoed in my skull like gunshots. For weeks, I had known Liam was planning something secretive. The custom-ordered flowers were delivered under the cover of darkness. The expensive Eclipse Stone rough he'd purchased at auction. All those whispered phone calls I had pretended not to hear. It all led to this moment, but it wasn’t the moment I had expected. I had woven every scrap of evidence into fantasies of candlelit vows renewed, of Liam dropping to one knee all over again. Even when he hadn't picked up during my attack from rogues, I had made excuses for him. Now Breanne's smug smile shattered those delusions like a hammer through stained glass. "What the hell were you thinking, Claire?" Stephanie Sterling's razor-sharp heels clicked across the flooring as she advanced. "We've been waiting two hours for that cake! You can’t do one single task; no wonder you will never be Luna material for the Sterling Moon pack." Stephanie was Liam's mother. From the moment I mated into the Alpha family, Stephanie had made no secret of her dislike; she was the reason Liam was convinced to hold off and force me to prove myself as Luna material. Over time, that contempt had only grown bolder, more vicious, no longer even pretending to hide it. Failing to see Liam, their Alpha, standing up for me, much of the pack started to support and see the validity in the points that their retired Luna was making. My hands shook. "This was supposed to be our anniversary party." Liam caught my elbow and steered me out of the room for privacy. "Baby, I'd planned a surprise for you, but Breanne asked for a pack-wide birthday celebration when she returned, so—" "So, instead of standing up for your mate, yet again, you conceded and did what they wanted. It’s fine for me to be let down, but not her? Message received, Liam." I wrenched my arm free, the movement sending fresh pain through my bruised ribs from the attack. I doubled over with a gasp. Before Liam could reach for me, Stephanie's voice sliced through the garden again. "Liam! Stop coddling her and get over here. This is why the wolfless should never hold ranks; they're weak and attention grabbers. Forget the cake, we'll just serve the petit fours instead." "Coming." He hesitated, then pressed a kiss to my temple. "We'll talk later." I remained crouched in the foyer of the packhouse as another wave of pain, this one far deeper than physical, crashed over me. Not a single pack member had asked why I looked like I'd been in a car wreck, why I'd been crying. From the other room where everyone gathered, the opening chords of "Happy Birthday" floated toward me. Each syrupy note felt like another papercut to my heart. It hit me suddenly—I hadn't celebrated a birthday since mating into the Alpha family, not once, though my own fell just days apart from Breanne's. And Liam had known this; he made a joke about the coincidence of his two best gals' being birthday buddies, but mine was always overshadowed. He quickly forgot about mine. I wiped my cheeks, giving myself a self-mocking smile. I should have known better than to hope for something more than what I already received. As the sun dipped low, I rose, my shadow stretching lonely behind me. Without a word, I climbed the stairs and clicked the bedroom door shut of the Alpha suite. Under the bathroom's harsh lighting, I peeled off my ruined dress and threw it in the trash. Steam fogged the mirrors as I scrubbed at skin that still felt dirty from the rogue's hands. I stayed under the scalding water until my fingers pruned. Wrapped in an oversized robe, I sat curled on the window seat watching party lights twinkle below until the last guest departed. At 11:00 PM, the bedroom door finally creaked open. I didn't turn when Liam's familiar cologne filled the room. I heard him hang up his jacket, then felt his whiskey-warm hands on my shoulders. "Happy anniversary, my beautiful, stunning mate." His lips brushed my ear. "Guess what I got you?" I shrugged him off. "I honestly don't care." He knelt before me, producing a velvet box with the flourish of a magician. "I had this carved from that Eclipse Stone rough. It is rumoured to help awaken latent wolfen spirits, strengthen auras and bring new beginnings.” Liam fastened the pendant around my neck. The cold stone settled between my chest like a brand. "Stunning." He kissed the hollow of my throat. "I was thinking that it’s been three years since we mated, and you have done so well proving yourself to me and this pack. I want us to now try for a pup. Bring this pack a new heir.” "Yeah, that’s not happening," I rejected the idea instantly. His chuckle was dark velvet. "You won't have to lift a finger, darling. I'll do all the—" "Liam." I met his gaze for the first time that night. “I want to submit an official request to break our mate bond!” Chapter 2 This Time, His Sweet Talk Won't Work My mind was made up before he finally came to our room. This wasn't like my previous impulsive threats in an attempt to get him to see the mistakes he was continuously making in our bond. This time, I was genuinely determined to leave. Three years of mateship flashed through my mind. I had lost count of how many times Liam had prioritized Breanne over my feelings or dismissed me because his mother said so. Who was his mate, and who was just a friend? I could no longer answer that question, and I was tired of trying to defend us. We weren’t bonded. Not the way the typical Alpha and mate were. It was usual for an Alpha never to leave his Luna’s side. She was his number one priority, even though the pack came second. The Alpha's mate was the heart of the pack and respected as an equal, but I was neither of those things. I haven’t been from the start. Breanne, even though she was briefly sent away, was still respected and noticed more than I could even hope for. If someone kept treating you in ways you disliked, it was because you allowed it. I had let it slide every other time. But today, Liam had crossed my final line. This day was our third anniversary. I didn’t care that he forgot my birthday, dinners, or events we planned together. I did, however, care about this milestone moment. A promise he made was long forgotten. This was that tipping point for my patience. “Really, Claire? You are threatening to reject our mate bond again? Don't say that every time you're upset, sweetheart. I was wrong about today. I'll make it up to you tomorrow." My eyes showed no emotion. “Don't bother. Not everything can be made up, and you can only backburner your mate for so long before she grows tired of being at the bottom of the priorities, Liam.” "Of course, this can be fixed. There's always next year. We will have a pup by then, and you will have long forgotten this little hiccup and tantrum." Liam pushed me down onto the sofa, kissing my face tenderly. With my hands pinned above my head, I wasn’t able to push him off. He expected the topic of having pups would appease me and calm my boiling anger. I had had enough of his nonsense and non-committal ways. I stared blankly at the ceiling as tears unexpectedly rolled down my cheeks. I lay like a dead weight. In the past, whenever we would fight or I would throw a tantrum, as Liam would title it, all he would do was use the mate bond against me. His kisses, his touch, his desires would wear me down, and I would accept his hollowed words of apology and his flashy gifts as though they meant something more than pacifying childish behaviour, in his mind. But this time, even though he held me down and I couldn’t resist, I was also not participating or encouraging him to continue. He was so self-absorbed that he couldn’t even realize that I wasn’t a willing participant. I was motionless, soundless, non-responsive. As Liam kept kissing me, his hands touched every part of my bruised body, utterly unaware of the pain he was inflicting both physically and emotionally. I felt his body suddenly freeze at the sound of a whimpered sob that slipped out of me. He looked out with hooded eyes, which quickly sobered and turned serious when he saw the tears in my eyes. His expression was frozen in panic. "Baby, why are you crying?" He quickly turned on the light. "Wait—you seemed off when you came home. Did something happen?" Finally, he remembered, but the damage between us was already done. My heart twisted, wishing that it didn’t take crying while he wanted sex to cover his mistakes for him to notice something was wrong. At the thought of how much distance was between us, more tears fell. Under the light, Liam finally saw the slight swelling on my face, the scratches on my arms and body, and the deep gash on my right leg with dried blood. His pupils contracted. "What happened?" I could sense his wolf stirring under the surface. It was clear that someone had hurt me, but they were only now realizing it. Just as I opened my mouth, his phone rang. I looked at the screen and rolled my eyes. Of course, it was Breanne. Liam sighed and offered a small apologetic smile before he answered in front of me. "Breanne, what's wrong?" "Liam, I think I ate something bad. My stomach hurts so much. Can you take me to the hospital?" Breanne's sugary voice came through. Liam automatically started to agree. I could see his eyes widen with panic at the thought that she was in pain. But right before he responded, he looked at me and my reddened, tear-filled eyes. "It's late. Claire and I are already in bed. Ask Mom if there's any medicine at home." Stephanie's sharp voice interrupted, "Liam, come now! This isn't ordinary pain. It could be appendicitis! She's pale as a ghost!" Liam's brow furrowed. "Fine. I'm coming." My heart sank like a stone. I shook my head in disbelief and turned away, refusing to meet his eyes. Yet again, I was pushed aside. Liam dressed quickly but hesitated at the door. After a long moment, he took my hand. "You're hurt too. Come with me, we'll get you checked at the hospital." That single word, "too", cut like a knife. I laughed dryly. "No need. Go ahead, play hero for another woman. If your mate's pain is less important than staying and understanding what happened, then your friend who has a stomach ache, don’t bother dragging me around like an accessory with false concern. I'd rather be alone." Liam stiffened. He opened his mouth to speak, but the phone kept ringing insistently. Finally, he sighed and pressed his black card into my hand. "Buy whatever you want. Consider it an apology." The door slammed shut. I weighed the card in my palm and smiled bitterly. Liam only ever had two ways to appease me—sex or money. It used to work. I fooled myself into believing it meant he cared, that he wasn’t good with expressing emotions, but I saw it for what it was now. This time, his sweet talk won't work. I walked to the closet and in the back corner, I pulled out my old suitcase. Inside was the most valuable thing I owned. My freedom. It was an official Rejection agreement signed the night before our mating. Back then, Liam had insisted on accepting our mate bond despite his family's objections. Afraid of being trapped in a toxic pack and mating, I had made him sign this; if I ever wanted to break the bond, he had to agree unconditionally. I thought we’d never need it. Liam had probably forgotten it existed. But I hadn't. During one fight, I had even consulted a lawyer who confirmed its validity. I could file for an official rejection of the bond with just this document and 30 days cooling-off period. Since he had already signed it, there was no need for Liam's consent for me to file it now. The Elders within the Council would perform the rejection ceremony within their own chambers. There was no need for either of us to be present. That was typically why Alphas refrained from preemptively signing these types of contracts. It relinquished control without their knowledge. Now was the time. Chapter 3 The Breaking Point I didn't sleep all night; I couldn’t. Instead, I spent those hours cutting up every photograph of us together. There weren’t many, I realized. My phone was filled with pictures of Liam whenever I could sneak photos when he was distracted or busy. He was honestly an Adonis of a man. But three years together, we had exactly twenty-three pictures of us together as a couple, and only thirteen of those were just Liam and me. The remaining ten were with Breanne. I snuck downstairs before anyone else woke up and went into Liam's office. There on the desk was a picture. It was of him and Breanne, hugging and smiling into the camera. They looked happy. Too happy. My inner bitter bitch was vomiting at the sight. On the other side of the desk was a picture of the three of us. That's right, not me and my mate. It was Breanne pressed against Liam's side, smiling up at him, and I was smiling at the camera on the other side. My arm was linked around his, and he was smiling, but for which female in the picture, your guess was as good as mine. I took the picture out of the frame, and bent it so that I was folded to the back. There, now he had two perfect couple pictures of him and Breanne. I will simply bow out of this weird three-way relationship. By dawn, I had already filed the official rejection agreement papers at the Council's registry office. Then I donated all the designer outfits Liam had bought me to charity. Afterward, I drove out of the pack grounds for a few hours to pawn every piece of jewelry he'd ever given me at the local broker's. I didn’t want it getting back to Liam, or the pack gossip mill to run rampant with their own speculations. Not yet anyway. It was a surprisingly large chunk of money in return, one thing I knew for sure about Liam. When he was grovelling for his indifferences and mistakes, he never cheaped out on the apology jewelry. The broker didn’t have the full amount on hand, so I opted to have it wired, which worked fine for me. I opened a new bank account and provided them with the necessary information. I returned to the packhouse early that afternoon. I had requested that the gardener cut down the Cherry Blossom tree in the pack’s courtyard. He was ordered to burn every branch and leaf until only ashes remained. When I agreed to mate with Liam, I had my reservations because his family didn’t support their Alpha heir accepting the bond to a wolfless orphan with average financial standings. Liam planted the tree as a token of his pledge of devotion to us and our bond. I fell for it, thinking it would make us stronger. But I was wrong. By late afternoon, I had either sold, donated or destroyed every token of Liam and his devotion to me and our bond: everything but the Eclipse stone pendant. Some legends state that the Moon Goddess herself blessed the eclipse stone to strengthen the will of the wolfless. Call me a fool, but it still served as a sliver of proof that at some point, he did care enough to seek out the stone for me. Now that everything was removed, it was time for me to step out and prepare everything for my new life after this month-long cooldown period ended, and I was no longer the unwanted mate of Alpha Liam Sterling. I knew I had to be smart and figure out my path now, as I had no family to turn to once the rejection was completed. When I was seven, my father had disappeared after a mountain climbing accident. It was speculated that rogues were involved, as they were heavy in the area at the time. My mother re-mated not long afterwards, and we became part of the Thorne family. They were the overlords, if you will, of the Crown of Thornes Pack, rivals of The Sterling Moon pack and next door neighbours to the territory. My mother left the Thorne family after accusations and rumours of her infidelity and gambling debts. I didn’t believe it, but it seemed that everyone else did. I had no idea where she even went. She certainly didn’t seek me out after she left that night, abandoning me. The only person who would even be considered family at this point was Lucien Thorne. He was my former stepbrother from my mother's second mating. However, Lucien was notorious for his short temper, and he constantly mistreated me while we lived under the same roof, so I would sooner wind up homeless than seek his help. The heat of Liam’s black card was burning a hole in my pocket, serving as a reminder of his literal words: “Buy whatever you want and consider it as an apology.” Okay! I will. I went to the bank and after the teller spoke with the branch manager to confirm my approval of using the Alpha’s account for a withdrawal, yup, that's right, I held no status, so I wasn’t even recognized with authority over our marital account; I withdrew one million dollars from his account. It was insulting and frustrating to know that Breanne can walk in here and not have as many hoops to jump through to get at my mate’s money. But that’s fine. I have already started to let go of my hold on him emotionally. My head has already done so. As I waited for the teller to return with the funds, my phone rang. Liyah Cruz. She was my closest friend before I accepted the bond with Liam. Liam didn’t like her influence on me, as he put it, so over the years, our friendship became strained. For her to be reaching out and calling me now, it had to be important. "Liyah? What's wrong?" I answered right away. "Oh, thank the Goddess. Claire, the International Equestrian Championships start in a month, but I just got injured during training." Liyah's voice was thick with disappointment. "Claire, you were the most talented rider we knew. I could think of no one else to take over. Could you compete in my place?" The memories came flooding back. Had I not mated with Liam, I might have become as renowned as Liyah in equestrian circles. But Liam had disapproved of me riding; he often called it unladylike. He'd gone as far as going behind my back and selling my beloved white stallion, Mirage, to a good owner, cutting off my last connection to the sport. The silence stretched until Liyah sighed. "I forgot your mate doesn't allow—" "I'll do it," I interrupted. "One month. I'll be ready." Liyah's excited squeal pierced through the receiver. "Really? Oh my Goddess! Everyone always said you shouldn't have given up your talent for mating! You're finally coming back to us!" My hand trembled around the phone. Yes, before mating into the Sterling Moon pack and Alpha family, I had shone so brightly. Before Liam, I used to be many things. I was the university's star student—straight A's in every subject. A gifted painter, champion rider, runway model, master chef, and award-winning debater—there was nothing I couldn't excel at. But three years of mating had eroded it all. I hadn't touched a paintbrush in years. I have forgotten how to walk a runway, and even lost my sharp tongue in arguments—forced to submit to even my mate's family and house staff. Only my cooking skills remained polished because I have cooked for Liam every single day since the beginning of our bond acceptance. Only now did I realize how much of myself I had sacrificed. But it wasn't too late. I could still start over. This was that chance to start taking my life by the reins, so to speak, and returning to the Claire that used to walk proudly with her chin held high. Chapter 4 Meeting on Horseback I met Liyah at the stables we once rode at together. “Thank you, Claire-bear. I can’t believe you are actually here.” Liyah launched herself on top of me, despite her knee brace. I thought I understood what I gave up to be with Liam, my mate, but I didn’t understand a fraction of it. This crazy woman, who used to be my world, wrapped around me. How did I let him separate us? “It’s me who should thank you, Lee-Lee. I’ve missed you. I’m sorry. No more boys between us, I promise.” I sobbed. Liyah looked up, and I saw the understanding in her eyes. We both wiped our faces and laughed at our equally blotchy faces. “Okay, later, we'll discuss everything!” She looked at me with as much conviction as her tiny body could muster. I nodded and smiled. “But now, let me introduce you to Diva, my stallion. Just a warning, he lives up to the name periodically. I think it’s an adorable quirk for him and refuse to break it out of him. You’ll love him!” Liyah leads us to the stables, where we meet the horse. Liyah was right. We matched instantly. It isn’t easy for a shifter to bond with a stallion, but I never had those worries. I was always able to click with any animal, to the point where Liyah's brother spent a year calling me freaking snow white! I hated it, but he wasn’t wrong. I galloped across the equestrian field at dawn, the stallion I rode was kicking up dew as it raced toward the rising sun. Then I saw them. Liam and Breanne shared a white mare, ambling toward my direction. Breanne was dressed in her pristine white riding jodhpurs with the matching show coat, leaned back against Liam's chest. Liam's attire was the stark contrast of black on black. I watched him bend his head low, whispering something in Breanne’s ear, causing a fit of giggles from her. I had waited for him to return all night. When I had reached out and called him to ask if he would be returning that night, I was told, by him, that since Breanna needed an emergency appendectomy, he would not leave her side until she recovered. That was when I cut up our photos, burning them to ashes. As I watch them now, a question came to my mind, causing my brow to arch. When did appendectomy patients start riding horses the next day? My grip tightened on the reins just as Breanne spotted me. “Oh! Liam, how spooky. Doesn’t that woman look just like Claire!”At her teasing words, I watched as Liam's head snapped up. There, I sat astride my stallion, the tailored navy riding jacket accentuating my hourglass figure, my gaze glacial. I knew he felt it. Dismounting, Liam approached until he could only see the sharp angle of my jaw. "Sweetheart, since when do you ride? I thought you quit that. You should've told me you were coming." The memory of his and Breanne’s intimate pose churned my stomach. I pressed a hand to my mouth to keep from being sick at the thought before answering flatly. "Would you have answered if I called?" This acidic tone only emerged when I was furious. Liam's smile turned placating. "My fault—left my phone in the car. It turned out to be a false alarm about Breanne's appendix. Since she's competing in the International Equestrian Championships next month, I was only helping her practice." Breanne urged her mare forward, pouting. "Liam, why must we explain everything to her? Come back, we have more important things to focus on. You haven't finished teaching me." "An International Championship contender needs amateur instruction? How curious. I wonder if anyone else here is getting that kind of coaching? But, Liam, if she requires coaching, I'll do it." As Liam turned, my voice froze him. Liam’s expression initially fell flat at my words, but he quickly brightened at my offer. "Exactly! Breanne, Claire won that championship years ago." 'How touching that he finally remembered I have value,' I thought bitterly. Breanne bit her lip. "But—" After years together, I knew Breanne’s games. She wasn’t as nervous on a horse as she portrayed. It was all an act for Liam. "No buts." I raised my riding crop. "Let's ride." The crop came down on Breanne's mare, which bolted forward with a whinny as Breanne shrieked. Liam paled. "Claire! She wasn't ready—" "Real trainers surprise their students." My amber eyes glinted. “Your coddling would've kept her mediocre forever.” Dust sprayed Liam's face as I galloped after Breanne, leaving him standing there, cheeks burning as if slapped. Good. This was just the beginning of my resistance. Breanne and I raced across the field. Though I was starting late, my black stallion, Diva, was not one to be outshone, and we soon overtook Breanne's white mare. For three years, Breanne had only seen the docile, obedient Claire. This commanding version, I’m sure, was unnerving. I could hear her growling, which, to be honest, was only slowing her own horse down. Her mare would not be able to focus on a race, with its rider losing its hold over herself. It was bound to spook her mare soon, and if she weren’t careful, she would get bucked. But as the saying goes, not my circus, not my monkeys. Diva and I were focused on ourselves. I could sense Breanne's determination to beat me. But, no matter how she pushed her champion mare, I remained ahead. As Diva and I passed her again, I caught a flash of movement from Breanne out of the corner of my eye. She pulled a hairpin out of her pocket and hurled it at Diva. That hairpin had been a gift from her friend at her birthday party, and she had been keeping it close to her chest just now. It was made of silver, and the sharp end drove hard into Diva's rump. Diva was instantly startled. Despite my expert handling and calming charm, which I have often used in the past to soothe a panicked horse, Diva threw me. I felt the gnash from the rock sticking out from the ground, which I hit my head on. The impact sending black spots across my vision—and a cry in absolute agony. My abdominal area pinched and screamed with a sharp and sudden pain like nothing I have ever felt before. There was blood on my hand when I touched it. I needed to get up. I needed to get back and get medical help because I knew Breanne wasn’t going to get me any. As I tried to push myself up off the ground with one hand, while the other was wrapped tightly around my stomach, still crying in sheer pain, a polished boot came forcefully down, cracking the bones in my hand. "Ah—!" The pain forced a gasp through clenched teeth. Chapter 5 The Two-Faced Woman "Claire, weren't you so impressive on horseback just now? How did you end up on the ground so fast?" Breanne crouched down, blinking her wide, innocent-looking eyes as she taunted me, pressing her boot harder against my hand, breaking the bones. She knew I was wolfless, and the pain she was causing; this was why she was doing it. To send me a message. I was hoping someone would come and find us, but the odds of this far from the training grounds were unlikely. "Oh my, I'm so sorry!" Breanne feigned surprise, finally lifting her foot with exaggerated remorse. "I didn't even see your hand there. How careless of me." “It’s to be expected with those massive feet of yours. What is that a size ten in men's?” I watched her eyes flash in anger briefly before she reined it back in. I yanked my hand back, and when Breanne reached out to help me up. I would always refuse her help; it was always a ploy for something worse. When she tried again, I recoiled, pushing myself up to my feet with gritted teeth. "Claire, that must've hurt. With riding skills like yours, how could you possibly think you were qualified to teach me?" Breanne smirked. "Only a fool would believe such a pitiful act, Breanne.” I glared, refusing to back down. "Oh, please. Can't accept that you're just not as good as I am? No wonder Liam doesn't like you much—you're such a sore loser." Breanne let out a mocking laugh. Breanne wasn’t hiding her petty, vindictive behaviour. She wanted me to know her intentions of returning and that she hadn't forgiven me for having her exiled. The reason Breanne was sent away a year ago was that I had walked in on her and Liam in the throes of passion. They were both half-naked and stuck to each other. Liam seemed to snap out of his daze the moment I entered the room and yanked Breanne off him. The thud of her head to the edge of the dresser brought out her wolf, and warriors nearby who heard the yelling managed to catch Breanne just in time before she could attack me. Liam sobered up instantly and demanded answers. Breanne played the confused card. That, like Liam, she had drunk a little too much at the pack celebration. She must have gotten confused about which floor she was on and passed out in mine and his bedroom, thinking it was hers. After all, his scent calms her, so she made sure to add that part—one extra little jab between Liam and me. Liam swore up and down that he was confused and thought it was me under the covers in bed. That, with the amount of wolfwine he had consumed, he didn’t realize it wasn’t me until my scent entered the room, and his wolf halted their action immediately recognizing their error. I moved to a different room, and Liam tried to separate himself from Breanne. Then he learned that Breanne approached me afterward and told me that Liam was aware it was her. After all, why would they confuse their mates? Unfortunately for Breanne, she did it in front of a witness, and they told several others, which led Liam to ask me about it. I confirmed that I knew he was aware that it was Breanne, as she told me so herself, and that I wanted to break the bond if he didn’t send her away as proof of his devotion to the mates' bond. I could see that he didn’t want to, but Liam was also someone who cared too much about image to have the wolfen community know that he lost his true mate over the Beta’s daughter affair scandal. With the third wheel gone, our mate bond had finally stabilized. I had hoped to start trying for a pup on our anniversary after I was announced as the new Luna of the Sterling Moon pack. But now Breanne was back, something of which Liam failed to inform me—especially considering it nearly ended us only a year ago. His lack of consideration over that confused me. Did his wolf also agree with this decision? Surely his wolf would realize better than Liam that this would ultimately bring out the bond to an end. "Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about," I said coolly. "But don't worry. I'll be out of your way soon. Then you two can do whatever you want." I turned away, whistling sharply for my horse. Breanne's face flushed crimson. She grabbed my arm and pressed her fingers deep into the flesh. “What the hell are you implying? What plans could I possibly have?” "You know exactly what I mean. But just a heads-up—mistresses in ranked mate bonds are illegal without Elder consent. And bastard pups tend to be shunned by packs altogether. So think carefully." Breanne's face went scarlet. "You—you're disgusting! How dare you accuse me and Liam of—" The sound of galloping hooves cut her off. Her eyes widened as though she hadn't expected us to be interrupted so soon. I turned to the sound of approaching Hooves, which gave Breanne time to growl her threat before she partially shifted and lunged at me with the intent to maul me where I stood. A chill ran down my spine—only to be overshadowed by the thunderous sound of a horse's disapproving whinny. Next thing I knew, Breanne was whimpering on the ground, crying in sheer agony as a scarred, filthy white stallion trampled her. My breath hitched, my eyes widened in disbelief. I knew this stallion. And then I saw it—the faint brown patch on the stallion's head. My blood turned to ice. No. It can’t be. "Mirage?" My voice cracked. The horse stopped mid-stomp, ears twitching. The sound of my voice stopped the Stallion from continuing its attack on Breanne, who had now reverted to her bruised human state, no longer partially shifted. The Stallion turned and looked at me. "Mirage!" I choked out, rushing forward to grab the reins. "It's really you!" I hadn't summoned my borrowed stallion. I had summoned him. My champion. My partner. My horse that Liam sold from under me, promising he went to a good home. Now, his coat was matted, his skin was patchy with disease, and his body was crisscrossed with whip marks. He was abused. Mirage had once been a regal, snow-white stallion, bought at auction by the Thornes. He had carried me to victory in countless competitions. He wasn't just a horse. He was my family. One of the most precious things I had. It took everything in me to forgive him for going behind my back and forcing me to stop riding by selling Mirage off in the first place, but it helped soothe the pain to know that at least he was being taken care of wherever he was. Liam had promised he'd be cared for. He lied. He looked me in the eye and lied to my face. He gave Mirage to a home that had continuously abused and neglected him. These wounds were a combination of old and recent. This was what Liam considered a good home? Tears burned my eyes as I ran my hands over his ruined coat. My heart was breaking. The abuse Mirage would have been enduring all this time, thinking I abandoned him. "Claire! Breanne!" Liam's voice cut through the air as another set of hooves approached. Chapter 6 The Fall The injuries and now Mirage, I was breaking inside and now outside. Just as my knees gave way, a firm hand caught my arm. "What took you so long out here? Are you all right?" Liam's voice, usually so tender, sounded distant in my ears. Through my tears, I turned to confront him about Mirage's condition, but Breanne's weak whimper cut through the air. "Liam.” She whimpered weakly. “Please, help me,” she pleaded. Liam stiffened as if struck. He released me immediately, like he was catching fire at just the mere touch of me. I staggered from the sudden loss of assistance and contact from my mate, and watched in disbelief as his attention snapped to Breanne's crumpled form on the ground. "Breanne!" His eyes reddened as he gathered her into his arms, cradling her close to her chest, "Oh my Goddess, what happened? How did this—?" I watched as he gently wiped away the tears staining her cheek. His eyes began to mist up. It was as though I were watching a live-action romance. The long-lost lover, dying in her beloved's arms. It would have been touching if it wasn't for the fact that that was my mate, holding another woman so tenderly while I stood five feet from them in significantly more pain. "Claire couldn't handle her horse. When I offered to help her back up, she then turned it around and blamed me! When I tried to explain I wasn’t at fault, she set that wretched beast on me!" Breanne's tears fell like broken pearls. Her voice grew faint as she added dramatically, "Liam, please, I can't feel my legs. What if I never walk again?" Liam's expression darkened as he listened to Breanne’s version of events. He turned to me with a sudden coldness I had never seen before. "Is this true?" He growled in anger, clutching Breanne closer to him protectively. A searing pain tore through my abdomen before I could respond. I cried out at the suddenness of it, and clutched my stomach, gasping through clenched teeth as metallic bile rose in my throat. Liam didn’t even flinch at the sight of my obvious pain before him. "I'm taking Breanne to the hospital," he said coldly. "If you did this, Claire—" He left the threat hanging as he cradled Breanne closer. I have never heard of an Alpha, or any rank member in my school studies or observations, threatening his mates and Luna over just a friend. It was against Wolfen code and ethics, but I suppose that didn’t matter to Liam or the Sterling Moon pack. This was going to become a regular occurrence, I could already sense it. I watched through blurred vision as Breanne gave one last performance. "Liam, I—" Her eyelids fluttered shut with theatrical perfection. "Bree-Bree! Stay with me! Please don’t leave me, baby. I’m here. Don’t you dare leave me!" Liam shouted, already running partially shifted into his wolf to allow himself to cradle her and use his Alpha wolf strength and speed at the same time. Behind him, I collapsed with a thud that echoed across the field. I briefly saw Liam hesitate mid-stride—just for a second. Regardless, he didn’t turn around at the sound of my collapse and shallow, laboured breaths. I watched as they continued to run away with Breanne in their arms, leaving me where I lay. My heart broke, even though I had filed and decided to leave both Liam and this horrible pack; a small part of me still held onto a sliver of hope that Liam would see the path he was taking and how far it was from us. But he didn’t, and that was when everything went dark for me. ***** When I regained consciousness, the sterile glare of surgical lights assaulted my vision. Cold metal instruments clinked nearby as my legs were positioned apart. I tried to speak, but the drugs held me paralyzed. The doctors' voices floated above me like ghosts. I could sense the movements around me, but I was awake, unable to move, feel, or speak. It was a surreal experience, but oddly familiar to my life since I had mated with the Sterling family. Nothing more than an ornament on the wall to all, including my mate. "Such a shame—two months along. Who goes horseback riding when they're pregnant?" "The fall detached the embryo completely. Must have been quite the impact. She is lucky to be alive." "Without a wolf, another hour, and she wouldn’t have been." "That man who brought her in—was that her husband? He was colder than a block of ice, but as Handsome as the Devil himself. Can’t say much about their mateship part, he simply paid the bill and left without a word." "Enough chatter. Let’s finish this up before she hemorrhages." Each medical term floating to my ears—pregnancy, embryo, hemorrhage, dilation and curettage—pierced my drugged haze like silver blades to the heart. The one that stuck out the most was broken. I knew they were talking about my hand, but it was so much deeper than that. I felt broken. I lost my pup. Until recently, I would have loved to have Liam and my first pup. Everything about us seemed happy and together, but now, it seemed symbolic to lose the pups I never knew I had. I was losing a mate I should never have had to fight this hard to keep. Everything was perfect until I saw it was all a smoke screen and not meant to be. Just like this pup. False hope. I struggled against the numbness, but my body refused to obey. Something sharp scraped inside me, painless but violating. The crushing weight of realization dragged me under before I could scream, I was once again enveloped by empty darkness. "Claire ... Claire ..." Time lost all meaning. A distant voice called my name while someone shook my arm. With monumental effort, I forced my eyes open. Once again, the antiseptic glare of hospital lights assaulted my vision—I was in a hospital room.
"""Please, Liam, I just lost our baby. Don't let them take my blood."" My voice was barely a whisper, my body still trembling from the surgery—from the emptiness where our child used to be. But my husband didn't even look at me. His gaze was fixed on the ER doors, where doctors shouted about Breanne's critical blood loss. Breanne Telder. The Beta's daughter. His best friend. The woman he swore was""just like a sister.” The same woman who caused the fall that cost me our pup. ""She's RH-negative and we're out of stock. Find donors—now!"" The surgeon said urgently. ""Take hers."" Liam's arm slid around my waist—not to comfort me, not to hold me—but to push me forward like an offering.""Wolfless born shifters are universal donors. Her blood will save Breanne."" I froze as if struck by lightning, my disbelieving eyes lifting to meet his. Did he and his wolf even realize what they'd done? They didn't have to say the rejection—offering their mate's blood to another woman screamed it loud enough. ""Liam,"" I managed to whisper, ""I just lost our pup—"" ""Spare me the lies. I am done believing you!"" His eyes were cold steel. ""Breanne's life comes first right now."" The words cut deeper than any blade. I straightened, ignoring the spinning in my head, every inch of me trembling but unbroken. ""You've made your choice, Liam. And after today…"" my voice didn't crack this time ""I'll make mine."" The doctor's hand gripped my arm, leading me toward the blood lab. ""I'll donate the blood,"" I didn't fight it. ""But in return, you will agree to end our mate bond.”" ***** Chapter 1 Dropping the Mate I stood at the gate of the Sterling Moon Packhouse, clutching a cake box that had begun to melt in the summer heat. My usually pristine blonde hair was now stuck to my neck and face in damp strands, and my designer dress was now ruined with mud and swamp stains. I hadn't meant to arrive at my third mating anniversary looking like I had been dragged through a hedge backward and then tossed in the swamp lands beyond the pack grounds. But then again, being cornered and ambushed by rogues, conveniently knowing my whereabouts without an escort or protection, wasn't exactly part of my agenda either. A mysterious yet heroic stranger had rescued me and driven me back to the edge of my mate’s pack territory when Liam Sterling, my mate and the pack's Alpha, hadn't answered any of my fifteen frantic calls. I had almost convinced myself he was simply busy orchestrating some grand anniversary surprise. That had to be it. Otherwise, why else would he send me out alone for the cake retrieval and then not bother to answer my calls? I quickened my pace toward the entrance of the packhouse, not wanting to delay the celebration any longer than I already had. I rounded the corner only to stop dead at the sight before me. The entire packhouse had been transformed with floral arches, helium balloons, and an enormous banner. My fingers tightened around the cake box. I had doubts about walking into the grand hall; perhaps I should slip upstairs to change first. Then Liam's familiar voice called out. "There's my beautiful mate! Took you long enough, sweetheart. Everyone's waiting for the cake. Were the directions not clear enough?" He teased, not taking in the dishevelled state of my appearance or the fact that my smile didn’t reach my eyes. He often failed to see me. I looked up to find my mate looking devastatingly handsome in a white Tom Ford suit, his gray waistcoat accentuating those broad shoulders I used to trace my fingers over. He hadn't dressed like this for me in years. I pushed aside the gnawing doubts starting to fill my heart and embraced the fact that he was trying to make things right. This was not the time to voice my disappointments with his lack of attention or concern. We're here to celebrate our mate bond with the pack. This was also the year that he promised to swear me in as the official Luna, to lead by his side. Three years of proving myself capable despite not having a wolf of my own, and now here we were. My lips began curving into a smile despite myself. Maybe the rogues and the ambush, the ruined dress, the ignored calls—perhaps none of it mattered now that I was home. Liam would keep me safe, and we were going to announce that I was stepping into a role that should have been mine when we first mated. "Liam, I was just—" I was about to explain the rogues, the ambush, the mysterious saviour, but was cut off mid-sentence. "Liam! Is that my cake?" A shrill voice interrupted as Breanne Telder materialized behind Liam, looping her arm through his as though it was where she belonged. She was Liam’s father's Beta’s daughter. Otherwise known as the third wheel in our relationship and the pick me girl that Liam always did. She was also not supposed to be here. She was sent away a while ago, and Liam promised to focus solely on us. "You flew me home just for this birthday surprise? Best Alpha bestie ever!" The cake box slipped from my fingers, landing with a sickening splat on the custom marble flooring beneath me. The same flooring I wanted to either swallow me or Breanna up in this moment. Birthday surprise? What the hell did that mean? Those two words echoed in my skull like gunshots. For weeks, I had known Liam was planning something secretive. The custom-ordered flowers were delivered under the cover of darkness. The expensive Eclipse Stone rough he'd purchased at auction. All those whispered phone calls I had pretended not to hear. It all led to this moment, but it wasn’t the moment I had expected. I had woven every scrap of evidence into fantasies of candlelit vows renewed, of Liam dropping to one knee all over again. Even when he hadn't picked up during my attack from rogues, I had made excuses for him. Now Breanne's smug smile shattered those delusions like a hammer through stained glass. "What the hell were you thinking, Claire?" Stephanie Sterling's razor-sharp heels clicked across the flooring as she advanced. "We've been waiting two hours for that cake! You can’t do one single task; no wonder you will never be Luna material for the Sterling Moon pack." Stephanie was Liam's mother. From the moment I mated into the Alpha family, Stephanie had made no secret of her dislike; she was the reason Liam was convinced to hold off and force me to prove myself as Luna material. Over time, that contempt had only grown bolder, more vicious, no longer even pretending to hide it. Failing to see Liam, their Alpha, standing up for me, much of the pack started to support and see the validity in the points that their retired Luna was making. My hands shook. "This was supposed to be our anniversary party." Liam caught my elbow and steered me out of the room for privacy. "Baby, I'd planned a surprise for you, but Breanne asked for a pack-wide birthday celebration when she returned, so—" "So, instead of standing up for your mate, yet again, you conceded and did what they wanted. It’s fine for me to be let down, but not her? Message received, Liam." I wrenched my arm free, the movement sending fresh pain through my bruised ribs from the attack. I doubled over with a gasp. Before Liam could reach for me, Stephanie's voice sliced through the garden again. "Liam! Stop coddling her and get over here. This is why the wolfless should never hold ranks; they're weak and attention grabbers. Forget the cake, we'll just serve the petit fours instead." "Coming." He hesitated, then pressed a kiss to my temple. "We'll talk later." I remained crouched in the foyer of the packhouse as another wave of pain, this one far deeper than physical, crashed over me. Not a single pack member had asked why I looked like I'd been in a car wreck, why I'd been crying. From the other room where everyone gathered, the opening chords of "Happy Birthday" floated toward me. Each syrupy note felt like another papercut to my heart. It hit me suddenly—I hadn't celebrated a birthday since mating into the Alpha family, not once, though my own fell just days apart from Breanne's. And Liam had known this; he made a joke about the coincidence of his two best gals' being birthday buddies, but mine was always overshadowed. He quickly forgot about mine. I wiped my cheeks, giving myself a self-mocking smile. I should have known better than to hope for something more than what I already received. As the sun dipped low, I rose, my shadow stretching lonely behind me. Without a word, I climbed the stairs and clicked the bedroom door shut of the Alpha suite. Under the bathroom's harsh lighting, I peeled off my ruined dress and threw it in the trash. Steam fogged the mirrors as I scrubbed at skin that still felt dirty from the rogue's hands. I stayed under the scalding water until my fingers pruned. Wrapped in an oversized robe, I sat curled on the window seat watching party lights twinkle below until the last guest departed. At 11:00 PM, the bedroom door finally creaked open. I didn't turn when Liam's familiar cologne filled the room. I heard him hang up his jacket, then felt his whiskey-warm hands on my shoulders. "Happy anniversary, my beautiful, stunning mate." His lips brushed my ear. "Guess what I got you?" I shrugged him off. "I honestly don't care." He knelt before me, producing a velvet box with the flourish of a magician. "I had this carved from that Eclipse Stone rough. It is rumoured to help awaken latent wolfen spirits, strengthen auras and bring new beginnings.” Liam fastened the pendant around my neck. The cold stone settled between my chest like a brand. "Stunning." He kissed the hollow of my throat. "I was thinking that it’s been three years since we mated, and you have done so well proving yourself to me and this pack. I want us to now try for a pup. Bring this pack a new heir.” "Yeah, that’s not happening," I rejected the idea instantly. His chuckle was dark velvet. "You won't have to lift a finger, darling. I'll do all the—" "Liam." I met his gaze for the first time that night. “I want to submit an official request to break our mate bond!” Chapter 2 This Time, His Sweet Talk Won't Work My mind was made up before he finally came to our room. This wasn't like my previous impulsive threats in an attempt to get him to see the mistakes he was continuously making in our bond. This time, I was genuinely determined to leave. Three years of mateship flashed through my mind. I had lost count of how many times Liam had prioritized Breanne over my feelings or dismissed me because his mother said so. Who was his mate, and who was just a friend? I could no longer answer that question, and I was tired of trying to defend us. We weren’t bonded. Not the way the typical Alpha and mate were. It was usual for an Alpha never to leave his Luna’s side. She was his number one priority, even though the pack came second. The Alpha's mate was the heart of the pack and respected as an equal, but I was neither of those things. I haven’t been from the start. Breanne, even though she was briefly sent away, was still respected and noticed more than I could even hope for. If someone kept treating you in ways you disliked, it was because you allowed it. I had let it slide every other time. But today, Liam had crossed my final line. This day was our third anniversary. I didn’t care that he forgot my birthday, dinners, or events we planned together. I did, however, care about this milestone moment. A promise he made was long forgotten. This was that tipping point for my patience. “Really, Claire? You are threatening to reject our mate bond again? Don't say that every time you're upset, sweetheart. I was wrong about today. I'll make it up to you tomorrow." My eyes showed no emotion. “Don't bother. Not everything can be made up, and you can only backburner your mate for so long before she grows tired of being at the bottom of the priorities, Liam.” "Of course, this can be fixed. There's always next year. We will have a pup by then, and you will have long forgotten this little hiccup and tantrum." Liam pushed me down onto the sofa, kissing my face tenderly. With my hands pinned above my head, I wasn’t able to push him off. He expected the topic of having pups would appease me and calm my boiling anger. I had had enough of his nonsense and non-committal ways. I stared blankly at the ceiling as tears unexpectedly rolled down my cheeks. I lay like a dead weight. In the past, whenever we would fight or I would throw a tantrum, as Liam would title it, all he would do was use the mate bond against me. His kisses, his touch, his desires would wear me down, and I would accept his hollowed words of apology and his flashy gifts as though they meant something more than pacifying childish behaviour, in his mind. But this time, even though he held me down and I couldn’t resist, I was also not participating or encouraging him to continue. He was so self-absorbed that he couldn’t even realize that I wasn’t a willing participant. I was motionless, soundless, non-responsive. As Liam kept kissing me, his hands touched every part of my bruised body, utterly unaware of the pain he was inflicting both physically and emotionally. I felt his body suddenly freeze at the sound of a whimpered sob that slipped out of me. He looked out with hooded eyes, which quickly sobered and turned serious when he saw the tears in my eyes. His expression was frozen in panic. "Baby, why are you crying?" He quickly turned on the light. "Wait—you seemed off when you came home. Did something happen?" Finally, he remembered, but the damage between us was already done. My heart twisted, wishing that it didn’t take crying while he wanted sex to cover his mistakes for him to notice something was wrong. At the thought of how much distance was between us, more tears fell. Under the light, Liam finally saw the slight swelling on my face, the scratches on my arms and body, and the deep gash on my right leg with dried blood. His pupils contracted. "What happened?" I could sense his wolf stirring under the surface. It was clear that someone had hurt me, but they were only now realizing it. Just as I opened my mouth, his phone rang. I looked at the screen and rolled my eyes. Of course, it was Breanne. Liam sighed and offered a small apologetic smile before he answered in front of me. "Breanne, what's wrong?" "Liam, I think I ate something bad. My stomach hurts so much. Can you take me to the hospital?" Breanne's sugary voice came through. Liam automatically started to agree. I could see his eyes widen with panic at the thought that she was in pain. But right before he responded, he looked at me and my reddened, tear-filled eyes. "It's late. Claire and I are already in bed. Ask Mom if there's any medicine at home." Stephanie's sharp voice interrupted, "Liam, come now! This isn't ordinary pain. It could be appendicitis! She's pale as a ghost!" Liam's brow furrowed. "Fine. I'm coming." My heart sank like a stone. I shook my head in disbelief and turned away, refusing to meet his eyes. Yet again, I was pushed aside. Liam dressed quickly but hesitated at the door. After a long moment, he took my hand. "You're hurt too. Come with me, we'll get you checked at the hospital." That single word, "too", cut like a knife. I laughed dryly. "No need. Go ahead, play hero for another woman. If your mate's pain is less important than staying and understanding what happened, then your friend who has a stomach ache, don’t bother dragging me around like an accessory with false concern. I'd rather be alone." Liam stiffened. He opened his mouth to speak, but the phone kept ringing insistently. Finally, he sighed and pressed his black card into my hand. "Buy whatever you want. Consider it an apology." The door slammed shut. I weighed the card in my palm and smiled bitterly. Liam only ever had two ways to appease me—sex or money. It used to work. I fooled myself into believing it meant he cared, that he wasn’t good with expressing emotions, but I saw it for what it was now. This time, his sweet talk won't work. I walked to the closet and in the back corner, I pulled out my old suitcase. Inside was the most valuable thing I owned. My freedom. It was an official Rejection agreement signed the night before our mating. Back then, Liam had insisted on accepting our mate bond despite his family's objections. Afraid of being trapped in a toxic pack and mating, I had made him sign this; if I ever wanted to break the bond, he had to agree unconditionally. I thought we’d never need it. Liam had probably forgotten it existed. But I hadn't. During one fight, I had even consulted a lawyer who confirmed its validity. I could file for an official rejection of the bond with just this document and 30 days cooling-off period. Since he had already signed it, there was no need for Liam's consent for me to file it now. The Elders within the Council would perform the rejection ceremony within their own chambers. There was no need for either of us to be present. That was typically why Alphas refrained from preemptively signing these types of contracts. It relinquished control without their knowledge. Now was the time. Chapter 3 The Breaking Point I didn't sleep all night; I couldn’t. Instead, I spent those hours cutting up every photograph of us together. There weren’t many, I realized. My phone was filled with pictures of Liam whenever I could sneak photos when he was distracted or busy. He was honestly an Adonis of a man. But three years together, we had exactly twenty-three pictures of us together as a couple, and only thirteen of those were just Liam and me. The remaining ten were with Breanne. I snuck downstairs before anyone else woke up and went into Liam's office. There on the desk was a picture. It was of him and Breanne, hugging and smiling into the camera. They looked happy. Too happy. My inner bitter bitch was vomiting at the sight. On the other side of the desk was a picture of the three of us. That's right, not me and my mate. It was Breanne pressed against Liam's side, smiling up at him, and I was smiling at the camera on the other side. My arm was linked around his, and he was smiling, but for which female in the picture, your guess was as good as mine. I took the picture out of the frame, and bent it so that I was folded to the back. There, now he had two perfect couple pictures of him and Breanne. I will simply bow out of this weird three-way relationship. By dawn, I had already filed the official rejection agreement papers at the Council's registry office. Then I donated all the designer outfits Liam had bought me to charity. Afterward, I drove out of the pack grounds for a few hours to pawn every piece of jewelry he'd ever given me at the local broker's. I didn’t want it getting back to Liam, or the pack gossip mill to run rampant with their own speculations. Not yet anyway. It was a surprisingly large chunk of money in return, one thing I knew for sure about Liam. When he was grovelling for his indifferences and mistakes, he never cheaped out on the apology jewelry. The broker didn’t have the full amount on hand, so I opted to have it wired, which worked fine for me. I opened a new bank account and provided them with the necessary information. I returned to the packhouse early that afternoon. I had requested that the gardener cut down the Cherry Blossom tree in the pack’s courtyard. He was ordered to burn every branch and leaf until only ashes remained. When I agreed to mate with Liam, I had my reservations because his family didn’t support their Alpha heir accepting the bond to a wolfless orphan with average financial standings. Liam planted the tree as a token of his pledge of devotion to us and our bond. I fell for it, thinking it would make us stronger. But I was wrong. By late afternoon, I had either sold, donated or destroyed every token of Liam and his devotion to me and our bond: everything but the Eclipse stone pendant. Some legends state that the Moon Goddess herself blessed the eclipse stone to strengthen the will of the wolfless. Call me a fool, but it still served as a sliver of proof that at some point, he did care enough to seek out the stone for me. Now that everything was removed, it was time for me to step out and prepare everything for my new life after this month-long cooldown period ended, and I was no longer the unwanted mate of Alpha Liam Sterling. I knew I had to be smart and figure out my path now, as I had no family to turn to once the rejection was completed. When I was seven, my father had disappeared after a mountain climbing accident. It was speculated that rogues were involved, as they were heavy in the area at the time. My mother re-mated not long afterwards, and we became part of the Thorne family. They were the overlords, if you will, of the Crown of Thornes Pack, rivals of The Sterling Moon pack and next door neighbours to the territory. My mother left the Thorne family after accusations and rumours of her infidelity and gambling debts. I didn’t believe it, but it seemed that everyone else did. I had no idea where she even went. She certainly didn’t seek me out after she left that night, abandoning me. The only person who would even be considered family at this point was Lucien Thorne. He was my former stepbrother from my mother's second mating. However, Lucien was notorious for his short temper, and he constantly mistreated me while we lived under the same roof, so I would sooner wind up homeless than seek his help. The heat of Liam’s black card was burning a hole in my pocket, serving as a reminder of his literal words: “Buy whatever you want and consider it as an apology.” Okay! I will. I went to the bank and after the teller spoke with the branch manager to confirm my approval of using the Alpha’s account for a withdrawal, yup, that's right, I held no status, so I wasn’t even recognized with authority over our marital account; I withdrew one million dollars from his account. It was insulting and frustrating to know that Breanne can walk in here and not have as many hoops to jump through to get at my mate’s money. But that’s fine. I have already started to let go of my hold on him emotionally. My head has already done so. As I waited for the teller to return with the funds, my phone rang. Liyah Cruz. She was my closest friend before I accepted the bond with Liam. Liam didn’t like her influence on me, as he put it, so over the years, our friendship became strained. For her to be reaching out and calling me now, it had to be important. "Liyah? What's wrong?" I answered right away. "Oh, thank the Goddess. Claire, the International Equestrian Championships start in a month, but I just got injured during training." Liyah's voice was thick with disappointment. "Claire, you were the most talented rider we knew. I could think of no one else to take over. Could you compete in my place?" The memories came flooding back. Had I not mated with Liam, I might have become as renowned as Liyah in equestrian circles. But Liam had disapproved of me riding; he often called it unladylike. He'd gone as far as going behind my back and selling my beloved white stallion, Mirage, to a good owner, cutting off my last connection to the sport. The silence stretched until Liyah sighed. "I forgot your mate doesn't allow—" "I'll do it," I interrupted. "One month. I'll be ready." Liyah's excited squeal pierced through the receiver. "Really? Oh my Goddess! Everyone always said you shouldn't have given up your talent for mating! You're finally coming back to us!" My hand trembled around the phone. Yes, before mating into the Sterling Moon pack and Alpha family, I had shone so brightly. Before Liam, I used to be many things. I was the university's star student—straight A's in every subject. A gifted painter, champion rider, runway model, master chef, and award-winning debater—there was nothing I couldn't excel at. But three years of mating had eroded it all. I hadn't touched a paintbrush in years. I have forgotten how to walk a runway, and even lost my sharp tongue in arguments—forced to submit to even my mate's family and house staff. Only my cooking skills remained polished because I have cooked for Liam every single day since the beginning of our bond acceptance. Only now did I realize how much of myself I had sacrificed. But it wasn't too late. I could still start over. This was that chance to start taking my life by the reins, so to speak, and returning to the Claire that used to walk proudly with her chin held high. Chapter 4 Meeting on Horseback I met Liyah at the stables we once rode at together. “Thank you, Claire-bear. I can’t believe you are actually here.” Liyah launched herself on top of me, despite her knee brace. I thought I understood what I gave up to be with Liam, my mate, but I didn’t understand a fraction of it. This crazy woman, who used to be my world, wrapped around me. How did I let him separate us? “It’s me who should thank you, Lee-Lee. I’ve missed you. I’m sorry. No more boys between us, I promise.” I sobbed. Liyah looked up, and I saw the understanding in her eyes. We both wiped our faces and laughed at our equally blotchy faces. “Okay, later, we'll discuss everything!” She looked at me with as much conviction as her tiny body could muster. I nodded and smiled. “But now, let me introduce you to Diva, my stallion. Just a warning, he lives up to the name periodically. I think it’s an adorable quirk for him and refuse to break it out of him. You’ll love him!” Liyah leads us to the stables, where we meet the horse. Liyah was right. We matched instantly. It isn’t easy for a shifter to bond with a stallion, but I never had those worries. I was always able to click with any animal, to the point where Liyah's brother spent a year calling me freaking snow white! I hated it, but he wasn’t wrong. I galloped across the equestrian field at dawn, the stallion I rode was kicking up dew as it raced toward the rising sun. Then I saw them. Liam and Breanne shared a white mare, ambling toward my direction. Breanne was dressed in her pristine white riding jodhpurs with the matching show coat, leaned back against Liam's chest. Liam's attire was the stark contrast of black on black. I watched him bend his head low, whispering something in Breanne’s ear, causing a fit of giggles from her. I had waited for him to return all night. When I had reached out and called him to ask if he would be returning that night, I was told, by him, that since Breanna needed an emergency appendectomy, he would not leave her side until she recovered. That was when I cut up our photos, burning them to ashes. As I watch them now, a question came to my mind, causing my brow to arch. When did appendectomy patients start riding horses the next day? My grip tightened on the reins just as Breanne spotted me. “Oh! Liam, how spooky. Doesn’t that woman look just like Claire!”At her teasing words, I watched as Liam's head snapped up. There, I sat astride my stallion, the tailored navy riding jacket accentuating my hourglass figure, my gaze glacial. I knew he felt it. Dismounting, Liam approached until he could only see the sharp angle of my jaw. "Sweetheart, since when do you ride? I thought you quit that. You should've told me you were coming." The memory of his and Breanne’s intimate pose churned my stomach. I pressed a hand to my mouth to keep from being sick at the thought before answering flatly. "Would you have answered if I called?" This acidic tone only emerged when I was furious. Liam's smile turned placating. "My fault—left my phone in the car. It turned out to be a false alarm about Breanne's appendix. Since she's competing in the International Equestrian Championships next month, I was only helping her practice." Breanne urged her mare forward, pouting. "Liam, why must we explain everything to her? Come back, we have more important things to focus on. You haven't finished teaching me." "An International Championship contender needs amateur instruction? How curious. I wonder if anyone else here is getting that kind of coaching? But, Liam, if she requires coaching, I'll do it." As Liam turned, my voice froze him. Liam’s expression initially fell flat at my words, but he quickly brightened at my offer. "Exactly! Breanne, Claire won that championship years ago." 'How touching that he finally remembered I have value,' I thought bitterly. Breanne bit her lip. "But—" After years together, I knew Breanne’s games. She wasn’t as nervous on a horse as she portrayed. It was all an act for Liam. "No buts." I raised my riding crop. "Let's ride." The crop came down on Breanne's mare, which bolted forward with a whinny as Breanne shrieked. Liam paled. "Claire! She wasn't ready—" "Real trainers surprise their students." My amber eyes glinted. “Your coddling would've kept her mediocre forever.” Dust sprayed Liam's face as I galloped after Breanne, leaving him standing there, cheeks burning as if slapped. Good. This was just the beginning of my resistance. Breanne and I raced across the field. Though I was starting late, my black stallion, Diva, was not one to be outshone, and we soon overtook Breanne's white mare. For three years, Breanne had only seen the docile, obedient Claire. This commanding version, I’m sure, was unnerving. I could hear her growling, which, to be honest, was only slowing her own horse down. Her mare would not be able to focus on a race, with its rider losing its hold over herself. It was bound to spook her mare soon, and if she weren’t careful, she would get bucked. But as the saying goes, not my circus, not my monkeys. Diva and I were focused on ourselves. I could sense Breanne's determination to beat me. But, no matter how she pushed her champion mare, I remained ahead. As Diva and I passed her again, I caught a flash of movement from Breanne out of the corner of my eye. She pulled a hairpin out of her pocket and hurled it at Diva. That hairpin had been a gift from her friend at her birthday party, and she had been keeping it close to her chest just now. It was made of silver, and the sharp end drove hard into Diva's rump. Diva was instantly startled. Despite my expert handling and calming charm, which I have often used in the past to soothe a panicked horse, Diva threw me. I felt the gnash from the rock sticking out from the ground, which I hit my head on. The impact sending black spots across my vision—and a cry in absolute agony. My abdominal area pinched and screamed with a sharp and sudden pain like nothing I have ever felt before. There was blood on my hand when I touched it. I needed to get up. I needed to get back and get medical help because I knew Breanne wasn’t going to get me any. As I tried to push myself up off the ground with one hand, while the other was wrapped tightly around my stomach, still crying in sheer pain, a polished boot came forcefully down, cracking the bones in my hand. "Ah—!" The pain forced a gasp through clenched teeth. Chapter 5 The Two-Faced Woman "Claire, weren't you so impressive on horseback just now? How did you end up on the ground so fast?" Breanne crouched down, blinking her wide, innocent-looking eyes as she taunted me, pressing her boot harder against my hand, breaking the bones. She knew I was wolfless, and the pain she was causing; this was why she was doing it. To send me a message. I was hoping someone would come and find us, but the odds of this far from the training grounds were unlikely. "Oh my, I'm so sorry!" Breanne feigned surprise, finally lifting her foot with exaggerated remorse. "I didn't even see your hand there. How careless of me." “It’s to be expected with those massive feet of yours. What is that a size ten in men's?” I watched her eyes flash in anger briefly before she reined it back in. I yanked my hand back, and when Breanne reached out to help me up. I would always refuse her help; it was always a ploy for something worse. When she tried again, I recoiled, pushing myself up to my feet with gritted teeth. "Claire, that must've hurt. With riding skills like yours, how could you possibly think you were qualified to teach me?" Breanne smirked. "Only a fool would believe such a pitiful act, Breanne.” I glared, refusing to back down. "Oh, please. Can't accept that you're just not as good as I am? No wonder Liam doesn't like you much—you're such a sore loser." Breanne let out a mocking laugh. Breanne wasn’t hiding her petty, vindictive behaviour. She wanted me to know her intentions of returning and that she hadn't forgiven me for having her exiled. The reason Breanne was sent away a year ago was that I had walked in on her and Liam in the throes of passion. They were both half-naked and stuck to each other. Liam seemed to snap out of his daze the moment I entered the room and yanked Breanne off him. The thud of her head to the edge of the dresser brought out her wolf, and warriors nearby who heard the yelling managed to catch Breanne just in time before she could attack me. Liam sobered up instantly and demanded answers. Breanne played the confused card. That, like Liam, she had drunk a little too much at the pack celebration. She must have gotten confused about which floor she was on and passed out in mine and his bedroom, thinking it was hers. After all, his scent calms her, so she made sure to add that part—one extra little jab between Liam and me. Liam swore up and down that he was confused and thought it was me under the covers in bed. That, with the amount of wolfwine he had consumed, he didn’t realize it wasn’t me until my scent entered the room, and his wolf halted their action immediately recognizing their error. I moved to a different room, and Liam tried to separate himself from Breanne. Then he learned that Breanne approached me afterward and told me that Liam was aware it was her. After all, why would they confuse their mates? Unfortunately for Breanne, she did it in front of a witness, and they told several others, which led Liam to ask me about it. I confirmed that I knew he was aware that it was Breanne, as she told me so herself, and that I wanted to break the bond if he didn’t send her away as proof of his devotion to the mates' bond. I could see that he didn’t want to, but Liam was also someone who cared too much about image to have the wolfen community know that he lost his true mate over the Beta’s daughter affair scandal. With the third wheel gone, our mate bond had finally stabilized. I had hoped to start trying for a pup on our anniversary after I was announced as the new Luna of the Sterling Moon pack. But now Breanne was back, something of which Liam failed to inform me—especially considering it nearly ended us only a year ago. His lack of consideration over that confused me. Did his wolf also agree with this decision? Surely his wolf would realize better than Liam that this would ultimately bring out the bond to an end. "Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about," I said coolly. "But don't worry. I'll be out of your way soon. Then you two can do whatever you want." I turned away, whistling sharply for my horse. Breanne's face flushed crimson. She grabbed my arm and pressed her fingers deep into the flesh. “What the hell are you implying? What plans could I possibly have?” "You know exactly what I mean. But just a heads-up—mistresses in ranked mate bonds are illegal without Elder consent. And bastard pups tend to be shunned by packs altogether. So think carefully." Breanne's face went scarlet. "You—you're disgusting! How dare you accuse me and Liam of—" The sound of galloping hooves cut her off. Her eyes widened as though she hadn't expected us to be interrupted so soon. I turned to the sound of approaching Hooves, which gave Breanne time to growl her threat before she partially shifted and lunged at me with the intent to maul me where I stood. A chill ran down my spine—only to be overshadowed by the thunderous sound of a horse's disapproving whinny. Next thing I knew, Breanne was whimpering on the ground, crying in sheer agony as a scarred, filthy white stallion trampled her. My breath hitched, my eyes widened in disbelief. I knew this stallion. And then I saw it—the faint brown patch on the stallion's head. My blood turned to ice. No. It can’t be. "Mirage?" My voice cracked. The horse stopped mid-stomp, ears twitching. The sound of my voice stopped the Stallion from continuing its attack on Breanne, who had now reverted to her bruised human state, no longer partially shifted. The Stallion turned and looked at me. "Mirage!" I choked out, rushing forward to grab the reins. "It's really you!" I hadn't summoned my borrowed stallion. I had summoned him. My champion. My partner. My horse that Liam sold from under me, promising he went to a good home. Now, his coat was matted, his skin was patchy with disease, and his body was crisscrossed with whip marks. He was abused. Mirage had once been a regal, snow-white stallion, bought at auction by the Thornes. He had carried me to victory in countless competitions. He wasn't just a horse. He was my family. One of the most precious things I had. It took everything in me to forgive him for going behind my back and forcing me to stop riding by selling Mirage off in the first place, but it helped soothe the pain to know that at least he was being taken care of wherever he was. Liam had promised he'd be cared for. He lied. He looked me in the eye and lied to my face. He gave Mirage to a home that had continuously abused and neglected him. These wounds were a combination of old and recent. This was what Liam considered a good home? Tears burned my eyes as I ran my hands over his ruined coat. My heart was breaking. The abuse Mirage would have been enduring all this time, thinking I abandoned him. "Claire! Breanne!" Liam's voice cut through the air as another set of hooves approached. Chapter 6 The Fall The injuries and now Mirage, I was breaking inside and now outside. Just as my knees gave way, a firm hand caught my arm. "What took you so long out here? Are you all right?" Liam's voice, usually so tender, sounded distant in my ears. Through my tears, I turned to confront him about Mirage's condition, but Breanne's weak whimper cut through the air. "Liam.” She whimpered weakly. “Please, help me,” she pleaded. Liam stiffened as if struck. He released me immediately, like he was catching fire at just the mere touch of me. I staggered from the sudden loss of assistance and contact from my mate, and watched in disbelief as his attention snapped to Breanne's crumpled form on the ground. "Breanne!" His eyes reddened as he gathered her into his arms, cradling her close to her chest, "Oh my Goddess, what happened? How did this—?" I watched as he gently wiped away the tears staining her cheek. His eyes began to mist up. It was as though I were watching a live-action romance. The long-lost lover, dying in her beloved's arms. It would have been touching if it wasn't for the fact that that was my mate, holding another woman so tenderly while I stood five feet from them in significantly more pain. "Claire couldn't handle her horse. When I offered to help her back up, she then turned it around and blamed me! When I tried to explain I wasn’t at fault, she set that wretched beast on me!" Breanne's tears fell like broken pearls. Her voice grew faint as she added dramatically, "Liam, please, I can't feel my legs. What if I never walk again?" Liam's expression darkened as he listened to Breanne’s version of events. He turned to me with a sudden coldness I had never seen before. "Is this true?" He growled in anger, clutching Breanne closer to him protectively. A searing pain tore through my abdomen before I could respond. I cried out at the suddenness of it, and clutched my stomach, gasping through clenched teeth as metallic bile rose in my throat. Liam didn’t even flinch at the sight of my obvious pain before him. "I'm taking Breanne to the hospital," he said coldly. "If you did this, Claire—" He left the threat hanging as he cradled Breanne closer. I have never heard of an Alpha, or any rank member in my school studies or observations, threatening his mates and Luna over just a friend. It was against Wolfen code and ethics, but I suppose that didn’t matter to Liam or the Sterling Moon pack. This was going to become a regular occurrence, I could already sense it. I watched through blurred vision as Breanne gave one last performance. "Liam, I—" Her eyelids fluttered shut with theatrical perfection. "Bree-Bree! Stay with me! Please don’t leave me, baby. I’m here. Don’t you dare leave me!" Liam shouted, already running partially shifted into his wolf to allow himself to cradle her and use his Alpha wolf strength and speed at the same time. Behind him, I collapsed with a thud that echoed across the field. I briefly saw Liam hesitate mid-stride—just for a second. Regardless, he didn’t turn around at the sound of my collapse and shallow, laboured breaths. I watched as they continued to run away with Breanne in their arms, leaving me where I lay. My heart broke, even though I had filed and decided to leave both Liam and this horrible pack; a small part of me still held onto a sliver of hope that Liam would see the path he was taking and how far it was from us. But he didn’t, and that was when everything went dark for me. ***** When I regained consciousness, the sterile glare of surgical lights assaulted my vision. Cold metal instruments clinked nearby as my legs were positioned apart. I tried to speak, but the drugs held me paralyzed. The doctors' voices floated above me like ghosts. I could sense the movements around me, but I was awake, unable to move, feel, or speak. It was a surreal experience, but oddly familiar to my life since I had mated with the Sterling family. Nothing more than an ornament on the wall to all, including my mate. "Such a shame—two months along. Who goes horseback riding when they're pregnant?" "The fall detached the embryo completely. Must have been quite the impact. She is lucky to be alive." "Without a wolf, another hour, and she wouldn’t have been." "That man who brought her in—was that her husband? He was colder than a block of ice, but as Handsome as the Devil himself. Can’t say much about their mateship part, he simply paid the bill and left without a word." "Enough chatter. Let’s finish this up before she hemorrhages." Each medical term floating to my ears—pregnancy, embryo, hemorrhage, dilation and curettage—pierced my drugged haze like silver blades to the heart. The one that stuck out the most was broken. I knew they were talking about my hand, but it was so much deeper than that. I felt broken. I lost my pup. Until recently, I would have loved to have Liam and my first pup. Everything about us seemed happy and together, but now, it seemed symbolic to lose the pups I never knew I had. I was losing a mate I should never have had to fight this hard to keep. Everything was perfect until I saw it was all a smoke screen and not meant to be. Just like this pup. False hope. I struggled against the numbness, but my body refused to obey. Something sharp scraped inside me, painless but violating. The crushing weight of realization dragged me under before I could scream, I was once again enveloped by empty darkness. "Claire ... Claire ..." Time lost all meaning. A distant voice called my name while someone shook my arm. With monumental effort, I forced my eyes open. Once again, the antiseptic glare of hospital lights assaulted my vision—I was in a hospital room.
"""Please, Liam, I just lost our baby. Don't let them take my blood."" My voice was barely a whisper, my body still trembling from the surgery—from the emptiness where our child used to be. But my husband didn't even look at me. His gaze was fixed on the ER doors, where doctors shouted about Breanne's critical blood loss. Breanne Telder. The Beta's daughter. His best friend. The woman he swore was""just like a sister.” The same woman who caused the fall that cost me our pup. ""She's RH-negative and we're out of stock. Find donors—now!"" The surgeon said urgently. ""Take hers."" Liam's arm slid around my waist—not to comfort me, not to hold me—but to push me forward like an offering.""Wolfless born shifters are universal donors. Her blood will save Breanne."" I froze as if struck by lightning, my disbelieving eyes lifting to meet his. Did he and his wolf even realize what they'd done? They didn't have to say the rejection—offering their mate's blood to another woman screamed it loud enough. ""Liam,"" I managed to whisper, ""I just lost our pup—"" ""Spare me the lies. I am done believing you!"" His eyes were cold steel. ""Breanne's life comes first right now."" The words cut deeper than any blade. I straightened, ignoring the spinning in my head, every inch of me trembling but unbroken. ""You've made your choice, Liam. And after today…"" my voice didn't crack this time ""I'll make mine."" The doctor's hand gripped my arm, leading me toward the blood lab. ""I'll donate the blood,"" I didn't fight it. ""But in return, you will agree to end our mate bond.”" ***** Chapter 1 Dropping the Mate I stood at the gate of the Sterling Moon Packhouse, clutching a cake box that had begun to melt in the summer heat. My usually pristine blonde hair was now stuck to my neck and face in damp strands, and my designer dress was now ruined with mud and swamp stains. I hadn't meant to arrive at my third mating anniversary looking like I had been dragged through a hedge backward and then tossed in the swamp lands beyond the pack grounds. But then again, being cornered and ambushed by rogues, conveniently knowing my whereabouts without an escort or protection, wasn't exactly part of my agenda either. A mysterious yet heroic stranger had rescued me and driven me back to the edge of my mate’s pack territory when Liam Sterling, my mate and the pack's Alpha, hadn't answered any of my fifteen frantic calls. I had almost convinced myself he was simply busy orchestrating some grand anniversary surprise. That had to be it. Otherwise, why else would he send me out alone for the cake retrieval and then not bother to answer my calls? I quickened my pace toward the entrance of the packhouse, not wanting to delay the celebration any longer than I already had. I rounded the corner only to stop dead at the sight before me. The entire packhouse had been transformed with floral arches, helium balloons, and an enormous banner. My fingers tightened around the cake box. I had doubts about walking into the grand hall; perhaps I should slip upstairs to change first. Then Liam's familiar voice called out. "There's my beautiful mate! Took you long enough, sweetheart. Everyone's waiting for the cake. Were the directions not clear enough?" He teased, not taking in the dishevelled state of my appearance or the fact that my smile didn’t reach my eyes. He often failed to see me. I looked up to find my mate looking devastatingly handsome in a white Tom Ford suit, his gray waistcoat accentuating those broad shoulders I used to trace my fingers over. He hadn't dressed like this for me in years. I pushed aside the gnawing doubts starting to fill my heart and embraced the fact that he was trying to make things right. This was not the time to voice my disappointments with his lack of attention or concern. We're here to celebrate our mate bond with the pack. This was also the year that he promised to swear me in as the official Luna, to lead by his side. Three years of proving myself capable despite not having a wolf of my own, and now here we were. My lips began curving into a smile despite myself. Maybe the rogues and the ambush, the ruined dress, the ignored calls—perhaps none of it mattered now that I was home. Liam would keep me safe, and we were going to announce that I was stepping into a role that should have been mine when we first mated. "Liam, I was just—" I was about to explain the rogues, the ambush, the mysterious saviour, but was cut off mid-sentence. "Liam! Is that my cake?" A shrill voice interrupted as Breanne Telder materialized behind Liam, looping her arm through his as though it was where she belonged. She was Liam’s father's Beta’s daughter. Otherwise known as the third wheel in our relationship and the pick me girl that Liam always did. She was also not supposed to be here. She was sent away a while ago, and Liam promised to focus solely on us. "You flew me home just for this birthday surprise? Best Alpha bestie ever!" The cake box slipped from my fingers, landing with a sickening splat on the custom marble flooring beneath me. The same flooring I wanted to either swallow me or Breanna up in this moment. Birthday surprise? What the hell did that mean? Those two words echoed in my skull like gunshots. For weeks, I had known Liam was planning something secretive. The custom-ordered flowers were delivered under the cover of darkness. The expensive Eclipse Stone rough he'd purchased at auction. All those whispered phone calls I had pretended not to hear. It all led to this moment, but it wasn’t the moment I had expected. I had woven every scrap of evidence into fantasies of candlelit vows renewed, of Liam dropping to one knee all over again. Even when he hadn't picked up during my attack from rogues, I had made excuses for him. Now Breanne's smug smile shattered those delusions like a hammer through stained glass. "What the hell were you thinking, Claire?" Stephanie Sterling's razor-sharp heels clicked across the flooring as she advanced. "We've been waiting two hours for that cake! You can’t do one single task; no wonder you will never be Luna material for the Sterling Moon pack." Stephanie was Liam's mother. From the moment I mated into the Alpha family, Stephanie had made no secret of her dislike; she was the reason Liam was convinced to hold off and force me to prove myself as Luna material. Over time, that contempt had only grown bolder, more vicious, no longer even pretending to hide it. Failing to see Liam, their Alpha, standing up for me, much of the pack started to support and see the validity in the points that their retired Luna was making. My hands shook. "This was supposed to be our anniversary party." Liam caught my elbow and steered me out of the room for privacy. "Baby, I'd planned a surprise for you, but Breanne asked for a pack-wide birthday celebration when she returned, so—" "So, instead of standing up for your mate, yet again, you conceded and did what they wanted. It’s fine for me to be let down, but not her? Message received, Liam." I wrenched my arm free, the movement sending fresh pain through my bruised ribs from the attack. I doubled over with a gasp. Before Liam could reach for me, Stephanie's voice sliced through the garden again. "Liam! Stop coddling her and get over here. This is why the wolfless should never hold ranks; they're weak and attention grabbers. Forget the cake, we'll just serve the petit fours instead." "Coming." He hesitated, then pressed a kiss to my temple. "We'll talk later." I remained crouched in the foyer of the packhouse as another wave of pain, this one far deeper than physical, crashed over me. Not a single pack member had asked why I looked like I'd been in a car wreck, why I'd been crying. From the other room where everyone gathered, the opening chords of "Happy Birthday" floated toward me. Each syrupy note felt like another papercut to my heart. It hit me suddenly—I hadn't celebrated a birthday since mating into the Alpha family, not once, though my own fell just days apart from Breanne's. And Liam had known this; he made a joke about the coincidence of his two best gals' being birthday buddies, but mine was always overshadowed. He quickly forgot about mine. I wiped my cheeks, giving myself a self-mocking smile. I should have known better than to hope for something more than what I already received. As the sun dipped low, I rose, my shadow stretching lonely behind me. Without a word, I climbed the stairs and clicked the bedroom door shut of the Alpha suite. Under the bathroom's harsh lighting, I peeled off my ruined dress and threw it in the trash. Steam fogged the mirrors as I scrubbed at skin that still felt dirty from the rogue's hands. I stayed under the scalding water until my fingers pruned. Wrapped in an oversized robe, I sat curled on the window seat watching party lights twinkle below until the last guest departed. At 11:00 PM, the bedroom door finally creaked open. I didn't turn when Liam's familiar cologne filled the room. I heard him hang up his jacket, then felt his whiskey-warm hands on my shoulders. "Happy anniversary, my beautiful, stunning mate." His lips brushed my ear. "Guess what I got you?" I shrugged him off. "I honestly don't care." He knelt before me, producing a velvet box with the flourish of a magician. "I had this carved from that Eclipse Stone rough. It is rumoured to help awaken latent wolfen spirits, strengthen auras and bring new beginnings.” Liam fastened the pendant around my neck. The cold stone settled between my chest like a brand. "Stunning." He kissed the hollow of my throat. "I was thinking that it’s been three years since we mated, and you have done so well proving yourself to me and this pack. I want us to now try for a pup. Bring this pack a new heir.” "Yeah, that’s not happening," I rejected the idea instantly. His chuckle was dark velvet. "You won't have to lift a finger, darling. I'll do all the—" "Liam." I met his gaze for the first time that night. “I want to submit an official request to break our mate bond!” Chapter 2 This Time, His Sweet Talk Won't Work My mind was made up before he finally came to our room. This wasn't like my previous impulsive threats in an attempt to get him to see the mistakes he was continuously making in our bond. This time, I was genuinely determined to leave. Three years of mateship flashed through my mind. I had lost count of how many times Liam had prioritized Breanne over my feelings or dismissed me because his mother said so. Who was his mate, and who was just a friend? I could no longer answer that question, and I was tired of trying to defend us. We weren’t bonded. Not the way the typical Alpha and mate were. It was usual for an Alpha never to leave his Luna’s side. She was his number one priority, even though the pack came second. The Alpha's mate was the heart of the pack and respected as an equal, but I was neither of those things. I haven’t been from the start. Breanne, even though she was briefly sent away, was still respected and noticed more than I could even hope for. If someone kept treating you in ways you disliked, it was because you allowed it. I had let it slide every other time. But today, Liam had crossed my final line. This day was our third anniversary. I didn’t care that he forgot my birthday, dinners, or events we planned together. I did, however, care about this milestone moment. A promise he made was long forgotten. This was that tipping point for my patience. “Really, Claire? You are threatening to reject our mate bond again? Don't say that every time you're upset, sweetheart. I was wrong about today. I'll make it up to you tomorrow." My eyes showed no emotion. “Don't bother. Not everything can be made up, and you can only backburner your mate for so long before she grows tired of being at the bottom of the priorities, Liam.” "Of course, this can be fixed. There's always next year. We will have a pup by then, and you will have long forgotten this little hiccup and tantrum." Liam pushed me down onto the sofa, kissing my face tenderly. With my hands pinned above my head, I wasn’t able to push him off. He expected the topic of having pups would appease me and calm my boiling anger. I had had enough of his nonsense and non-committal ways. I stared blankly at the ceiling as tears unexpectedly rolled down my cheeks. I lay like a dead weight. In the past, whenever we would fight or I would throw a tantrum, as Liam would title it, all he would do was use the mate bond against me. His kisses, his touch, his desires would wear me down, and I would accept his hollowed words of apology and his flashy gifts as though they meant something more than pacifying childish behaviour, in his mind. But this time, even though he held me down and I couldn’t resist, I was also not participating or encouraging him to continue. He was so self-absorbed that he couldn’t even realize that I wasn’t a willing participant. I was motionless, soundless, non-responsive. As Liam kept kissing me, his hands touched every part of my bruised body, utterly unaware of the pain he was inflicting both physically and emotionally. I felt his body suddenly freeze at the sound of a whimpered sob that slipped out of me. He looked out with hooded eyes, which quickly sobered and turned serious when he saw the tears in my eyes. His expression was frozen in panic. "Baby, why are you crying?" He quickly turned on the light. "Wait—you seemed off when you came home. Did something happen?" Finally, he remembered, but the damage between us was already done. My heart twisted, wishing that it didn’t take crying while he wanted sex to cover his mistakes for him to notice something was wrong. At the thought of how much distance was between us, more tears fell. Under the light, Liam finally saw the slight swelling on my face, the scratches on my arms and body, and the deep gash on my right leg with dried blood. His pupils contracted. "What happened?" I could sense his wolf stirring under the surface. It was clear that someone had hurt me, but they were only now realizing it. Just as I opened my mouth, his phone rang. I looked at the screen and rolled my eyes. Of course, it was Breanne. Liam sighed and offered a small apologetic smile before he answered in front of me. "Breanne, what's wrong?" "Liam, I think I ate something bad. My stomach hurts so much. Can you take me to the hospital?" Breanne's sugary voice came through. Liam automatically started to agree. I could see his eyes widen with panic at the thought that she was in pain. But right before he responded, he looked at me and my reddened, tear-filled eyes. "It's late. Claire and I are already in bed. Ask Mom if there's any medicine at home." Stephanie's sharp voice interrupted, "Liam, come now! This isn't ordinary pain. It could be appendicitis! She's pale as a ghost!" Liam's brow furrowed. "Fine. I'm coming." My heart sank like a stone. I shook my head in disbelief and turned away, refusing to meet his eyes. Yet again, I was pushed aside. Liam dressed quickly but hesitated at the door. After a long moment, he took my hand. "You're hurt too. Come with me, we'll get you checked at the hospital." That single word, "too", cut like a knife. I laughed dryly. "No need. Go ahead, play hero for another woman. If your mate's pain is less important than staying and understanding what happened, then your friend who has a stomach ache, don’t bother dragging me around like an accessory with false concern. I'd rather be alone." Liam stiffened. He opened his mouth to speak, but the phone kept ringing insistently. Finally, he sighed and pressed his black card into my hand. "Buy whatever you want. Consider it an apology." The door slammed shut. I weighed the card in my palm and smiled bitterly. Liam only ever had two ways to appease me—sex or money. It used to work. I fooled myself into believing it meant he cared, that he wasn’t good with expressing emotions, but I saw it for what it was now. This time, his sweet talk won't work. I walked to the closet and in the back corner, I pulled out my old suitcase. Inside was the most valuable thing I owned. My freedom. It was an official Rejection agreement signed the night before our mating. Back then, Liam had insisted on accepting our mate bond despite his family's objections. Afraid of being trapped in a toxic pack and mating, I had made him sign this; if I ever wanted to break the bond, he had to agree unconditionally. I thought we’d never need it. Liam had probably forgotten it existed. But I hadn't. During one fight, I had even consulted a lawyer who confirmed its validity. I could file for an official rejection of the bond with just this document and 30 days cooling-off period. Since he had already signed it, there was no need for Liam's consent for me to file it now. The Elders within the Council would perform the rejection ceremony within their own chambers. There was no need for either of us to be present. That was typically why Alphas refrained from preemptively signing these types of contracts. It relinquished control without their knowledge. Now was the time. Chapter 3 The Breaking Point I didn't sleep all night; I couldn’t. Instead, I spent those hours cutting up every photograph of us together. There weren’t many, I realized. My phone was filled with pictures of Liam whenever I could sneak photos when he was distracted or busy. He was honestly an Adonis of a man. But three years together, we had exactly twenty-three pictures of us together as a couple, and only thirteen of those were just Liam and me. The remaining ten were with Breanne. I snuck downstairs before anyone else woke up and went into Liam's office. There on the desk was a picture. It was of him and Breanne, hugging and smiling into the camera. They looked happy. Too happy. My inner bitter bitch was vomiting at the sight. On the other side of the desk was a picture of the three of us. That's right, not me and my mate. It was Breanne pressed against Liam's side, smiling up at him, and I was smiling at the camera on the other side. My arm was linked around his, and he was smiling, but for which female in the picture, your guess was as good as mine. I took the picture out of the frame, and bent it so that I was folded to the back. There, now he had two perfect couple pictures of him and Breanne. I will simply bow out of this weird three-way relationship. By dawn, I had already filed the official rejection agreement papers at the Council's registry office. Then I donated all the designer outfits Liam had bought me to charity. Afterward, I drove out of the pack grounds for a few hours to pawn every piece of jewelry he'd ever given me at the local broker's. I didn’t want it getting back to Liam, or the pack gossip mill to run rampant with their own speculations. Not yet anyway. It was a surprisingly large chunk of money in return, one thing I knew for sure about Liam. When he was grovelling for his indifferences and mistakes, he never cheaped out on the apology jewelry. The broker didn’t have the full amount on hand, so I opted to have it wired, which worked fine for me. I opened a new bank account and provided them with the necessary information. I returned to the packhouse early that afternoon. I had requested that the gardener cut down the Cherry Blossom tree in the pack’s courtyard. He was ordered to burn every branch and leaf until only ashes remained. When I agreed to mate with Liam, I had my reservations because his family didn’t support their Alpha heir accepting the bond to a wolfless orphan with average financial standings. Liam planted the tree as a token of his pledge of devotion to us and our bond. I fell for it, thinking it would make us stronger. But I was wrong. By late afternoon, I had either sold, donated or destroyed every token of Liam and his devotion to me and our bond: everything but the Eclipse stone pendant. Some legends state that the Moon Goddess herself blessed the eclipse stone to strengthen the will of the wolfless. Call me a fool, but it still served as a sliver of proof that at some point, he did care enough to seek out the stone for me. Now that everything was removed, it was time for me to step out and prepare everything for my new life after this month-long cooldown period ended, and I was no longer the unwanted mate of Alpha Liam Sterling. I knew I had to be smart and figure out my path now, as I had no family to turn to once the rejection was completed. When I was seven, my father had disappeared after a mountain climbing accident. It was speculated that rogues were involved, as they were heavy in the area at the time. My mother re-mated not long afterwards, and we became part of the Thorne family. They were the overlords, if you will, of the Crown of Thornes Pack, rivals of The Sterling Moon pack and next door neighbours to the territory. My mother left the Thorne family after accusations and rumours of her infidelity and gambling debts. I didn’t believe it, but it seemed that everyone else did. I had no idea where she even went. She certainly didn’t seek me out after she left that night, abandoning me. The only person who would even be considered family at this point was Lucien Thorne. He was my former stepbrother from my mother's second mating. However, Lucien was notorious for his short temper, and he constantly mistreated me while we lived under the same roof, so I would sooner wind up homeless than seek his help. The heat of Liam’s black card was burning a hole in my pocket, serving as a reminder of his literal words: “Buy whatever you want and consider it as an apology.” Okay! I will. I went to the bank and after the teller spoke with the branch manager to confirm my approval of using the Alpha’s account for a withdrawal, yup, that's right, I held no status, so I wasn’t even recognized with authority over our marital account; I withdrew one million dollars from his account. It was insulting and frustrating to know that Breanne can walk in here and not have as many hoops to jump through to get at my mate’s money. But that’s fine. I have already started to let go of my hold on him emotionally. My head has already done so. As I waited for the teller to return with the funds, my phone rang. Liyah Cruz. She was my closest friend before I accepted the bond with Liam. Liam didn’t like her influence on me, as he put it, so over the years, our friendship became strained. For her to be reaching out and calling me now, it had to be important. "Liyah? What's wrong?" I answered right away. "Oh, thank the Goddess. Claire, the International Equestrian Championships start in a month, but I just got injured during training." Liyah's voice was thick with disappointment. "Claire, you were the most talented rider we knew. I could think of no one else to take over. Could you compete in my place?" The memories came flooding back. Had I not mated with Liam, I might have become as renowned as Liyah in equestrian circles. But Liam had disapproved of me riding; he often called it unladylike. He'd gone as far as going behind my back and selling my beloved white stallion, Mirage, to a good owner, cutting off my last connection to the sport. The silence stretched until Liyah sighed. "I forgot your mate doesn't allow—" "I'll do it," I interrupted. "One month. I'll be ready." Liyah's excited squeal pierced through the receiver. "Really? Oh my Goddess! Everyone always said you shouldn't have given up your talent for mating! You're finally coming back to us!" My hand trembled around the phone. Yes, before mating into the Sterling Moon pack and Alpha family, I had shone so brightly. Before Liam, I used to be many things. I was the university's star student—straight A's in every subject. A gifted painter, champion rider, runway model, master chef, and award-winning debater—there was nothing I couldn't excel at. But three years of mating had eroded it all. I hadn't touched a paintbrush in years. I have forgotten how to walk a runway, and even lost my sharp tongue in arguments—forced to submit to even my mate's family and house staff. Only my cooking skills remained polished because I have cooked for Liam every single day since the beginning of our bond acceptance. Only now did I realize how much of myself I had sacrificed. But it wasn't too late. I could still start over. This was that chance to start taking my life by the reins, so to speak, and returning to the Claire that used to walk proudly with her chin held high. Chapter 4 Meeting on Horseback I met Liyah at the stables we once rode at together. “Thank you, Claire-bear. I can’t believe you are actually here.” Liyah launched herself on top of me, despite her knee brace. I thought I understood what I gave up to be with Liam, my mate, but I didn’t understand a fraction of it. This crazy woman, who used to be my world, wrapped around me. How did I let him separate us? “It’s me who should thank you, Lee-Lee. I’ve missed you. I’m sorry. No more boys between us, I promise.” I sobbed. Liyah looked up, and I saw the understanding in her eyes. We both wiped our faces and laughed at our equally blotchy faces. “Okay, later, we'll discuss everything!” She looked at me with as much conviction as her tiny body could muster. I nodded and smiled. “But now, let me introduce you to Diva, my stallion. Just a warning, he lives up to the name periodically. I think it’s an adorable quirk for him and refuse to break it out of him. You’ll love him!” Liyah leads us to the stables, where we meet the horse. Liyah was right. We matched instantly. It isn’t easy for a shifter to bond with a stallion, but I never had those worries. I was always able to click with any animal, to the point where Liyah's brother spent a year calling me freaking snow white! I hated it, but he wasn’t wrong. I galloped across the equestrian field at dawn, the stallion I rode was kicking up dew as it raced toward the rising sun. Then I saw them. Liam and Breanne shared a white mare, ambling toward my direction. Breanne was dressed in her pristine white riding jodhpurs with the matching show coat, leaned back against Liam's chest. Liam's attire was the stark contrast of black on black. I watched him bend his head low, whispering something in Breanne’s ear, causing a fit of giggles from her. I had waited for him to return all night. When I had reached out and called him to ask if he would be returning that night, I was told, by him, that since Breanna needed an emergency appendectomy, he would not leave her side until she recovered. That was when I cut up our photos, burning them to ashes. As I watch them now, a question came to my mind, causing my brow to arch. When did appendectomy patients start riding horses the next day? My grip tightened on the reins just as Breanne spotted me. “Oh! Liam, how spooky. Doesn’t that woman look just like Claire!”At her teasing words, I watched as Liam's head snapped up. There, I sat astride my stallion, the tailored navy riding jacket accentuating my hourglass figure, my gaze glacial. I knew he felt it. Dismounting, Liam approached until he could only see the sharp angle of my jaw. "Sweetheart, since when do you ride? I thought you quit that. You should've told me you were coming." The memory of his and Breanne’s intimate pose churned my stomach. I pressed a hand to my mouth to keep from being sick at the thought before answering flatly. "Would you have answered if I called?" This acidic tone only emerged when I was furious. Liam's smile turned placating. "My fault—left my phone in the car. It turned out to be a false alarm about Breanne's appendix. Since she's competing in the International Equestrian Championships next month, I was only helping her practice." Breanne urged her mare forward, pouting. "Liam, why must we explain everything to her? Come back, we have more important things to focus on. You haven't finished teaching me." "An International Championship contender needs amateur instruction? How curious. I wonder if anyone else here is getting that kind of coaching? But, Liam, if she requires coaching, I'll do it." As Liam turned, my voice froze him. Liam’s expression initially fell flat at my words, but he quickly brightened at my offer. "Exactly! Breanne, Claire won that championship years ago." 'How touching that he finally remembered I have value,' I thought bitterly. Breanne bit her lip. "But—" After years together, I knew Breanne’s games. She wasn’t as nervous on a horse as she portrayed. It was all an act for Liam. "No buts." I raised my riding crop. "Let's ride." The crop came down on Breanne's mare, which bolted forward with a whinny as Breanne shrieked. Liam paled. "Claire! She wasn't ready—" "Real trainers surprise their students." My amber eyes glinted. “Your coddling would've kept her mediocre forever.” Dust sprayed Liam's face as I galloped after Breanne, leaving him standing there, cheeks burning as if slapped. Good. This was just the beginning of my resistance. Breanne and I raced across the field. Though I was starting late, my black stallion, Diva, was not one to be outshone, and we soon overtook Breanne's white mare. For three years, Breanne had only seen the docile, obedient Claire. This commanding version, I’m sure, was unnerving. I could hear her growling, which, to be honest, was only slowing her own horse down. Her mare would not be able to focus on a race, with its rider losing its hold over herself. It was bound to spook her mare soon, and if she weren’t careful, she would get bucked. But as the saying goes, not my circus, not my monkeys. Diva and I were focused on ourselves. I could sense Breanne's determination to beat me. But, no matter how she pushed her champion mare, I remained ahead. As Diva and I passed her again, I caught a flash of movement from Breanne out of the corner of my eye. She pulled a hairpin out of her pocket and hurled it at Diva. That hairpin had been a gift from her friend at her birthday party, and she had been keeping it close to her chest just now. It was made of silver, and the sharp end drove hard into Diva's rump. Diva was instantly startled. Despite my expert handling and calming charm, which I have often used in the past to soothe a panicked horse, Diva threw me. I felt the gnash from the rock sticking out from the ground, which I hit my head on. The impact sending black spots across my vision—and a cry in absolute agony. My abdominal area pinched and screamed with a sharp and sudden pain like nothing I have ever felt before. There was blood on my hand when I touched it. I needed to get up. I needed to get back and get medical help because I knew Breanne wasn’t going to get me any. As I tried to push myself up off the ground with one hand, while the other was wrapped tightly around my stomach, still crying in sheer pain, a polished boot came forcefully down, cracking the bones in my hand. "Ah—!" The pain forced a gasp through clenched teeth. Chapter 5 The Two-Faced Woman "Claire, weren't you so impressive on horseback just now? How did you end up on the ground so fast?" Breanne crouched down, blinking her wide, innocent-looking eyes as she taunted me, pressing her boot harder against my hand, breaking the bones. She knew I was wolfless, and the pain she was causing; this was why she was doing it. To send me a message. I was hoping someone would come and find us, but the odds of this far from the training grounds were unlikely. "Oh my, I'm so sorry!" Breanne feigned surprise, finally lifting her foot with exaggerated remorse. "I didn't even see your hand there. How careless of me." “It’s to be expected with those massive feet of yours. What is that a size ten in men's?” I watched her eyes flash in anger briefly before she reined it back in. I yanked my hand back, and when Breanne reached out to help me up. I would always refuse her help; it was always a ploy for something worse. When she tried again, I recoiled, pushing myself up to my feet with gritted teeth. "Claire, that must've hurt. With riding skills like yours, how could you possibly think you were qualified to teach me?" Breanne smirked. "Only a fool would believe such a pitiful act, Breanne.” I glared, refusing to back down. "Oh, please. Can't accept that you're just not as good as I am? No wonder Liam doesn't like you much—you're such a sore loser." Breanne let out a mocking laugh. Breanne wasn’t hiding her petty, vindictive behaviour. She wanted me to know her intentions of returning and that she hadn't forgiven me for having her exiled. The reason Breanne was sent away a year ago was that I had walked in on her and Liam in the throes of passion. They were both half-naked and stuck to each other. Liam seemed to snap out of his daze the moment I entered the room and yanked Breanne off him. The thud of her head to the edge of the dresser brought out her wolf, and warriors nearby who heard the yelling managed to catch Breanne just in time before she could attack me. Liam sobered up instantly and demanded answers. Breanne played the confused card. That, like Liam, she had drunk a little too much at the pack celebration. She must have gotten confused about which floor she was on and passed out in mine and his bedroom, thinking it was hers. After all, his scent calms her, so she made sure to add that part—one extra little jab between Liam and me. Liam swore up and down that he was confused and thought it was me under the covers in bed. That, with the amount of wolfwine he had consumed, he didn’t realize it wasn’t me until my scent entered the room, and his wolf halted their action immediately recognizing their error. I moved to a different room, and Liam tried to separate himself from Breanne. Then he learned that Breanne approached me afterward and told me that Liam was aware it was her. After all, why would they confuse their mates? Unfortunately for Breanne, she did it in front of a witness, and they told several others, which led Liam to ask me about it. I confirmed that I knew he was aware that it was Breanne, as she told me so herself, and that I wanted to break the bond if he didn’t send her away as proof of his devotion to the mates' bond. I could see that he didn’t want to, but Liam was also someone who cared too much about image to have the wolfen community know that he lost his true mate over the Beta’s daughter affair scandal. With the third wheel gone, our mate bond had finally stabilized. I had hoped to start trying for a pup on our anniversary after I was announced as the new Luna of the Sterling Moon pack. But now Breanne was back, something of which Liam failed to inform me—especially considering it nearly ended us only a year ago. His lack of consideration over that confused me. Did his wolf also agree with this decision? Surely his wolf would realize better than Liam that this would ultimately bring out the bond to an end. "Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about," I said coolly. "But don't worry. I'll be out of your way soon. Then you two can do whatever you want." I turned away, whistling sharply for my horse. Breanne's face flushed crimson. She grabbed my arm and pressed her fingers deep into the flesh. “What the hell are you implying? What plans could I possibly have?” "You know exactly what I mean. But just a heads-up—mistresses in ranked mate bonds are illegal without Elder consent. And bastard pups tend to be shunned by packs altogether. So think carefully." Breanne's face went scarlet. "You—you're disgusting! How dare you accuse me and Liam of—" The sound of galloping hooves cut her off. Her eyes widened as though she hadn't expected us to be interrupted so soon. I turned to the sound of approaching Hooves, which gave Breanne time to growl her threat before she partially shifted and lunged at me with the intent to maul me where I stood. A chill ran down my spine—only to be overshadowed by the thunderous sound of a horse's disapproving whinny. Next thing I knew, Breanne was whimpering on the ground, crying in sheer agony as a scarred, filthy white stallion trampled her. My breath hitched, my eyes widened in disbelief. I knew this stallion. And then I saw it—the faint brown patch on the stallion's head. My blood turned to ice. No. It can’t be. "Mirage?" My voice cracked. The horse stopped mid-stomp, ears twitching. The sound of my voice stopped the Stallion from continuing its attack on Breanne, who had now reverted to her bruised human state, no longer partially shifted. The Stallion turned and looked at me. "Mirage!" I choked out, rushing forward to grab the reins. "It's really you!" I hadn't summoned my borrowed stallion. I had summoned him. My champion. My partner. My horse that Liam sold from under me, promising he went to a good home. Now, his coat was matted, his skin was patchy with disease, and his body was crisscrossed with whip marks. He was abused. Mirage had once been a regal, snow-white stallion, bought at auction by the Thornes. He had carried me to victory in countless competitions. He wasn't just a horse. He was my family. One of the most precious things I had. It took everything in me to forgive him for going behind my back and forcing me to stop riding by selling Mirage off in the first place, but it helped soothe the pain to know that at least he was being taken care of wherever he was. Liam had promised he'd be cared for. He lied. He looked me in the eye and lied to my face. He gave Mirage to a home that had continuously abused and neglected him. These wounds were a combination of old and recent. This was what Liam considered a good home? Tears burned my eyes as I ran my hands over his ruined coat. My heart was breaking. The abuse Mirage would have been enduring all this time, thinking I abandoned him. "Claire! Breanne!" Liam's voice cut through the air as another set of hooves approached. Chapter 6 The Fall The injuries and now Mirage, I was breaking inside and now outside. Just as my knees gave way, a firm hand caught my arm. "What took you so long out here? Are you all right?" Liam's voice, usually so tender, sounded distant in my ears. Through my tears, I turned to confront him about Mirage's condition, but Breanne's weak whimper cut through the air. "Liam.” She whimpered weakly. “Please, help me,” she pleaded. Liam stiffened as if struck. He released me immediately, like he was catching fire at just the mere touch of me. I staggered from the sudden loss of assistance and contact from my mate, and watched in disbelief as his attention snapped to Breanne's crumpled form on the ground. "Breanne!" His eyes reddened as he gathered her into his arms, cradling her close to her chest, "Oh my Goddess, what happened? How did this—?" I watched as he gently wiped away the tears staining her cheek. His eyes began to mist up. It was as though I were watching a live-action romance. The long-lost lover, dying in her beloved's arms. It would have been touching if it wasn't for the fact that that was my mate, holding another woman so tenderly while I stood five feet from them in significantly more pain. "Claire couldn't handle her horse. When I offered to help her back up, she then turned it around and blamed me! When I tried to explain I wasn’t at fault, she set that wretched beast on me!" Breanne's tears fell like broken pearls. Her voice grew faint as she added dramatically, "Liam, please, I can't feel my legs. What if I never walk again?" Liam's expression darkened as he listened to Breanne’s version of events. He turned to me with a sudden coldness I had never seen before. "Is this true?" He growled in anger, clutching Breanne closer to him protectively. A searing pain tore through my abdomen before I could respond. I cried out at the suddenness of it, and clutched my stomach, gasping through clenched teeth as metallic bile rose in my throat. Liam didn’t even flinch at the sight of my obvious pain before him. "I'm taking Breanne to the hospital," he said coldly. "If you did this, Claire—" He left the threat hanging as he cradled Breanne closer. I have never heard of an Alpha, or any rank member in my school studies or observations, threatening his mates and Luna over just a friend. It was against Wolfen code and ethics, but I suppose that didn’t matter to Liam or the Sterling Moon pack. This was going to become a regular occurrence, I could already sense it. I watched through blurred vision as Breanne gave one last performance. "Liam, I—" Her eyelids fluttered shut with theatrical perfection. "Bree-Bree! Stay with me! Please don’t leave me, baby. I’m here. Don’t you dare leave me!" Liam shouted, already running partially shifted into his wolf to allow himself to cradle her and use his Alpha wolf strength and speed at the same time. Behind him, I collapsed with a thud that echoed across the field. I briefly saw Liam hesitate mid-stride—just for a second. Regardless, he didn’t turn around at the sound of my collapse and shallow, laboured breaths. I watched as they continued to run away with Breanne in their arms, leaving me where I lay. My heart broke, even though I had filed and decided to leave both Liam and this horrible pack; a small part of me still held onto a sliver of hope that Liam would see the path he was taking and how far it was from us. But he didn’t, and that was when everything went dark for me. ***** When I regained consciousness, the sterile glare of surgical lights assaulted my vision. Cold metal instruments clinked nearby as my legs were positioned apart. I tried to speak, but the drugs held me paralyzed. The doctors' voices floated above me like ghosts. I could sense the movements around me, but I was awake, unable to move, feel, or speak. It was a surreal experience, but oddly familiar to my life since I had mated with the Sterling family. Nothing more than an ornament on the wall to all, including my mate. "Such a shame—two months along. Who goes horseback riding when they're pregnant?" "The fall detached the embryo completely. Must have been quite the impact. She is lucky to be alive." "Without a wolf, another hour, and she wouldn’t have been." "That man who brought her in—was that her husband? He was colder than a block of ice, but as Handsome as the Devil himself. Can’t say much about their mateship part, he simply paid the bill and left without a word." "Enough chatter. Let’s finish this up before she hemorrhages." Each medical term floating to my ears—pregnancy, embryo, hemorrhage, dilation and curettage—pierced my drugged haze like silver blades to the heart. The one that stuck out the most was broken. I knew they were talking about my hand, but it was so much deeper than that. I felt broken. I lost my pup. Until recently, I would have loved to have Liam and my first pup. Everything about us seemed happy and together, but now, it seemed symbolic to lose the pups I never knew I had. I was losing a mate I should never have had to fight this hard to keep. Everything was perfect until I saw it was all a smoke screen and not meant to be. Just like this pup. False hope. I struggled against the numbness, but my body refused to obey. Something sharp scraped inside me, painless but violating. The crushing weight of realization dragged me under before I could scream, I was once again enveloped by empty darkness. "Claire ... Claire ..." Time lost all meaning. A distant voice called my name while someone shook my arm. With monumental effort, I forced my eyes open. Once again, the antiseptic glare of hospital lights assaulted my vision—I was in a hospital room.
"""Please, Liam, I just lost our baby. Don't let them take my blood."" My voice was barely a whisper, my body still trembling from the surgery—from the emptiness where our child used to be. But my husband didn't even look at me. His gaze was fixed on the ER doors, where doctors shouted about Breanne's critical blood loss. Breanne Telder. The Beta's daughter. His best friend. The woman he swore was""just like a sister.” The same woman who caused the fall that cost me our pup. ""She's RH-negative and we're out of stock. Find donors—now!"" The surgeon said urgently. ""Take hers."" Liam's arm slid around my waist—not to comfort me, not to hold me—but to push me forward like an offering.""Wolfless born shifters are universal donors. Her blood will save Breanne."" I froze as if struck by lightning, my disbelieving eyes lifting to meet his. Did he and his wolf even realize what they'd done? They didn't have to say the rejection—offering their mate's blood to another woman screamed it loud enough. ""Liam,"" I managed to whisper, ""I just lost our pup—"" ""Spare me the lies. I am done believing you!"" His eyes were cold steel. ""Breanne's life comes first right now."" The words cut deeper than any blade. I straightened, ignoring the spinning in my head, every inch of me trembling but unbroken. ""You've made your choice, Liam. And after today…"" my voice didn't crack this time ""I'll make mine."" The doctor's hand gripped my arm, leading me toward the blood lab. ""I'll donate the blood,"" I didn't fight it. ""But in return, you will agree to end our mate bond.”" ***** Chapter 1 Dropping the Mate I stood at the gate of the Sterling Moon Packhouse, clutching a cake box that had begun to melt in the summer heat. My usually pristine blonde hair was now stuck to my neck and face in damp strands, and my designer dress was now ruined with mud and swamp stains. I hadn't meant to arrive at my third mating anniversary looking like I had been dragged through a hedge backward and then tossed in the swamp lands beyond the pack grounds. But then again, being cornered and ambushed by rogues, conveniently knowing my whereabouts without an escort or protection, wasn't exactly part of my agenda either. A mysterious yet heroic stranger had rescued me and driven me back to the edge of my mate’s pack territory when Liam Sterling, my mate and the pack's Alpha, hadn't answered any of my fifteen frantic calls. I had almost convinced myself he was simply busy orchestrating some grand anniversary surprise. That had to be it. Otherwise, why else would he send me out alone for the cake retrieval and then not bother to answer my calls? I quickened my pace toward the entrance of the packhouse, not wanting to delay the celebration any longer than I already had. I rounded the corner only to stop dead at the sight before me. The entire packhouse had been transformed with floral arches, helium balloons, and an enormous banner. My fingers tightened around the cake box. I had doubts about walking into the grand hall; perhaps I should slip upstairs to change first. Then Liam's familiar voice called out. "There's my beautiful mate! Took you long enough, sweetheart. Everyone's waiting for the cake. Were the directions not clear enough?" He teased, not taking in the dishevelled state of my appearance or the fact that my smile didn’t reach my eyes. He often failed to see me. I looked up to find my mate looking devastatingly handsome in a white Tom Ford suit, his gray waistcoat accentuating those broad shoulders I used to trace my fingers over. He hadn't dressed like this for me in years. I pushed aside the gnawing doubts starting to fill my heart and embraced the fact that he was trying to make things right. This was not the time to voice my disappointments with his lack of attention or concern. We're here to celebrate our mate bond with the pack. This was also the year that he promised to swear me in as the official Luna, to lead by his side. Three years of proving myself capable despite not having a wolf of my own, and now here we were. My lips began curving into a smile despite myself. Maybe the rogues and the ambush, the ruined dress, the ignored calls—perhaps none of it mattered now that I was home. Liam would keep me safe, and we were going to announce that I was stepping into a role that should have been mine when we first mated. "Liam, I was just—" I was about to explain the rogues, the ambush, the mysterious saviour, but was cut off mid-sentence. "Liam! Is that my cake?" A shrill voice interrupted as Breanne Telder materialized behind Liam, looping her arm through his as though it was where she belonged. She was Liam’s father's Beta’s daughter. Otherwise known as the third wheel in our relationship and the pick me girl that Liam always did. She was also not supposed to be here. She was sent away a while ago, and Liam promised to focus solely on us. "You flew me home just for this birthday surprise? Best Alpha bestie ever!" The cake box slipped from my fingers, landing with a sickening splat on the custom marble flooring beneath me. The same flooring I wanted to either swallow me or Breanna up in this moment. Birthday surprise? What the hell did that mean? Those two words echoed in my skull like gunshots. For weeks, I had known Liam was planning something secretive. The custom-ordered flowers were delivered under the cover of darkness. The expensive Eclipse Stone rough he'd purchased at auction. All those whispered phone calls I had pretended not to hear. It all led to this moment, but it wasn’t the moment I had expected. I had woven every scrap of evidence into fantasies of candlelit vows renewed, of Liam dropping to one knee all over again. Even when he hadn't picked up during my attack from rogues, I had made excuses for him. Now Breanne's smug smile shattered those delusions like a hammer through stained glass. "What the hell were you thinking, Claire?" Stephanie Sterling's razor-sharp heels clicked across the flooring as she advanced. "We've been waiting two hours for that cake! You can’t do one single task; no wonder you will never be Luna material for the Sterling Moon pack." Stephanie was Liam's mother. From the moment I mated into the Alpha family, Stephanie had made no secret of her dislike; she was the reason Liam was convinced to hold off and force me to prove myself as Luna material. Over time, that contempt had only grown bolder, more vicious, no longer even pretending to hide it. Failing to see Liam, their Alpha, standing up for me, much of the pack started to support and see the validity in the points that their retired Luna was making. My hands shook. "This was supposed to be our anniversary party." Liam caught my elbow and steered me out of the room for privacy. "Baby, I'd planned a surprise for you, but Breanne asked for a pack-wide birthday celebration when she returned, so—" "So, instead of standing up for your mate, yet again, you conceded and did what they wanted. It’s fine for me to be let down, but not her? Message received, Liam." I wrenched my arm free, the movement sending fresh pain through my bruised ribs from the attack. I doubled over with a gasp. Before Liam could reach for me, Stephanie's voice sliced through the garden again. "Liam! Stop coddling her and get over here. This is why the wolfless should never hold ranks; they're weak and attention grabbers. Forget the cake, we'll just serve the petit fours instead." "Coming." He hesitated, then pressed a kiss to my temple. "We'll talk later." I remained crouched in the foyer of the packhouse as another wave of pain, this one far deeper than physical, crashed over me. Not a single pack member had asked why I looked like I'd been in a car wreck, why I'd been crying. From the other room where everyone gathered, the opening chords of "Happy Birthday" floated toward me. Each syrupy note felt like another papercut to my heart. It hit me suddenly—I hadn't celebrated a birthday since mating into the Alpha family, not once, though my own fell just days apart from Breanne's. And Liam had known this; he made a joke about the coincidence of his two best gals' being birthday buddies, but mine was always overshadowed. He quickly forgot about mine. I wiped my cheeks, giving myself a self-mocking smile. I should have known better than to hope for something more than what I already received. As the sun dipped low, I rose, my shadow stretching lonely behind me. Without a word, I climbed the stairs and clicked the bedroom door shut of the Alpha suite. Under the bathroom's harsh lighting, I peeled off my ruined dress and threw it in the trash. Steam fogged the mirrors as I scrubbed at skin that still felt dirty from the rogue's hands. I stayed under the scalding water until my fingers pruned. Wrapped in an oversized robe, I sat curled on the window seat watching party lights twinkle below until the last guest departed. At 11:00 PM, the bedroom door finally creaked open. I didn't turn when Liam's familiar cologne filled the room. I heard him hang up his jacket, then felt his whiskey-warm hands on my shoulders. "Happy anniversary, my beautiful, stunning mate." His lips brushed my ear. "Guess what I got you?" I shrugged him off. "I honestly don't care." He knelt before me, producing a velvet box with the flourish of a magician. "I had this carved from that Eclipse Stone rough. It is rumoured to help awaken latent wolfen spirits, strengthen auras and bring new beginnings.” Liam fastened the pendant around my neck. The cold stone settled between my chest like a brand. "Stunning." He kissed the hollow of my throat. "I was thinking that it’s been three years since we mated, and you have done so well proving yourself to me and this pack. I want us to now try for a pup. Bring this pack a new heir.” "Yeah, that’s not happening," I rejected the idea instantly. His chuckle was dark velvet. "You won't have to lift a finger, darling. I'll do all the—" "Liam." I met his gaze for the first time that night. “I want to submit an official request to break our mate bond!” Chapter 2 This Time, His Sweet Talk Won't Work My mind was made up before he finally came to our room. This wasn't like my previous impulsive threats in an attempt to get him to see the mistakes he was continuously making in our bond. This time, I was genuinely determined to leave. Three years of mateship flashed through my mind. I had lost count of how many times Liam had prioritized Breanne over my feelings or dismissed me because his mother said so. Who was his mate, and who was just a friend? I could no longer answer that question, and I was tired of trying to defend us. We weren’t bonded. Not the way the typical Alpha and mate were. It was usual for an Alpha never to leave his Luna’s side. She was his number one priority, even though the pack came second. The Alpha's mate was the heart of the pack and respected as an equal, but I was neither of those things. I haven’t been from the start. Breanne, even though she was briefly sent away, was still respected and noticed more than I could even hope for. If someone kept treating you in ways you disliked, it was because you allowed it. I had let it slide every other time. But today, Liam had crossed my final line. This day was our third anniversary. I didn’t care that he forgot my birthday, dinners, or events we planned together. I did, however, care about this milestone moment. A promise he made was long forgotten. This was that tipping point for my patience. “Really, Claire? You are threatening to reject our mate bond again? Don't say that every time you're upset, sweetheart. I was wrong about today. I'll make it up to you tomorrow." My eyes showed no emotion. “Don't bother. Not everything can be made up, and you can only backburner your mate for so long before she grows tired of being at the bottom of the priorities, Liam.” "Of course, this can be fixed. There's always next year. We will have a pup by then, and you will have long forgotten this little hiccup and tantrum." Liam pushed me down onto the sofa, kissing my face tenderly. With my hands pinned above my head, I wasn’t able to push him off. He expected the topic of having pups would appease me and calm my boiling anger. I had had enough of his nonsense and non-committal ways. I stared blankly at the ceiling as tears unexpectedly rolled down my cheeks. I lay like a dead weight. In the past, whenever we would fight or I would throw a tantrum, as Liam would title it, all he would do was use the mate bond against me. His kisses, his touch, his desires would wear me down, and I would accept his hollowed words of apology and his flashy gifts as though they meant something more than pacifying childish behaviour, in his mind. But this time, even though he held me down and I couldn’t resist, I was also not participating or encouraging him to continue. He was so self-absorbed that he couldn’t even realize that I wasn’t a willing participant. I was motionless, soundless, non-responsive. As Liam kept kissing me, his hands touched every part of my bruised body, utterly unaware of the pain he was inflicting both physically and emotionally. I felt his body suddenly freeze at the sound of a whimpered sob that slipped out of me. He looked out with hooded eyes, which quickly sobered and turned serious when he saw the tears in my eyes. His expression was frozen in panic. "Baby, why are you crying?" He quickly turned on the light. "Wait—you seemed off when you came home. Did something happen?" Finally, he remembered, but the damage between us was already done. My heart twisted, wishing that it didn’t take crying while he wanted sex to cover his mistakes for him to notice something was wrong. At the thought of how much distance was between us, more tears fell. Under the light, Liam finally saw the slight swelling on my face, the scratches on my arms and body, and the deep gash on my right leg with dried blood. His pupils contracted. "What happened?" I could sense his wolf stirring under the surface. It was clear that someone had hurt me, but they were only now realizing it. Just as I opened my mouth, his phone rang. I looked at the screen and rolled my eyes. Of course, it was Breanne. Liam sighed and offered a small apologetic smile before he answered in front of me. "Breanne, what's wrong?" "Liam, I think I ate something bad. My stomach hurts so much. Can you take me to the hospital?" Breanne's sugary voice came through. Liam automatically started to agree. I could see his eyes widen with panic at the thought that she was in pain. But right before he responded, he looked at me and my reddened, tear-filled eyes. "It's late. Claire and I are already in bed. Ask Mom if there's any medicine at home." Stephanie's sharp voice interrupted, "Liam, come now! This isn't ordinary pain. It could be appendicitis! She's pale as a ghost!" Liam's brow furrowed. "Fine. I'm coming." My heart sank like a stone. I shook my head in disbelief and turned away, refusing to meet his eyes. Yet again, I was pushed aside. Liam dressed quickly but hesitated at the door. After a long moment, he took my hand. "You're hurt too. Come with me, we'll get you checked at the hospital." That single word, "too", cut like a knife. I laughed dryly. "No need. Go ahead, play hero for another woman. If your mate's pain is less important than staying and understanding what happened, then your friend who has a stomach ache, don’t bother dragging me around like an accessory with false concern. I'd rather be alone." Liam stiffened. He opened his mouth to speak, but the phone kept ringing insistently. Finally, he sighed and pressed his black card into my hand. "Buy whatever you want. Consider it an apology." The door slammed shut. I weighed the card in my palm and smiled bitterly. Liam only ever had two ways to appease me—sex or money. It used to work. I fooled myself into believing it meant he cared, that he wasn’t good with expressing emotions, but I saw it for what it was now. This time, his sweet talk won't work. I walked to the closet and in the back corner, I pulled out my old suitcase. Inside was the most valuable thing I owned. My freedom. It was an official Rejection agreement signed the night before our mating. Back then, Liam had insisted on accepting our mate bond despite his family's objections. Afraid of being trapped in a toxic pack and mating, I had made him sign this; if I ever wanted to break the bond, he had to agree unconditionally. I thought we’d never need it. Liam had probably forgotten it existed. But I hadn't. During one fight, I had even consulted a lawyer who confirmed its validity. I could file for an official rejection of the bond with just this document and 30 days cooling-off period. Since he had already signed it, there was no need for Liam's consent for me to file it now. The Elders within the Council would perform the rejection ceremony within their own chambers. There was no need for either of us to be present. That was typically why Alphas refrained from preemptively signing these types of contracts. It relinquished control without their knowledge. Now was the time. Chapter 3 The Breaking Point I didn't sleep all night; I couldn’t. Instead, I spent those hours cutting up every photograph of us together. There weren’t many, I realized. My phone was filled with pictures of Liam whenever I could sneak photos when he was distracted or busy. He was honestly an Adonis of a man. But three years together, we had exactly twenty-three pictures of us together as a couple, and only thirteen of those were just Liam and me. The remaining ten were with Breanne. I snuck downstairs before anyone else woke up and went into Liam's office. There on the desk was a picture. It was of him and Breanne, hugging and smiling into the camera. They looked happy. Too happy. My inner bitter bitch was vomiting at the sight. On the other side of the desk was a picture of the three of us. That's right, not me and my mate. It was Breanne pressed against Liam's side, smiling up at him, and I was smiling at the camera on the other side. My arm was linked around his, and he was smiling, but for which female in the picture, your guess was as good as mine. I took the picture out of the frame, and bent it so that I was folded to the back. There, now he had two perfect couple pictures of him and Breanne. I will simply bow out of this weird three-way relationship. By dawn, I had already filed the official rejection agreement papers at the Council's registry office. Then I donated all the designer outfits Liam had bought me to charity. Afterward, I drove out of the pack grounds for a few hours to pawn every piece of jewelry he'd ever given me at the local broker's. I didn’t want it getting back to Liam, or the pack gossip mill to run rampant with their own speculations. Not yet anyway. It was a surprisingly large chunk of money in return, one thing I knew for sure about Liam. When he was grovelling for his indifferences and mistakes, he never cheaped out on the apology jewelry. The broker didn’t have the full amount on hand, so I opted to have it wired, which worked fine for me. I opened a new bank account and provided them with the necessary information. I returned to the packhouse early that afternoon. I had requested that the gardener cut down the Cherry Blossom tree in the pack’s courtyard. He was ordered to burn every branch and leaf until only ashes remained. When I agreed to mate with Liam, I had my reservations because his family didn’t support their Alpha heir accepting the bond to a wolfless orphan with average financial standings. Liam planted the tree as a token of his pledge of devotion to us and our bond. I fell for it, thinking it would make us stronger. But I was wrong. By late afternoon, I had either sold, donated or destroyed every token of Liam and his devotion to me and our bond: everything but the Eclipse stone pendant. Some legends state that the Moon Goddess herself blessed the eclipse stone to strengthen the will of the wolfless. Call me a fool, but it still served as a sliver of proof that at some point, he did care enough to seek out the stone for me. Now that everything was removed, it was time for me to step out and prepare everything for my new life after this month-long cooldown period ended, and I was no longer the unwanted mate of Alpha Liam Sterling. I knew I had to be smart and figure out my path now, as I had no family to turn to once the rejection was completed. When I was seven, my father had disappeared after a mountain climbing accident. It was speculated that rogues were involved, as they were heavy in the area at the time. My mother re-mated not long afterwards, and we became part of the Thorne family. They were the overlords, if you will, of the Crown of Thornes Pack, rivals of The Sterling Moon pack and next door neighbours to the territory. My mother left the Thorne family after accusations and rumours of her infidelity and gambling debts. I didn’t believe it, but it seemed that everyone else did. I had no idea where she even went. She certainly didn’t seek me out after she left that night, abandoning me. The only person who would even be considered family at this point was Lucien Thorne. He was my former stepbrother from my mother's second mating. However, Lucien was notorious for his short temper, and he constantly mistreated me while we lived under the same roof, so I would sooner wind up homeless than seek his help. The heat of Liam’s black card was burning a hole in my pocket, serving as a reminder of his literal words: “Buy whatever you want and consider it as an apology.” Okay! I will. I went to the bank and after the teller spoke with the branch manager to confirm my approval of using the Alpha’s account for a withdrawal, yup, that's right, I held no status, so I wasn’t even recognized with authority over our marital account; I withdrew one million dollars from his account. It was insulting and frustrating to know that Breanne can walk in here and not have as many hoops to jump through to get at my mate’s money. But that’s fine. I have already started to let go of my hold on him emotionally. My head has already done so. As I waited for the teller to return with the funds, my phone rang. Liyah Cruz. She was my closest friend before I accepted the bond with Liam. Liam didn’t like her influence on me, as he put it, so over the years, our friendship became strained. For her to be reaching out and calling me now, it had to be important. "Liyah? What's wrong?" I answered right away. "Oh, thank the Goddess. Claire, the International Equestrian Championships start in a month, but I just got injured during training." Liyah's voice was thick with disappointment. "Claire, you were the most talented rider we knew. I could think of no one else to take over. Could you compete in my place?" The memories came flooding back. Had I not mated with Liam, I might have become as renowned as Liyah in equestrian circles. But Liam had disapproved of me riding; he often called it unladylike. He'd gone as far as going behind my back and selling my beloved white stallion, Mirage, to a good owner, cutting off my last connection to the sport. The silence stretched until Liyah sighed. "I forgot your mate doesn't allow—" "I'll do it," I interrupted. "One month. I'll be ready." Liyah's excited squeal pierced through the receiver. "Really? Oh my Goddess! Everyone always said you shouldn't have given up your talent for mating! You're finally coming back to us!" My hand trembled around the phone. Yes, before mating into the Sterling Moon pack and Alpha family, I had shone so brightly. Before Liam, I used to be many things. I was the university's star student—straight A's in every subject. A gifted painter, champion rider, runway model, master chef, and award-winning debater—there was nothing I couldn't excel at. But three years of mating had eroded it all. I hadn't touched a paintbrush in years. I have forgotten how to walk a runway, and even lost my sharp tongue in arguments—forced to submit to even my mate's family and house staff. Only my cooking skills remained polished because I have cooked for Liam every single day since the beginning of our bond acceptance. Only now did I realize how much of myself I had sacrificed. But it wasn't too late. I could still start over. This was that chance to start taking my life by the reins, so to speak, and returning to the Claire that used to walk proudly with her chin held high. Chapter 4 Meeting on Horseback I met Liyah at the stables we once rode at together. “Thank you, Claire-bear. I can’t believe you are actually here.” Liyah launched herself on top of me, despite her knee brace. I thought I understood what I gave up to be with Liam, my mate, but I didn’t understand a fraction of it. This crazy woman, who used to be my world, wrapped around me. How did I let him separate us? “It’s me who should thank you, Lee-Lee. I’ve missed you. I’m sorry. No more boys between us, I promise.” I sobbed. Liyah looked up, and I saw the understanding in her eyes. We both wiped our faces and laughed at our equally blotchy faces. “Okay, later, we'll discuss everything!” She looked at me with as much conviction as her tiny body could muster. I nodded and smiled. “But now, let me introduce you to Diva, my stallion. Just a warning, he lives up to the name periodically. I think it’s an adorable quirk for him and refuse to break it out of him. You’ll love him!” Liyah leads us to the stables, where we meet the horse. Liyah was right. We matched instantly. It isn’t easy for a shifter to bond with a stallion, but I never had those worries. I was always able to click with any animal, to the point where Liyah's brother spent a year calling me freaking snow white! I hated it, but he wasn’t wrong. I galloped across the equestrian field at dawn, the stallion I rode was kicking up dew as it raced toward the rising sun. Then I saw them. Liam and Breanne shared a white mare, ambling toward my direction. Breanne was dressed in her pristine white riding jodhpurs with the matching show coat, leaned back against Liam's chest. Liam's attire was the stark contrast of black on black. I watched him bend his head low, whispering something in Breanne’s ear, causing a fit of giggles from her. I had waited for him to return all night. When I had reached out and called him to ask if he would be returning that night, I was told, by him, that since Breanna needed an emergency appendectomy, he would not leave her side until she recovered. That was when I cut up our photos, burning them to ashes. As I watch them now, a question came to my mind, causing my brow to arch. When did appendectomy patients start riding horses the next day? My grip tightened on the reins just as Breanne spotted me. “Oh! Liam, how spooky. Doesn’t that woman look just like Claire!”At her teasing words, I watched as Liam's head snapped up. There, I sat astride my stallion, the tailored navy riding jacket accentuating my hourglass figure, my gaze glacial. I knew he felt it. Dismounting, Liam approached until he could only see the sharp angle of my jaw. "Sweetheart, since when do you ride? I thought you quit that. You should've told me you were coming." The memory of his and Breanne’s intimate pose churned my stomach. I pressed a hand to my mouth to keep from being sick at the thought before answering flatly. "Would you have answered if I called?" This acidic tone only emerged when I was furious. Liam's smile turned placating. "My fault—left my phone in the car. It turned out to be a false alarm about Breanne's appendix. Since she's competing in the International Equestrian Championships next month, I was only helping her practice." Breanne urged her mare forward, pouting. "Liam, why must we explain everything to her? Come back, we have more important things to focus on. You haven't finished teaching me." "An International Championship contender needs amateur instruction? How curious. I wonder if anyone else here is getting that kind of coaching? But, Liam, if she requires coaching, I'll do it." As Liam turned, my voice froze him. Liam’s expression initially fell flat at my words, but he quickly brightened at my offer. "Exactly! Breanne, Claire won that championship years ago." 'How touching that he finally remembered I have value,' I thought bitterly. Breanne bit her lip. "But—" After years together, I knew Breanne’s games. She wasn’t as nervous on a horse as she portrayed. It was all an act for Liam. "No buts." I raised my riding crop. "Let's ride." The crop came down on Breanne's mare, which bolted forward with a whinny as Breanne shrieked. Liam paled. "Claire! She wasn't ready—" "Real trainers surprise their students." My amber eyes glinted. “Your coddling would've kept her mediocre forever.” Dust sprayed Liam's face as I galloped after Breanne, leaving him standing there, cheeks burning as if slapped. Good. This was just the beginning of my resistance. Breanne and I raced across the field. Though I was starting late, my black stallion, Diva, was not one to be outshone, and we soon overtook Breanne's white mare. For three years, Breanne had only seen the docile, obedient Claire. This commanding version, I’m sure, was unnerving. I could hear her growling, which, to be honest, was only slowing her own horse down. Her mare would not be able to focus on a race, with its rider losing its hold over herself. It was bound to spook her mare soon, and if she weren’t careful, she would get bucked. But as the saying goes, not my circus, not my monkeys. Diva and I were focused on ourselves. I could sense Breanne's determination to beat me. But, no matter how she pushed her champion mare, I remained ahead. As Diva and I passed her again, I caught a flash of movement from Breanne out of the corner of my eye. She pulled a hairpin out of her pocket and hurled it at Diva. That hairpin had been a gift from her friend at her birthday party, and she had been keeping it close to her chest just now. It was made of silver, and the sharp end drove hard into Diva's rump. Diva was instantly startled. Despite my expert handling and calming charm, which I have often used in the past to soothe a panicked horse, Diva threw me. I felt the gnash from the rock sticking out from the ground, which I hit my head on. The impact sending black spots across my vision—and a cry in absolute agony. My abdominal area pinched and screamed with a sharp and sudden pain like nothing I have ever felt before. There was blood on my hand when I touched it. I needed to get up. I needed to get back and get medical help because I knew Breanne wasn’t going to get me any. As I tried to push myself up off the ground with one hand, while the other was wrapped tightly around my stomach, still crying in sheer pain, a polished boot came forcefully down, cracking the bones in my hand. "Ah—!" The pain forced a gasp through clenched teeth. Chapter 5 The Two-Faced Woman "Claire, weren't you so impressive on horseback just now? How did you end up on the ground so fast?" Breanne crouched down, blinking her wide, innocent-looking eyes as she taunted me, pressing her boot harder against my hand, breaking the bones. She knew I was wolfless, and the pain she was causing; this was why she was doing it. To send me a message. I was hoping someone would come and find us, but the odds of this far from the training grounds were unlikely. "Oh my, I'm so sorry!" Breanne feigned surprise, finally lifting her foot with exaggerated remorse. "I didn't even see your hand there. How careless of me." “It’s to be expected with those massive feet of yours. What is that a size ten in men's?” I watched her eyes flash in anger briefly before she reined it back in. I yanked my hand back, and when Breanne reached out to help me up. I would always refuse her help; it was always a ploy for something worse. When she tried again, I recoiled, pushing myself up to my feet with gritted teeth. "Claire, that must've hurt. With riding skills like yours, how could you possibly think you were qualified to teach me?" Breanne smirked. "Only a fool would believe such a pitiful act, Breanne.” I glared, refusing to back down. "Oh, please. Can't accept that you're just not as good as I am? No wonder Liam doesn't like you much—you're such a sore loser." Breanne let out a mocking laugh. Breanne wasn’t hiding her petty, vindictive behaviour. She wanted me to know her intentions of returning and that she hadn't forgiven me for having her exiled. The reason Breanne was sent away a year ago was that I had walked in on her and Liam in the throes of passion. They were both half-naked and stuck to each other. Liam seemed to snap out of his daze the moment I entered the room and yanked Breanne off him. The thud of her head to the edge of the dresser brought out her wolf, and warriors nearby who heard the yelling managed to catch Breanne just in time before she could attack me. Liam sobered up instantly and demanded answers. Breanne played the confused card. That, like Liam, she had drunk a little too much at the pack celebration. She must have gotten confused about which floor she was on and passed out in mine and his bedroom, thinking it was hers. After all, his scent calms her, so she made sure to add that part—one extra little jab between Liam and me. Liam swore up and down that he was confused and thought it was me under the covers in bed. That, with the amount of wolfwine he had consumed, he didn’t realize it wasn’t me until my scent entered the room, and his wolf halted their action immediately recognizing their error. I moved to a different room, and Liam tried to separate himself from Breanne. Then he learned that Breanne approached me afterward and told me that Liam was aware it was her. After all, why would they confuse their mates? Unfortunately for Breanne, she did it in front of a witness, and they told several others, which led Liam to ask me about it. I confirmed that I knew he was aware that it was Breanne, as she told me so herself, and that I wanted to break the bond if he didn’t send her away as proof of his devotion to the mates' bond. I could see that he didn’t want to, but Liam was also someone who cared too much about image to have the wolfen community know that he lost his true mate over the Beta’s daughter affair scandal. With the third wheel gone, our mate bond had finally stabilized. I had hoped to start trying for a pup on our anniversary after I was announced as the new Luna of the Sterling Moon pack. But now Breanne was back, something of which Liam failed to inform me—especially considering it nearly ended us only a year ago. His lack of consideration over that confused me. Did his wolf also agree with this decision? Surely his wolf would realize better than Liam that this would ultimately bring out the bond to an end. "Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about," I said coolly. "But don't worry. I'll be out of your way soon. Then you two can do whatever you want." I turned away, whistling sharply for my horse. Breanne's face flushed crimson. She grabbed my arm and pressed her fingers deep into the flesh. “What the hell are you implying? What plans could I possibly have?” "You know exactly what I mean. But just a heads-up—mistresses in ranked mate bonds are illegal without Elder consent. And bastard pups tend to be shunned by packs altogether. So think carefully." Breanne's face went scarlet. "You—you're disgusting! How dare you accuse me and Liam of—" The sound of galloping hooves cut her off. Her eyes widened as though she hadn't expected us to be interrupted so soon. I turned to the sound of approaching Hooves, which gave Breanne time to growl her threat before she partially shifted and lunged at me with the intent to maul me where I stood. A chill ran down my spine—only to be overshadowed by the thunderous sound of a horse's disapproving whinny. Next thing I knew, Breanne was whimpering on the ground, crying in sheer agony as a scarred, filthy white stallion trampled her. My breath hitched, my eyes widened in disbelief. I knew this stallion. And then I saw it—the faint brown patch on the stallion's head. My blood turned to ice. No. It can’t be. "Mirage?" My voice cracked. The horse stopped mid-stomp, ears twitching. The sound of my voice stopped the Stallion from continuing its attack on Breanne, who had now reverted to her bruised human state, no longer partially shifted. The Stallion turned and looked at me. "Mirage!" I choked out, rushing forward to grab the reins. "It's really you!" I hadn't summoned my borrowed stallion. I had summoned him. My champion. My partner. My horse that Liam sold from under me, promising he went to a good home. Now, his coat was matted, his skin was patchy with disease, and his body was crisscrossed with whip marks. He was abused. Mirage had once been a regal, snow-white stallion, bought at auction by the Thornes. He had carried me to victory in countless competitions. He wasn't just a horse. He was my family. One of the most precious things I had. It took everything in me to forgive him for going behind my back and forcing me to stop riding by selling Mirage off in the first place, but it helped soothe the pain to know that at least he was being taken care of wherever he was. Liam had promised he'd be cared for. He lied. He looked me in the eye and lied to my face. He gave Mirage to a home that had continuously abused and neglected him. These wounds were a combination of old and recent. This was what Liam considered a good home? Tears burned my eyes as I ran my hands over his ruined coat. My heart was breaking. The abuse Mirage would have been enduring all this time, thinking I abandoned him. "Claire! Breanne!" Liam's voice cut through the air as another set of hooves approached. Chapter 6 The Fall The injuries and now Mirage, I was breaking inside and now outside. Just as my knees gave way, a firm hand caught my arm. "What took you so long out here? Are you all right?" Liam's voice, usually so tender, sounded distant in my ears. Through my tears, I turned to confront him about Mirage's condition, but Breanne's weak whimper cut through the air. "Liam.” She whimpered weakly. “Please, help me,” she pleaded. Liam stiffened as if struck. He released me immediately, like he was catching fire at just the mere touch of me. I staggered from the sudden loss of assistance and contact from my mate, and watched in disbelief as his attention snapped to Breanne's crumpled form on the ground. "Breanne!" His eyes reddened as he gathered her into his arms, cradling her close to her chest, "Oh my Goddess, what happened? How did this—?" I watched as he gently wiped away the tears staining her cheek. His eyes began to mist up. It was as though I were watching a live-action romance. The long-lost lover, dying in her beloved's arms. It would have been touching if it wasn't for the fact that that was my mate, holding another woman so tenderly while I stood five feet from them in significantly more pain. "Claire couldn't handle her horse. When I offered to help her back up, she then turned it around and blamed me! When I tried to explain I wasn’t at fault, she set that wretched beast on me!" Breanne's tears fell like broken pearls. Her voice grew faint as she added dramatically, "Liam, please, I can't feel my legs. What if I never walk again?" Liam's expression darkened as he listened to Breanne’s version of events. He turned to me with a sudden coldness I had never seen before. "Is this true?" He growled in anger, clutching Breanne closer to him protectively. A searing pain tore through my abdomen before I could respond. I cried out at the suddenness of it, and clutched my stomach, gasping through clenched teeth as metallic bile rose in my throat. Liam didn’t even flinch at the sight of my obvious pain before him. "I'm taking Breanne to the hospital," he said coldly. "If you did this, Claire—" He left the threat hanging as he cradled Breanne closer. I have never heard of an Alpha, or any rank member in my school studies or observations, threatening his mates and Luna over just a friend. It was against Wolfen code and ethics, but I suppose that didn’t matter to Liam or the Sterling Moon pack. This was going to become a regular occurrence, I could already sense it. I watched through blurred vision as Breanne gave one last performance. "Liam, I—" Her eyelids fluttered shut with theatrical perfection. "Bree-Bree! Stay with me! Please don’t leave me, baby. I’m here. Don’t you dare leave me!" Liam shouted, already running partially shifted into his wolf to allow himself to cradle her and use his Alpha wolf strength and speed at the same time. Behind him, I collapsed with a thud that echoed across the field. I briefly saw Liam hesitate mid-stride—just for a second. Regardless, he didn’t turn around at the sound of my collapse and shallow, laboured breaths. I watched as they continued to run away with Breanne in their arms, leaving me where I lay. My heart broke, even though I had filed and decided to leave both Liam and this horrible pack; a small part of me still held onto a sliver of hope that Liam would see the path he was taking and how far it was from us. But he didn’t, and that was when everything went dark for me. ***** When I regained consciousness, the sterile glare of surgical lights assaulted my vision. Cold metal instruments clinked nearby as my legs were positioned apart. I tried to speak, but the drugs held me paralyzed. The doctors' voices floated above me like ghosts. I could sense the movements around me, but I was awake, unable to move, feel, or speak. It was a surreal experience, but oddly familiar to my life since I had mated with the Sterling family. Nothing more than an ornament on the wall to all, including my mate. "Such a shame—two months along. Who goes horseback riding when they're pregnant?" "The fall detached the embryo completely. Must have been quite the impact. She is lucky to be alive." "Without a wolf, another hour, and she wouldn’t have been." "That man who brought her in—was that her husband? He was colder than a block of ice, but as Handsome as the Devil himself. Can’t say much about their mateship part, he simply paid the bill and left without a word." "Enough chatter. Let’s finish this up before she hemorrhages." Each medical term floating to my ears—pregnancy, embryo, hemorrhage, dilation and curettage—pierced my drugged haze like silver blades to the heart. The one that stuck out the most was broken. I knew they were talking about my hand, but it was so much deeper than that. I felt broken. I lost my pup. Until recently, I would have loved to have Liam and my first pup. Everything about us seemed happy and together, but now, it seemed symbolic to lose the pups I never knew I had. I was losing a mate I should never have had to fight this hard to keep. Everything was perfect until I saw it was all a smoke screen and not meant to be. Just like this pup. False hope. I struggled against the numbness, but my body refused to obey. Something sharp scraped inside me, painless but violating. The crushing weight of realization dragged me under before I could scream, I was once again enveloped by empty darkness. "Claire ... Claire ..." Time lost all meaning. A distant voice called my name while someone shook my arm. With monumental effort, I forced my eyes open. Once again, the antiseptic glare of hospital lights assaulted my vision—I was in a hospital room.
"""Please, Liam, I just lost our baby. Don't let them take my blood."" My voice was barely a whisper, my body still trembling from the surgery—from the emptiness where our child used to be. But my husband didn't even look at me. His gaze was fixed on the ER doors, where doctors shouted about Breanne's critical blood loss. Breanne Telder. The Beta's daughter. His best friend. The woman he swore was""just like a sister.” The same woman who caused the fall that cost me our pup. ""She's RH-negative and we're out of stock. Find donors—now!"" The surgeon said urgently. ""Take hers."" Liam's arm slid around my waist—not to comfort me, not to hold me—but to push me forward like an offering.""Wolfless born shifters are universal donors. Her blood will save Breanne."" I froze as if struck by lightning, my disbelieving eyes lifting to meet his. Did he and his wolf even realize what they'd done? They didn't have to say the rejection—offering their mate's blood to another woman screamed it loud enough. ""Liam,"" I managed to whisper, ""I just lost our pup—"" ""Spare me the lies. I am done believing you!"" His eyes were cold steel. ""Breanne's life comes first right now."" The words cut deeper than any blade. I straightened, ignoring the spinning in my head, every inch of me trembling but unbroken. ""You've made your choice, Liam. And after today…"" my voice didn't crack this time ""I'll make mine."" The doctor's hand gripped my arm, leading me toward the blood lab. ""I'll donate the blood,"" I didn't fight it. ""But in return, you will agree to end our mate bond.”" ***** Chapter 1 Dropping the Mate I stood at the gate of the Sterling Moon Packhouse, clutching a cake box that had begun to melt in the summer heat. My usually pristine blonde hair was now stuck to my neck and face in damp strands, and my designer dress was now ruined with mud and swamp stains. I hadn't meant to arrive at my third mating anniversary looking like I had been dragged through a hedge backward and then tossed in the swamp lands beyond the pack grounds. But then again, being cornered and ambushed by rogues, conveniently knowing my whereabouts without an escort or protection, wasn't exactly part of my agenda either. A mysterious yet heroic stranger had rescued me and driven me back to the edge of my mate’s pack territory when Liam Sterling, my mate and the pack's Alpha, hadn't answered any of my fifteen frantic calls. I had almost convinced myself he was simply busy orchestrating some grand anniversary surprise. That had to be it. Otherwise, why else would he send me out alone for the cake retrieval and then not bother to answer my calls? I quickened my pace toward the entrance of the packhouse, not wanting to delay the celebration any longer than I already had. I rounded the corner only to stop dead at the sight before me. The entire packhouse had been transformed with floral arches, helium balloons, and an enormous banner. My fingers tightened around the cake box. I had doubts about walking into the grand hall; perhaps I should slip upstairs to change first. Then Liam's familiar voice called out. "There's my beautiful mate! Took you long enough, sweetheart. Everyone's waiting for the cake. Were the directions not clear enough?" He teased, not taking in the dishevelled state of my appearance or the fact that my smile didn’t reach my eyes. He often failed to see me. I looked up to find my mate looking devastatingly handsome in a white Tom Ford suit, his gray waistcoat accentuating those broad shoulders I used to trace my fingers over. He hadn't dressed like this for me in years. I pushed aside the gnawing doubts starting to fill my heart and embraced the fact that he was trying to make things right. This was not the time to voice my disappointments with his lack of attention or concern. We're here to celebrate our mate bond with the pack. This was also the year that he promised to swear me in as the official Luna, to lead by his side. Three years of proving myself capable despite not having a wolf of my own, and now here we were. My lips began curving into a smile despite myself. Maybe the rogues and the ambush, the ruined dress, the ignored calls—perhaps none of it mattered now that I was home. Liam would keep me safe, and we were going to announce that I was stepping into a role that should have been mine when we first mated. "Liam, I was just—" I was about to explain the rogues, the ambush, the mysterious saviour, but was cut off mid-sentence. "Liam! Is that my cake?" A shrill voice interrupted as Breanne Telder materialized behind Liam, looping her arm through his as though it was where she belonged. She was Liam’s father's Beta’s daughter. Otherwise known as the third wheel in our relationship and the pick me girl that Liam always did. She was also not supposed to be here. She was sent away a while ago, and Liam promised to focus solely on us. "You flew me home just for this birthday surprise? Best Alpha bestie ever!" The cake box slipped from my fingers, landing with a sickening splat on the custom marble flooring beneath me. The same flooring I wanted to either swallow me or Breanna up in this moment. Birthday surprise? What the hell did that mean? Those two words echoed in my skull like gunshots. For weeks, I had known Liam was planning something secretive. The custom-ordered flowers were delivered under the cover of darkness. The expensive Eclipse Stone rough he'd purchased at auction. All those whispered phone calls I had pretended not to hear. It all led to this moment, but it wasn’t the moment I had expected. I had woven every scrap of evidence into fantasies of candlelit vows renewed, of Liam dropping to one knee all over again. Even when he hadn't picked up during my attack from rogues, I had made excuses for him. Now Breanne's smug smile shattered those delusions like a hammer through stained glass. "What the hell were you thinking, Claire?" Stephanie Sterling's razor-sharp heels clicked across the flooring as she advanced. "We've been waiting two hours for that cake! You can’t do one single task; no wonder you will never be Luna material for the Sterling Moon pack." Stephanie was Liam's mother. From the moment I mated into the Alpha family, Stephanie had made no secret of her dislike; she was the reason Liam was convinced to hold off and force me to prove myself as Luna material. Over time, that contempt had only grown bolder, more vicious, no longer even pretending to hide it. Failing to see Liam, their Alpha, standing up for me, much of the pack started to support and see the validity in the points that their retired Luna was making. My hands shook. "This was supposed to be our anniversary party." Liam caught my elbow and steered me out of the room for privacy. "Baby, I'd planned a surprise for you, but Breanne asked for a pack-wide birthday celebration when she returned, so—" "So, instead of standing up for your mate, yet again, you conceded and did what they wanted. It’s fine for me to be let down, but not her? Message received, Liam." I wrenched my arm free, the movement sending fresh pain through my bruised ribs from the attack. I doubled over with a gasp. Before Liam could reach for me, Stephanie's voice sliced through the garden again. "Liam! Stop coddling her and get over here. This is why the wolfless should never hold ranks; they're weak and attention grabbers. Forget the cake, we'll just serve the petit fours instead." "Coming." He hesitated, then pressed a kiss to my temple. "We'll talk later." I remained crouched in the foyer of the packhouse as another wave of pain, this one far deeper than physical, crashed over me. Not a single pack member had asked why I looked like I'd been in a car wreck, why I'd been crying. From the other room where everyone gathered, the opening chords of "Happy Birthday" floated toward me. Each syrupy note felt like another papercut to my heart. It hit me suddenly—I hadn't celebrated a birthday since mating into the Alpha family, not once, though my own fell just days apart from Breanne's. And Liam had known this; he made a joke about the coincidence of his two best gals' being birthday buddies, but mine was always overshadowed. He quickly forgot about mine. I wiped my cheeks, giving myself a self-mocking smile. I should have known better than to hope for something more than what I already received. As the sun dipped low, I rose, my shadow stretching lonely behind me. Without a word, I climbed the stairs and clicked the bedroom door shut of the Alpha suite. Under the bathroom's harsh lighting, I peeled off my ruined dress and threw it in the trash. Steam fogged the mirrors as I scrubbed at skin that still felt dirty from the rogue's hands. I stayed under the scalding water until my fingers pruned. Wrapped in an oversized robe, I sat curled on the window seat watching party lights twinkle below until the last guest departed. At 11:00 PM, the bedroom door finally creaked open. I didn't turn when Liam's familiar cologne filled the room. I heard him hang up his jacket, then felt his whiskey-warm hands on my shoulders. "Happy anniversary, my beautiful, stunning mate." His lips brushed my ear. "Guess what I got you?" I shrugged him off. "I honestly don't care." He knelt before me, producing a velvet box with the flourish of a magician. "I had this carved from that Eclipse Stone rough. It is rumoured to help awaken latent wolfen spirits, strengthen auras and bring new beginnings.” Liam fastened the pendant around my neck. The cold stone settled between my chest like a brand. "Stunning." He kissed the hollow of my throat. "I was thinking that it’s been three years since we mated, and you have done so well proving yourself to me and this pack. I want us to now try for a pup. Bring this pack a new heir.” "Yeah, that’s not happening," I rejected the idea instantly. His chuckle was dark velvet. "You won't have to lift a finger, darling. I'll do all the—" "Liam." I met his gaze for the first time that night. “I want to submit an official request to break our mate bond!” Chapter 2 This Time, His Sweet Talk Won't Work My mind was made up before he finally came to our room. This wasn't like my previous impulsive threats in an attempt to get him to see the mistakes he was continuously making in our bond. This time, I was genuinely determined to leave. Three years of mateship flashed through my mind. I had lost count of how many times Liam had prioritized Breanne over my feelings or dismissed me because his mother said so. Who was his mate, and who was just a friend? I could no longer answer that question, and I was tired of trying to defend us. We weren’t bonded. Not the way the typical Alpha and mate were. It was usual for an Alpha never to leave his Luna’s side. She was his number one priority, even though the pack came second. The Alpha's mate was the heart of the pack and respected as an equal, but I was neither of those things. I haven’t been from the start. Breanne, even though she was briefly sent away, was still respected and noticed more than I could even hope for. If someone kept treating you in ways you disliked, it was because you allowed it. I had let it slide every other time. But today, Liam had crossed my final line. This day was our third anniversary. I didn’t care that he forgot my birthday, dinners, or events we planned together. I did, however, care about this milestone moment. A promise he made was long forgotten. This was that tipping point for my patience. “Really, Claire? You are threatening to reject our mate bond again? Don't say that every time you're upset, sweetheart. I was wrong about today. I'll make it up to you tomorrow." My eyes showed no emotion. “Don't bother. Not everything can be made up, and you can only backburner your mate for so long before she grows tired of being at the bottom of the priorities, Liam.” "Of course, this can be fixed. There's always next year. We will have a pup by then, and you will have long forgotten this little hiccup and tantrum." Liam pushed me down onto the sofa, kissing my face tenderly. With my hands pinned above my head, I wasn’t able to push him off. He expected the topic of having pups would appease me and calm my boiling anger. I had had enough of his nonsense and non-committal ways. I stared blankly at the ceiling as tears unexpectedly rolled down my cheeks. I lay like a dead weight. In the past, whenever we would fight or I would throw a tantrum, as Liam would title it, all he would do was use the mate bond against me. His kisses, his touch, his desires would wear me down, and I would accept his hollowed words of apology and his flashy gifts as though they meant something more than pacifying childish behaviour, in his mind. But this time, even though he held me down and I couldn’t resist, I was also not participating or encouraging him to continue. He was so self-absorbed that he couldn’t even realize that I wasn’t a willing participant. I was motionless, soundless, non-responsive. As Liam kept kissing me, his hands touched every part of my bruised body, utterly unaware of the pain he was inflicting both physically and emotionally. I felt his body suddenly freeze at the sound of a whimpered sob that slipped out of me. He looked out with hooded eyes, which quickly sobered and turned serious when he saw the tears in my eyes. His expression was frozen in panic. "Baby, why are you crying?" He quickly turned on the light. "Wait—you seemed off when you came home. Did something happen?" Finally, he remembered, but the damage between us was already done. My heart twisted, wishing that it didn’t take crying while he wanted sex to cover his mistakes for him to notice something was wrong. At the thought of how much distance was between us, more tears fell. Under the light, Liam finally saw the slight swelling on my face, the scratches on my arms and body, and the deep gash on my right leg with dried blood. His pupils contracted. "What happened?" I could sense his wolf stirring under the surface. It was clear that someone had hurt me, but they were only now realizing it. Just as I opened my mouth, his phone rang. I looked at the screen and rolled my eyes. Of course, it was Breanne. Liam sighed and offered a small apologetic smile before he answered in front of me. "Breanne, what's wrong?" "Liam, I think I ate something bad. My stomach hurts so much. Can you take me to the hospital?" Breanne's sugary voice came through. Liam automatically started to agree. I could see his eyes widen with panic at the thought that she was in pain. But right before he responded, he looked at me and my reddened, tear-filled eyes. "It's late. Claire and I are already in bed. Ask Mom if there's any medicine at home." Stephanie's sharp voice interrupted, "Liam, come now! This isn't ordinary pain. It could be appendicitis! She's pale as a ghost!" Liam's brow furrowed. "Fine. I'm coming." My heart sank like a stone. I shook my head in disbelief and turned away, refusing to meet his eyes. Yet again, I was pushed aside. Liam dressed quickly but hesitated at the door. After a long moment, he took my hand. "You're hurt too. Come with me, we'll get you checked at the hospital." That single word, "too", cut like a knife. I laughed dryly. "No need. Go ahead, play hero for another woman. If your mate's pain is less important than staying and understanding what happened, then your friend who has a stomach ache, don’t bother dragging me around like an accessory with false concern. I'd rather be alone." Liam stiffened. He opened his mouth to speak, but the phone kept ringing insistently. Finally, he sighed and pressed his black card into my hand. "Buy whatever you want. Consider it an apology." The door slammed shut. I weighed the card in my palm and smiled bitterly. Liam only ever had two ways to appease me—sex or money. It used to work. I fooled myself into believing it meant he cared, that he wasn’t good with expressing emotions, but I saw it for what it was now. This time, his sweet talk won't work. I walked to the closet and in the back corner, I pulled out my old suitcase. Inside was the most valuable thing I owned. My freedom. It was an official Rejection agreement signed the night before our mating. Back then, Liam had insisted on accepting our mate bond despite his family's objections. Afraid of being trapped in a toxic pack and mating, I had made him sign this; if I ever wanted to break the bond, he had to agree unconditionally. I thought we’d never need it. Liam had probably forgotten it existed. But I hadn't. During one fight, I had even consulted a lawyer who confirmed its validity. I could file for an official rejection of the bond with just this document and 30 days cooling-off period. Since he had already signed it, there was no need for Liam's consent for me to file it now. The Elders within the Council would perform the rejection ceremony within their own chambers. There was no need for either of us to be present. That was typically why Alphas refrained from preemptively signing these types of contracts. It relinquished control without their knowledge. Now was the time. Chapter 3 The Breaking Point I didn't sleep all night; I couldn’t. Instead, I spent those hours cutting up every photograph of us together. There weren’t many, I realized. My phone was filled with pictures of Liam whenever I could sneak photos when he was distracted or busy. He was honestly an Adonis of a man. But three years together, we had exactly twenty-three pictures of us together as a couple, and only thirteen of those were just Liam and me. The remaining ten were with Breanne. I snuck downstairs before anyone else woke up and went into Liam's office. There on the desk was a picture. It was of him and Breanne, hugging and smiling into the camera. They looked happy. Too happy. My inner bitter bitch was vomiting at the sight. On the other side of the desk was a picture of the three of us. That's right, not me and my mate. It was Breanne pressed against Liam's side, smiling up at him, and I was smiling at the camera on the other side. My arm was linked around his, and he was smiling, but for which female in the picture, your guess was as good as mine. I took the picture out of the frame, and bent it so that I was folded to the back. There, now he had two perfect couple pictures of him and Breanne. I will simply bow out of this weird three-way relationship. By dawn, I had already filed the official rejection agreement papers at the Council's registry office. Then I donated all the designer outfits Liam had bought me to charity. Afterward, I drove out of the pack grounds for a few hours to pawn every piece of jewelry he'd ever given me at the local broker's. I didn’t want it getting back to Liam, or the pack gossip mill to run rampant with their own speculations. Not yet anyway. It was a surprisingly large chunk of money in return, one thing I knew for sure about Liam. When he was grovelling for his indifferences and mistakes, he never cheaped out on the apology jewelry. The broker didn’t have the full amount on hand, so I opted to have it wired, which worked fine for me. I opened a new bank account and provided them with the necessary information. I returned to the packhouse early that afternoon. I had requested that the gardener cut down the Cherry Blossom tree in the pack’s courtyard. He was ordered to burn every branch and leaf until only ashes remained. When I agreed to mate with Liam, I had my reservations because his family didn’t support their Alpha heir accepting the bond to a wolfless orphan with average financial standings. Liam planted the tree as a token of his pledge of devotion to us and our bond. I fell for it, thinking it would make us stronger. But I was wrong. By late afternoon, I had either sold, donated or destroyed every token of Liam and his devotion to me and our bond: everything but the Eclipse stone pendant. Some legends state that the Moon Goddess herself blessed the eclipse stone to strengthen the will of the wolfless. Call me a fool, but it still served as a sliver of proof that at some point, he did care enough to seek out the stone for me. Now that everything was removed, it was time for me to step out and prepare everything for my new life after this month-long cooldown period ended, and I was no longer the unwanted mate of Alpha Liam Sterling. I knew I had to be smart and figure out my path now, as I had no family to turn to once the rejection was completed. When I was seven, my father had disappeared after a mountain climbing accident. It was speculated that rogues were involved, as they were heavy in the area at the time. My mother re-mated not long afterwards, and we became part of the Thorne family. They were the overlords, if you will, of the Crown of Thornes Pack, rivals of The Sterling Moon pack and next door neighbours to the territory. My mother left the Thorne family after accusations and rumours of her infidelity and gambling debts. I didn’t believe it, but it seemed that everyone else did. I had no idea where she even went. She certainly didn’t seek me out after she left that night, abandoning me. The only person who would even be considered family at this point was Lucien Thorne. He was my former stepbrother from my mother's second mating. However, Lucien was notorious for his short temper, and he constantly mistreated me while we lived under the same roof, so I would sooner wind up homeless than seek his help. The heat of Liam’s black card was burning a hole in my pocket, serving as a reminder of his literal words: “Buy whatever you want and consider it as an apology.” Okay! I will. I went to the bank and after the teller spoke with the branch manager to confirm my approval of using the Alpha’s account for a withdrawal, yup, that's right, I held no status, so I wasn’t even recognized with authority over our marital account; I withdrew one million dollars from his account. It was insulting and frustrating to know that Breanne can walk in here and not have as many hoops to jump through to get at my mate’s money. But that’s fine. I have already started to let go of my hold on him emotionally. My head has already done so. As I waited for the teller to return with the funds, my phone rang. Liyah Cruz. She was my closest friend before I accepted the bond with Liam. Liam didn’t like her influence on me, as he put it, so over the years, our friendship became strained. For her to be reaching out and calling me now, it had to be important. "Liyah? What's wrong?" I answered right away. "Oh, thank the Goddess. Claire, the International Equestrian Championships start in a month, but I just got injured during training." Liyah's voice was thick with disappointment. "Claire, you were the most talented rider we knew. I could think of no one else to take over. Could you compete in my place?" The memories came flooding back. Had I not mated with Liam, I might have become as renowned as Liyah in equestrian circles. But Liam had disapproved of me riding; he often called it unladylike. He'd gone as far as going behind my back and selling my beloved white stallion, Mirage, to a good owner, cutting off my last connection to the sport. The silence stretched until Liyah sighed. "I forgot your mate doesn't allow—" "I'll do it," I interrupted. "One month. I'll be ready." Liyah's excited squeal pierced through the receiver. "Really? Oh my Goddess! Everyone always said you shouldn't have given up your talent for mating! You're finally coming back to us!" My hand trembled around the phone. Yes, before mating into the Sterling Moon pack and Alpha family, I had shone so brightly. Before Liam, I used to be many things. I was the university's star student—straight A's in every subject. A gifted painter, champion rider, runway model, master chef, and award-winning debater—there was nothing I couldn't excel at. But three years of mating had eroded it all. I hadn't touched a paintbrush in years. I have forgotten how to walk a runway, and even lost my sharp tongue in arguments—forced to submit to even my mate's family and house staff. Only my cooking skills remained polished because I have cooked for Liam every single day since the beginning of our bond acceptance. Only now did I realize how much of myself I had sacrificed. But it wasn't too late. I could still start over. This was that chance to start taking my life by the reins, so to speak, and returning to the Claire that used to walk proudly with her chin held high. Chapter 4 Meeting on Horseback I met Liyah at the stables we once rode at together. “Thank you, Claire-bear. I can’t believe you are actually here.” Liyah launched herself on top of me, despite her knee brace. I thought I understood what I gave up to be with Liam, my mate, but I didn’t understand a fraction of it. This crazy woman, who used to be my world, wrapped around me. How did I let him separate us? “It’s me who should thank you, Lee-Lee. I’ve missed you. I’m sorry. No more boys between us, I promise.” I sobbed. Liyah looked up, and I saw the understanding in her eyes. We both wiped our faces and laughed at our equally blotchy faces. “Okay, later, we'll discuss everything!” She looked at me with as much conviction as her tiny body could muster. I nodded and smiled. “But now, let me introduce you to Diva, my stallion. Just a warning, he lives up to the name periodically. I think it’s an adorable quirk for him and refuse to break it out of him. You’ll love him!” Liyah leads us to the stables, where we meet the horse. Liyah was right. We matched instantly. It isn’t easy for a shifter to bond with a stallion, but I never had those worries. I was always able to click with any animal, to the point where Liyah's brother spent a year calling me freaking snow white! I hated it, but he wasn’t wrong. I galloped across the equestrian field at dawn, the stallion I rode was kicking up dew as it raced toward the rising sun. Then I saw them. Liam and Breanne shared a white mare, ambling toward my direction. Breanne was dressed in her pristine white riding jodhpurs with the matching show coat, leaned back against Liam's chest. Liam's attire was the stark contrast of black on black. I watched him bend his head low, whispering something in Breanne’s ear, causing a fit of giggles from her. I had waited for him to return all night. When I had reached out and called him to ask if he would be returning that night, I was told, by him, that since Breanna needed an emergency appendectomy, he would not leave her side until she recovered. That was when I cut up our photos, burning them to ashes. As I watch them now, a question came to my mind, causing my brow to arch. When did appendectomy patients start riding horses the next day? My grip tightened on the reins just as Breanne spotted me. “Oh! Liam, how spooky. Doesn’t that woman look just like Claire!”At her teasing words, I watched as Liam's head snapped up. There, I sat astride my stallion, the tailored navy riding jacket accentuating my hourglass figure, my gaze glacial. I knew he felt it. Dismounting, Liam approached until he could only see the sharp angle of my jaw. "Sweetheart, since when do you ride? I thought you quit that. You should've told me you were coming." The memory of his and Breanne’s intimate pose churned my stomach. I pressed a hand to my mouth to keep from being sick at the thought before answering flatly. "Would you have answered if I called?" This acidic tone only emerged when I was furious. Liam's smile turned placating. "My fault—left my phone in the car. It turned out to be a false alarm about Breanne's appendix. Since she's competing in the International Equestrian Championships next month, I was only helping her practice." Breanne urged her mare forward, pouting. "Liam, why must we explain everything to her? Come back, we have more important things to focus on. You haven't finished teaching me." "An International Championship contender needs amateur instruction? How curious. I wonder if anyone else here is getting that kind of coaching? But, Liam, if she requires coaching, I'll do it." As Liam turned, my voice froze him. Liam’s expression initially fell flat at my words, but he quickly brightened at my offer. "Exactly! Breanne, Claire won that championship years ago." 'How touching that he finally remembered I have value,' I thought bitterly. Breanne bit her lip. "But—" After years together, I knew Breanne’s games. She wasn’t as nervous on a horse as she portrayed. It was all an act for Liam. "No buts." I raised my riding crop. "Let's ride." The crop came down on Breanne's mare, which bolted forward with a whinny as Breanne shrieked. Liam paled. "Claire! She wasn't ready—" "Real trainers surprise their students." My amber eyes glinted. “Your coddling would've kept her mediocre forever.” Dust sprayed Liam's face as I galloped after Breanne, leaving him standing there, cheeks burning as if slapped. Good. This was just the beginning of my resistance. Breanne and I raced across the field. Though I was starting late, my black stallion, Diva, was not one to be outshone, and we soon overtook Breanne's white mare. For three years, Breanne had only seen the docile, obedient Claire. This commanding version, I’m sure, was unnerving. I could hear her growling, which, to be honest, was only slowing her own horse down. Her mare would not be able to focus on a race, with its rider losing its hold over herself. It was bound to spook her mare soon, and if she weren’t careful, she would get bucked. But as the saying goes, not my circus, not my monkeys. Diva and I were focused on ourselves. I could sense Breanne's determination to beat me. But, no matter how she pushed her champion mare, I remained ahead. As Diva and I passed her again, I caught a flash of movement from Breanne out of the corner of my eye. She pulled a hairpin out of her pocket and hurled it at Diva. That hairpin had been a gift from her friend at her birthday party, and she had been keeping it close to her chest just now. It was made of silver, and the sharp end drove hard into Diva's rump. Diva was instantly startled. Despite my expert handling and calming charm, which I have often used in the past to soothe a panicked horse, Diva threw me. I felt the gnash from the rock sticking out from the ground, which I hit my head on. The impact sending black spots across my vision—and a cry in absolute agony. My abdominal area pinched and screamed with a sharp and sudden pain like nothing I have ever felt before. There was blood on my hand when I touched it. I needed to get up. I needed to get back and get medical help because I knew Breanne wasn’t going to get me any. As I tried to push myself up off the ground with one hand, while the other was wrapped tightly around my stomach, still crying in sheer pain, a polished boot came forcefully down, cracking the bones in my hand. "Ah—!" The pain forced a gasp through clenched teeth. Chapter 5 The Two-Faced Woman "Claire, weren't you so impressive on horseback just now? How did you end up on the ground so fast?" Breanne crouched down, blinking her wide, innocent-looking eyes as she taunted me, pressing her boot harder against my hand, breaking the bones. She knew I was wolfless, and the pain she was causing; this was why she was doing it. To send me a message. I was hoping someone would come and find us, but the odds of this far from the training grounds were unlikely. "Oh my, I'm so sorry!" Breanne feigned surprise, finally lifting her foot with exaggerated remorse. "I didn't even see your hand there. How careless of me." “It’s to be expected with those massive feet of yours. What is that a size ten in men's?” I watched her eyes flash in anger briefly before she reined it back in. I yanked my hand back, and when Breanne reached out to help me up. I would always refuse her help; it was always a ploy for something worse. When she tried again, I recoiled, pushing myself up to my feet with gritted teeth. "Claire, that must've hurt. With riding skills like yours, how could you possibly think you were qualified to teach me?" Breanne smirked. "Only a fool would believe such a pitiful act, Breanne.” I glared, refusing to back down. "Oh, please. Can't accept that you're just not as good as I am? No wonder Liam doesn't like you much—you're such a sore loser." Breanne let out a mocking laugh. Breanne wasn’t hiding her petty, vindictive behaviour. She wanted me to know her intentions of returning and that she hadn't forgiven me for having her exiled. The reason Breanne was sent away a year ago was that I had walked in on her and Liam in the throes of passion. They were both half-naked and stuck to each other. Liam seemed to snap out of his daze the moment I entered the room and yanked Breanne off him. The thud of her head to the edge of the dresser brought out her wolf, and warriors nearby who heard the yelling managed to catch Breanne just in time before she could attack me. Liam sobered up instantly and demanded answers. Breanne played the confused card. That, like Liam, she had drunk a little too much at the pack celebration. She must have gotten confused about which floor she was on and passed out in mine and his bedroom, thinking it was hers. After all, his scent calms her, so she made sure to add that part—one extra little jab between Liam and me. Liam swore up and down that he was confused and thought it was me under the covers in bed. That, with the amount of wolfwine he had consumed, he didn’t realize it wasn’t me until my scent entered the room, and his wolf halted their action immediately recognizing their error. I moved to a different room, and Liam tried to separate himself from Breanne. Then he learned that Breanne approached me afterward and told me that Liam was aware it was her. After all, why would they confuse their mates? Unfortunately for Breanne, she did it in front of a witness, and they told several others, which led Liam to ask me about it. I confirmed that I knew he was aware that it was Breanne, as she told me so herself, and that I wanted to break the bond if he didn’t send her away as proof of his devotion to the mates' bond. I could see that he didn’t want to, but Liam was also someone who cared too much about image to have the wolfen community know that he lost his true mate over the Beta’s daughter affair scandal. With the third wheel gone, our mate bond had finally stabilized. I had hoped to start trying for a pup on our anniversary after I was announced as the new Luna of the Sterling Moon pack. But now Breanne was back, something of which Liam failed to inform me—especially considering it nearly ended us only a year ago. His lack of consideration over that confused me. Did his wolf also agree with this decision? Surely his wolf would realize better than Liam that this would ultimately bring out the bond to an end. "Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about," I said coolly. "But don't worry. I'll be out of your way soon. Then you two can do whatever you want." I turned away, whistling sharply for my horse. Breanne's face flushed crimson. She grabbed my arm and pressed her fingers deep into the flesh. “What the hell are you implying? What plans could I possibly have?” "You know exactly what I mean. But just a heads-up—mistresses in ranked mate bonds are illegal without Elder consent. And bastard pups tend to be shunned by packs altogether. So think carefully." Breanne's face went scarlet. "You—you're disgusting! How dare you accuse me and Liam of—" The sound of galloping hooves cut her off. Her eyes widened as though she hadn't expected us to be interrupted so soon. I turned to the sound of approaching Hooves, which gave Breanne time to growl her threat before she partially shifted and lunged at me with the intent to maul me where I stood. A chill ran down my spine—only to be overshadowed by the thunderous sound of a horse's disapproving whinny. Next thing I knew, Breanne was whimpering on the ground, crying in sheer agony as a scarred, filthy white stallion trampled her. My breath hitched, my eyes widened in disbelief. I knew this stallion. And then I saw it—the faint brown patch on the stallion's head. My blood turned to ice. No. It can’t be. "Mirage?" My voice cracked. The horse stopped mid-stomp, ears twitching. The sound of my voice stopped the Stallion from continuing its attack on Breanne, who had now reverted to her bruised human state, no longer partially shifted. The Stallion turned and looked at me. "Mirage!" I choked out, rushing forward to grab the reins. "It's really you!" I hadn't summoned my borrowed stallion. I had summoned him. My champion. My partner. My horse that Liam sold from under me, promising he went to a good home. Now, his coat was matted, his skin was patchy with disease, and his body was crisscrossed with whip marks. He was abused. Mirage had once been a regal, snow-white stallion, bought at auction by the Thornes. He had carried me to victory in countless competitions. He wasn't just a horse. He was my family. One of the most precious things I had. It took everything in me to forgive him for going behind my back and forcing me to stop riding by selling Mirage off in the first place, but it helped soothe the pain to know that at least he was being taken care of wherever he was. Liam had promised he'd be cared for. He lied. He looked me in the eye and lied to my face. He gave Mirage to a home that had continuously abused and neglected him. These wounds were a combination of old and recent. This was what Liam considered a good home? Tears burned my eyes as I ran my hands over his ruined coat. My heart was breaking. The abuse Mirage would have been enduring all this time, thinking I abandoned him. "Claire! Breanne!" Liam's voice cut through the air as another set of hooves approached. Chapter 6 The Fall The injuries and now Mirage, I was breaking inside and now outside. Just as my knees gave way, a firm hand caught my arm. "What took you so long out here? Are you all right?" Liam's voice, usually so tender, sounded distant in my ears. Through my tears, I turned to confront him about Mirage's condition, but Breanne's weak whimper cut through the air. "Liam.” She whimpered weakly. “Please, help me,” she pleaded. Liam stiffened as if struck. He released me immediately, like he was catching fire at just the mere touch of me. I staggered from the sudden loss of assistance and contact from my mate, and watched in disbelief as his attention snapped to Breanne's crumpled form on the ground. "Breanne!" His eyes reddened as he gathered her into his arms, cradling her close to her chest, "Oh my Goddess, what happened? How did this—?" I watched as he gently wiped away the tears staining her cheek. His eyes began to mist up. It was as though I were watching a live-action romance. The long-lost lover, dying in her beloved's arms. It would have been touching if it wasn't for the fact that that was my mate, holding another woman so tenderly while I stood five feet from them in significantly more pain. "Claire couldn't handle her horse. When I offered to help her back up, she then turned it around and blamed me! When I tried to explain I wasn’t at fault, she set that wretched beast on me!" Breanne's tears fell like broken pearls. Her voice grew faint as she added dramatically, "Liam, please, I can't feel my legs. What if I never walk again?" Liam's expression darkened as he listened to Breanne’s version of events. He turned to me with a sudden coldness I had never seen before. "Is this true?" He growled in anger, clutching Breanne closer to him protectively. A searing pain tore through my abdomen before I could respond. I cried out at the suddenness of it, and clutched my stomach, gasping through clenched teeth as metallic bile rose in my throat. Liam didn’t even flinch at the sight of my obvious pain before him. "I'm taking Breanne to the hospital," he said coldly. "If you did this, Claire—" He left the threat hanging as he cradled Breanne closer. I have never heard of an Alpha, or any rank member in my school studies or observations, threatening his mates and Luna over just a friend. It was against Wolfen code and ethics, but I suppose that didn’t matter to Liam or the Sterling Moon pack. This was going to become a regular occurrence, I could already sense it. I watched through blurred vision as Breanne gave one last performance. "Liam, I—" Her eyelids fluttered shut with theatrical perfection. "Bree-Bree! Stay with me! Please don’t leave me, baby. I’m here. Don’t you dare leave me!" Liam shouted, already running partially shifted into his wolf to allow himself to cradle her and use his Alpha wolf strength and speed at the same time. Behind him, I collapsed with a thud that echoed across the field. I briefly saw Liam hesitate mid-stride—just for a second. Regardless, he didn’t turn around at the sound of my collapse and shallow, laboured breaths. I watched as they continued to run away with Breanne in their arms, leaving me where I lay. My heart broke, even though I had filed and decided to leave both Liam and this horrible pack; a small part of me still held onto a sliver of hope that Liam would see the path he was taking and how far it was from us. But he didn’t, and that was when everything went dark for me. ***** When I regained consciousness, the sterile glare of surgical lights assaulted my vision. Cold metal instruments clinked nearby as my legs were positioned apart. I tried to speak, but the drugs held me paralyzed. The doctors' voices floated above me like ghosts. I could sense the movements around me, but I was awake, unable to move, feel, or speak. It was a surreal experience, but oddly familiar to my life since I had mated with the Sterling family. Nothing more than an ornament on the wall to all, including my mate. "Such a shame—two months along. Who goes horseback riding when they're pregnant?" "The fall detached the embryo completely. Must have been quite the impact. She is lucky to be alive." "Without a wolf, another hour, and she wouldn’t have been." "That man who brought her in—was that her husband? He was colder than a block of ice, but as Handsome as the Devil himself. Can’t say much about their mateship part, he simply paid the bill and left without a word." "Enough chatter. Let’s finish this up before she hemorrhages." Each medical term floating to my ears—pregnancy, embryo, hemorrhage, dilation and curettage—pierced my drugged haze like silver blades to the heart. The one that stuck out the most was broken. I knew they were talking about my hand, but it was so much deeper than that. I felt broken. I lost my pup. Until recently, I would have loved to have Liam and my first pup. Everything about us seemed happy and together, but now, it seemed symbolic to lose the pups I never knew I had. I was losing a mate I should never have had to fight this hard to keep. Everything was perfect until I saw it was all a smoke screen and not meant to be. Just like this pup. False hope. I struggled against the numbness, but my body refused to obey. Something sharp scraped inside me, painless but violating. The crushing weight of realization dragged me under before I could scream, I was once again enveloped by empty darkness. "Claire ... Claire ..." Time lost all meaning. A distant voice called my name while someone shook my arm. With monumental effort, I forced my eyes open. Once again, the antiseptic glare of hospital lights assaulted my vision—I was in a hospital room.
"""Please, Liam, I just lost our baby. Don't let them take my blood."" My voice was barely a whisper, my body still trembling from the surgery—from the emptiness where our child used to be. But my husband didn't even look at me. His gaze was fixed on the ER doors, where doctors shouted about Breanne's critical blood loss. Breanne Telder. The Beta's daughter. His best friend. The woman he swore was""just like a sister.” The same woman who caused the fall that cost me our pup. ""She's RH-negative and we're out of stock. Find donors—now!"" The surgeon said urgently. ""Take hers."" Liam's arm slid around my waist—not to comfort me, not to hold me—but to push me forward like an offering.""Wolfless born shifters are universal donors. Her blood will save Breanne."" I froze as if struck by lightning, my disbelieving eyes lifting to meet his. Did he and his wolf even realize what they'd done? They didn't have to say the rejection—offering their mate's blood to another woman screamed it loud enough. ""Liam,"" I managed to whisper, ""I just lost our pup—"" ""Spare me the lies. I am done believing you!"" His eyes were cold steel. ""Breanne's life comes first right now."" The words cut deeper than any blade. I straightened, ignoring the spinning in my head, every inch of me trembling but unbroken. ""You've made your choice, Liam. And after today…"" my voice didn't crack this time ""I'll make mine."" The doctor's hand gripped my arm, leading me toward the blood lab. ""I'll donate the blood,"" I didn't fight it. ""But in return, you will agree to end our mate bond.”" ***** Chapter 1 Dropping the Mate I stood at the gate of the Sterling Moon Packhouse, clutching a cake box that had begun to melt in the summer heat. My usually pristine blonde hair was now stuck to my neck and face in damp strands, and my designer dress was now ruined with mud and swamp stains. I hadn't meant to arrive at my third mating anniversary looking like I had been dragged through a hedge backward and then tossed in the swamp lands beyond the pack grounds. But then again, being cornered and ambushed by rogues, conveniently knowing my whereabouts without an escort or protection, wasn't exactly part of my agenda either. A mysterious yet heroic stranger had rescued me and driven me back to the edge of my mate’s pack territory when Liam Sterling, my mate and the pack's Alpha, hadn't answered any of my fifteen frantic calls. I had almost convinced myself he was simply busy orchestrating some grand anniversary surprise. That had to be it. Otherwise, why else would he send me out alone for the cake retrieval and then not bother to answer my calls? I quickened my pace toward the entrance of the packhouse, not wanting to delay the celebration any longer than I already had. I rounded the corner only to stop dead at the sight before me. The entire packhouse had been transformed with floral arches, helium balloons, and an enormous banner. My fingers tightened around the cake box. I had doubts about walking into the grand hall; perhaps I should slip upstairs to change first. Then Liam's familiar voice called out. "There's my beautiful mate! Took you long enough, sweetheart. Everyone's waiting for the cake. Were the directions not clear enough?" He teased, not taking in the dishevelled state of my appearance or the fact that my smile didn’t reach my eyes. He often failed to see me. I looked up to find my mate looking devastatingly handsome in a white Tom Ford suit, his gray waistcoat accentuating those broad shoulders I used to trace my fingers over. He hadn't dressed like this for me in years. I pushed aside the gnawing doubts starting to fill my heart and embraced the fact that he was trying to make things right. This was not the time to voice my disappointments with his lack of attention or concern. We're here to celebrate our mate bond with the pack. This was also the year that he promised to swear me in as the official Luna, to lead by his side. Three years of proving myself capable despite not having a wolf of my own, and now here we were. My lips began curving into a smile despite myself. Maybe the rogues and the ambush, the ruined dress, the ignored calls—perhaps none of it mattered now that I was home. Liam would keep me safe, and we were going to announce that I was stepping into a role that should have been mine when we first mated. "Liam, I was just—" I was about to explain the rogues, the ambush, the mysterious saviour, but was cut off mid-sentence. "Liam! Is that my cake?" A shrill voice interrupted as Breanne Telder materialized behind Liam, looping her arm through his as though it was where she belonged. She was Liam’s father's Beta’s daughter. Otherwise known as the third wheel in our relationship and the pick me girl that Liam always did. She was also not supposed to be here. She was sent away a while ago, and Liam promised to focus solely on us. "You flew me home just for this birthday surprise? Best Alpha bestie ever!" The cake box slipped from my fingers, landing with a sickening splat on the custom marble flooring beneath me. The same flooring I wanted to either swallow me or Breanna up in this moment. Birthday surprise? What the hell did that mean? Those two words echoed in my skull like gunshots. For weeks, I had known Liam was planning something secretive. The custom-ordered flowers were delivered under the cover of darkness. The expensive Eclipse Stone rough he'd purchased at auction. All those whispered phone calls I had pretended not to hear. It all led to this moment, but it wasn’t the moment I had expected. I had woven every scrap of evidence into fantasies of candlelit vows renewed, of Liam dropping to one knee all over again. Even when he hadn't picked up during my attack from rogues, I had made excuses for him. Now Breanne's smug smile shattered those delusions like a hammer through stained glass. "What the hell were you thinking, Claire?" Stephanie Sterling's razor-sharp heels clicked across the flooring as she advanced. "We've been waiting two hours for that cake! You can’t do one single task; no wonder you will never be Luna material for the Sterling Moon pack." Stephanie was Liam's mother. From the moment I mated into the Alpha family, Stephanie had made no secret of her dislike; she was the reason Liam was convinced to hold off and force me to prove myself as Luna material. Over time, that contempt had only grown bolder, more vicious, no longer even pretending to hide it. Failing to see Liam, their Alpha, standing up for me, much of the pack started to support and see the validity in the points that their retired Luna was making. My hands shook. "This was supposed to be our anniversary party." Liam caught my elbow and steered me out of the room for privacy. "Baby, I'd planned a surprise for you, but Breanne asked for a pack-wide birthday celebration when she returned, so—" "So, instead of standing up for your mate, yet again, you conceded and did what they wanted. It’s fine for me to be let down, but not her? Message received, Liam." I wrenched my arm free, the movement sending fresh pain through my bruised ribs from the attack. I doubled over with a gasp. Before Liam could reach for me, Stephanie's voice sliced through the garden again. "Liam! Stop coddling her and get over here. This is why the wolfless should never hold ranks; they're weak and attention grabbers. Forget the cake, we'll just serve the petit fours instead." "Coming." He hesitated, then pressed a kiss to my temple. "We'll talk later." I remained crouched in the foyer of the packhouse as another wave of pain, this one far deeper than physical, crashed over me. Not a single pack member had asked why I looked like I'd been in a car wreck, why I'd been crying. From the other room where everyone gathered, the opening chords of "Happy Birthday" floated toward me. Each syrupy note felt like another papercut to my heart. It hit me suddenly—I hadn't celebrated a birthday since mating into the Alpha family, not once, though my own fell just days apart from Breanne's. And Liam had known this; he made a joke about the coincidence of his two best gals' being birthday buddies, but mine was always overshadowed. He quickly forgot about mine. I wiped my cheeks, giving myself a self-mocking smile. I should have known better than to hope for something more than what I already received. As the sun dipped low, I rose, my shadow stretching lonely behind me. Without a word, I climbed the stairs and clicked the bedroom door shut of the Alpha suite. Under the bathroom's harsh lighting, I peeled off my ruined dress and threw it in the trash. Steam fogged the mirrors as I scrubbed at skin that still felt dirty from the rogue's hands. I stayed under the scalding water until my fingers pruned. Wrapped in an oversized robe, I sat curled on the window seat watching party lights twinkle below until the last guest departed. At 11:00 PM, the bedroom door finally creaked open. I didn't turn when Liam's familiar cologne filled the room. I heard him hang up his jacket, then felt his whiskey-warm hands on my shoulders. "Happy anniversary, my beautiful, stunning mate." His lips brushed my ear. "Guess what I got you?" I shrugged him off. "I honestly don't care." He knelt before me, producing a velvet box with the flourish of a magician. "I had this carved from that Eclipse Stone rough. It is rumoured to help awaken latent wolfen spirits, strengthen auras and bring new beginnings.” Liam fastened the pendant around my neck. The cold stone settled between my chest like a brand. "Stunning." He kissed the hollow of my throat. "I was thinking that it’s been three years since we mated, and you have done so well proving yourself to me and this pack. I want us to now try for a pup. Bring this pack a new heir.” "Yeah, that’s not happening," I rejected the idea instantly. His chuckle was dark velvet. "You won't have to lift a finger, darling. I'll do all the—" "Liam." I met his gaze for the first time that night. “I want to submit an official request to break our mate bond!” Chapter 2 This Time, His Sweet Talk Won't Work My mind was made up before he finally came to our room. This wasn't like my previous impulsive threats in an attempt to get him to see the mistakes he was continuously making in our bond. This time, I was genuinely determined to leave. Three years of mateship flashed through my mind. I had lost count of how many times Liam had prioritized Breanne over my feelings or dismissed me because his mother said so. Who was his mate, and who was just a friend? I could no longer answer that question, and I was tired of trying to defend us. We weren’t bonded. Not the way the typical Alpha and mate were. It was usual for an Alpha never to leave his Luna’s side. She was his number one priority, even though the pack came second. The Alpha's mate was the heart of the pack and respected as an equal, but I was neither of those things. I haven’t been from the start. Breanne, even though she was briefly sent away, was still respected and noticed more than I could even hope for. If someone kept treating you in ways you disliked, it was because you allowed it. I had let it slide every other time. But today, Liam had crossed my final line. This day was our third anniversary. I didn’t care that he forgot my birthday, dinners, or events we planned together. I did, however, care about this milestone moment. A promise he made was long forgotten. This was that tipping point for my patience. “Really, Claire? You are threatening to reject our mate bond again? Don't say that every time you're upset, sweetheart. I was wrong about today. I'll make it up to you tomorrow." My eyes showed no emotion. “Don't bother. Not everything can be made up, and you can only backburner your mate for so long before she grows tired of being at the bottom of the priorities, Liam.” "Of course, this can be fixed. There's always next year. We will have a pup by then, and you will have long forgotten this little hiccup and tantrum." Liam pushed me down onto the sofa, kissing my face tenderly. With my hands pinned above my head, I wasn’t able to push him off. He expected the topic of having pups would appease me and calm my boiling anger. I had had enough of his nonsense and non-committal ways. I stared blankly at the ceiling as tears unexpectedly rolled down my cheeks. I lay like a dead weight. In the past, whenever we would fight or I would throw a tantrum, as Liam would title it, all he would do was use the mate bond against me. His kisses, his touch, his desires would wear me down, and I would accept his hollowed words of apology and his flashy gifts as though they meant something more than pacifying childish behaviour, in his mind. But this time, even though he held me down and I couldn’t resist, I was also not participating or encouraging him to continue. He was so self-absorbed that he couldn’t even realize that I wasn’t a willing participant. I was motionless, soundless, non-responsive. As Liam kept kissing me, his hands touched every part of my bruised body, utterly unaware of the pain he was inflicting both physically and emotionally. I felt his body suddenly freeze at the sound of a whimpered sob that slipped out of me. He looked out with hooded eyes, which quickly sobered and turned serious when he saw the tears in my eyes. His expression was frozen in panic. "Baby, why are you crying?" He quickly turned on the light. "Wait—you seemed off when you came home. Did something happen?" Finally, he remembered, but the damage between us was already done. My heart twisted, wishing that it didn’t take crying while he wanted sex to cover his mistakes for him to notice something was wrong. At the thought of how much distance was between us, more tears fell. Under the light, Liam finally saw the slight swelling on my face, the scratches on my arms and body, and the deep gash on my right leg with dried blood. His pupils contracted. "What happened?" I could sense his wolf stirring under the surface. It was clear that someone had hurt me, but they were only now realizing it. Just as I opened my mouth, his phone rang. I looked at the screen and rolled my eyes. Of course, it was Breanne. Liam sighed and offered a small apologetic smile before he answered in front of me. "Breanne, what's wrong?" "Liam, I think I ate something bad. My stomach hurts so much. Can you take me to the hospital?" Breanne's sugary voice came through. Liam automatically started to agree. I could see his eyes widen with panic at the thought that she was in pain. But right before he responded, he looked at me and my reddened, tear-filled eyes. "It's late. Claire and I are already in bed. Ask Mom if there's any medicine at home." Stephanie's sharp voice interrupted, "Liam, come now! This isn't ordinary pain. It could be appendicitis! She's pale as a ghost!" Liam's brow furrowed. "Fine. I'm coming." My heart sank like a stone. I shook my head in disbelief and turned away, refusing to meet his eyes. Yet again, I was pushed aside. Liam dressed quickly but hesitated at the door. After a long moment, he took my hand. "You're hurt too. Come with me, we'll get you checked at the hospital." That single word, "too", cut like a knife. I laughed dryly. "No need. Go ahead, play hero for another woman. If your mate's pain is less important than staying and understanding what happened, then your friend who has a stomach ache, don’t bother dragging me around like an accessory with false concern. I'd rather be alone." Liam stiffened. He opened his mouth to speak, but the phone kept ringing insistently. Finally, he sighed and pressed his black card into my hand. "Buy whatever you want. Consider it an apology." The door slammed shut. I weighed the card in my palm and smiled bitterly. Liam only ever had two ways to appease me—sex or money. It used to work. I fooled myself into believing it meant he cared, that he wasn’t good with expressing emotions, but I saw it for what it was now. This time, his sweet talk won't work. I walked to the closet and in the back corner, I pulled out my old suitcase. Inside was the most valuable thing I owned. My freedom. It was an official Rejection agreement signed the night before our mating. Back then, Liam had insisted on accepting our mate bond despite his family's objections. Afraid of being trapped in a toxic pack and mating, I had made him sign this; if I ever wanted to break the bond, he had to agree unconditionally. I thought we’d never need it. Liam had probably forgotten it existed. But I hadn't. During one fight, I had even consulted a lawyer who confirmed its validity. I could file for an official rejection of the bond with just this document and 30 days cooling-off period. Since he had already signed it, there was no need for Liam's consent for me to file it now. The Elders within the Council would perform the rejection ceremony within their own chambers. There was no need for either of us to be present. That was typically why Alphas refrained from preemptively signing these types of contracts. It relinquished control without their knowledge. Now was the time. Chapter 3 The Breaking Point I didn't sleep all night; I couldn’t. Instead, I spent those hours cutting up every photograph of us together. There weren’t many, I realized. My phone was filled with pictures of Liam whenever I could sneak photos when he was distracted or busy. He was honestly an Adonis of a man. But three years together, we had exactly twenty-three pictures of us together as a couple, and only thirteen of those were just Liam and me. The remaining ten were with Breanne. I snuck downstairs before anyone else woke up and went into Liam's office. There on the desk was a picture. It was of him and Breanne, hugging and smiling into the camera. They looked happy. Too happy. My inner bitter bitch was vomiting at the sight. On the other side of the desk was a picture of the three of us. That's right, not me and my mate. It was Breanne pressed against Liam's side, smiling up at him, and I was smiling at the camera on the other side. My arm was linked around his, and he was smiling, but for which female in the picture, your guess was as good as mine. I took the picture out of the frame, and bent it so that I was folded to the back. There, now he had two perfect couple pictures of him and Breanne. I will simply bow out of this weird three-way relationship. By dawn, I had already filed the official rejection agreement papers at the Council's registry office. Then I donated all the designer outfits Liam had bought me to charity. Afterward, I drove out of the pack grounds for a few hours to pawn every piece of jewelry he'd ever given me at the local broker's. I didn’t want it getting back to Liam, or the pack gossip mill to run rampant with their own speculations. Not yet anyway. It was a surprisingly large chunk of money in return, one thing I knew for sure about Liam. When he was grovelling for his indifferences and mistakes, he never cheaped out on the apology jewelry. The broker didn’t have the full amount on hand, so I opted to have it wired, which worked fine for me. I opened a new bank account and provided them with the necessary information. I returned to the packhouse early that afternoon. I had requested that the gardener cut down the Cherry Blossom tree in the pack’s courtyard. He was ordered to burn every branch and leaf until only ashes remained. When I agreed to mate with Liam, I had my reservations because his family didn’t support their Alpha heir accepting the bond to a wolfless orphan with average financial standings. Liam planted the tree as a token of his pledge of devotion to us and our bond. I fell for it, thinking it would make us stronger. But I was wrong. By late afternoon, I had either sold, donated or destroyed every token of Liam and his devotion to me and our bond: everything but the Eclipse stone pendant. Some legends state that the Moon Goddess herself blessed the eclipse stone to strengthen the will of the wolfless. Call me a fool, but it still served as a sliver of proof that at some point, he did care enough to seek out the stone for me. Now that everything was removed, it was time for me to step out and prepare everything for my new life after this month-long cooldown period ended, and I was no longer the unwanted mate of Alpha Liam Sterling. I knew I had to be smart and figure out my path now, as I had no family to turn to once the rejection was completed. When I was seven, my father had disappeared after a mountain climbing accident. It was speculated that rogues were involved, as they were heavy in the area at the time. My mother re-mated not long afterwards, and we became part of the Thorne family. They were the overlords, if you will, of the Crown of Thornes Pack, rivals of The Sterling Moon pack and next door neighbours to the territory. My mother left the Thorne family after accusations and rumours of her infidelity and gambling debts. I didn’t believe it, but it seemed that everyone else did. I had no idea where she even went. She certainly didn’t seek me out after she left that night, abandoning me. The only person who would even be considered family at this point was Lucien Thorne. He was my former stepbrother from my mother's second mating. However, Lucien was notorious for his short temper, and he constantly mistreated me while we lived under the same roof, so I would sooner wind up homeless than seek his help. The heat of Liam’s black card was burning a hole in my pocket, serving as a reminder of his literal words: “Buy whatever you want and consider it as an apology.” Okay! I will. I went to the bank and after the teller spoke with the branch manager to confirm my approval of using the Alpha’s account for a withdrawal, yup, that's right, I held no status, so I wasn’t even recognized with authority over our marital account; I withdrew one million dollars from his account. It was insulting and frustrating to know that Breanne can walk in here and not have as many hoops to jump through to get at my mate’s money. But that’s fine. I have already started to let go of my hold on him emotionally. My head has already done so. As I waited for the teller to return with the funds, my phone rang. Liyah Cruz. She was my closest friend before I accepted the bond with Liam. Liam didn’t like her influence on me, as he put it, so over the years, our friendship became strained. For her to be reaching out and calling me now, it had to be important. "Liyah? What's wrong?" I answered right away. "Oh, thank the Goddess. Claire, the International Equestrian Championships start in a month, but I just got injured during training." Liyah's voice was thick with disappointment. "Claire, you were the most talented rider we knew. I could think of no one else to take over. Could you compete in my place?" The memories came flooding back. Had I not mated with Liam, I might have become as renowned as Liyah in equestrian circles. But Liam had disapproved of me riding; he often called it unladylike. He'd gone as far as going behind my back and selling my beloved white stallion, Mirage, to a good owner, cutting off my last connection to the sport. The silence stretched until Liyah sighed. "I forgot your mate doesn't allow—" "I'll do it," I interrupted. "One month. I'll be ready." Liyah's excited squeal pierced through the receiver. "Really? Oh my Goddess! Everyone always said you shouldn't have given up your talent for mating! You're finally coming back to us!" My hand trembled around the phone. Yes, before mating into the Sterling Moon pack and Alpha family, I had shone so brightly. Before Liam, I used to be many things. I was the university's star student—straight A's in every subject. A gifted painter, champion rider, runway model, master chef, and award-winning debater—there was nothing I couldn't excel at. But three years of mating had eroded it all. I hadn't touched a paintbrush in years. I have forgotten how to walk a runway, and even lost my sharp tongue in arguments—forced to submit to even my mate's family and house staff. Only my cooking skills remained polished because I have cooked for Liam every single day since the beginning of our bond acceptance. Only now did I realize how much of myself I had sacrificed. But it wasn't too late. I could still start over. This was that chance to start taking my life by the reins, so to speak, and returning to the Claire that used to walk proudly with her chin held high. Chapter 4 Meeting on Horseback I met Liyah at the stables we once rode at together. “Thank you, Claire-bear. I can’t believe you are actually here.” Liyah launched herself on top of me, despite her knee brace. I thought I understood what I gave up to be with Liam, my mate, but I didn’t understand a fraction of it. This crazy woman, who used to be my world, wrapped around me. How did I let him separate us? “It’s me who should thank you, Lee-Lee. I’ve missed you. I’m sorry. No more boys between us, I promise.” I sobbed. Liyah looked up, and I saw the understanding in her eyes. We both wiped our faces and laughed at our equally blotchy faces. “Okay, later, we'll discuss everything!” She looked at me with as much conviction as her tiny body could muster. I nodded and smiled. “But now, let me introduce you to Diva, my stallion. Just a warning, he lives up to the name periodically. I think it’s an adorable quirk for him and refuse to break it out of him. You’ll love him!” Liyah leads us to the stables, where we meet the horse. Liyah was right. We matched instantly. It isn’t easy for a shifter to bond with a stallion, but I never had those worries. I was always able to click with any animal, to the point where Liyah's brother spent a year calling me freaking snow white! I hated it, but he wasn’t wrong. I galloped across the equestrian field at dawn, the stallion I rode was kicking up dew as it raced toward the rising sun. Then I saw them. Liam and Breanne shared a white mare, ambling toward my direction. Breanne was dressed in her pristine white riding jodhpurs with the matching show coat, leaned back against Liam's chest. Liam's attire was the stark contrast of black on black. I watched him bend his head low, whispering something in Breanne’s ear, causing a fit of giggles from her. I had waited for him to return all night. When I had reached out and called him to ask if he would be returning that night, I was told, by him, that since Breanna needed an emergency appendectomy, he would not leave her side until she recovered. That was when I cut up our photos, burning them to ashes. As I watch them now, a question came to my mind, causing my brow to arch. When did appendectomy patients start riding horses the next day? My grip tightened on the reins just as Breanne spotted me. “Oh! Liam, how spooky. Doesn’t that woman look just like Claire!”At her teasing words, I watched as Liam's head snapped up. There, I sat astride my stallion, the tailored navy riding jacket accentuating my hourglass figure, my gaze glacial. I knew he felt it. Dismounting, Liam approached until he could only see the sharp angle of my jaw. "Sweetheart, since when do you ride? I thought you quit that. You should've told me you were coming." The memory of his and Breanne’s intimate pose churned my stomach. I pressed a hand to my mouth to keep from being sick at the thought before answering flatly. "Would you have answered if I called?" This acidic tone only emerged when I was furious. Liam's smile turned placating. "My fault—left my phone in the car. It turned out to be a false alarm about Breanne's appendix. Since she's competing in the International Equestrian Championships next month, I was only helping her practice." Breanne urged her mare forward, pouting. "Liam, why must we explain everything to her? Come back, we have more important things to focus on. You haven't finished teaching me." "An International Championship contender needs amateur instruction? How curious. I wonder if anyone else here is getting that kind of coaching? But, Liam, if she requires coaching, I'll do it." As Liam turned, my voice froze him. Liam’s expression initially fell flat at my words, but he quickly brightened at my offer. "Exactly! Breanne, Claire won that championship years ago." 'How touching that he finally remembered I have value,' I thought bitterly. Breanne bit her lip. "But—" After years together, I knew Breanne’s games. She wasn’t as nervous on a horse as she portrayed. It was all an act for Liam. "No buts." I raised my riding crop. "Let's ride." The crop came down on Breanne's mare, which bolted forward with a whinny as Breanne shrieked. Liam paled. "Claire! She wasn't ready—" "Real trainers surprise their students." My amber eyes glinted. “Your coddling would've kept her mediocre forever.” Dust sprayed Liam's face as I galloped after Breanne, leaving him standing there, cheeks burning as if slapped. Good. This was just the beginning of my resistance. Breanne and I raced across the field. Though I was starting late, my black stallion, Diva, was not one to be outshone, and we soon overtook Breanne's white mare. For three years, Breanne had only seen the docile, obedient Claire. This commanding version, I’m sure, was unnerving. I could hear her growling, which, to be honest, was only slowing her own horse down. Her mare would not be able to focus on a race, with its rider losing its hold over herself. It was bound to spook her mare soon, and if she weren’t careful, she would get bucked. But as the saying goes, not my circus, not my monkeys. Diva and I were focused on ourselves. I could sense Breanne's determination to beat me. But, no matter how she pushed her champion mare, I remained ahead. As Diva and I passed her again, I caught a flash of movement from Breanne out of the corner of my eye. She pulled a hairpin out of her pocket and hurled it at Diva. That hairpin had been a gift from her friend at her birthday party, and she had been keeping it close to her chest just now. It was made of silver, and the sharp end drove hard into Diva's rump. Diva was instantly startled. Despite my expert handling and calming charm, which I have often used in the past to soothe a panicked horse, Diva threw me. I felt the gnash from the rock sticking out from the ground, which I hit my head on. The impact sending black spots across my vision—and a cry in absolute agony. My abdominal area pinched and screamed with a sharp and sudden pain like nothing I have ever felt before. There was blood on my hand when I touched it. I needed to get up. I needed to get back and get medical help because I knew Breanne wasn’t going to get me any. As I tried to push myself up off the ground with one hand, while the other was wrapped tightly around my stomach, still crying in sheer pain, a polished boot came forcefully down, cracking the bones in my hand. "Ah—!" The pain forced a gasp through clenched teeth. Chapter 5 The Two-Faced Woman "Claire, weren't you so impressive on horseback just now? How did you end up on the ground so fast?" Breanne crouched down, blinking her wide, innocent-looking eyes as she taunted me, pressing her boot harder against my hand, breaking the bones. She knew I was wolfless, and the pain she was causing; this was why she was doing it. To send me a message. I was hoping someone would come and find us, but the odds of this far from the training grounds were unlikely. "Oh my, I'm so sorry!" Breanne feigned surprise, finally lifting her foot with exaggerated remorse. "I didn't even see your hand there. How careless of me." “It’s to be expected with those massive feet of yours. What is that a size ten in men's?” I watched her eyes flash in anger briefly before she reined it back in. I yanked my hand back, and when Breanne reached out to help me up. I would always refuse her help; it was always a ploy for something worse. When she tried again, I recoiled, pushing myself up to my feet with gritted teeth. "Claire, that must've hurt. With riding skills like yours, how could you possibly think you were qualified to teach me?" Breanne smirked. "Only a fool would believe such a pitiful act, Breanne.” I glared, refusing to back down. "Oh, please. Can't accept that you're just not as good as I am? No wonder Liam doesn't like you much—you're such a sore loser." Breanne let out a mocking laugh. Breanne wasn’t hiding her petty, vindictive behaviour. She wanted me to know her intentions of returning and that she hadn't forgiven me for having her exiled. The reason Breanne was sent away a year ago was that I had walked in on her and Liam in the throes of passion. They were both half-naked and stuck to each other. Liam seemed to snap out of his daze the moment I entered the room and yanked Breanne off him. The thud of her head to the edge of the dresser brought out her wolf, and warriors nearby who heard the yelling managed to catch Breanne just in time before she could attack me. Liam sobered up instantly and demanded answers. Breanne played the confused card. That, like Liam, she had drunk a little too much at the pack celebration. She must have gotten confused about which floor she was on and passed out in mine and his bedroom, thinking it was hers. After all, his scent calms her, so she made sure to add that part—one extra little jab between Liam and me. Liam swore up and down that he was confused and thought it was me under the covers in bed. That, with the amount of wolfwine he had consumed, he didn’t realize it wasn’t me until my scent entered the room, and his wolf halted their action immediately recognizing their error. I moved to a different room, and Liam tried to separate himself from Breanne. Then he learned that Breanne approached me afterward and told me that Liam was aware it was her. After all, why would they confuse their mates? Unfortunately for Breanne, she did it in front of a witness, and they told several others, which led Liam to ask me about it. I confirmed that I knew he was aware that it was Breanne, as she told me so herself, and that I wanted to break the bond if he didn’t send her away as proof of his devotion to the mates' bond. I could see that he didn’t want to, but Liam was also someone who cared too much about image to have the wolfen community know that he lost his true mate over the Beta’s daughter affair scandal. With the third wheel gone, our mate bond had finally stabilized. I had hoped to start trying for a pup on our anniversary after I was announced as the new Luna of the Sterling Moon pack. But now Breanne was back, something of which Liam failed to inform me—especially considering it nearly ended us only a year ago. His lack of consideration over that confused me. Did his wolf also agree with this decision? Surely his wolf would realize better than Liam that this would ultimately bring out the bond to an end. "Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about," I said coolly. "But don't worry. I'll be out of your way soon. Then you two can do whatever you want." I turned away, whistling sharply for my horse. Breanne's face flushed crimson. She grabbed my arm and pressed her fingers deep into the flesh. “What the hell are you implying? What plans could I possibly have?” "You know exactly what I mean. But just a heads-up—mistresses in ranked mate bonds are illegal without Elder consent. And bastard pups tend to be shunned by packs altogether. So think carefully." Breanne's face went scarlet. "You—you're disgusting! How dare you accuse me and Liam of—" The sound of galloping hooves cut her off. Her eyes widened as though she hadn't expected us to be interrupted so soon. I turned to the sound of approaching Hooves, which gave Breanne time to growl her threat before she partially shifted and lunged at me with the intent to maul me where I stood. A chill ran down my spine—only to be overshadowed by the thunderous sound of a horse's disapproving whinny. Next thing I knew, Breanne was whimpering on the ground, crying in sheer agony as a scarred, filthy white stallion trampled her. My breath hitched, my eyes widened in disbelief. I knew this stallion. And then I saw it—the faint brown patch on the stallion's head. My blood turned to ice. No. It can’t be. "Mirage?" My voice cracked. The horse stopped mid-stomp, ears twitching. The sound of my voice stopped the Stallion from continuing its attack on Breanne, who had now reverted to her bruised human state, no longer partially shifted. The Stallion turned and looked at me. "Mirage!" I choked out, rushing forward to grab the reins. "It's really you!" I hadn't summoned my borrowed stallion. I had summoned him. My champion. My partner. My horse that Liam sold from under me, promising he went to a good home. Now, his coat was matted, his skin was patchy with disease, and his body was crisscrossed with whip marks. He was abused. Mirage had once been a regal, snow-white stallion, bought at auction by the Thornes. He had carried me to victory in countless competitions. He wasn't just a horse. He was my family. One of the most precious things I had. It took everything in me to forgive him for going behind my back and forcing me to stop riding by selling Mirage off in the first place, but it helped soothe the pain to know that at least he was being taken care of wherever he was. Liam had promised he'd be cared for. He lied. He looked me in the eye and lied to my face. He gave Mirage to a home that had continuously abused and neglected him. These wounds were a combination of old and recent. This was what Liam considered a good home? Tears burned my eyes as I ran my hands over his ruined coat. My heart was breaking. The abuse Mirage would have been enduring all this time, thinking I abandoned him. "Claire! Breanne!" Liam's voice cut through the air as another set of hooves approached. Chapter 6 The Fall The injuries and now Mirage, I was breaking inside and now outside. Just as my knees gave way, a firm hand caught my arm. "What took you so long out here? Are you all right?" Liam's voice, usually so tender, sounded distant in my ears. Through my tears, I turned to confront him about Mirage's condition, but Breanne's weak whimper cut through the air. "Liam.” She whimpered weakly. “Please, help me,” she pleaded. Liam stiffened as if struck. He released me immediately, like he was catching fire at just the mere touch of me. I staggered from the sudden loss of assistance and contact from my mate, and watched in disbelief as his attention snapped to Breanne's crumpled form on the ground. "Breanne!" His eyes reddened as he gathered her into his arms, cradling her close to her chest, "Oh my Goddess, what happened? How did this—?" I watched as he gently wiped away the tears staining her cheek. His eyes began to mist up. It was as though I were watching a live-action romance. The long-lost lover, dying in her beloved's arms. It would have been touching if it wasn't for the fact that that was my mate, holding another woman so tenderly while I stood five feet from them in significantly more pain. "Claire couldn't handle her horse. When I offered to help her back up, she then turned it around and blamed me! When I tried to explain I wasn’t at fault, she set that wretched beast on me!" Breanne's tears fell like broken pearls. Her voice grew faint as she added dramatically, "Liam, please, I can't feel my legs. What if I never walk again?" Liam's expression darkened as he listened to Breanne’s version of events. He turned to me with a sudden coldness I had never seen before. "Is this true?" He growled in anger, clutching Breanne closer to him protectively. A searing pain tore through my abdomen before I could respond. I cried out at the suddenness of it, and clutched my stomach, gasping through clenched teeth as metallic bile rose in my throat. Liam didn’t even flinch at the sight of my obvious pain before him. "I'm taking Breanne to the hospital," he said coldly. "If you did this, Claire—" He left the threat hanging as he cradled Breanne closer. I have never heard of an Alpha, or any rank member in my school studies or observations, threatening his mates and Luna over just a friend. It was against Wolfen code and ethics, but I suppose that didn’t matter to Liam or the Sterling Moon pack. This was going to become a regular occurrence, I could already sense it. I watched through blurred vision as Breanne gave one last performance. "Liam, I—" Her eyelids fluttered shut with theatrical perfection. "Bree-Bree! Stay with me! Please don’t leave me, baby. I’m here. Don’t you dare leave me!" Liam shouted, already running partially shifted into his wolf to allow himself to cradle her and use his Alpha wolf strength and speed at the same time. Behind him, I collapsed with a thud that echoed across the field. I briefly saw Liam hesitate mid-stride—just for a second. Regardless, he didn’t turn around at the sound of my collapse and shallow, laboured breaths. I watched as they continued to run away with Breanne in their arms, leaving me where I lay. My heart broke, even though I had filed and decided to leave both Liam and this horrible pack; a small part of me still held onto a sliver of hope that Liam would see the path he was taking and how far it was from us. But he didn’t, and that was when everything went dark for me. ***** When I regained consciousness, the sterile glare of surgical lights assaulted my vision. Cold metal instruments clinked nearby as my legs were positioned apart. I tried to speak, but the drugs held me paralyzed. The doctors' voices floated above me like ghosts. I could sense the movements around me, but I was awake, unable to move, feel, or speak. It was a surreal experience, but oddly familiar to my life since I had mated with the Sterling family. Nothing more than an ornament on the wall to all, including my mate. "Such a shame—two months along. Who goes horseback riding when they're pregnant?" "The fall detached the embryo completely. Must have been quite the impact. She is lucky to be alive." "Without a wolf, another hour, and she wouldn’t have been." "That man who brought her in—was that her husband? He was colder than a block of ice, but as Handsome as the Devil himself. Can’t say much about their mateship part, he simply paid the bill and left without a word." "Enough chatter. Let’s finish this up before she hemorrhages." Each medical term floating to my ears—pregnancy, embryo, hemorrhage, dilation and curettage—pierced my drugged haze like silver blades to the heart. The one that stuck out the most was broken. I knew they were talking about my hand, but it was so much deeper than that. I felt broken. I lost my pup. Until recently, I would have loved to have Liam and my first pup. Everything about us seemed happy and together, but now, it seemed symbolic to lose the pups I never knew I had. I was losing a mate I should never have had to fight this hard to keep. Everything was perfect until I saw it was all a smoke screen and not meant to be. Just like this pup. False hope. I struggled against the numbness, but my body refused to obey. Something sharp scraped inside me, painless but violating. The crushing weight of realization dragged me under before I could scream, I was once again enveloped by empty darkness. "Claire ... Claire ..." Time lost all meaning. A distant voice called my name while someone shook my arm. With monumental effort, I forced my eyes open. Once again, the antiseptic glare of hospital lights assaulted my vision—I was in a hospital room.
"""Please, Liam, I just lost our baby. Don't let them take my blood."" My voice was barely a whisper, my body still trembling from the surgery—from the emptiness where our child used to be. But my husband didn't even look at me. His gaze was fixed on the ER doors, where doctors shouted about Breanne's critical blood loss. Breanne Telder. The Beta's daughter. His best friend. The woman he swore was""just like a sister.” The same woman who caused the fall that cost me our pup. ""She's RH-negative and we're out of stock. Find donors—now!"" The surgeon said urgently. ""Take hers."" Liam's arm slid around my waist—not to comfort me, not to hold me—but to push me forward like an offering.""Wolfless born shifters are universal donors. Her blood will save Breanne."" I froze as if struck by lightning, my disbelieving eyes lifting to meet his. Did he and his wolf even realize what they'd done? They didn't have to say the rejection—offering their mate's blood to another woman screamed it loud enough. ""Liam,"" I managed to whisper, ""I just lost our pup—"" ""Spare me the lies. I am done believing you!"" His eyes were cold steel. ""Breanne's life comes first right now."" The words cut deeper than any blade. I straightened, ignoring the spinning in my head, every inch of me trembling but unbroken. ""You've made your choice, Liam. And after today…"" my voice didn't crack this time ""I'll make mine."" The doctor's hand gripped my arm, leading me toward the blood lab. ""I'll donate the blood,"" I didn't fight it. ""But in return, you will agree to end our mate bond.”" ***** Chapter 1 Dropping the Mate I stood at the gate of the Sterling Moon Packhouse, clutching a cake box that had begun to melt in the summer heat. My usually pristine blonde hair was now stuck to my neck and face in damp strands, and my designer dress was now ruined with mud and swamp stains. I hadn't meant to arrive at my third mating anniversary looking like I had been dragged through a hedge backward and then tossed in the swamp lands beyond the pack grounds. But then again, being cornered and ambushed by rogues, conveniently knowing my whereabouts without an escort or protection, wasn't exactly part of my agenda either. A mysterious yet heroic stranger had rescued me and driven me back to the edge of my mate’s pack territory when Liam Sterling, my mate and the pack's Alpha, hadn't answered any of my fifteen frantic calls. I had almost convinced myself he was simply busy orchestrating some grand anniversary surprise. That had to be it. Otherwise, why else would he send me out alone for the cake retrieval and then not bother to answer my calls? I quickened my pace toward the entrance of the packhouse, not wanting to delay the celebration any longer than I already had. I rounded the corner only to stop dead at the sight before me. The entire packhouse had been transformed with floral arches, helium balloons, and an enormous banner. My fingers tightened around the cake box. I had doubts about walking into the grand hall; perhaps I should slip upstairs to change first. Then Liam's familiar voice called out. "There's my beautiful mate! Took you long enough, sweetheart. Everyone's waiting for the cake. Were the directions not clear enough?" He teased, not taking in the dishevelled state of my appearance or the fact that my smile didn’t reach my eyes. He often failed to see me. I looked up to find my mate looking devastatingly handsome in a white Tom Ford suit, his gray waistcoat accentuating those broad shoulders I used to trace my fingers over. He hadn't dressed like this for me in years. I pushed aside the gnawing doubts starting to fill my heart and embraced the fact that he was trying to make things right. This was not the time to voice my disappointments with his lack of attention or concern. We're here to celebrate our mate bond with the pack. This was also the year that he promised to swear me in as the official Luna, to lead by his side. Three years of proving myself capable despite not having a wolf of my own, and now here we were. My lips began curving into a smile despite myself. Maybe the rogues and the ambush, the ruined dress, the ignored calls—perhaps none of it mattered now that I was home. Liam would keep me safe, and we were going to announce that I was stepping into a role that should have been mine when we first mated. "Liam, I was just—" I was about to explain the rogues, the ambush, the mysterious saviour, but was cut off mid-sentence. "Liam! Is that my cake?" A shrill voice interrupted as Breanne Telder materialized behind Liam, looping her arm through his as though it was where she belonged. She was Liam’s father's Beta’s daughter. Otherwise known as the third wheel in our relationship and the pick me girl that Liam always did. She was also not supposed to be here. She was sent away a while ago, and Liam promised to focus solely on us. "You flew me home just for this birthday surprise? Best Alpha bestie ever!" The cake box slipped from my fingers, landing with a sickening splat on the custom marble flooring beneath me. The same flooring I wanted to either swallow me or Breanna up in this moment. Birthday surprise? What the hell did that mean? Those two words echoed in my skull like gunshots. For weeks, I had known Liam was planning something secretive. The custom-ordered flowers were delivered under the cover of darkness. The expensive Eclipse Stone rough he'd purchased at auction. All those whispered phone calls I had pretended not to hear. It all led to this moment, but it wasn’t the moment I had expected. I had woven every scrap of evidence into fantasies of candlelit vows renewed, of Liam dropping to one knee all over again. Even when he hadn't picked up during my attack from rogues, I had made excuses for him. Now Breanne's smug smile shattered those delusions like a hammer through stained glass. "What the hell were you thinking, Claire?" Stephanie Sterling's razor-sharp heels clicked across the flooring as she advanced. "We've been waiting two hours for that cake! You can’t do one single task; no wonder you will never be Luna material for the Sterling Moon pack." Stephanie was Liam's mother. From the moment I mated into the Alpha family, Stephanie had made no secret of her dislike; she was the reason Liam was convinced to hold off and force me to prove myself as Luna material. Over time, that contempt had only grown bolder, more vicious, no longer even pretending to hide it. Failing to see Liam, their Alpha, standing up for me, much of the pack started to support and see the validity in the points that their retired Luna was making. My hands shook. "This was supposed to be our anniversary party." Liam caught my elbow and steered me out of the room for privacy. "Baby, I'd planned a surprise for you, but Breanne asked for a pack-wide birthday celebration when she returned, so—" "So, instead of standing up for your mate, yet again, you conceded and did what they wanted. It’s fine for me to be let down, but not her? Message received, Liam." I wrenched my arm free, the movement sending fresh pain through my bruised ribs from the attack. I doubled over with a gasp. Before Liam could reach for me, Stephanie's voice sliced through the garden again. "Liam! Stop coddling her and get over here. This is why the wolfless should never hold ranks; they're weak and attention grabbers. Forget the cake, we'll just serve the petit fours instead." "Coming." He hesitated, then pressed a kiss to my temple. "We'll talk later." I remained crouched in the foyer of the packhouse as another wave of pain, this one far deeper than physical, crashed over me. Not a single pack member had asked why I looked like I'd been in a car wreck, why I'd been crying. From the other room where everyone gathered, the opening chords of "Happy Birthday" floated toward me. Each syrupy note felt like another papercut to my heart. It hit me suddenly—I hadn't celebrated a birthday since mating into the Alpha family, not once, though my own fell just days apart from Breanne's. And Liam had known this; he made a joke about the coincidence of his two best gals' being birthday buddies, but mine was always overshadowed. He quickly forgot about mine. I wiped my cheeks, giving myself a self-mocking smile. I should have known better than to hope for something more than what I already received. As the sun dipped low, I rose, my shadow stretching lonely behind me. Without a word, I climbed the stairs and clicked the bedroom door shut of the Alpha suite. Under the bathroom's harsh lighting, I peeled off my ruined dress and threw it in the trash. Steam fogged the mirrors as I scrubbed at skin that still felt dirty from the rogue's hands. I stayed under the scalding water until my fingers pruned. Wrapped in an oversized robe, I sat curled on the window seat watching party lights twinkle below until the last guest departed. At 11:00 PM, the bedroom door finally creaked open. I didn't turn when Liam's familiar cologne filled the room. I heard him hang up his jacket, then felt his whiskey-warm hands on my shoulders. "Happy anniversary, my beautiful, stunning mate." His lips brushed my ear. "Guess what I got you?" I shrugged him off. "I honestly don't care." He knelt before me, producing a velvet box with the flourish of a magician. "I had this carved from that Eclipse Stone rough. It is rumoured to help awaken latent wolfen spirits, strengthen auras and bring new beginnings.” Liam fastened the pendant around my neck. The cold stone settled between my chest like a brand. "Stunning." He kissed the hollow of my throat. "I was thinking that it’s been three years since we mated, and you have done so well proving yourself to me and this pack. I want us to now try for a pup. Bring this pack a new heir.” "Yeah, that’s not happening," I rejected the idea instantly. His chuckle was dark velvet. "You won't have to lift a finger, darling. I'll do all the—" "Liam." I met his gaze for the first time that night. “I want to submit an official request to break our mate bond!” Chapter 2 This Time, His Sweet Talk Won't Work My mind was made up before he finally came to our room. This wasn't like my previous impulsive threats in an attempt to get him to see the mistakes he was continuously making in our bond. This time, I was genuinely determined to leave. Three years of mateship flashed through my mind. I had lost count of how many times Liam had prioritized Breanne over my feelings or dismissed me because his mother said so. Who was his mate, and who was just a friend? I could no longer answer that question, and I was tired of trying to defend us. We weren’t bonded. Not the way the typical Alpha and mate were. It was usual for an Alpha never to leave his Luna’s side. She was his number one priority, even though the pack came second. The Alpha's mate was the heart of the pack and respected as an equal, but I was neither of those things. I haven’t been from the start. Breanne, even though she was briefly sent away, was still respected and noticed more than I could even hope for. If someone kept treating you in ways you disliked, it was because you allowed it. I had let it slide every other time. But today, Liam had crossed my final line. This day was our third anniversary. I didn’t care that he forgot my birthday, dinners, or events we planned together. I did, however, care about this milestone moment. A promise he made was long forgotten. This was that tipping point for my patience. “Really, Claire? You are threatening to reject our mate bond again? Don't say that every time you're upset, sweetheart. I was wrong about today. I'll make it up to you tomorrow." My eyes showed no emotion. “Don't bother. Not everything can be made up, and you can only backburner your mate for so long before she grows tired of being at the bottom of the priorities, Liam.” "Of course, this can be fixed. There's always next year. We will have a pup by then, and you will have long forgotten this little hiccup and tantrum." Liam pushed me down onto the sofa, kissing my face tenderly. With my hands pinned above my head, I wasn’t able to push him off. He expected the topic of having pups would appease me and calm my boiling anger. I had had enough of his nonsense and non-committal ways. I stared blankly at the ceiling as tears unexpectedly rolled down my cheeks. I lay like a dead weight. In the past, whenever we would fight or I would throw a tantrum, as Liam would title it, all he would do was use the mate bond against me. His kisses, his touch, his desires would wear me down, and I would accept his hollowed words of apology and his flashy gifts as though they meant something more than pacifying childish behaviour, in his mind. But this time, even though he held me down and I couldn’t resist, I was also not participating or encouraging him to continue. He was so self-absorbed that he couldn’t even realize that I wasn’t a willing participant. I was motionless, soundless, non-responsive. As Liam kept kissing me, his hands touched every part of my bruised body, utterly unaware of the pain he was inflicting both physically and emotionally. I felt his body suddenly freeze at the sound of a whimpered sob that slipped out of me. He looked out with hooded eyes, which quickly sobered and turned serious when he saw the tears in my eyes. His expression was frozen in panic. "Baby, why are you crying?" He quickly turned on the light. "Wait—you seemed off when you came home. Did something happen?" Finally, he remembered, but the damage between us was already done. My heart twisted, wishing that it didn’t take crying while he wanted sex to cover his mistakes for him to notice something was wrong. At the thought of how much distance was between us, more tears fell. Under the light, Liam finally saw the slight swelling on my face, the scratches on my arms and body, and the deep gash on my right leg with dried blood. His pupils contracted. "What happened?" I could sense his wolf stirring under the surface. It was clear that someone had hurt me, but they were only now realizing it. Just as I opened my mouth, his phone rang. I looked at the screen and rolled my eyes. Of course, it was Breanne. Liam sighed and offered a small apologetic smile before he answered in front of me. "Breanne, what's wrong?" "Liam, I think I ate something bad. My stomach hurts so much. Can you take me to the hospital?" Breanne's sugary voice came through. Liam automatically started to agree. I could see his eyes widen with panic at the thought that she was in pain. But right before he responded, he looked at me and my reddened, tear-filled eyes. "It's late. Claire and I are already in bed. Ask Mom if there's any medicine at home." Stephanie's sharp voice interrupted, "Liam, come now! This isn't ordinary pain. It could be appendicitis! She's pale as a ghost!" Liam's brow furrowed. "Fine. I'm coming." My heart sank like a stone. I shook my head in disbelief and turned away, refusing to meet his eyes. Yet again, I was pushed aside. Liam dressed quickly but hesitated at the door. After a long moment, he took my hand. "You're hurt too. Come with me, we'll get you checked at the hospital." That single word, "too", cut like a knife. I laughed dryly. "No need. Go ahead, play hero for another woman. If your mate's pain is less important than staying and understanding what happened, then your friend who has a stomach ache, don’t bother dragging me around like an accessory with false concern. I'd rather be alone." Liam stiffened. He opened his mouth to speak, but the phone kept ringing insistently. Finally, he sighed and pressed his black card into my hand. "Buy whatever you want. Consider it an apology." The door slammed shut. I weighed the card in my palm and smiled bitterly. Liam only ever had two ways to appease me—sex or money. It used to work. I fooled myself into believing it meant he cared, that he wasn’t good with expressing emotions, but I saw it for what it was now. This time, his sweet talk won't work. I walked to the closet and in the back corner, I pulled out my old suitcase. Inside was the most valuable thing I owned. My freedom. It was an official Rejection agreement signed the night before our mating. Back then, Liam had insisted on accepting our mate bond despite his family's objections. Afraid of being trapped in a toxic pack and mating, I had made him sign this; if I ever wanted to break the bond, he had to agree unconditionally. I thought we’d never need it. Liam had probably forgotten it existed. But I hadn't. During one fight, I had even consulted a lawyer who confirmed its validity. I could file for an official rejection of the bond with just this document and 30 days cooling-off period. Since he had already signed it, there was no need for Liam's consent for me to file it now. The Elders within the Council would perform the rejection ceremony within their own chambers. There was no need for either of us to be present. That was typically why Alphas refrained from preemptively signing these types of contracts. It relinquished control without their knowledge. Now was the time. Chapter 3 The Breaking Point I didn't sleep all night; I couldn’t. Instead, I spent those hours cutting up every photograph of us together. There weren’t many, I realized. My phone was filled with pictures of Liam whenever I could sneak photos when he was distracted or busy. He was honestly an Adonis of a man. But three years together, we had exactly twenty-three pictures of us together as a couple, and only thirteen of those were just Liam and me. The remaining ten were with Breanne. I snuck downstairs before anyone else woke up and went into Liam's office. There on the desk was a picture. It was of him and Breanne, hugging and smiling into the camera. They looked happy. Too happy. My inner bitter bitch was vomiting at the sight. On the other side of the desk was a picture of the three of us. That's right, not me and my mate. It was Breanne pressed against Liam's side, smiling up at him, and I was smiling at the camera on the other side. My arm was linked around his, and he was smiling, but for which female in the picture, your guess was as good as mine. I took the picture out of the frame, and bent it so that I was folded to the back. There, now he had two perfect couple pictures of him and Breanne. I will simply bow out of this weird three-way relationship. By dawn, I had already filed the official rejection agreement papers at the Council's registry office. Then I donated all the designer outfits Liam had bought me to charity. Afterward, I drove out of the pack grounds for a few hours to pawn every piece of jewelry he'd ever given me at the local broker's. I didn’t want it getting back to Liam, or the pack gossip mill to run rampant with their own speculations. Not yet anyway. It was a surprisingly large chunk of money in return, one thing I knew for sure about Liam. When he was grovelling for his indifferences and mistakes, he never cheaped out on the apology jewelry. The broker didn’t have the full amount on hand, so I opted to have it wired, which worked fine for me. I opened a new bank account and provided them with the necessary information. I returned to the packhouse early that afternoon. I had requested that the gardener cut down the Cherry Blossom tree in the pack’s courtyard. He was ordered to burn every branch and leaf until only ashes remained. When I agreed to mate with Liam, I had my reservations because his family didn’t support their Alpha heir accepting the bond to a wolfless orphan with average financial standings. Liam planted the tree as a token of his pledge of devotion to us and our bond. I fell for it, thinking it would make us stronger. But I was wrong. By late afternoon, I had either sold, donated or destroyed every token of Liam and his devotion to me and our bond: everything but the Eclipse stone pendant. Some legends state that the Moon Goddess herself blessed the eclipse stone to strengthen the will of the wolfless. Call me a fool, but it still served as a sliver of proof that at some point, he did care enough to seek out the stone for me. Now that everything was removed, it was time for me to step out and prepare everything for my new life after this month-long cooldown period ended, and I was no longer the unwanted mate of Alpha Liam Sterling. I knew I had to be smart and figure out my path now, as I had no family to turn to once the rejection was completed. When I was seven, my father had disappeared after a mountain climbing accident. It was speculated that rogues were involved, as they were heavy in the area at the time. My mother re-mated not long afterwards, and we became part of the Thorne family. They were the overlords, if you will, of the Crown of Thornes Pack, rivals of The Sterling Moon pack and next door neighbours to the territory. My mother left the Thorne family after accusations and rumours of her infidelity and gambling debts. I didn’t believe it, but it seemed that everyone else did. I had no idea where she even went. She certainly didn’t seek me out after she left that night, abandoning me. The only person who would even be considered family at this point was Lucien Thorne. He was my former stepbrother from my mother's second mating. However, Lucien was notorious for his short temper, and he constantly mistreated me while we lived under the same roof, so I would sooner wind up homeless than seek his help. The heat of Liam’s black card was burning a hole in my pocket, serving as a reminder of his literal words: “Buy whatever you want and consider it as an apology.” Okay! I will. I went to the bank and after the teller spoke with the branch manager to confirm my approval of using the Alpha’s account for a withdrawal, yup, that's right, I held no status, so I wasn’t even recognized with authority over our marital account; I withdrew one million dollars from his account. It was insulting and frustrating to know that Breanne can walk in here and not have as many hoops to jump through to get at my mate’s money. But that’s fine. I have already started to let go of my hold on him emotionally. My head has already done so. As I waited for the teller to return with the funds, my phone rang. Liyah Cruz. She was my closest friend before I accepted the bond with Liam. Liam didn’t like her influence on me, as he put it, so over the years, our friendship became strained. For her to be reaching out and calling me now, it had to be important. "Liyah? What's wrong?" I answered right away. "Oh, thank the Goddess. Claire, the International Equestrian Championships start in a month, but I just got injured during training." Liyah's voice was thick with disappointment. "Claire, you were the most talented rider we knew. I could think of no one else to take over. Could you compete in my place?" The memories came flooding back. Had I not mated with Liam, I might have become as renowned as Liyah in equestrian circles. But Liam had disapproved of me riding; he often called it unladylike. He'd gone as far as going behind my back and selling my beloved white stallion, Mirage, to a good owner, cutting off my last connection to the sport. The silence stretched until Liyah sighed. "I forgot your mate doesn't allow—" "I'll do it," I interrupted. "One month. I'll be ready." Liyah's excited squeal pierced through the receiver. "Really? Oh my Goddess! Everyone always said you shouldn't have given up your talent for mating! You're finally coming back to us!" My hand trembled around the phone. Yes, before mating into the Sterling Moon pack and Alpha family, I had shone so brightly. Before Liam, I used to be many things. I was the university's star student—straight A's in every subject. A gifted painter, champion rider, runway model, master chef, and award-winning debater—there was nothing I couldn't excel at. But three years of mating had eroded it all. I hadn't touched a paintbrush in years. I have forgotten how to walk a runway, and even lost my sharp tongue in arguments—forced to submit to even my mate's family and house staff. Only my cooking skills remained polished because I have cooked for Liam every single day since the beginning of our bond acceptance. Only now did I realize how much of myself I had sacrificed. But it wasn't too late. I could still start over. This was that chance to start taking my life by the reins, so to speak, and returning to the Claire that used to walk proudly with her chin held high. Chapter 4 Meeting on Horseback I met Liyah at the stables we once rode at together. “Thank you, Claire-bear. I can’t believe you are actually here.” Liyah launched herself on top of me, despite her knee brace. I thought I understood what I gave up to be with Liam, my mate, but I didn’t understand a fraction of it. This crazy woman, who used to be my world, wrapped around me. How did I let him separate us? “It’s me who should thank you, Lee-Lee. I’ve missed you. I’m sorry. No more boys between us, I promise.” I sobbed. Liyah looked up, and I saw the understanding in her eyes. We both wiped our faces and laughed at our equally blotchy faces. “Okay, later, we'll discuss everything!” She looked at me with as much conviction as her tiny body could muster. I nodded and smiled. “But now, let me introduce you to Diva, my stallion. Just a warning, he lives up to the name periodically. I think it’s an adorable quirk for him and refuse to break it out of him. You’ll love him!” Liyah leads us to the stables, where we meet the horse. Liyah was right. We matched instantly. It isn’t easy for a shifter to bond with a stallion, but I never had those worries. I was always able to click with any animal, to the point where Liyah's brother spent a year calling me freaking snow white! I hated it, but he wasn’t wrong. I galloped across the equestrian field at dawn, the stallion I rode was kicking up dew as it raced toward the rising sun. Then I saw them. Liam and Breanne shared a white mare, ambling toward my direction. Breanne was dressed in her pristine white riding jodhpurs with the matching show coat, leaned back against Liam's chest. Liam's attire was the stark contrast of black on black. I watched him bend his head low, whispering something in Breanne’s ear, causing a fit of giggles from her. I had waited for him to return all night. When I had reached out and called him to ask if he would be returning that night, I was told, by him, that since Breanna needed an emergency appendectomy, he would not leave her side until she recovered. That was when I cut up our photos, burning them to ashes. As I watch them now, a question came to my mind, causing my brow to arch. When did appendectomy patients start riding horses the next day? My grip tightened on the reins just as Breanne spotted me. “Oh! Liam, how spooky. Doesn’t that woman look just like Claire!”At her teasing words, I watched as Liam's head snapped up. There, I sat astride my stallion, the tailored navy riding jacket accentuating my hourglass figure, my gaze glacial. I knew he felt it. Dismounting, Liam approached until he could only see the sharp angle of my jaw. "Sweetheart, since when do you ride? I thought you quit that. You should've told me you were coming." The memory of his and Breanne’s intimate pose churned my stomach. I pressed a hand to my mouth to keep from being sick at the thought before answering flatly. "Would you have answered if I called?" This acidic tone only emerged when I was furious. Liam's smile turned placating. "My fault—left my phone in the car. It turned out to be a false alarm about Breanne's appendix. Since she's competing in the International Equestrian Championships next month, I was only helping her practice." Breanne urged her mare forward, pouting. "Liam, why must we explain everything to her? Come back, we have more important things to focus on. You haven't finished teaching me." "An International Championship contender needs amateur instruction? How curious. I wonder if anyone else here is getting that kind of coaching? But, Liam, if she requires coaching, I'll do it." As Liam turned, my voice froze him. Liam’s expression initially fell flat at my words, but he quickly brightened at my offer. "Exactly! Breanne, Claire won that championship years ago." 'How touching that he finally remembered I have value,' I thought bitterly. Breanne bit her lip. "But—" After years together, I knew Breanne’s games. She wasn’t as nervous on a horse as she portrayed. It was all an act for Liam. "No buts." I raised my riding crop. "Let's ride." The crop came down on Breanne's mare, which bolted forward with a whinny as Breanne shrieked. Liam paled. "Claire! She wasn't ready—" "Real trainers surprise their students." My amber eyes glinted. “Your coddling would've kept her mediocre forever.” Dust sprayed Liam's face as I galloped after Breanne, leaving him standing there, cheeks burning as if slapped. Good. This was just the beginning of my resistance. Breanne and I raced across the field. Though I was starting late, my black stallion, Diva, was not one to be outshone, and we soon overtook Breanne's white mare. For three years, Breanne had only seen the docile, obedient Claire. This commanding version, I’m sure, was unnerving. I could hear her growling, which, to be honest, was only slowing her own horse down. Her mare would not be able to focus on a race, with its rider losing its hold over herself. It was bound to spook her mare soon, and if she weren’t careful, she would get bucked. But as the saying goes, not my circus, not my monkeys. Diva and I were focused on ourselves. I could sense Breanne's determination to beat me. But, no matter how she pushed her champion mare, I remained ahead. As Diva and I passed her again, I caught a flash of movement from Breanne out of the corner of my eye. She pulled a hairpin out of her pocket and hurled it at Diva. That hairpin had been a gift from her friend at her birthday party, and she had been keeping it close to her chest just now. It was made of silver, and the sharp end drove hard into Diva's rump. Diva was instantly startled. Despite my expert handling and calming charm, which I have often used in the past to soothe a panicked horse, Diva threw me. I felt the gnash from the rock sticking out from the ground, which I hit my head on. The impact sending black spots across my vision—and a cry in absolute agony. My abdominal area pinched and screamed with a sharp and sudden pain like nothing I have ever felt before. There was blood on my hand when I touched it. I needed to get up. I needed to get back and get medical help because I knew Breanne wasn’t going to get me any. As I tried to push myself up off the ground with one hand, while the other was wrapped tightly around my stomach, still crying in sheer pain, a polished boot came forcefully down, cracking the bones in my hand. "Ah—!" The pain forced a gasp through clenched teeth. Chapter 5 The Two-Faced Woman "Claire, weren't you so impressive on horseback just now? How did you end up on the ground so fast?" Breanne crouched down, blinking her wide, innocent-looking eyes as she taunted me, pressing her boot harder against my hand, breaking the bones. She knew I was wolfless, and the pain she was causing; this was why she was doing it. To send me a message. I was hoping someone would come and find us, but the odds of this far from the training grounds were unlikely. "Oh my, I'm so sorry!" Breanne feigned surprise, finally lifting her foot with exaggerated remorse. "I didn't even see your hand there. How careless of me." “It’s to be expected with those massive feet of yours. What is that a size ten in men's?” I watched her eyes flash in anger briefly before she reined it back in. I yanked my hand back, and when Breanne reached out to help me up. I would always refuse her help; it was always a ploy for something worse. When she tried again, I recoiled, pushing myself up to my feet with gritted teeth. "Claire, that must've hurt. With riding skills like yours, how could you possibly think you were qualified to teach me?" Breanne smirked. "Only a fool would believe such a pitiful act, Breanne.” I glared, refusing to back down. "Oh, please. Can't accept that you're just not as good as I am? No wonder Liam doesn't like you much—you're such a sore loser." Breanne let out a mocking laugh. Breanne wasn’t hiding her petty, vindictive behaviour. She wanted me to know her intentions of returning and that she hadn't forgiven me for having her exiled. The reason Breanne was sent away a year ago was that I had walked in on her and Liam in the throes of passion. They were both half-naked and stuck to each other. Liam seemed to snap out of his daze the moment I entered the room and yanked Breanne off him. The thud of her head to the edge of the dresser brought out her wolf, and warriors nearby who heard the yelling managed to catch Breanne just in time before she could attack me. Liam sobered up instantly and demanded answers. Breanne played the confused card. That, like Liam, she had drunk a little too much at the pack celebration. She must have gotten confused about which floor she was on and passed out in mine and his bedroom, thinking it was hers. After all, his scent calms her, so she made sure to add that part—one extra little jab between Liam and me. Liam swore up and down that he was confused and thought it was me under the covers in bed. That, with the amount of wolfwine he had consumed, he didn’t realize it wasn’t me until my scent entered the room, and his wolf halted their action immediately recognizing their error. I moved to a different room, and Liam tried to separate himself from Breanne. Then he learned that Breanne approached me afterward and told me that Liam was aware it was her. After all, why would they confuse their mates? Unfortunately for Breanne, she did it in front of a witness, and they told several others, which led Liam to ask me about it. I confirmed that I knew he was aware that it was Breanne, as she told me so herself, and that I wanted to break the bond if he didn’t send her away as proof of his devotion to the mates' bond. I could see that he didn’t want to, but Liam was also someone who cared too much about image to have the wolfen community know that he lost his true mate over the Beta’s daughter affair scandal. With the third wheel gone, our mate bond had finally stabilized. I had hoped to start trying for a pup on our anniversary after I was announced as the new Luna of the Sterling Moon pack. But now Breanne was back, something of which Liam failed to inform me—especially considering it nearly ended us only a year ago. His lack of consideration over that confused me. Did his wolf also agree with this decision? Surely his wolf would realize better than Liam that this would ultimately bring out the bond to an end. "Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about," I said coolly. "But don't worry. I'll be out of your way soon. Then you two can do whatever you want." I turned away, whistling sharply for my horse. Breanne's face flushed crimson. She grabbed my arm and pressed her fingers deep into the flesh. “What the hell are you implying? What plans could I possibly have?” "You know exactly what I mean. But just a heads-up—mistresses in ranked mate bonds are illegal without Elder consent. And bastard pups tend to be shunned by packs altogether. So think carefully." Breanne's face went scarlet. "You—you're disgusting! How dare you accuse me and Liam of—" The sound of galloping hooves cut her off. Her eyes widened as though she hadn't expected us to be interrupted so soon. I turned to the sound of approaching Hooves, which gave Breanne time to growl her threat before she partially shifted and lunged at me with the intent to maul me where I stood. A chill ran down my spine—only to be overshadowed by the thunderous sound of a horse's disapproving whinny. Next thing I knew, Breanne was whimpering on the ground, crying in sheer agony as a scarred, filthy white stallion trampled her. My breath hitched, my eyes widened in disbelief. I knew this stallion. And then I saw it—the faint brown patch on the stallion's head. My blood turned to ice. No. It can’t be. "Mirage?" My voice cracked. The horse stopped mid-stomp, ears twitching. The sound of my voice stopped the Stallion from continuing its attack on Breanne, who had now reverted to her bruised human state, no longer partially shifted. The Stallion turned and looked at me. "Mirage!" I choked out, rushing forward to grab the reins. "It's really you!" I hadn't summoned my borrowed stallion. I had summoned him. My champion. My partner. My horse that Liam sold from under me, promising he went to a good home. Now, his coat was matted, his skin was patchy with disease, and his body was crisscrossed with whip marks. He was abused. Mirage had once been a regal, snow-white stallion, bought at auction by the Thornes. He had carried me to victory in countless competitions. He wasn't just a horse. He was my family. One of the most precious things I had. It took everything in me to forgive him for going behind my back and forcing me to stop riding by selling Mirage off in the first place, but it helped soothe the pain to know that at least he was being taken care of wherever he was. Liam had promised he'd be cared for. He lied. He looked me in the eye and lied to my face. He gave Mirage to a home that had continuously abused and neglected him. These wounds were a combination of old and recent. This was what Liam considered a good home? Tears burned my eyes as I ran my hands over his ruined coat. My heart was breaking. The abuse Mirage would have been enduring all this time, thinking I abandoned him. "Claire! Breanne!" Liam's voice cut through the air as another set of hooves approached. Chapter 6 The Fall The injuries and now Mirage, I was breaking inside and now outside. Just as my knees gave way, a firm hand caught my arm. "What took you so long out here? Are you all right?" Liam's voice, usually so tender, sounded distant in my ears. Through my tears, I turned to confront him about Mirage's condition, but Breanne's weak whimper cut through the air. "Liam.” She whimpered weakly. “Please, help me,” she pleaded. Liam stiffened as if struck. He released me immediately, like he was catching fire at just the mere touch of me. I staggered from the sudden loss of assistance and contact from my mate, and watched in disbelief as his attention snapped to Breanne's crumpled form on the ground. "Breanne!" His eyes reddened as he gathered her into his arms, cradling her close to her chest, "Oh my Goddess, what happened? How did this—?" I watched as he gently wiped away the tears staining her cheek. His eyes began to mist up. It was as though I were watching a live-action romance. The long-lost lover, dying in her beloved's arms. It would have been touching if it wasn't for the fact that that was my mate, holding another woman so tenderly while I stood five feet from them in significantly more pain. "Claire couldn't handle her horse. When I offered to help her back up, she then turned it around and blamed me! When I tried to explain I wasn’t at fault, she set that wretched beast on me!" Breanne's tears fell like broken pearls. Her voice grew faint as she added dramatically, "Liam, please, I can't feel my legs. What if I never walk again?" Liam's expression darkened as he listened to Breanne’s version of events. He turned to me with a sudden coldness I had never seen before. "Is this true?" He growled in anger, clutching Breanne closer to him protectively. A searing pain tore through my abdomen before I could respond. I cried out at the suddenness of it, and clutched my stomach, gasping through clenched teeth as metallic bile rose in my throat. Liam didn’t even flinch at the sight of my obvious pain before him. "I'm taking Breanne to the hospital," he said coldly. "If you did this, Claire—" He left the threat hanging as he cradled Breanne closer. I have never heard of an Alpha, or any rank member in my school studies or observations, threatening his mates and Luna over just a friend. It was against Wolfen code and ethics, but I suppose that didn’t matter to Liam or the Sterling Moon pack. This was going to become a regular occurrence, I could already sense it. I watched through blurred vision as Breanne gave one last performance. "Liam, I—" Her eyelids fluttered shut with theatrical perfection. "Bree-Bree! Stay with me! Please don’t leave me, baby. I’m here. Don’t you dare leave me!" Liam shouted, already running partially shifted into his wolf to allow himself to cradle her and use his Alpha wolf strength and speed at the same time. Behind him, I collapsed with a thud that echoed across the field. I briefly saw Liam hesitate mid-stride—just for a second. Regardless, he didn’t turn around at the sound of my collapse and shallow, laboured breaths. I watched as they continued to run away with Breanne in their arms, leaving me where I lay. My heart broke, even though I had filed and decided to leave both Liam and this horrible pack; a small part of me still held onto a sliver of hope that Liam would see the path he was taking and how far it was from us. But he didn’t, and that was when everything went dark for me. ***** When I regained consciousness, the sterile glare of surgical lights assaulted my vision. Cold metal instruments clinked nearby as my legs were positioned apart. I tried to speak, but the drugs held me paralyzed. The doctors' voices floated above me like ghosts. I could sense the movements around me, but I was awake, unable to move, feel, or speak. It was a surreal experience, but oddly familiar to my life since I had mated with the Sterling family. Nothing more than an ornament on the wall to all, including my mate. "Such a shame—two months along. Who goes horseback riding when they're pregnant?" "The fall detached the embryo completely. Must have been quite the impact. She is lucky to be alive." "Without a wolf, another hour, and she wouldn’t have been." "That man who brought her in—was that her husband? He was colder than a block of ice, but as Handsome as the Devil himself. Can’t say much about their mateship part, he simply paid the bill and left without a word." "Enough chatter. Let’s finish this up before she hemorrhages." Each medical term floating to my ears—pregnancy, embryo, hemorrhage, dilation and curettage—pierced my drugged haze like silver blades to the heart. The one that stuck out the most was broken. I knew they were talking about my hand, but it was so much deeper than that. I felt broken. I lost my pup. Until recently, I would have loved to have Liam and my first pup. Everything about us seemed happy and together, but now, it seemed symbolic to lose the pups I never knew I had. I was losing a mate I should never have had to fight this hard to keep. Everything was perfect until I saw it was all a smoke screen and not meant to be. Just like this pup. False hope. I struggled against the numbness, but my body refused to obey. Something sharp scraped inside me, painless but violating. The crushing weight of realization dragged me under before I could scream, I was once again enveloped by empty darkness. "Claire ... Claire ..." Time lost all meaning. A distant voice called my name while someone shook my arm. With monumental effort, I forced my eyes open. Once again, the antiseptic glare of hospital lights assaulted my vision—I was in a hospital room.
"""Please, Liam, I just lost our baby. Don't let them take my blood."" My voice was barely a whisper, my body still trembling from the surgery—from the emptiness where our child used to be. But my husband didn't even look at me. His gaze was fixed on the ER doors, where doctors shouted about Breanne's critical blood loss. Breanne Telder. The Beta's daughter. His best friend. The woman he swore was""just like a sister.” The same woman who caused the fall that cost me our pup. ""She's RH-negative and we're out of stock. Find donors—now!"" The surgeon said urgently. ""Take hers."" Liam's arm slid around my waist—not to comfort me, not to hold me—but to push me forward like an offering.""Wolfless born shifters are universal donors. Her blood will save Breanne."" I froze as if struck by lightning, my disbelieving eyes lifting to meet his. Did he and his wolf even realize what they'd done? They didn't have to say the rejection—offering their mate's blood to another woman screamed it loud enough. ""Liam,"" I managed to whisper, ""I just lost our pup—"" ""Spare me the lies. I am done believing you!"" His eyes were cold steel. ""Breanne's life comes first right now."" The words cut deeper than any blade. I straightened, ignoring the spinning in my head, every inch of me trembling but unbroken. ""You've made your choice, Liam. And after today…"" my voice didn't crack this time ""I'll make mine."" The doctor's hand gripped my arm, leading me toward the blood lab. ""I'll donate the blood,"" I didn't fight it. ""But in return, you will agree to end our mate bond.”" ***** Chapter 1 Dropping the Mate I stood at the gate of the Sterling Moon Packhouse, clutching a cake box that had begun to melt in the summer heat. My usually pristine blonde hair was now stuck to my neck and face in damp strands, and my designer dress was now ruined with mud and swamp stains. I hadn't meant to arrive at my third mating anniversary looking like I had been dragged through a hedge backward and then tossed in the swamp lands beyond the pack grounds. But then again, being cornered and ambushed by rogues, conveniently knowing my whereabouts without an escort or protection, wasn't exactly part of my agenda either. A mysterious yet heroic stranger had rescued me and driven me back to the edge of my mate’s pack territory when Liam Sterling, my mate and the pack's Alpha, hadn't answered any of my fifteen frantic calls. I had almost convinced myself he was simply busy orchestrating some grand anniversary surprise. That had to be it. Otherwise, why else would he send me out alone for the cake retrieval and then not bother to answer my calls? I quickened my pace toward the entrance of the packhouse, not wanting to delay the celebration any longer than I already had. I rounded the corner only to stop dead at the sight before me. The entire packhouse had been transformed with floral arches, helium balloons, and an enormous banner. My fingers tightened around the cake box. I had doubts about walking into the grand hall; perhaps I should slip upstairs to change first. Then Liam's familiar voice called out. "There's my beautiful mate! Took you long enough, sweetheart. Everyone's waiting for the cake. Were the directions not clear enough?" He teased, not taking in the dishevelled state of my appearance or the fact that my smile didn’t reach my eyes. He often failed to see me. I looked up to find my mate looking devastatingly handsome in a white Tom Ford suit, his gray waistcoat accentuating those broad shoulders I used to trace my fingers over. He hadn't dressed like this for me in years. I pushed aside the gnawing doubts starting to fill my heart and embraced the fact that he was trying to make things right. This was not the time to voice my disappointments with his lack of attention or concern. We're here to celebrate our mate bond with the pack. This was also the year that he promised to swear me in as the official Luna, to lead by his side. Three years of proving myself capable despite not having a wolf of my own, and now here we were. My lips began curving into a smile despite myself. Maybe the rogues and the ambush, the ruined dress, the ignored calls—perhaps none of it mattered now that I was home. Liam would keep me safe, and we were going to announce that I was stepping into a role that should have been mine when we first mated. "Liam, I was just—" I was about to explain the rogues, the ambush, the mysterious saviour, but was cut off mid-sentence. "Liam! Is that my cake?" A shrill voice interrupted as Breanne Telder materialized behind Liam, looping her arm through his as though it was where she belonged. She was Liam’s father's Beta’s daughter. Otherwise known as the third wheel in our relationship and the pick me girl that Liam always did. She was also not supposed to be here. She was sent away a while ago, and Liam promised to focus solely on us. "You flew me home just for this birthday surprise? Best Alpha bestie ever!" The cake box slipped from my fingers, landing with a sickening splat on the custom marble flooring beneath me. The same flooring I wanted to either swallow me or Breanna up in this moment. Birthday surprise? What the hell did that mean? Those two words echoed in my skull like gunshots. For weeks, I had known Liam was planning something secretive. The custom-ordered flowers were delivered under the cover of darkness. The expensive Eclipse Stone rough he'd purchased at auction. All those whispered phone calls I had pretended not to hear. It all led to this moment, but it wasn’t the moment I had expected. I had woven every scrap of evidence into fantasies of candlelit vows renewed, of Liam dropping to one knee all over again. Even when he hadn't picked up during my attack from rogues, I had made excuses for him. Now Breanne's smug smile shattered those delusions like a hammer through stained glass. "What the hell were you thinking, Claire?" Stephanie Sterling's razor-sharp heels clicked across the flooring as she advanced. "We've been waiting two hours for that cake! You can’t do one single task; no wonder you will never be Luna material for the Sterling Moon pack." Stephanie was Liam's mother. From the moment I mated into the Alpha family, Stephanie had made no secret of her dislike; she was the reason Liam was convinced to hold off and force me to prove myself as Luna material. Over time, that contempt had only grown bolder, more vicious, no longer even pretending to hide it. Failing to see Liam, their Alpha, standing up for me, much of the pack started to support and see the validity in the points that their retired Luna was making. My hands shook. "This was supposed to be our anniversary party." Liam caught my elbow and steered me out of the room for privacy. "Baby, I'd planned a surprise for you, but Breanne asked for a pack-wide birthday celebration when she returned, so—" "So, instead of standing up for your mate, yet again, you conceded and did what they wanted. It’s fine for me to be let down, but not her? Message received, Liam." I wrenched my arm free, the movement sending fresh pain through my bruised ribs from the attack. I doubled over with a gasp. Before Liam could reach for me, Stephanie's voice sliced through the garden again. "Liam! Stop coddling her and get over here. This is why the wolfless should never hold ranks; they're weak and attention grabbers. Forget the cake, we'll just serve the petit fours instead." "Coming." He hesitated, then pressed a kiss to my temple. "We'll talk later." I remained crouched in the foyer of the packhouse as another wave of pain, this one far deeper than physical, crashed over me. Not a single pack member had asked why I looked like I'd been in a car wreck, why I'd been crying. From the other room where everyone gathered, the opening chords of "Happy Birthday" floated toward me. Each syrupy note felt like another papercut to my heart. It hit me suddenly—I hadn't celebrated a birthday since mating into the Alpha family, not once, though my own fell just days apart from Breanne's. And Liam had known this; he made a joke about the coincidence of his two best gals' being birthday buddies, but mine was always overshadowed. He quickly forgot about mine. I wiped my cheeks, giving myself a self-mocking smile. I should have known better than to hope for something more than what I already received. As the sun dipped low, I rose, my shadow stretching lonely behind me. Without a word, I climbed the stairs and clicked the bedroom door shut of the Alpha suite. Under the bathroom's harsh lighting, I peeled off my ruined dress and threw it in the trash. Steam fogged the mirrors as I scrubbed at skin that still felt dirty from the rogue's hands. I stayed under the scalding water until my fingers pruned. Wrapped in an oversized robe, I sat curled on the window seat watching party lights twinkle below until the last guest departed. At 11:00 PM, the bedroom door finally creaked open. I didn't turn when Liam's familiar cologne filled the room. I heard him hang up his jacket, then felt his whiskey-warm hands on my shoulders. "Happy anniversary, my beautiful, stunning mate." His lips brushed my ear. "Guess what I got you?" I shrugged him off. "I honestly don't care." He knelt before me, producing a velvet box with the flourish of a magician. "I had this carved from that Eclipse Stone rough. It is rumoured to help awaken latent wolfen spirits, strengthen auras and bring new beginnings.” Liam fastened the pendant around my neck. The cold stone settled between my chest like a brand. "Stunning." He kissed the hollow of my throat. "I was thinking that it’s been three years since we mated, and you have done so well proving yourself to me and this pack. I want us to now try for a pup. Bring this pack a new heir.” "Yeah, that’s not happening," I rejected the idea instantly. His chuckle was dark velvet. "You won't have to lift a finger, darling. I'll do all the—" "Liam." I met his gaze for the first time that night. “I want to submit an official request to break our mate bond!” Chapter 2 This Time, His Sweet Talk Won't Work My mind was made up before he finally came to our room. This wasn't like my previous impulsive threats in an attempt to get him to see the mistakes he was continuously making in our bond. This time, I was genuinely determined to leave. Three years of mateship flashed through my mind. I had lost count of how many times Liam had prioritized Breanne over my feelings or dismissed me because his mother said so. Who was his mate, and who was just a friend? I could no longer answer that question, and I was tired of trying to defend us. We weren’t bonded. Not the way the typical Alpha and mate were. It was usual for an Alpha never to leave his Luna’s side. She was his number one priority, even though the pack came second. The Alpha's mate was the heart of the pack and respected as an equal, but I was neither of those things. I haven’t been from the start. Breanne, even though she was briefly sent away, was still respected and noticed more than I could even hope for. If someone kept treating you in ways you disliked, it was because you allowed it. I had let it slide every other time. But today, Liam had crossed my final line. This day was our third anniversary. I didn’t care that he forgot my birthday, dinners, or events we planned together. I did, however, care about this milestone moment. A promise he made was long forgotten. This was that tipping point for my patience. “Really, Claire? You are threatening to reject our mate bond again? Don't say that every time you're upset, sweetheart. I was wrong about today. I'll make it up to you tomorrow." My eyes showed no emotion. “Don't bother. Not everything can be made up, and you can only backburner your mate for so long before she grows tired of being at the bottom of the priorities, Liam.” "Of course, this can be fixed. There's always next year. We will have a pup by then, and you will have long forgotten this little hiccup and tantrum." Liam pushed me down onto the sofa, kissing my face tenderly. With my hands pinned above my head, I wasn’t able to push him off. He expected the topic of having pups would appease me and calm my boiling anger. I had had enough of his nonsense and non-committal ways. I stared blankly at the ceiling as tears unexpectedly rolled down my cheeks. I lay like a dead weight. In the past, whenever we would fight or I would throw a tantrum, as Liam would title it, all he would do was use the mate bond against me. His kisses, his touch, his desires would wear me down, and I would accept his hollowed words of apology and his flashy gifts as though they meant something more than pacifying childish behaviour, in his mind. But this time, even though he held me down and I couldn’t resist, I was also not participating or encouraging him to continue. He was so self-absorbed that he couldn’t even realize that I wasn’t a willing participant. I was motionless, soundless, non-responsive. As Liam kept kissing me, his hands touched every part of my bruised body, utterly unaware of the pain he was inflicting both physically and emotionally. I felt his body suddenly freeze at the sound of a whimpered sob that slipped out of me. He looked out with hooded eyes, which quickly sobered and turned serious when he saw the tears in my eyes. His expression was frozen in panic. "Baby, why are you crying?" He quickly turned on the light. "Wait—you seemed off when you came home. Did something happen?" Finally, he remembered, but the damage between us was already done. My heart twisted, wishing that it didn’t take crying while he wanted sex to cover his mistakes for him to notice something was wrong. At the thought of how much distance was between us, more tears fell. Under the light, Liam finally saw the slight swelling on my face, the scratches on my arms and body, and the deep gash on my right leg with dried blood. His pupils contracted. "What happened?" I could sense his wolf stirring under the surface. It was clear that someone had hurt me, but they were only now realizing it. Just as I opened my mouth, his phone rang. I looked at the screen and rolled my eyes. Of course, it was Breanne. Liam sighed and offered a small apologetic smile before he answered in front of me. "Breanne, what's wrong?" "Liam, I think I ate something bad. My stomach hurts so much. Can you take me to the hospital?" Breanne's sugary voice came through. Liam automatically started to agree. I could see his eyes widen with panic at the thought that she was in pain. But right before he responded, he looked at me and my reddened, tear-filled eyes. "It's late. Claire and I are already in bed. Ask Mom if there's any medicine at home." Stephanie's sharp voice interrupted, "Liam, come now! This isn't ordinary pain. It could be appendicitis! She's pale as a ghost!" Liam's brow furrowed. "Fine. I'm coming." My heart sank like a stone. I shook my head in disbelief and turned away, refusing to meet his eyes. Yet again, I was pushed aside. Liam dressed quickly but hesitated at the door. After a long moment, he took my hand. "You're hurt too. Come with me, we'll get you checked at the hospital." That single word, "too", cut like a knife. I laughed dryly. "No need. Go ahead, play hero for another woman. If your mate's pain is less important than staying and understanding what happened, then your friend who has a stomach ache, don’t bother dragging me around like an accessory with false concern. I'd rather be alone." Liam stiffened. He opened his mouth to speak, but the phone kept ringing insistently. Finally, he sighed and pressed his black card into my hand. "Buy whatever you want. Consider it an apology." The door slammed shut. I weighed the card in my palm and smiled bitterly. Liam only ever had two ways to appease me—sex or money. It used to work. I fooled myself into believing it meant he cared, that he wasn’t good with expressing emotions, but I saw it for what it was now. This time, his sweet talk won't work. I walked to the closet and in the back corner, I pulled out my old suitcase. Inside was the most valuable thing I owned. My freedom. It was an official Rejection agreement signed the night before our mating. Back then, Liam had insisted on accepting our mate bond despite his family's objections. Afraid of being trapped in a toxic pack and mating, I had made him sign this; if I ever wanted to break the bond, he had to agree unconditionally. I thought we’d never need it. Liam had probably forgotten it existed. But I hadn't. During one fight, I had even consulted a lawyer who confirmed its validity. I could file for an official rejection of the bond with just this document and 30 days cooling-off period. Since he had already signed it, there was no need for Liam's consent for me to file it now. The Elders within the Council would perform the rejection ceremony within their own chambers. There was no need for either of us to be present. That was typically why Alphas refrained from preemptively signing these types of contracts. It relinquished control without their knowledge. Now was the time. Chapter 3 The Breaking Point I didn't sleep all night; I couldn’t. Instead, I spent those hours cutting up every photograph of us together. There weren’t many, I realized. My phone was filled with pictures of Liam whenever I could sneak photos when he was distracted or busy. He was honestly an Adonis of a man. But three years together, we had exactly twenty-three pictures of us together as a couple, and only thirteen of those were just Liam and me. The remaining ten were with Breanne. I snuck downstairs before anyone else woke up and went into Liam's office. There on the desk was a picture. It was of him and Breanne, hugging and smiling into the camera. They looked happy. Too happy. My inner bitter bitch was vomiting at the sight. On the other side of the desk was a picture of the three of us. That's right, not me and my mate. It was Breanne pressed against Liam's side, smiling up at him, and I was smiling at the camera on the other side. My arm was linked around his, and he was smiling, but for which female in the picture, your guess was as good as mine. I took the picture out of the frame, and bent it so that I was folded to the back. There, now he had two perfect couple pictures of him and Breanne. I will simply bow out of this weird three-way relationship. By dawn, I had already filed the official rejection agreement papers at the Council's registry office. Then I donated all the designer outfits Liam had bought me to charity. Afterward, I drove out of the pack grounds for a few hours to pawn every piece of jewelry he'd ever given me at the local broker's. I didn’t want it getting back to Liam, or the pack gossip mill to run rampant with their own speculations. Not yet anyway. It was a surprisingly large chunk of money in return, one thing I knew for sure about Liam. When he was grovelling for his indifferences and mistakes, he never cheaped out on the apology jewelry. The broker didn’t have the full amount on hand, so I opted to have it wired, which worked fine for me. I opened a new bank account and provided them with the necessary information. I returned to the packhouse early that afternoon. I had requested that the gardener cut down the Cherry Blossom tree in the pack’s courtyard. He was ordered to burn every branch and leaf until only ashes remained. When I agreed to mate with Liam, I had my reservations because his family didn’t support their Alpha heir accepting the bond to a wolfless orphan with average financial standings. Liam planted the tree as a token of his pledge of devotion to us and our bond. I fell for it, thinking it would make us stronger. But I was wrong. By late afternoon, I had either sold, donated or destroyed every token of Liam and his devotion to me and our bond: everything but the Eclipse stone pendant. Some legends state that the Moon Goddess herself blessed the eclipse stone to strengthen the will of the wolfless. Call me a fool, but it still served as a sliver of proof that at some point, he did care enough to seek out the stone for me. Now that everything was removed, it was time for me to step out and prepare everything for my new life after this month-long cooldown period ended, and I was no longer the unwanted mate of Alpha Liam Sterling. I knew I had to be smart and figure out my path now, as I had no family to turn to once the rejection was completed. When I was seven, my father had disappeared after a mountain climbing accident. It was speculated that rogues were involved, as they were heavy in the area at the time. My mother re-mated not long afterwards, and we became part of the Thorne family. They were the overlords, if you will, of the Crown of Thornes Pack, rivals of The Sterling Moon pack and next door neighbours to the territory. My mother left the Thorne family after accusations and rumours of her infidelity and gambling debts. I didn’t believe it, but it seemed that everyone else did. I had no idea where she even went. She certainly didn’t seek me out after she left that night, abandoning me. The only person who would even be considered family at this point was Lucien Thorne. He was my former stepbrother from my mother's second mating. However, Lucien was notorious for his short temper, and he constantly mistreated me while we lived under the same roof, so I would sooner wind up homeless than seek his help. The heat of Liam’s black card was burning a hole in my pocket, serving as a reminder of his literal words: “Buy whatever you want and consider it as an apology.” Okay! I will. I went to the bank and after the teller spoke with the branch manager to confirm my approval of using the Alpha’s account for a withdrawal, yup, that's right, I held no status, so I wasn’t even recognized with authority over our marital account; I withdrew one million dollars from his account. It was insulting and frustrating to know that Breanne can walk in here and not have as many hoops to jump through to get at my mate’s money. But that’s fine. I have already started to let go of my hold on him emotionally. My head has already done so. As I waited for the teller to return with the funds, my phone rang. Liyah Cruz. She was my closest friend before I accepted the bond with Liam. Liam didn’t like her influence on me, as he put it, so over the years, our friendship became strained. For her to be reaching out and calling me now, it had to be important. "Liyah? What's wrong?" I answered right away. "Oh, thank the Goddess. Claire, the International Equestrian Championships start in a month, but I just got injured during training." Liyah's voice was thick with disappointment. "Claire, you were the most talented rider we knew. I could think of no one else to take over. Could you compete in my place?" The memories came flooding back. Had I not mated with Liam, I might have become as renowned as Liyah in equestrian circles. But Liam had disapproved of me riding; he often called it unladylike. He'd gone as far as going behind my back and selling my beloved white stallion, Mirage, to a good owner, cutting off my last connection to the sport. The silence stretched until Liyah sighed. "I forgot your mate doesn't allow—" "I'll do it," I interrupted. "One month. I'll be ready." Liyah's excited squeal pierced through the receiver. "Really? Oh my Goddess! Everyone always said you shouldn't have given up your talent for mating! You're finally coming back to us!" My hand trembled around the phone. Yes, before mating into the Sterling Moon pack and Alpha family, I had shone so brightly. Before Liam, I used to be many things. I was the university's star student—straight A's in every subject. A gifted painter, champion rider, runway model, master chef, and award-winning debater—there was nothing I couldn't excel at. But three years of mating had eroded it all. I hadn't touched a paintbrush in years. I have forgotten how to walk a runway, and even lost my sharp tongue in arguments—forced to submit to even my mate's family and house staff. Only my cooking skills remained polished because I have cooked for Liam every single day since the beginning of our bond acceptance. Only now did I realize how much of myself I had sacrificed. But it wasn't too late. I could still start over. This was that chance to start taking my life by the reins, so to speak, and returning to the Claire that used to walk proudly with her chin held high. Chapter 4 Meeting on Horseback I met Liyah at the stables we once rode at together. “Thank you, Claire-bear. I can’t believe you are actually here.” Liyah launched herself on top of me, despite her knee brace. I thought I understood what I gave up to be with Liam, my mate, but I didn’t understand a fraction of it. This crazy woman, who used to be my world, wrapped around me. How did I let him separate us? “It’s me who should thank you, Lee-Lee. I’ve missed you. I’m sorry. No more boys between us, I promise.” I sobbed. Liyah looked up, and I saw the understanding in her eyes. We both wiped our faces and laughed at our equally blotchy faces. “Okay, later, we'll discuss everything!” She looked at me with as much conviction as her tiny body could muster. I nodded and smiled. “But now, let me introduce you to Diva, my stallion. Just a warning, he lives up to the name periodically. I think it’s an adorable quirk for him and refuse to break it out of him. You’ll love him!” Liyah leads us to the stables, where we meet the horse. Liyah was right. We matched instantly. It isn’t easy for a shifter to bond with a stallion, but I never had those worries. I was always able to click with any animal, to the point where Liyah's brother spent a year calling me freaking snow white! I hated it, but he wasn’t wrong. I galloped across the equestrian field at dawn, the stallion I rode was kicking up dew as it raced toward the rising sun. Then I saw them. Liam and Breanne shared a white mare, ambling toward my direction. Breanne was dressed in her pristine white riding jodhpurs with the matching show coat, leaned back against Liam's chest. Liam's attire was the stark contrast of black on black. I watched him bend his head low, whispering something in Breanne’s ear, causing a fit of giggles from her. I had waited for him to return all night. When I had reached out and called him to ask if he would be returning that night, I was told, by him, that since Breanna needed an emergency appendectomy, he would not leave her side until she recovered. That was when I cut up our photos, burning them to ashes. As I watch them now, a question came to my mind, causing my brow to arch. When did appendectomy patients start riding horses the next day? My grip tightened on the reins just as Breanne spotted me. “Oh! Liam, how spooky. Doesn’t that woman look just like Claire!”At her teasing words, I watched as Liam's head snapped up. There, I sat astride my stallion, the tailored navy riding jacket accentuating my hourglass figure, my gaze glacial. I knew he felt it. Dismounting, Liam approached until he could only see the sharp angle of my jaw. "Sweetheart, since when do you ride? I thought you quit that. You should've told me you were coming." The memory of his and Breanne’s intimate pose churned my stomach. I pressed a hand to my mouth to keep from being sick at the thought before answering flatly. "Would you have answered if I called?" This acidic tone only emerged when I was furious. Liam's smile turned placating. "My fault—left my phone in the car. It turned out to be a false alarm about Breanne's appendix. Since she's competing in the International Equestrian Championships next month, I was only helping her practice." Breanne urged her mare forward, pouting. "Liam, why must we explain everything to her? Come back, we have more important things to focus on. You haven't finished teaching me." "An International Championship contender needs amateur instruction? How curious. I wonder if anyone else here is getting that kind of coaching? But, Liam, if she requires coaching, I'll do it." As Liam turned, my voice froze him. Liam’s expression initially fell flat at my words, but he quickly brightened at my offer. "Exactly! Breanne, Claire won that championship years ago." 'How touching that he finally remembered I have value,' I thought bitterly. Breanne bit her lip. "But—" After years together, I knew Breanne’s games. She wasn’t as nervous on a horse as she portrayed. It was all an act for Liam. "No buts." I raised my riding crop. "Let's ride." The crop came down on Breanne's mare, which bolted forward with a whinny as Breanne shrieked. Liam paled. "Claire! She wasn't ready—" "Real trainers surprise their students." My amber eyes glinted. “Your coddling would've kept her mediocre forever.” Dust sprayed Liam's face as I galloped after Breanne, leaving him standing there, cheeks burning as if slapped. Good. This was just the beginning of my resistance. Breanne and I raced across the field. Though I was starting late, my black stallion, Diva, was not one to be outshone, and we soon overtook Breanne's white mare. For three years, Breanne had only seen the docile, obedient Claire. This commanding version, I’m sure, was unnerving. I could hear her growling, which, to be honest, was only slowing her own horse down. Her mare would not be able to focus on a race, with its rider losing its hold over herself. It was bound to spook her mare soon, and if she weren’t careful, she would get bucked. But as the saying goes, not my circus, not my monkeys. Diva and I were focused on ourselves. I could sense Breanne's determination to beat me. But, no matter how she pushed her champion mare, I remained ahead. As Diva and I passed her again, I caught a flash of movement from Breanne out of the corner of my eye. She pulled a hairpin out of her pocket and hurled it at Diva. That hairpin had been a gift from her friend at her birthday party, and she had been keeping it close to her chest just now. It was made of silver, and the sharp end drove hard into Diva's rump. Diva was instantly startled. Despite my expert handling and calming charm, which I have often used in the past to soothe a panicked horse, Diva threw me. I felt the gnash from the rock sticking out from the ground, which I hit my head on. The impact sending black spots across my vision—and a cry in absolute agony. My abdominal area pinched and screamed with a sharp and sudden pain like nothing I have ever felt before. There was blood on my hand when I touched it. I needed to get up. I needed to get back and get medical help because I knew Breanne wasn’t going to get me any. As I tried to push myself up off the ground with one hand, while the other was wrapped tightly around my stomach, still crying in sheer pain, a polished boot came forcefully down, cracking the bones in my hand. "Ah—!" The pain forced a gasp through clenched teeth. Chapter 5 The Two-Faced Woman "Claire, weren't you so impressive on horseback just now? How did you end up on the ground so fast?" Breanne crouched down, blinking her wide, innocent-looking eyes as she taunted me, pressing her boot harder against my hand, breaking the bones. She knew I was wolfless, and the pain she was causing; this was why she was doing it. To send me a message. I was hoping someone would come and find us, but the odds of this far from the training grounds were unlikely. "Oh my, I'm so sorry!" Breanne feigned surprise, finally lifting her foot with exaggerated remorse. "I didn't even see your hand there. How careless of me." “It’s to be expected with those massive feet of yours. What is that a size ten in men's?” I watched her eyes flash in anger briefly before she reined it back in. I yanked my hand back, and when Breanne reached out to help me up. I would always refuse her help; it was always a ploy for something worse. When she tried again, I recoiled, pushing myself up to my feet with gritted teeth. "Claire, that must've hurt. With riding skills like yours, how could you possibly think you were qualified to teach me?" Breanne smirked. "Only a fool would believe such a pitiful act, Breanne.” I glared, refusing to back down. "Oh, please. Can't accept that you're just not as good as I am? No wonder Liam doesn't like you much—you're such a sore loser." Breanne let out a mocking laugh. Breanne wasn’t hiding her petty, vindictive behaviour. She wanted me to know her intentions of returning and that she hadn't forgiven me for having her exiled. The reason Breanne was sent away a year ago was that I had walked in on her and Liam in the throes of passion. They were both half-naked and stuck to each other. Liam seemed to snap out of his daze the moment I entered the room and yanked Breanne off him. The thud of her head to the edge of the dresser brought out her wolf, and warriors nearby who heard the yelling managed to catch Breanne just in time before she could attack me. Liam sobered up instantly and demanded answers. Breanne played the confused card. That, like Liam, she had drunk a little too much at the pack celebration. She must have gotten confused about which floor she was on and passed out in mine and his bedroom, thinking it was hers. After all, his scent calms her, so she made sure to add that part—one extra little jab between Liam and me. Liam swore up and down that he was confused and thought it was me under the covers in bed. That, with the amount of wolfwine he had consumed, he didn’t realize it wasn’t me until my scent entered the room, and his wolf halted their action immediately recognizing their error. I moved to a different room, and Liam tried to separate himself from Breanne. Then he learned that Breanne approached me afterward and told me that Liam was aware it was her. After all, why would they confuse their mates? Unfortunately for Breanne, she did it in front of a witness, and they told several others, which led Liam to ask me about it. I confirmed that I knew he was aware that it was Breanne, as she told me so herself, and that I wanted to break the bond if he didn’t send her away as proof of his devotion to the mates' bond. I could see that he didn’t want to, but Liam was also someone who cared too much about image to have the wolfen community know that he lost his true mate over the Beta’s daughter affair scandal. With the third wheel gone, our mate bond had finally stabilized. I had hoped to start trying for a pup on our anniversary after I was announced as the new Luna of the Sterling Moon pack. But now Breanne was back, something of which Liam failed to inform me—especially considering it nearly ended us only a year ago. His lack of consideration over that confused me. Did his wolf also agree with this decision? Surely his wolf would realize better than Liam that this would ultimately bring out the bond to an end. "Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about," I said coolly. "But don't worry. I'll be out of your way soon. Then you two can do whatever you want." I turned away, whistling sharply for my horse. Breanne's face flushed crimson. She grabbed my arm and pressed her fingers deep into the flesh. “What the hell are you implying? What plans could I possibly have?” "You know exactly what I mean. But just a heads-up—mistresses in ranked mate bonds are illegal without Elder consent. And bastard pups tend to be shunned by packs altogether. So think carefully." Breanne's face went scarlet. "You—you're disgusting! How dare you accuse me and Liam of—" The sound of galloping hooves cut her off. Her eyes widened as though she hadn't expected us to be interrupted so soon. I turned to the sound of approaching Hooves, which gave Breanne time to growl her threat before she partially shifted and lunged at me with the intent to maul me where I stood. A chill ran down my spine—only to be overshadowed by the thunderous sound of a horse's disapproving whinny. Next thing I knew, Breanne was whimpering on the ground, crying in sheer agony as a scarred, filthy white stallion trampled her. My breath hitched, my eyes widened in disbelief. I knew this stallion. And then I saw it—the faint brown patch on the stallion's head. My blood turned to ice. No. It can’t be. "Mirage?" My voice cracked. The horse stopped mid-stomp, ears twitching. The sound of my voice stopped the Stallion from continuing its attack on Breanne, who had now reverted to her bruised human state, no longer partially shifted. The Stallion turned and looked at me. "Mirage!" I choked out, rushing forward to grab the reins. "It's really you!" I hadn't summoned my borrowed stallion. I had summoned him. My champion. My partner. My horse that Liam sold from under me, promising he went to a good home. Now, his coat was matted, his skin was patchy with disease, and his body was crisscrossed with whip marks. He was abused. Mirage had once been a regal, snow-white stallion, bought at auction by the Thornes. He had carried me to victory in countless competitions. He wasn't just a horse. He was my family. One of the most precious things I had. It took everything in me to forgive him for going behind my back and forcing me to stop riding by selling Mirage off in the first place, but it helped soothe the pain to know that at least he was being taken care of wherever he was. Liam had promised he'd be cared for. He lied. He looked me in the eye and lied to my face. He gave Mirage to a home that had continuously abused and neglected him. These wounds were a combination of old and recent. This was what Liam considered a good home? Tears burned my eyes as I ran my hands over his ruined coat. My heart was breaking. The abuse Mirage would have been enduring all this time, thinking I abandoned him. "Claire! Breanne!" Liam's voice cut through the air as another set of hooves approached. Chapter 6 The Fall The injuries and now Mirage, I was breaking inside and now outside. Just as my knees gave way, a firm hand caught my arm. "What took you so long out here? Are you all right?" Liam's voice, usually so tender, sounded distant in my ears. Through my tears, I turned to confront him about Mirage's condition, but Breanne's weak whimper cut through the air. "Liam.” She whimpered weakly. “Please, help me,” she pleaded. Liam stiffened as if struck. He released me immediately, like he was catching fire at just the mere touch of me. I staggered from the sudden loss of assistance and contact from my mate, and watched in disbelief as his attention snapped to Breanne's crumpled form on the ground. "Breanne!" His eyes reddened as he gathered her into his arms, cradling her close to her chest, "Oh my Goddess, what happened? How did this—?" I watched as he gently wiped away the tears staining her cheek. His eyes began to mist up. It was as though I were watching a live-action romance. The long-lost lover, dying in her beloved's arms. It would have been touching if it wasn't for the fact that that was my mate, holding another woman so tenderly while I stood five feet from them in significantly more pain. "Claire couldn't handle her horse. When I offered to help her back up, she then turned it around and blamed me! When I tried to explain I wasn’t at fault, she set that wretched beast on me!" Breanne's tears fell like broken pearls. Her voice grew faint as she added dramatically, "Liam, please, I can't feel my legs. What if I never walk again?" Liam's expression darkened as he listened to Breanne’s version of events. He turned to me with a sudden coldness I had never seen before. "Is this true?" He growled in anger, clutching Breanne closer to him protectively. A searing pain tore through my abdomen before I could respond. I cried out at the suddenness of it, and clutched my stomach, gasping through clenched teeth as metallic bile rose in my throat. Liam didn’t even flinch at the sight of my obvious pain before him. "I'm taking Breanne to the hospital," he said coldly. "If you did this, Claire—" He left the threat hanging as he cradled Breanne closer. I have never heard of an Alpha, or any rank member in my school studies or observations, threatening his mates and Luna over just a friend. It was against Wolfen code and ethics, but I suppose that didn’t matter to Liam or the Sterling Moon pack. This was going to become a regular occurrence, I could already sense it. I watched through blurred vision as Breanne gave one last performance. "Liam, I—" Her eyelids fluttered shut with theatrical perfection. "Bree-Bree! Stay with me! Please don’t leave me, baby. I’m here. Don’t you dare leave me!" Liam shouted, already running partially shifted into his wolf to allow himself to cradle her and use his Alpha wolf strength and speed at the same time. Behind him, I collapsed with a thud that echoed across the field. I briefly saw Liam hesitate mid-stride—just for a second. Regardless, he didn’t turn around at the sound of my collapse and shallow, laboured breaths. I watched as they continued to run away with Breanne in their arms, leaving me where I lay. My heart broke, even though I had filed and decided to leave both Liam and this horrible pack; a small part of me still held onto a sliver of hope that Liam would see the path he was taking and how far it was from us. But he didn’t, and that was when everything went dark for me. ***** When I regained consciousness, the sterile glare of surgical lights assaulted my vision. Cold metal instruments clinked nearby as my legs were positioned apart. I tried to speak, but the drugs held me paralyzed. The doctors' voices floated above me like ghosts. I could sense the movements around me, but I was awake, unable to move, feel, or speak. It was a surreal experience, but oddly familiar to my life since I had mated with the Sterling family. Nothing more than an ornament on the wall to all, including my mate. "Such a shame—two months along. Who goes horseback riding when they're pregnant?" "The fall detached the embryo completely. Must have been quite the impact. She is lucky to be alive." "Without a wolf, another hour, and she wouldn’t have been." "That man who brought her in—was that her husband? He was colder than a block of ice, but as Handsome as the Devil himself. Can’t say much about their mateship part, he simply paid the bill and left without a word." "Enough chatter. Let’s finish this up before she hemorrhages." Each medical term floating to my ears—pregnancy, embryo, hemorrhage, dilation and curettage—pierced my drugged haze like silver blades to the heart. The one that stuck out the most was broken. I knew they were talking about my hand, but it was so much deeper than that. I felt broken. I lost my pup. Until recently, I would have loved to have Liam and my first pup. Everything about us seemed happy and together, but now, it seemed symbolic to lose the pups I never knew I had. I was losing a mate I should never have had to fight this hard to keep. Everything was perfect until I saw it was all a smoke screen and not meant to be. Just like this pup. False hope. I struggled against the numbness, but my body refused to obey. Something sharp scraped inside me, painless but violating. The crushing weight of realization dragged me under before I could scream, I was once again enveloped by empty darkness. "Claire ... Claire ..." Time lost all meaning. A distant voice called my name while someone shook my arm. With monumental effort, I forced my eyes open. Once again, the antiseptic glare of hospital lights assaulted my vision—I was in a hospital room.
"""Please, Liam, I just lost our baby. Don't let them take my blood."" My voice was barely a whisper, my body still trembling from the surgery—from the emptiness where our child used to be. But my husband didn't even look at me. His gaze was fixed on the ER doors, where doctors shouted about Breanne's critical blood loss. Breanne Telder. The Beta's daughter. His best friend. The woman he swore was""just like a sister.” The same woman who caused the fall that cost me our pup. ""She's RH-negative and we're out of stock. Find donors—now!"" The surgeon said urgently. ""Take hers."" Liam's arm slid around my waist—not to comfort me, not to hold me—but to push me forward like an offering.""Wolfless born shifters are universal donors. Her blood will save Breanne."" I froze as if struck by lightning, my disbelieving eyes lifting to meet his. Did he and his wolf even realize what they'd done? They didn't have to say the rejection—offering their mate's blood to another woman screamed it loud enough. ""Liam,"" I managed to whisper, ""I just lost our pup—"" ""Spare me the lies. I am done believing you!"" His eyes were cold steel. ""Breanne's life comes first right now."" The words cut deeper than any blade. I straightened, ignoring the spinning in my head, every inch of me trembling but unbroken. ""You've made your choice, Liam. And after today…"" my voice didn't crack this time ""I'll make mine."" The doctor's hand gripped my arm, leading me toward the blood lab. ""I'll donate the blood,"" I didn't fight it. ""But in return, you will agree to end our mate bond.”" ***** Chapter 1 Dropping the Mate I stood at the gate of the Sterling Moon Packhouse, clutching a cake box that had begun to melt in the summer heat. My usually pristine blonde hair was now stuck to my neck and face in damp strands, and my designer dress was now ruined with mud and swamp stains. I hadn't meant to arrive at my third mating anniversary looking like I had been dragged through a hedge backward and then tossed in the swamp lands beyond the pack grounds. But then again, being cornered and ambushed by rogues, conveniently knowing my whereabouts without an escort or protection, wasn't exactly part of my agenda either. A mysterious yet heroic stranger had rescued me and driven me back to the edge of my mate’s pack territory when Liam Sterling, my mate and the pack's Alpha, hadn't answered any of my fifteen frantic calls. I had almost convinced myself he was simply busy orchestrating some grand anniversary surprise. That had to be it. Otherwise, why else would he send me out alone for the cake retrieval and then not bother to answer my calls? I quickened my pace toward the entrance of the packhouse, not wanting to delay the celebration any longer than I already had. I rounded the corner only to stop dead at the sight before me. The entire packhouse had been transformed with floral arches, helium balloons, and an enormous banner. My fingers tightened around the cake box. I had doubts about walking into the grand hall; perhaps I should slip upstairs to change first. Then Liam's familiar voice called out. "There's my beautiful mate! Took you long enough, sweetheart. Everyone's waiting for the cake. Were the directions not clear enough?" He teased, not taking in the dishevelled state of my appearance or the fact that my smile didn’t reach my eyes. He often failed to see me. I looked up to find my mate looking devastatingly handsome in a white Tom Ford suit, his gray waistcoat accentuating those broad shoulders I used to trace my fingers over. He hadn't dressed like this for me in years. I pushed aside the gnawing doubts starting to fill my heart and embraced the fact that he was trying to make things right. This was not the time to voice my disappointments with his lack of attention or concern. We're here to celebrate our mate bond with the pack. This was also the year that he promised to swear me in as the official Luna, to lead by his side. Three years of proving myself capable despite not having a wolf of my own, and now here we were. My lips began curving into a smile despite myself. Maybe the rogues and the ambush, the ruined dress, the ignored calls—perhaps none of it mattered now that I was home. Liam would keep me safe, and we were going to announce that I was stepping into a role that should have been mine when we first mated. "Liam, I was just—" I was about to explain the rogues, the ambush, the mysterious saviour, but was cut off mid-sentence. "Liam! Is that my cake?" A shrill voice interrupted as Breanne Telder materialized behind Liam, looping her arm through his as though it was where she belonged. She was Liam’s father's Beta’s daughter. Otherwise known as the third wheel in our relationship and the pick me girl that Liam always did. She was also not supposed to be here. She was sent away a while ago, and Liam promised to focus solely on us. "You flew me home just for this birthday surprise? Best Alpha bestie ever!" The cake box slipped from my fingers, landing with a sickening splat on the custom marble flooring beneath me. The same flooring I wanted to either swallow me or Breanna up in this moment. Birthday surprise? What the hell did that mean? Those two words echoed in my skull like gunshots. For weeks, I had known Liam was planning something secretive. The custom-ordered flowers were delivered under the cover of darkness. The expensive Eclipse Stone rough he'd purchased at auction. All those whispered phone calls I had pretended not to hear. It all led to this moment, but it wasn’t the moment I had expected. I had woven every scrap of evidence into fantasies of candlelit vows renewed, of Liam dropping to one knee all over again. Even when he hadn't picked up during my attack from rogues, I had made excuses for him. Now Breanne's smug smile shattered those delusions like a hammer through stained glass. "What the hell were you thinking, Claire?" Stephanie Sterling's razor-sharp heels clicked across the flooring as she advanced. "We've been waiting two hours for that cake! You can’t do one single task; no wonder you will never be Luna material for the Sterling Moon pack." Stephanie was Liam's mother. From the moment I mated into the Alpha family, Stephanie had made no secret of her dislike; she was the reason Liam was convinced to hold off and force me to prove myself as Luna material. Over time, that contempt had only grown bolder, more vicious, no longer even pretending to hide it. Failing to see Liam, their Alpha, standing up for me, much of the pack started to support and see the validity in the points that their retired Luna was making. My hands shook. "This was supposed to be our anniversary party." Liam caught my elbow and steered me out of the room for privacy. "Baby, I'd planned a surprise for you, but Breanne asked for a pack-wide birthday celebration when she returned, so—" "So, instead of standing up for your mate, yet again, you conceded and did what they wanted. It’s fine for me to be let down, but not her? Message received, Liam." I wrenched my arm free, the movement sending fresh pain through my bruised ribs from the attack. I doubled over with a gasp. Before Liam could reach for me, Stephanie's voice sliced through the garden again. "Liam! Stop coddling her and get over here. This is why the wolfless should never hold ranks; they're weak and attention grabbers. Forget the cake, we'll just serve the petit fours instead." "Coming." He hesitated, then pressed a kiss to my temple. "We'll talk later." I remained crouched in the foyer of the packhouse as another wave of pain, this one far deeper than physical, crashed over me. Not a single pack member had asked why I looked like I'd been in a car wreck, why I'd been crying. From the other room where everyone gathered, the opening chords of "Happy Birthday" floated toward me. Each syrupy note felt like another papercut to my heart. It hit me suddenly—I hadn't celebrated a birthday since mating into the Alpha family, not once, though my own fell just days apart from Breanne's. And Liam had known this; he made a joke about the coincidence of his two best gals' being birthday buddies, but mine was always overshadowed. He quickly forgot about mine. I wiped my cheeks, giving myself a self-mocking smile. I should have known better than to hope for something more than what I already received. As the sun dipped low, I rose, my shadow stretching lonely behind me. Without a word, I climbed the stairs and clicked the bedroom door shut of the Alpha suite. Under the bathroom's harsh lighting, I peeled off my ruined dress and threw it in the trash. Steam fogged the mirrors as I scrubbed at skin that still felt dirty from the rogue's hands. I stayed under the scalding water until my fingers pruned. Wrapped in an oversized robe, I sat curled on the window seat watching party lights twinkle below until the last guest departed. At 11:00 PM, the bedroom door finally creaked open. I didn't turn when Liam's familiar cologne filled the room. I heard him hang up his jacket, then felt his whiskey-warm hands on my shoulders. "Happy anniversary, my beautiful, stunning mate." His lips brushed my ear. "Guess what I got you?" I shrugged him off. "I honestly don't care." He knelt before me, producing a velvet box with the flourish of a magician. "I had this carved from that Eclipse Stone rough. It is rumoured to help awaken latent wolfen spirits, strengthen auras and bring new beginnings.” Liam fastened the pendant around my neck. The cold stone settled between my chest like a brand. "Stunning." He kissed the hollow of my throat. "I was thinking that it’s been three years since we mated, and you have done so well proving yourself to me and this pack. I want us to now try for a pup. Bring this pack a new heir.” "Yeah, that’s not happening," I rejected the idea instantly. His chuckle was dark velvet. "You won't have to lift a finger, darling. I'll do all the—" "Liam." I met his gaze for the first time that night. “I want to submit an official request to break our mate bond!” Chapter 2 This Time, His Sweet Talk Won't Work My mind was made up before he finally came to our room. This wasn't like my previous impulsive threats in an attempt to get him to see the mistakes he was continuously making in our bond. This time, I was genuinely determined to leave. Three years of mateship flashed through my mind. I had lost count of how many times Liam had prioritized Breanne over my feelings or dismissed me because his mother said so. Who was his mate, and who was just a friend? I could no longer answer that question, and I was tired of trying to defend us. We weren’t bonded. Not the way the typical Alpha and mate were. It was usual for an Alpha never to leave his Luna’s side. She was his number one priority, even though the pack came second. The Alpha's mate was the heart of the pack and respected as an equal, but I was neither of those things. I haven’t been from the start. Breanne, even though she was briefly sent away, was still respected and noticed more than I could even hope for. If someone kept treating you in ways you disliked, it was because you allowed it. I had let it slide every other time. But today, Liam had crossed my final line. This day was our third anniversary. I didn’t care that he forgot my birthday, dinners, or events we planned together. I did, however, care about this milestone moment. A promise he made was long forgotten. This was that tipping point for my patience. “Really, Claire? You are threatening to reject our mate bond again? Don't say that every time you're upset, sweetheart. I was wrong about today. I'll make it up to you tomorrow." My eyes showed no emotion. “Don't bother. Not everything can be made up, and you can only backburner your mate for so long before she grows tired of being at the bottom of the priorities, Liam.” "Of course, this can be fixed. There's always next year. We will have a pup by then, and you will have long forgotten this little hiccup and tantrum." Liam pushed me down onto the sofa, kissing my face tenderly. With my hands pinned above my head, I wasn’t able to push him off. He expected the topic of having pups would appease me and calm my boiling anger. I had had enough of his nonsense and non-committal ways. I stared blankly at the ceiling as tears unexpectedly rolled down my cheeks. I lay like a dead weight. In the past, whenever we would fight or I would throw a tantrum, as Liam would title it, all he would do was use the mate bond against me. His kisses, his touch, his desires would wear me down, and I would accept his hollowed words of apology and his flashy gifts as though they meant something more than pacifying childish behaviour, in his mind. But this time, even though he held me down and I couldn’t resist, I was also not participating or encouraging him to continue. He was so self-absorbed that he couldn’t even realize that I wasn’t a willing participant. I was motionless, soundless, non-responsive. As Liam kept kissing me, his hands touched every part of my bruised body, utterly unaware of the pain he was inflicting both physically and emotionally. I felt his body suddenly freeze at the sound of a whimpered sob that slipped out of me. He looked out with hooded eyes, which quickly sobered and turned serious when he saw the tears in my eyes. His expression was frozen in panic. "Baby, why are you crying?" He quickly turned on the light. "Wait—you seemed off when you came home. Did something happen?" Finally, he remembered, but the damage between us was already done. My heart twisted, wishing that it didn’t take crying while he wanted sex to cover his mistakes for him to notice something was wrong. At the thought of how much distance was between us, more tears fell. Under the light, Liam finally saw the slight swelling on my face, the scratches on my arms and body, and the deep gash on my right leg with dried blood. His pupils contracted. "What happened?" I could sense his wolf stirring under the surface. It was clear that someone had hurt me, but they were only now realizing it. Just as I opened my mouth, his phone rang. I looked at the screen and rolled my eyes. Of course, it was Breanne. Liam sighed and offered a small apologetic smile before he answered in front of me. "Breanne, what's wrong?" "Liam, I think I ate something bad. My stomach hurts so much. Can you take me to the hospital?" Breanne's sugary voice came through. Liam automatically started to agree. I could see his eyes widen with panic at the thought that she was in pain. But right before he responded, he looked at me and my reddened, tear-filled eyes. "It's late. Claire and I are already in bed. Ask Mom if there's any medicine at home." Stephanie's sharp voice interrupted, "Liam, come now! This isn't ordinary pain. It could be appendicitis! She's pale as a ghost!" Liam's brow furrowed. "Fine. I'm coming." My heart sank like a stone. I shook my head in disbelief and turned away, refusing to meet his eyes. Yet again, I was pushed aside. Liam dressed quickly but hesitated at the door. After a long moment, he took my hand. "You're hurt too. Come with me, we'll get you checked at the hospital." That single word, "too", cut like a knife. I laughed dryly. "No need. Go ahead, play hero for another woman. If your mate's pain is less important than staying and understanding what happened, then your friend who has a stomach ache, don’t bother dragging me around like an accessory with false concern. I'd rather be alone." Liam stiffened. He opened his mouth to speak, but the phone kept ringing insistently. Finally, he sighed and pressed his black card into my hand. "Buy whatever you want. Consider it an apology." The door slammed shut. I weighed the card in my palm and smiled bitterly. Liam only ever had two ways to appease me—sex or money. It used to work. I fooled myself into believing it meant he cared, that he wasn’t good with expressing emotions, but I saw it for what it was now. This time, his sweet talk won't work. I walked to the closet and in the back corner, I pulled out my old suitcase. Inside was the most valuable thing I owned. My freedom. It was an official Rejection agreement signed the night before our mating. Back then, Liam had insisted on accepting our mate bond despite his family's objections. Afraid of being trapped in a toxic pack and mating, I had made him sign this; if I ever wanted to break the bond, he had to agree unconditionally. I thought we’d never need it. Liam had probably forgotten it existed. But I hadn't. During one fight, I had even consulted a lawyer who confirmed its validity. I could file for an official rejection of the bond with just this document and 30 days cooling-off period. Since he had already signed it, there was no need for Liam's consent for me to file it now. The Elders within the Council would perform the rejection ceremony within their own chambers. There was no need for either of us to be present. That was typically why Alphas refrained from preemptively signing these types of contracts. It relinquished control without their knowledge. Now was the time. Chapter 3 The Breaking Point I didn't sleep all night; I couldn’t. Instead, I spent those hours cutting up every photograph of us together. There weren’t many, I realized. My phone was filled with pictures of Liam whenever I could sneak photos when he was distracted or busy. He was honestly an Adonis of a man. But three years together, we had exactly twenty-three pictures of us together as a couple, and only thirteen of those were just Liam and me. The remaining ten were with Breanne. I snuck downstairs before anyone else woke up and went into Liam's office. There on the desk was a picture. It was of him and Breanne, hugging and smiling into the camera. They looked happy. Too happy. My inner bitter bitch was vomiting at the sight. On the other side of the desk was a picture of the three of us. That's right, not me and my mate. It was Breanne pressed against Liam's side, smiling up at him, and I was smiling at the camera on the other side. My arm was linked around his, and he was smiling, but for which female in the picture, your guess was as good as mine. I took the picture out of the frame, and bent it so that I was folded to the back. There, now he had two perfect couple pictures of him and Breanne. I will simply bow out of this weird three-way relationship. By dawn, I had already filed the official rejection agreement papers at the Council's registry office. Then I donated all the designer outfits Liam had bought me to charity. Afterward, I drove out of the pack grounds for a few hours to pawn every piece of jewelry he'd ever given me at the local broker's. I didn’t want it getting back to Liam, or the pack gossip mill to run rampant with their own speculations. Not yet anyway. It was a surprisingly large chunk of money in return, one thing I knew for sure about Liam. When he was grovelling for his indifferences and mistakes, he never cheaped out on the apology jewelry. The broker didn’t have the full amount on hand, so I opted to have it wired, which worked fine for me. I opened a new bank account and provided them with the necessary information. I returned to the packhouse early that afternoon. I had requested that the gardener cut down the Cherry Blossom tree in the pack’s courtyard. He was ordered to burn every branch and leaf until only ashes remained. When I agreed to mate with Liam, I had my reservations because his family didn’t support their Alpha heir accepting the bond to a wolfless orphan with average financial standings. Liam planted the tree as a token of his pledge of devotion to us and our bond. I fell for it, thinking it would make us stronger. But I was wrong. By late afternoon, I had either sold, donated or destroyed every token of Liam and his devotion to me and our bond: everything but the Eclipse stone pendant. Some legends state that the Moon Goddess herself blessed the eclipse stone to strengthen the will of the wolfless. Call me a fool, but it still served as a sliver of proof that at some point, he did care enough to seek out the stone for me. Now that everything was removed, it was time for me to step out and prepare everything for my new life after this month-long cooldown period ended, and I was no longer the unwanted mate of Alpha Liam Sterling. I knew I had to be smart and figure out my path now, as I had no family to turn to once the rejection was completed. When I was seven, my father had disappeared after a mountain climbing accident. It was speculated that rogues were involved, as they were heavy in the area at the time. My mother re-mated not long afterwards, and we became part of the Thorne family. They were the overlords, if you will, of the Crown of Thornes Pack, rivals of The Sterling Moon pack and next door neighbours to the territory. My mother left the Thorne family after accusations and rumours of her infidelity and gambling debts. I didn’t believe it, but it seemed that everyone else did. I had no idea where she even went. She certainly didn’t seek me out after she left that night, abandoning me. The only person who would even be considered family at this point was Lucien Thorne. He was my former stepbrother from my mother's second mating. However, Lucien was notorious for his short temper, and he constantly mistreated me while we lived under the same roof, so I would sooner wind up homeless than seek his help. The heat of Liam’s black card was burning a hole in my pocket, serving as a reminder of his literal words: “Buy whatever you want and consider it as an apology.” Okay! I will. I went to the bank and after the teller spoke with the branch manager to confirm my approval of using the Alpha’s account for a withdrawal, yup, that's right, I held no status, so I wasn’t even recognized with authority over our marital account; I withdrew one million dollars from his account. It was insulting and frustrating to know that Breanne can walk in here and not have as many hoops to jump through to get at my mate’s money. But that’s fine. I have already started to let go of my hold on him emotionally. My head has already done so. As I waited for the teller to return with the funds, my phone rang. Liyah Cruz. She was my closest friend before I accepted the bond with Liam. Liam didn’t like her influence on me, as he put it, so over the years, our friendship became strained. For her to be reaching out and calling me now, it had to be important. "Liyah? What's wrong?" I answered right away. "Oh, thank the Goddess. Claire, the International Equestrian Championships start in a month, but I just got injured during training." Liyah's voice was thick with disappointment. "Claire, you were the most talented rider we knew. I could think of no one else to take over. Could you compete in my place?" The memories came flooding back. Had I not mated with Liam, I might have become as renowned as Liyah in equestrian circles. But Liam had disapproved of me riding; he often called it unladylike. He'd gone as far as going behind my back and selling my beloved white stallion, Mirage, to a good owner, cutting off my last connection to the sport. The silence stretched until Liyah sighed. "I forgot your mate doesn't allow—" "I'll do it," I interrupted. "One month. I'll be ready." Liyah's excited squeal pierced through the receiver. "Really? Oh my Goddess! Everyone always said you shouldn't have given up your talent for mating! You're finally coming back to us!" My hand trembled around the phone. Yes, before mating into the Sterling Moon pack and Alpha family, I had shone so brightly. Before Liam, I used to be many things. I was the university's star student—straight A's in every subject. A gifted painter, champion rider, runway model, master chef, and award-winning debater—there was nothing I couldn't excel at. But three years of mating had eroded it all. I hadn't touched a paintbrush in years. I have forgotten how to walk a runway, and even lost my sharp tongue in arguments—forced to submit to even my mate's family and house staff. Only my cooking skills remained polished because I have cooked for Liam every single day since the beginning of our bond acceptance. Only now did I realize how much of myself I had sacrificed. But it wasn't too late. I could still start over. This was that chance to start taking my life by the reins, so to speak, and returning to the Claire that used to walk proudly with her chin held high. Chapter 4 Meeting on Horseback I met Liyah at the stables we once rode at together. “Thank you, Claire-bear. I can’t believe you are actually here.” Liyah launched herself on top of me, despite her knee brace. I thought I understood what I gave up to be with Liam, my mate, but I didn’t understand a fraction of it. This crazy woman, who used to be my world, wrapped around me. How did I let him separate us? “It’s me who should thank you, Lee-Lee. I’ve missed you. I’m sorry. No more boys between us, I promise.” I sobbed. Liyah looked up, and I saw the understanding in her eyes. We both wiped our faces and laughed at our equally blotchy faces. “Okay, later, we'll discuss everything!” She looked at me with as much conviction as her tiny body could muster. I nodded and smiled. “But now, let me introduce you to Diva, my stallion. Just a warning, he lives up to the name periodically. I think it’s an adorable quirk for him and refuse to break it out of him. You’ll love him!” Liyah leads us to the stables, where we meet the horse. Liyah was right. We matched instantly. It isn’t easy for a shifter to bond with a stallion, but I never had those worries. I was always able to click with any animal, to the point where Liyah's brother spent a year calling me freaking snow white! I hated it, but he wasn’t wrong. I galloped across the equestrian field at dawn, the stallion I rode was kicking up dew as it raced toward the rising sun. Then I saw them. Liam and Breanne shared a white mare, ambling toward my direction. Breanne was dressed in her pristine white riding jodhpurs with the matching show coat, leaned back against Liam's chest. Liam's attire was the stark contrast of black on black. I watched him bend his head low, whispering something in Breanne’s ear, causing a fit of giggles from her. I had waited for him to return all night. When I had reached out and called him to ask if he would be returning that night, I was told, by him, that since Breanna needed an emergency appendectomy, he would not leave her side until she recovered. That was when I cut up our photos, burning them to ashes. As I watch them now, a question came to my mind, causing my brow to arch. When did appendectomy patients start riding horses the next day? My grip tightened on the reins just as Breanne spotted me. “Oh! Liam, how spooky. Doesn’t that woman look just like Claire!”At her teasing words, I watched as Liam's head snapped up. There, I sat astride my stallion, the tailored navy riding jacket accentuating my hourglass figure, my gaze glacial. I knew he felt it. Dismounting, Liam approached until he could only see the sharp angle of my jaw. "Sweetheart, since when do you ride? I thought you quit that. You should've told me you were coming." The memory of his and Breanne’s intimate pose churned my stomach. I pressed a hand to my mouth to keep from being sick at the thought before answering flatly. "Would you have answered if I called?" This acidic tone only emerged when I was furious. Liam's smile turned placating. "My fault—left my phone in the car. It turned out to be a false alarm about Breanne's appendix. Since she's competing in the International Equestrian Championships next month, I was only helping her practice." Breanne urged her mare forward, pouting. "Liam, why must we explain everything to her? Come back, we have more important things to focus on. You haven't finished teaching me." "An International Championship contender needs amateur instruction? How curious. I wonder if anyone else here is getting that kind of coaching? But, Liam, if she requires coaching, I'll do it." As Liam turned, my voice froze him. Liam’s expression initially fell flat at my words, but he quickly brightened at my offer. "Exactly! Breanne, Claire won that championship years ago." 'How touching that he finally remembered I have value,' I thought bitterly. Breanne bit her lip. "But—" After years together, I knew Breanne’s games. She wasn’t as nervous on a horse as she portrayed. It was all an act for Liam. "No buts." I raised my riding crop. "Let's ride." The crop came down on Breanne's mare, which bolted forward with a whinny as Breanne shrieked. Liam paled. "Claire! She wasn't ready—" "Real trainers surprise their students." My amber eyes glinted. “Your coddling would've kept her mediocre forever.” Dust sprayed Liam's face as I galloped after Breanne, leaving him standing there, cheeks burning as if slapped. Good. This was just the beginning of my resistance. Breanne and I raced across the field. Though I was starting late, my black stallion, Diva, was not one to be outshone, and we soon overtook Breanne's white mare. For three years, Breanne had only seen the docile, obedient Claire. This commanding version, I’m sure, was unnerving. I could hear her growling, which, to be honest, was only slowing her own horse down. Her mare would not be able to focus on a race, with its rider losing its hold over herself. It was bound to spook her mare soon, and if she weren’t careful, she would get bucked. But as the saying goes, not my circus, not my monkeys. Diva and I were focused on ourselves. I could sense Breanne's determination to beat me. But, no matter how she pushed her champion mare, I remained ahead. As Diva and I passed her again, I caught a flash of movement from Breanne out of the corner of my eye. She pulled a hairpin out of her pocket and hurled it at Diva. That hairpin had been a gift from her friend at her birthday party, and she had been keeping it close to her chest just now. It was made of silver, and the sharp end drove hard into Diva's rump. Diva was instantly startled. Despite my expert handling and calming charm, which I have often used in the past to soothe a panicked horse, Diva threw me. I felt the gnash from the rock sticking out from the ground, which I hit my head on. The impact sending black spots across my vision—and a cry in absolute agony. My abdominal area pinched and screamed with a sharp and sudden pain like nothing I have ever felt before. There was blood on my hand when I touched it. I needed to get up. I needed to get back and get medical help because I knew Breanne wasn’t going to get me any. As I tried to push myself up off the ground with one hand, while the other was wrapped tightly around my stomach, still crying in sheer pain, a polished boot came forcefully down, cracking the bones in my hand. "Ah—!" The pain forced a gasp through clenched teeth. Chapter 5 The Two-Faced Woman "Claire, weren't you so impressive on horseback just now? How did you end up on the ground so fast?" Breanne crouched down, blinking her wide, innocent-looking eyes as she taunted me, pressing her boot harder against my hand, breaking the bones. She knew I was wolfless, and the pain she was causing; this was why she was doing it. To send me a message. I was hoping someone would come and find us, but the odds of this far from the training grounds were unlikely. "Oh my, I'm so sorry!" Breanne feigned surprise, finally lifting her foot with exaggerated remorse. "I didn't even see your hand there. How careless of me." “It’s to be expected with those massive feet of yours. What is that a size ten in men's?” I watched her eyes flash in anger briefly before she reined it back in. I yanked my hand back, and when Breanne reached out to help me up. I would always refuse her help; it was always a ploy for something worse. When she tried again, I recoiled, pushing myself up to my feet with gritted teeth. "Claire, that must've hurt. With riding skills like yours, how could you possibly think you were qualified to teach me?" Breanne smirked. "Only a fool would believe such a pitiful act, Breanne.” I glared, refusing to back down. "Oh, please. Can't accept that you're just not as good as I am? No wonder Liam doesn't like you much—you're such a sore loser." Breanne let out a mocking laugh. Breanne wasn’t hiding her petty, vindictive behaviour. She wanted me to know her intentions of returning and that she hadn't forgiven me for having her exiled. The reason Breanne was sent away a year ago was that I had walked in on her and Liam in the throes of passion. They were both half-naked and stuck to each other. Liam seemed to snap out of his daze the moment I entered the room and yanked Breanne off him. The thud of her head to the edge of the dresser brought out her wolf, and warriors nearby who heard the yelling managed to catch Breanne just in time before she could attack me. Liam sobered up instantly and demanded answers. Breanne played the confused card. That, like Liam, she had drunk a little too much at the pack celebration. She must have gotten confused about which floor she was on and passed out in mine and his bedroom, thinking it was hers. After all, his scent calms her, so she made sure to add that part—one extra little jab between Liam and me. Liam swore up and down that he was confused and thought it was me under the covers in bed. That, with the amount of wolfwine he had consumed, he didn’t realize it wasn’t me until my scent entered the room, and his wolf halted their action immediately recognizing their error. I moved to a different room, and Liam tried to separate himself from Breanne. Then he learned that Breanne approached me afterward and told me that Liam was aware it was her. After all, why would they confuse their mates? Unfortunately for Breanne, she did it in front of a witness, and they told several others, which led Liam to ask me about it. I confirmed that I knew he was aware that it was Breanne, as she told me so herself, and that I wanted to break the bond if he didn’t send her away as proof of his devotion to the mates' bond. I could see that he didn’t want to, but Liam was also someone who cared too much about image to have the wolfen community know that he lost his true mate over the Beta’s daughter affair scandal. With the third wheel gone, our mate bond had finally stabilized. I had hoped to start trying for a pup on our anniversary after I was announced as the new Luna of the Sterling Moon pack. But now Breanne was back, something of which Liam failed to inform me—especially considering it nearly ended us only a year ago. His lack of consideration over that confused me. Did his wolf also agree with this decision? Surely his wolf would realize better than Liam that this would ultimately bring out the bond to an end. "Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about," I said coolly. "But don't worry. I'll be out of your way soon. Then you two can do whatever you want." I turned away, whistling sharply for my horse. Breanne's face flushed crimson. She grabbed my arm and pressed her fingers deep into the flesh. “What the hell are you implying? What plans could I possibly have?” "You know exactly what I mean. But just a heads-up—mistresses in ranked mate bonds are illegal without Elder consent. And bastard pups tend to be shunned by packs altogether. So think carefully." Breanne's face went scarlet. "You—you're disgusting! How dare you accuse me and Liam of—" The sound of galloping hooves cut her off. Her eyes widened as though she hadn't expected us to be interrupted so soon. I turned to the sound of approaching Hooves, which gave Breanne time to growl her threat before she partially shifted and lunged at me with the intent to maul me where I stood. A chill ran down my spine—only to be overshadowed by the thunderous sound of a horse's disapproving whinny. Next thing I knew, Breanne was whimpering on the ground, crying in sheer agony as a scarred, filthy white stallion trampled her. My breath hitched, my eyes widened in disbelief. I knew this stallion. And then I saw it—the faint brown patch on the stallion's head. My blood turned to ice. No. It can’t be. "Mirage?" My voice cracked. The horse stopped mid-stomp, ears twitching. The sound of my voice stopped the Stallion from continuing its attack on Breanne, who had now reverted to her bruised human state, no longer partially shifted. The Stallion turned and looked at me. "Mirage!" I choked out, rushing forward to grab the reins. "It's really you!" I hadn't summoned my borrowed stallion. I had summoned him. My champion. My partner. My horse that Liam sold from under me, promising he went to a good home. Now, his coat was matted, his skin was patchy with disease, and his body was crisscrossed with whip marks. He was abused. Mirage had once been a regal, snow-white stallion, bought at auction by the Thornes. He had carried me to victory in countless competitions. He wasn't just a horse. He was my family. One of the most precious things I had. It took everything in me to forgive him for going behind my back and forcing me to stop riding by selling Mirage off in the first place, but it helped soothe the pain to know that at least he was being taken care of wherever he was. Liam had promised he'd be cared for. He lied. He looked me in the eye and lied to my face. He gave Mirage to a home that had continuously abused and neglected him. These wounds were a combination of old and recent. This was what Liam considered a good home? Tears burned my eyes as I ran my hands over his ruined coat. My heart was breaking. The abuse Mirage would have been enduring all this time, thinking I abandoned him. "Claire! Breanne!" Liam's voice cut through the air as another set of hooves approached. Chapter 6 The Fall The injuries and now Mirage, I was breaking inside and now outside. Just as my knees gave way, a firm hand caught my arm. "What took you so long out here? Are you all right?" Liam's voice, usually so tender, sounded distant in my ears. Through my tears, I turned to confront him about Mirage's condition, but Breanne's weak whimper cut through the air. "Liam.” She whimpered weakly. “Please, help me,” she pleaded. Liam stiffened as if struck. He released me immediately, like he was catching fire at just the mere touch of me. I staggered from the sudden loss of assistance and contact from my mate, and watched in disbelief as his attention snapped to Breanne's crumpled form on the ground. "Breanne!" His eyes reddened as he gathered her into his arms, cradling her close to her chest, "Oh my Goddess, what happened? How did this—?" I watched as he gently wiped away the tears staining her cheek. His eyes began to mist up. It was as though I were watching a live-action romance. The long-lost lover, dying in her beloved's arms. It would have been touching if it wasn't for the fact that that was my mate, holding another woman so tenderly while I stood five feet from them in significantly more pain. "Claire couldn't handle her horse. When I offered to help her back up, she then turned it around and blamed me! When I tried to explain I wasn’t at fault, she set that wretched beast on me!" Breanne's tears fell like broken pearls. Her voice grew faint as she added dramatically, "Liam, please, I can't feel my legs. What if I never walk again?" Liam's expression darkened as he listened to Breanne’s version of events. He turned to me with a sudden coldness I had never seen before. "Is this true?" He growled in anger, clutching Breanne closer to him protectively. A searing pain tore through my abdomen before I could respond. I cried out at the suddenness of it, and clutched my stomach, gasping through clenched teeth as metallic bile rose in my throat. Liam didn’t even flinch at the sight of my obvious pain before him. "I'm taking Breanne to the hospital," he said coldly. "If you did this, Claire—" He left the threat hanging as he cradled Breanne closer. I have never heard of an Alpha, or any rank member in my school studies or observations, threatening his mates and Luna over just a friend. It was against Wolfen code and ethics, but I suppose that didn’t matter to Liam or the Sterling Moon pack. This was going to become a regular occurrence, I could already sense it. I watched through blurred vision as Breanne gave one last performance. "Liam, I—" Her eyelids fluttered shut with theatrical perfection. "Bree-Bree! Stay with me! Please don’t leave me, baby. I’m here. Don’t you dare leave me!" Liam shouted, already running partially shifted into his wolf to allow himself to cradle her and use his Alpha wolf strength and speed at the same time. Behind him, I collapsed with a thud that echoed across the field. I briefly saw Liam hesitate mid-stride—just for a second. Regardless, he didn’t turn around at the sound of my collapse and shallow, laboured breaths. I watched as they continued to run away with Breanne in their arms, leaving me where I lay. My heart broke, even though I had filed and decided to leave both Liam and this horrible pack; a small part of me still held onto a sliver of hope that Liam would see the path he was taking and how far it was from us. But he didn’t, and that was when everything went dark for me. ***** When I regained consciousness, the sterile glare of surgical lights assaulted my vision. Cold metal instruments clinked nearby as my legs were positioned apart. I tried to speak, but the drugs held me paralyzed. The doctors' voices floated above me like ghosts. I could sense the movements around me, but I was awake, unable to move, feel, or speak. It was a surreal experience, but oddly familiar to my life since I had mated with the Sterling family. Nothing more than an ornament on the wall to all, including my mate. "Such a shame—two months along. Who goes horseback riding when they're pregnant?" "The fall detached the embryo completely. Must have been quite the impact. She is lucky to be alive." "Without a wolf, another hour, and she wouldn’t have been." "That man who brought her in—was that her husband? He was colder than a block of ice, but as Handsome as the Devil himself. Can’t say much about their mateship part, he simply paid the bill and left without a word." "Enough chatter. Let’s finish this up before she hemorrhages." Each medical term floating to my ears—pregnancy, embryo, hemorrhage, dilation and curettage—pierced my drugged haze like silver blades to the heart. The one that stuck out the most was broken. I knew they were talking about my hand, but it was so much deeper than that. I felt broken. I lost my pup. Until recently, I would have loved to have Liam and my first pup. Everything about us seemed happy and together, but now, it seemed symbolic to lose the pups I never knew I had. I was losing a mate I should never have had to fight this hard to keep. Everything was perfect until I saw it was all a smoke screen and not meant to be. Just like this pup. False hope. I struggled against the numbness, but my body refused to obey. Something sharp scraped inside me, painless but violating. The crushing weight of realization dragged me under before I could scream, I was once again enveloped by empty darkness. "Claire ... Claire ..." Time lost all meaning. A distant voice called my name while someone shook my arm. With monumental effort, I forced my eyes open. Once again, the antiseptic glare of hospital lights assaulted my vision—I was in a hospital room.
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"""Please, Liam, I just lost our baby. Don't let them take my blood."" My voice was barely a whisper, my body still trembling from the surgery—from the emptiness where our child used to be. But my husband didn't even look at me. His gaze was fixed on the ER doors, where doctors shouted about Breanne's critical blood loss. Breanne Telder. The Beta's daughter. His best friend. The woman he swore was""just like a sister.” The same woman who caused the fall that cost me our pup. ""She's RH-negative and we're out of stock. Find donors—now!"" The surgeon said urgently. ""Take hers."" Liam's arm slid around my waist—not to comfort me, not to hold me—but to push me forward like an offering.""Wolfless born shifters are universal donors. Her blood will save Breanne."" I froze as if struck by lightning, my disbelieving eyes lifting to meet his. Did he and his wolf even realize what they'd done? They didn't have to say the rejection—offering their mate's blood to another woman screamed it loud enough. ""Liam,"" I managed to whisper, ""I just lost our pup—"" ""Spare me the lies. I am done believing you!"" His eyes were cold steel. ""Breanne's life comes first right now."" The words cut deeper than any blade. I straightened, ignoring the spinning in my head, every inch of me trembling but unbroken. ""You've made your choice, Liam. And after today…"" my voice didn't crack this time ""I'll make mine."" The doctor's hand gripped my arm, leading me toward the blood lab. ""I'll donate the blood,"" I didn't fight it. ""But in return, you will agree to end our mate bond.”" ***** Chapter 1 Dropping the Mate I stood at the gate of the Sterling Moon Packhouse, clutching a cake box that had begun to melt in the summer heat. My usually pristine blonde hair was now stuck to my neck and face in damp strands, and my designer dress was now ruined with mud and swamp stains. I hadn't meant to arrive at my third mating anniversary looking like I had been dragged through a hedge backward and then tossed in the swamp lands beyond the pack grounds. But then again, being cornered and ambushed by rogues, conveniently knowing my whereabouts without an escort or protection, wasn't exactly part of my agenda either. A mysterious yet heroic stranger had rescued me and driven me back to the edge of my mate’s pack territory when Liam Sterling, my mate and the pack's Alpha, hadn't answered any of my fifteen frantic calls. I had almost convinced myself he was simply busy orchestrating some grand anniversary surprise. That had to be it. Otherwise, why else would he send me out alone for the cake retrieval and then not bother to answer my calls? I quickened my pace toward the entrance of the packhouse, not wanting to delay the celebration any longer than I already had. I rounded the corner only to stop dead at the sight before me. The entire packhouse had been transformed with floral arches, helium balloons, and an enormous banner. My fingers tightened around the cake box. I had doubts about walking into the grand hall; perhaps I should slip upstairs to change first. Then Liam's familiar voice called out. "There's my beautiful mate! Took you long enough, sweetheart. Everyone's waiting for the cake. Were the directions not clear enough?" He teased, not taking in the dishevelled state of my appearance or the fact that my smile didn’t reach my eyes. He often failed to see me. I looked up to find my mate looking devastatingly handsome in a white Tom Ford suit, his gray waistcoat accentuating those broad shoulders I used to trace my fingers over. He hadn't dressed like this for me in years. I pushed aside the gnawing doubts starting to fill my heart and embraced the fact that he was trying to make things right. This was not the time to voice my disappointments with his lack of attention or concern. We're here to celebrate our mate bond with the pack. This was also the year that he promised to swear me in as the official Luna, to lead by his side. Three years of proving myself capable despite not having a wolf of my own, and now here we were. My lips began curving into a smile despite myself. Maybe the rogues and the ambush, the ruined dress, the ignored calls—perhaps none of it mattered now that I was home. Liam would keep me safe, and we were going to announce that I was stepping into a role that should have been mine when we first mated. "Liam, I was just—" I was about to explain the rogues, the ambush, the mysterious saviour, but was cut off mid-sentence. "Liam! Is that my cake?" A shrill voice interrupted as Breanne Telder materialized behind Liam, looping her arm through his as though it was where she belonged. She was Liam’s father's Beta’s daughter. Otherwise known as the third wheel in our relationship and the pick me girl that Liam always did. She was also not supposed to be here. She was sent away a while ago, and Liam promised to focus solely on us. "You flew me home just for this birthday surprise? Best Alpha bestie ever!" The cake box slipped from my fingers, landing with a sickening splat on the custom marble flooring beneath me. The same flooring I wanted to either swallow me or Breanna up in this moment. Birthday surprise? What the hell did that mean? Those two words echoed in my skull like gunshots. For weeks, I had known Liam was planning something secretive. The custom-ordered flowers were delivered under the cover of darkness. The expensive Eclipse Stone rough he'd purchased at auction. All those whispered phone calls I had pretended not to hear. It all led to this moment, but it wasn’t the moment I had expected. I had woven every scrap of evidence into fantasies of candlelit vows renewed, of Liam dropping to one knee all over again. Even when he hadn't picked up during my attack from rogues, I had made excuses for him. Now Breanne's smug smile shattered those delusions like a hammer through stained glass. "What the hell were you thinking, Claire?" Stephanie Sterling's razor-sharp heels clicked across the flooring as she advanced. "We've been waiting two hours for that cake! You can’t do one single task; no wonder you will never be Luna material for the Sterling Moon pack." Stephanie was Liam's mother. From the moment I mated into the Alpha family, Stephanie had made no secret of her dislike; she was the reason Liam was convinced to hold off and force me to prove myself as Luna material. Over time, that contempt had only grown bolder, more vicious, no longer even pretending to hide it. Failing to see Liam, their Alpha, standing up for me, much of the pack started to support and see the validity in the points that their retired Luna was making. My hands shook. "This was supposed to be our anniversary party." Liam caught my elbow and steered me out of the room for privacy. "Baby, I'd planned a surprise for you, but Breanne asked for a pack-wide birthday celebration when she returned, so—" "So, instead of standing up for your mate, yet again, you conceded and did what they wanted. It’s fine for me to be let down, but not her? Message received, Liam." I wrenched my arm free, the movement sending fresh pain through my bruised ribs from the attack. I doubled over with a gasp. Before Liam could reach for me, Stephanie's voice sliced through the garden again. "Liam! Stop coddling her and get over here. This is why the wolfless should never hold ranks; they're weak and attention grabbers. Forget the cake, we'll just serve the petit fours instead." "Coming." He hesitated, then pressed a kiss to my temple. "We'll talk later." I remained crouched in the foyer of the packhouse as another wave of pain, this one far deeper than physical, crashed over me. Not a single pack member had asked why I looked like I'd been in a car wreck, why I'd been crying. From the other room where everyone gathered, the opening chords of "Happy Birthday" floated toward me. Each syrupy note felt like another papercut to my heart. It hit me suddenly—I hadn't celebrated a birthday since mating into the Alpha family, not once, though my own fell just days apart from Breanne's. And Liam had known this; he made a joke about the coincidence of his two best gals' being birthday buddies, but mine was always overshadowed. He quickly forgot about mine. I wiped my cheeks, giving myself a self-mocking smile. I should have known better than to hope for something more than what I already received. As the sun dipped low, I rose, my shadow stretching lonely behind me. Without a word, I climbed the stairs and clicked the bedroom door shut of the Alpha suite. Under the bathroom's harsh lighting, I peeled off my ruined dress and threw it in the trash. Steam fogged the mirrors as I scrubbed at skin that still felt dirty from the rogue's hands. I stayed under the scalding water until my fingers pruned. Wrapped in an oversized robe, I sat curled on the window seat watching party lights twinkle below until the last guest departed. At 11:00 PM, the bedroom door finally creaked open. I didn't turn when Liam's familiar cologne filled the room. I heard him hang up his jacket, then felt his whiskey-warm hands on my shoulders. "Happy anniversary, my beautiful, stunning mate." His lips brushed my ear. "Guess what I got you?" I shrugged him off. "I honestly don't care." He knelt before me, producing a velvet box with the flourish of a magician. "I had this carved from that Eclipse Stone rough. It is rumoured to help awaken latent wolfen spirits, strengthen auras and bring new beginnings.” Liam fastened the pendant around my neck. The cold stone settled between my chest like a brand. "Stunning." He kissed the hollow of my throat. "I was thinking that it’s been three years since we mated, and you have done so well proving yourself to me and this pack. I want us to now try for a pup. Bring this pack a new heir.” "Yeah, that’s not happening," I rejected the idea instantly. His chuckle was dark velvet. "You won't have to lift a finger, darling. I'll do all the—" "Liam." I met his gaze for the first time that night. “I want to submit an official request to break our mate bond!” Chapter 2 This Time, His Sweet Talk Won't Work My mind was made up before he finally came to our room. This wasn't like my previous impulsive threats in an attempt to get him to see the mistakes he was continuously making in our bond. This time, I was genuinely determined to leave. Three years of mateship flashed through my mind. I had lost count of how many times Liam had prioritized Breanne over my feelings or dismissed me because his mother said so. Who was his mate, and who was just a friend? I could no longer answer that question, and I was tired of trying to defend us. We weren’t bonded. Not the way the typical Alpha and mate were. It was usual for an Alpha never to leave his Luna’s side. She was his number one priority, even though the pack came second. The Alpha's mate was the heart of the pack and respected as an equal, but I was neither of those things. I haven’t been from the start. Breanne, even though she was briefly sent away, was still respected and noticed more than I could even hope for. If someone kept treating you in ways you disliked, it was because you allowed it. I had let it slide every other time. But today, Liam had crossed my final line. This day was our third anniversary. I didn’t care that he forgot my birthday, dinners, or events we planned together. I did, however, care about this milestone moment. A promise he made was long forgotten. This was that tipping point for my patience. “Really, Claire? You are threatening to reject our mate bond again? Don't say that every time you're upset, sweetheart. I was wrong about today. I'll make it up to you tomorrow." My eyes showed no emotion. “Don't bother. Not everything can be made up, and you can only backburner your mate for so long before she grows tired of being at the bottom of the priorities, Liam.” "Of course, this can be fixed. There's always next year. We will have a pup by then, and you will have long forgotten this little hiccup and tantrum." Liam pushed me down onto the sofa, kissing my face tenderly. With my hands pinned above my head, I wasn’t able to push him off. He expected the topic of having pups would appease me and calm my boiling anger. I had had enough of his nonsense and non-committal ways. I stared blankly at the ceiling as tears unexpectedly rolled down my cheeks. I lay like a dead weight. In the past, whenever we would fight or I would throw a tantrum, as Liam would title it, all he would do was use the mate bond against me. His kisses, his touch, his desires would wear me down, and I would accept his hollowed words of apology and his flashy gifts as though they meant something more than pacifying childish behaviour, in his mind. But this time, even though he held me down and I couldn’t resist, I was also not participating or encouraging him to continue. He was so self-absorbed that he couldn’t even realize that I wasn’t a willing participant. I was motionless, soundless, non-responsive. As Liam kept kissing me, his hands touched every part of my bruised body, utterly unaware of the pain he was inflicting both physically and emotionally. I felt his body suddenly freeze at the sound of a whimpered sob that slipped out of me. He looked out with hooded eyes, which quickly sobered and turned serious when he saw the tears in my eyes. His expression was frozen in panic. "Baby, why are you crying?" He quickly turned on the light. "Wait—you seemed off when you came home. Did something happen?" Finally, he remembered, but the damage between us was already done. My heart twisted, wishing that it didn’t take crying while he wanted sex to cover his mistakes for him to notice something was wrong. At the thought of how much distance was between us, more tears fell. Under the light, Liam finally saw the slight swelling on my face, the scratches on my arms and body, and the deep gash on my right leg with dried blood. His pupils contracted. "What happened?" I could sense his wolf stirring under the surface. It was clear that someone had hurt me, but they were only now realizing it. Just as I opened my mouth, his phone rang. I looked at the screen and rolled my eyes. Of course, it was Breanne. Liam sighed and offered a small apologetic smile before he answered in front of me. "Breanne, what's wrong?" "Liam, I think I ate something bad. My stomach hurts so much. Can you take me to the hospital?" Breanne's sugary voice came through. Liam automatically started to agree. I could see his eyes widen with panic at the thought that she was in pain. But right before he responded, he looked at me and my reddened, tear-filled eyes. "It's late. Claire and I are already in bed. Ask Mom if there's any medicine at home." Stephanie's sharp voice interrupted, "Liam, come now! This isn't ordinary pain. It could be appendicitis! She's pale as a ghost!" Liam's brow furrowed. "Fine. I'm coming." My heart sank like a stone. I shook my head in disbelief and turned away, refusing to meet his eyes. Yet again, I was pushed aside. Liam dressed quickly but hesitated at the door. After a long moment, he took my hand. "You're hurt too. Come with me, we'll get you checked at the hospital." That single word, "too", cut like a knife. I laughed dryly. "No need. Go ahead, play hero for another woman. If your mate's pain is less important than staying and understanding what happened, then your friend who has a stomach ache, don’t bother dragging me around like an accessory with false concern. I'd rather be alone." Liam stiffened. He opened his mouth to speak, but the phone kept ringing insistently. Finally, he sighed and pressed his black card into my hand. "Buy whatever you want. Consider it an apology." The door slammed shut. I weighed the card in my palm and smiled bitterly. Liam only ever had two ways to appease me—sex or money. It used to work. I fooled myself into believing it meant he cared, that he wasn’t good with expressing emotions, but I saw it for what it was now. This time, his sweet talk won't work. I walked to the closet and in the back corner, I pulled out my old suitcase. Inside was the most valuable thing I owned. My freedom. It was an official Rejection agreement signed the night before our mating. Back then, Liam had insisted on accepting our mate bond despite his family's objections. Afraid of being trapped in a toxic pack and mating, I had made him sign this; if I ever wanted to break the bond, he had to agree unconditionally. I thought we’d never need it. Liam had probably forgotten it existed. But I hadn't. During one fight, I had even consulted a lawyer who confirmed its validity. I could file for an official rejection of the bond with just this document and 30 days cooling-off period. Since he had already signed it, there was no need for Liam's consent for me to file it now. The Elders within the Council would perform the rejection ceremony within their own chambers. There was no need for either of us to be present. That was typically why Alphas refrained from preemptively signing these types of contracts. It relinquished control without their knowledge. Now was the time. Chapter 3 The Breaking Point I didn't sleep all night; I couldn’t. Instead, I spent those hours cutting up every photograph of us together. There weren’t many, I realized. My phone was filled with pictures of Liam whenever I could sneak photos when he was distracted or busy. He was honestly an Adonis of a man. But three years together, we had exactly twenty-three pictures of us together as a couple, and only thirteen of those were just Liam and me. The remaining ten were with Breanne. I snuck downstairs before anyone else woke up and went into Liam's office. There on the desk was a picture. It was of him and Breanne, hugging and smiling into the camera. They looked happy. Too happy. My inner bitter bitch was vomiting at the sight. On the other side of the desk was a picture of the three of us. That's right, not me and my mate. It was Breanne pressed against Liam's side, smiling up at him, and I was smiling at the camera on the other side. My arm was linked around his, and he was smiling, but for which female in the picture, your guess was as good as mine. I took the picture out of the frame, and bent it so that I was folded to the back. There, now he had two perfect couple pictures of him and Breanne. I will simply bow out of this weird three-way relationship. By dawn, I had already filed the official rejection agreement papers at the Council's registry office. Then I donated all the designer outfits Liam had bought me to charity. Afterward, I drove out of the pack grounds for a few hours to pawn every piece of jewelry he'd ever given me at the local broker's. I didn’t want it getting back to Liam, or the pack gossip mill to run rampant with their own speculations. Not yet anyway. It was a surprisingly large chunk of money in return, one thing I knew for sure about Liam. When he was grovelling for his indifferences and mistakes, he never cheaped out on the apology jewelry. The broker didn’t have the full amount on hand, so I opted to have it wired, which worked fine for me. I opened a new bank account and provided them with the necessary information. I returned to the packhouse early that afternoon. I had requested that the gardener cut down the Cherry Blossom tree in the pack’s courtyard. He was ordered to burn every branch and leaf until only ashes remained. When I agreed to mate with Liam, I had my reservations because his family didn’t support their Alpha heir accepting the bond to a wolfless orphan with average financial standings. Liam planted the tree as a token of his pledge of devotion to us and our bond. I fell for it, thinking it would make us stronger. But I was wrong. By late afternoon, I had either sold, donated or destroyed every token of Liam and his devotion to me and our bond: everything but the Eclipse stone pendant. Some legends state that the Moon Goddess herself blessed the eclipse stone to strengthen the will of the wolfless. Call me a fool, but it still served as a sliver of proof that at some point, he did care enough to seek out the stone for me. Now that everything was removed, it was time for me to step out and prepare everything for my new life after this month-long cooldown period ended, and I was no longer the unwanted mate of Alpha Liam Sterling. I knew I had to be smart and figure out my path now, as I had no family to turn to once the rejection was completed. When I was seven, my father had disappeared after a mountain climbing accident. It was speculated that rogues were involved, as they were heavy in the area at the time. My mother re-mated not long afterwards, and we became part of the Thorne family. They were the overlords, if you will, of the Crown of Thornes Pack, rivals of The Sterling Moon pack and next door neighbours to the territory. My mother left the Thorne family after accusations and rumours of her infidelity and gambling debts. I didn’t believe it, but it seemed that everyone else did. I had no idea where she even went. She certainly didn’t seek me out after she left that night, abandoning me. The only person who would even be considered family at this point was Lucien Thorne. He was my former stepbrother from my mother's second mating. However, Lucien was notorious for his short temper, and he constantly mistreated me while we lived under the same roof, so I would sooner wind up homeless than seek his help. The heat of Liam’s black card was burning a hole in my pocket, serving as a reminder of his literal words: “Buy whatever you want and consider it as an apology.” Okay! I will. I went to the bank and after the teller spoke with the branch manager to confirm my approval of using the Alpha’s account for a withdrawal, yup, that's right, I held no status, so I wasn’t even recognized with authority over our marital account; I withdrew one million dollars from his account. It was insulting and frustrating to know that Breanne can walk in here and not have as many hoops to jump through to get at my mate’s money. But that’s fine. I have already started to let go of my hold on him emotionally. My head has already done so. As I waited for the teller to return with the funds, my phone rang. Liyah Cruz. She was my closest friend before I accepted the bond with Liam. Liam didn’t like her influence on me, as he put it, so over the years, our friendship became strained. For her to be reaching out and calling me now, it had to be important. "Liyah? What's wrong?" I answered right away. "Oh, thank the Goddess. Claire, the International Equestrian Championships start in a month, but I just got injured during training." Liyah's voice was thick with disappointment. "Claire, you were the most talented rider we knew. I could think of no one else to take over. Could you compete in my place?" The memories came flooding back. Had I not mated with Liam, I might have become as renowned as Liyah in equestrian circles. But Liam had disapproved of me riding; he often called it unladylike. He'd gone as far as going behind my back and selling my beloved white stallion, Mirage, to a good owner, cutting off my last connection to the sport. The silence stretched until Liyah sighed. "I forgot your mate doesn't allow—" "I'll do it," I interrupted. "One month. I'll be ready." Liyah's excited squeal pierced through the receiver. "Really? Oh my Goddess! Everyone always said you shouldn't have given up your talent for mating! You're finally coming back to us!" My hand trembled around the phone. Yes, before mating into the Sterling Moon pack and Alpha family, I had shone so brightly. Before Liam, I used to be many things. I was the university's star student—straight A's in every subject. A gifted painter, champion rider, runway model, master chef, and award-winning debater—there was nothing I couldn't excel at. But three years of mating had eroded it all. I hadn't touched a paintbrush in years. I have forgotten how to walk a runway, and even lost my sharp tongue in arguments—forced to submit to even my mate's family and house staff. Only my cooking skills remained polished because I have cooked for Liam every single day since the beginning of our bond acceptance. Only now did I realize how much of myself I had sacrificed. But it wasn't too late. I could still start over. This was that chance to start taking my life by the reins, so to speak, and returning to the Claire that used to walk proudly with her chin held high. Chapter 4 Meeting on Horseback I met Liyah at the stables we once rode at together. “Thank you, Claire-bear. I can’t believe you are actually here.” Liyah launched herself on top of me, despite her knee brace. I thought I understood what I gave up to be with Liam, my mate, but I didn’t understand a fraction of it. This crazy woman, who used to be my world, wrapped around me. How did I let him separate us? “It’s me who should thank you, Lee-Lee. I’ve missed you. I’m sorry. No more boys between us, I promise.” I sobbed. Liyah looked up, and I saw the understanding in her eyes. We both wiped our faces and laughed at our equally blotchy faces. “Okay, later, we'll discuss everything!” She looked at me with as much conviction as her tiny body could muster. I nodded and smiled. “But now, let me introduce you to Diva, my stallion. Just a warning, he lives up to the name periodically. I think it’s an adorable quirk for him and refuse to break it out of him. You’ll love him!” Liyah leads us to the stables, where we meet the horse. Liyah was right. We matched instantly. It isn’t easy for a shifter to bond with a stallion, but I never had those worries. I was always able to click with any animal, to the point where Liyah's brother spent a year calling me freaking snow white! I hated it, but he wasn’t wrong. I galloped across the equestrian field at dawn, the stallion I rode was kicking up dew as it raced toward the rising sun. Then I saw them. Liam and Breanne shared a white mare, ambling toward my direction. Breanne was dressed in her pristine white riding jodhpurs with the matching show coat, leaned back against Liam's chest. Liam's attire was the stark contrast of black on black. I watched him bend his head low, whispering something in Breanne’s ear, causing a fit of giggles from her. I had waited for him to return all night. When I had reached out and called him to ask if he would be returning that night, I was told, by him, that since Breanna needed an emergency appendectomy, he would not leave her side until she recovered. That was when I cut up our photos, burning them to ashes. As I watch them now, a question came to my mind, causing my brow to arch. When did appendectomy patients start riding horses the next day? My grip tightened on the reins just as Breanne spotted me. “Oh! Liam, how spooky. Doesn’t that woman look just like Claire!”At her teasing words, I watched as Liam's head snapped up. There, I sat astride my stallion, the tailored navy riding jacket accentuating my hourglass figure, my gaze glacial. I knew he felt it. Dismounting, Liam approached until he could only see the sharp angle of my jaw. "Sweetheart, since when do you ride? I thought you quit that. You should've told me you were coming." The memory of his and Breanne’s intimate pose churned my stomach. I pressed a hand to my mouth to keep from being sick at the thought before answering flatly. "Would you have answered if I called?" This acidic tone only emerged when I was furious. Liam's smile turned placating. "My fault—left my phone in the car. It turned out to be a false alarm about Breanne's appendix. Since she's competing in the International Equestrian Championships next month, I was only helping her practice." Breanne urged her mare forward, pouting. "Liam, why must we explain everything to her? Come back, we have more important things to focus on. You haven't finished teaching me." "An International Championship contender needs amateur instruction? How curious. I wonder if anyone else here is getting that kind of coaching? But, Liam, if she requires coaching, I'll do it." As Liam turned, my voice froze him. Liam’s expression initially fell flat at my words, but he quickly brightened at my offer. "Exactly! Breanne, Claire won that championship years ago." 'How touching that he finally remembered I have value,' I thought bitterly. Breanne bit her lip. "But—" After years together, I knew Breanne’s games. She wasn’t as nervous on a horse as she portrayed. It was all an act for Liam. "No buts." I raised my riding crop. "Let's ride." The crop came down on Breanne's mare, which bolted forward with a whinny as Breanne shrieked. Liam paled. "Claire! She wasn't ready—" "Real trainers surprise their students." My amber eyes glinted. “Your coddling would've kept her mediocre forever.” Dust sprayed Liam's face as I galloped after Breanne, leaving him standing there, cheeks burning as if slapped. Good. This was just the beginning of my resistance. Breanne and I raced across the field. Though I was starting late, my black stallion, Diva, was not one to be outshone, and we soon overtook Breanne's white mare. For three years, Breanne had only seen the docile, obedient Claire. This commanding version, I’m sure, was unnerving. I could hear her growling, which, to be honest, was only slowing her own horse down. Her mare would not be able to focus on a race, with its rider losing its hold over herself. It was bound to spook her mare soon, and if she weren’t careful, she would get bucked. But as the saying goes, not my circus, not my monkeys. Diva and I were focused on ourselves. I could sense Breanne's determination to beat me. But, no matter how she pushed her champion mare, I remained ahead. As Diva and I passed her again, I caught a flash of movement from Breanne out of the corner of my eye. She pulled a hairpin out of her pocket and hurled it at Diva. That hairpin had been a gift from her friend at her birthday party, and she had been keeping it close to her chest just now. It was made of silver, and the sharp end drove hard into Diva's rump. Diva was instantly startled. Despite my expert handling and calming charm, which I have often used in the past to soothe a panicked horse, Diva threw me. I felt the gnash from the rock sticking out from the ground, which I hit my head on. The impact sending black spots across my vision—and a cry in absolute agony. My abdominal area pinched and screamed with a sharp and sudden pain like nothing I have ever felt before. There was blood on my hand when I touched it. I needed to get up. I needed to get back and get medical help because I knew Breanne wasn’t going to get me any. As I tried to push myself up off the ground with one hand, while the other was wrapped tightly around my stomach, still crying in sheer pain, a polished boot came forcefully down, cracking the bones in my hand. "Ah—!" The pain forced a gasp through clenched teeth. Chapter 5 The Two-Faced Woman "Claire, weren't you so impressive on horseback just now? How did you end up on the ground so fast?" Breanne crouched down, blinking her wide, innocent-looking eyes as she taunted me, pressing her boot harder against my hand, breaking the bones. She knew I was wolfless, and the pain she was causing; this was why she was doing it. To send me a message. I was hoping someone would come and find us, but the odds of this far from the training grounds were unlikely. "Oh my, I'm so sorry!" Breanne feigned surprise, finally lifting her foot with exaggerated remorse. "I didn't even see your hand there. How careless of me." “It’s to be expected with those massive feet of yours. What is that a size ten in men's?” I watched her eyes flash in anger briefly before she reined it back in. I yanked my hand back, and when Breanne reached out to help me up. I would always refuse her help; it was always a ploy for something worse. When she tried again, I recoiled, pushing myself up to my feet with gritted teeth. "Claire, that must've hurt. With riding skills like yours, how could you possibly think you were qualified to teach me?" Breanne smirked. "Only a fool would believe such a pitiful act, Breanne.” I glared, refusing to back down. "Oh, please. Can't accept that you're just not as good as I am? No wonder Liam doesn't like you much—you're such a sore loser." Breanne let out a mocking laugh. Breanne wasn’t hiding her petty, vindictive behaviour. She wanted me to know her intentions of returning and that she hadn't forgiven me for having her exiled. The reason Breanne was sent away a year ago was that I had walked in on her and Liam in the throes of passion. They were both half-naked and stuck to each other. Liam seemed to snap out of his daze the moment I entered the room and yanked Breanne off him. The thud of her head to the edge of the dresser brought out her wolf, and warriors nearby who heard the yelling managed to catch Breanne just in time before she could attack me. Liam sobered up instantly and demanded answers. Breanne played the confused card. That, like Liam, she had drunk a little too much at the pack celebration. She must have gotten confused about which floor she was on and passed out in mine and his bedroom, thinking it was hers. After all, his scent calms her, so she made sure to add that part—one extra little jab between Liam and me. Liam swore up and down that he was confused and thought it was me under the covers in bed. That, with the amount of wolfwine he had consumed, he didn’t realize it wasn’t me until my scent entered the room, and his wolf halted their action immediately recognizing their error. I moved to a different room, and Liam tried to separate himself from Breanne. Then he learned that Breanne approached me afterward and told me that Liam was aware it was her. After all, why would they confuse their mates? Unfortunately for Breanne, she did it in front of a witness, and they told several others, which led Liam to ask me about it. I confirmed that I knew he was aware that it was Breanne, as she told me so herself, and that I wanted to break the bond if he didn’t send her away as proof of his devotion to the mates' bond. I could see that he didn’t want to, but Liam was also someone who cared too much about image to have the wolfen community know that he lost his true mate over the Beta’s daughter affair scandal. With the third wheel gone, our mate bond had finally stabilized. I had hoped to start trying for a pup on our anniversary after I was announced as the new Luna of the Sterling Moon pack. But now Breanne was back, something of which Liam failed to inform me—especially considering it nearly ended us only a year ago. His lack of consideration over that confused me. Did his wolf also agree with this decision? Surely his wolf would realize better than Liam that this would ultimately bring out the bond to an end. "Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about," I said coolly. "But don't worry. I'll be out of your way soon. Then you two can do whatever you want." I turned away, whistling sharply for my horse. Breanne's face flushed crimson. She grabbed my arm and pressed her fingers deep into the flesh. “What the hell are you implying? What plans could I possibly have?” "You know exactly what I mean. But just a heads-up—mistresses in ranked mate bonds are illegal without Elder consent. And bastard pups tend to be shunned by packs altogether. So think carefully." Breanne's face went scarlet. "You—you're disgusting! How dare you accuse me and Liam of—" The sound of galloping hooves cut her off. Her eyes widened as though she hadn't expected us to be interrupted so soon. I turned to the sound of approaching Hooves, which gave Breanne time to growl her threat before she partially shifted and lunged at me with the intent to maul me where I stood. A chill ran down my spine—only to be overshadowed by the thunderous sound of a horse's disapproving whinny. Next thing I knew, Breanne was whimpering on the ground, crying in sheer agony as a scarred, filthy white stallion trampled her. My breath hitched, my eyes widened in disbelief. I knew this stallion. And then I saw it—the faint brown patch on the stallion's head. My blood turned to ice. No. It can’t be. "Mirage?" My voice cracked. The horse stopped mid-stomp, ears twitching. The sound of my voice stopped the Stallion from continuing its attack on Breanne, who had now reverted to her bruised human state, no longer partially shifted. The Stallion turned and looked at me. "Mirage!" I choked out, rushing forward to grab the reins. "It's really you!" I hadn't summoned my borrowed stallion. I had summoned him. My champion. My partner. My horse that Liam sold from under me, promising he went to a good home. Now, his coat was matted, his skin was patchy with disease, and his body was crisscrossed with whip marks. He was abused. Mirage had once been a regal, snow-white stallion, bought at auction by the Thornes. He had carried me to victory in countless competitions. He wasn't just a horse. He was my family. One of the most precious things I had. It took everything in me to forgive him for going behind my back and forcing me to stop riding by selling Mirage off in the first place, but it helped soothe the pain to know that at least he was being taken care of wherever he was. Liam had promised he'd be cared for. He lied. He looked me in the eye and lied to my face. He gave Mirage to a home that had continuously abused and neglected him. These wounds were a combination of old and recent. This was what Liam considered a good home? Tears burned my eyes as I ran my hands over his ruined coat. My heart was breaking. The abuse Mirage would have been enduring all this time, thinking I abandoned him. "Claire! Breanne!" Liam's voice cut through the air as another set of hooves approached. Chapter 6 The Fall The injuries and now Mirage, I was breaking inside and now outside. Just as my knees gave way, a firm hand caught my arm. "What took you so long out here? Are you all right?" Liam's voice, usually so tender, sounded distant in my ears. Through my tears, I turned to confront him about Mirage's condition, but Breanne's weak whimper cut through the air. "Liam.” She whimpered weakly. “Please, help me,” she pleaded. Liam stiffened as if struck. He released me immediately, like he was catching fire at just the mere touch of me. I staggered from the sudden loss of assistance and contact from my mate, and watched in disbelief as his attention snapped to Breanne's crumpled form on the ground. "Breanne!" His eyes reddened as he gathered her into his arms, cradling her close to her chest, "Oh my Goddess, what happened? How did this—?" I watched as he gently wiped away the tears staining her cheek. His eyes began to mist up. It was as though I were watching a live-action romance. The long-lost lover, dying in her beloved's arms. It would have been touching if it wasn't for the fact that that was my mate, holding another woman so tenderly while I stood five feet from them in significantly more pain. "Claire couldn't handle her horse. When I offered to help her back up, she then turned it around and blamed me! When I tried to explain I wasn’t at fault, she set that wretched beast on me!" Breanne's tears fell like broken pearls. Her voice grew faint as she added dramatically, "Liam, please, I can't feel my legs. What if I never walk again?" Liam's expression darkened as he listened to Breanne’s version of events. He turned to me with a sudden coldness I had never seen before. "Is this true?" He growled in anger, clutching Breanne closer to him protectively. A searing pain tore through my abdomen before I could respond. I cried out at the suddenness of it, and clutched my stomach, gasping through clenched teeth as metallic bile rose in my throat. Liam didn’t even flinch at the sight of my obvious pain before him. "I'm taking Breanne to the hospital," he said coldly. "If you did this, Claire—" He left the threat hanging as he cradled Breanne closer. I have never heard of an Alpha, or any rank member in my school studies or observations, threatening his mates and Luna over just a friend. It was against Wolfen code and ethics, but I suppose that didn’t matter to Liam or the Sterling Moon pack. This was going to become a regular occurrence, I could already sense it. I watched through blurred vision as Breanne gave one last performance. "Liam, I—" Her eyelids fluttered shut with theatrical perfection. "Bree-Bree! Stay with me! Please don’t leave me, baby. I’m here. Don’t you dare leave me!" Liam shouted, already running partially shifted into his wolf to allow himself to cradle her and use his Alpha wolf strength and speed at the same time. Behind him, I collapsed with a thud that echoed across the field. I briefly saw Liam hesitate mid-stride—just for a second. Regardless, he didn’t turn around at the sound of my collapse and shallow, laboured breaths. I watched as they continued to run away with Breanne in their arms, leaving me where I lay. My heart broke, even though I had filed and decided to leave both Liam and this horrible pack; a small part of me still held onto a sliver of hope that Liam would see the path he was taking and how far it was from us. But he didn’t, and that was when everything went dark for me. ***** When I regained consciousness, the sterile glare of surgical lights assaulted my vision. Cold metal instruments clinked nearby as my legs were positioned apart. I tried to speak, but the drugs held me paralyzed. The doctors' voices floated above me like ghosts. I could sense the movements around me, but I was awake, unable to move, feel, or speak. It was a surreal experience, but oddly familiar to my life since I had mated with the Sterling family. Nothing more than an ornament on the wall to all, including my mate. "Such a shame—two months along. Who goes horseback riding when they're pregnant?" "The fall detached the embryo completely. Must have been quite the impact. She is lucky to be alive." "Without a wolf, another hour, and she wouldn’t have been." "That man who brought her in—was that her husband? He was colder than a block of ice, but as Handsome as the Devil himself. Can’t say much about their mateship part, he simply paid the bill and left without a word." "Enough chatter. Let’s finish this up before she hemorrhages." Each medical term floating to my ears—pregnancy, embryo, hemorrhage, dilation and curettage—pierced my drugged haze like silver blades to the heart. The one that stuck out the most was broken. I knew they were talking about my hand, but it was so much deeper than that. I felt broken. I lost my pup. Until recently, I would have loved to have Liam and my first pup. Everything about us seemed happy and together, but now, it seemed symbolic to lose the pups I never knew I had. I was losing a mate I should never have had to fight this hard to keep. Everything was perfect until I saw it was all a smoke screen and not meant to be. Just like this pup. False hope. I struggled against the numbness, but my body refused to obey. Something sharp scraped inside me, painless but violating. The crushing weight of realization dragged me under before I could scream, I was once again enveloped by empty darkness. "Claire ... Claire ..." Time lost all meaning. A distant voice called my name while someone shook my arm. With monumental effort, I forced my eyes open. Once again, the antiseptic glare of hospital lights assaulted my vision—I was in a hospital room.
"""Please, Liam, I just lost our baby. Don't let them take my blood."" My voice was barely a whisper, my body still trembling from the surgery—from the emptiness where our child used to be. But my husband didn't even look at me. His gaze was fixed on the ER doors, where doctors shouted about Breanne's critical blood loss. Breanne Telder. The Beta's daughter. His best friend. The woman he swore was""just like a sister.” The same woman who caused the fall that cost me our pup. ""She's RH-negative and we're out of stock. Find donors—now!"" The surgeon said urgently. ""Take hers."" Liam's arm slid around my waist—not to comfort me, not to hold me—but to push me forward like an offering.""Wolfless born shifters are universal donors. Her blood will save Breanne."" I froze as if struck by lightning, my disbelieving eyes lifting to meet his. Did he and his wolf even realize what they'd done? They didn't have to say the rejection—offering their mate's blood to another woman screamed it loud enough. ""Liam,"" I managed to whisper, ""I just lost our pup—"" ""Spare me the lies. I am done believing you!"" His eyes were cold steel. ""Breanne's life comes first right now."" The words cut deeper than any blade. I straightened, ignoring the spinning in my head, every inch of me trembling but unbroken. ""You've made your choice, Liam. And after today…"" my voice didn't crack this time ""I'll make mine."" The doctor's hand gripped my arm, leading me toward the blood lab. ""I'll donate the blood,"" I didn't fight it. ""But in return, you will agree to end our mate bond.”" ***** Chapter 1 Dropping the Mate I stood at the gate of the Sterling Moon Packhouse, clutching a cake box that had begun to melt in the summer heat. My usually pristine blonde hair was now stuck to my neck and face in damp strands, and my designer dress was now ruined with mud and swamp stains. I hadn't meant to arrive at my third mating anniversary looking like I had been dragged through a hedge backward and then tossed in the swamp lands beyond the pack grounds. But then again, being cornered and ambushed by rogues, conveniently knowing my whereabouts without an escort or protection, wasn't exactly part of my agenda either. A mysterious yet heroic stranger had rescued me and driven me back to the edge of my mate’s pack territory when Liam Sterling, my mate and the pack's Alpha, hadn't answered any of my fifteen frantic calls. I had almost convinced myself he was simply busy orchestrating some grand anniversary surprise. That had to be it. Otherwise, why else would he send me out alone for the cake retrieval and then not bother to answer my calls? I quickened my pace toward the entrance of the packhouse, not wanting to delay the celebration any longer than I already had. I rounded the corner only to stop dead at the sight before me. The entire packhouse had been transformed with floral arches, helium balloons, and an enormous banner. My fingers tightened around the cake box. I had doubts about walking into the grand hall; perhaps I should slip upstairs to change first. Then Liam's familiar voice called out. "There's my beautiful mate! Took you long enough, sweetheart. Everyone's waiting for the cake. Were the directions not clear enough?" He teased, not taking in the dishevelled state of my appearance or the fact that my smile didn’t reach my eyes. He often failed to see me. I looked up to find my mate looking devastatingly handsome in a white Tom Ford suit, his gray waistcoat accentuating those broad shoulders I used to trace my fingers over. He hadn't dressed like this for me in years. I pushed aside the gnawing doubts starting to fill my heart and embraced the fact that he was trying to make things right. This was not the time to voice my disappointments with his lack of attention or concern. We're here to celebrate our mate bond with the pack. This was also the year that he promised to swear me in as the official Luna, to lead by his side. Three years of proving myself capable despite not having a wolf of my own, and now here we were. My lips began curving into a smile despite myself. Maybe the rogues and the ambush, the ruined dress, the ignored calls—perhaps none of it mattered now that I was home. Liam would keep me safe, and we were going to announce that I was stepping into a role that should have been mine when we first mated. "Liam, I was just—" I was about to explain the rogues, the ambush, the mysterious saviour, but was cut off mid-sentence. "Liam! Is that my cake?" A shrill voice interrupted as Breanne Telder materialized behind Liam, looping her arm through his as though it was where she belonged. She was Liam’s father's Beta’s daughter. Otherwise known as the third wheel in our relationship and the pick me girl that Liam always did. She was also not supposed to be here. She was sent away a while ago, and Liam promised to focus solely on us. "You flew me home just for this birthday surprise? Best Alpha bestie ever!" The cake box slipped from my fingers, landing with a sickening splat on the custom marble flooring beneath me. The same flooring I wanted to either swallow me or Breanna up in this moment. Birthday surprise? What the hell did that mean? Those two words echoed in my skull like gunshots. For weeks, I had known Liam was planning something secretive. The custom-ordered flowers were delivered under the cover of darkness. The expensive Eclipse Stone rough he'd purchased at auction. All those whispered phone calls I had pretended not to hear. It all led to this moment, but it wasn’t the moment I had expected. I had woven every scrap of evidence into fantasies of candlelit vows renewed, of Liam dropping to one knee all over again. Even when he hadn't picked up during my attack from rogues, I had made excuses for him. Now Breanne's smug smile shattered those delusions like a hammer through stained glass. "What the hell were you thinking, Claire?" Stephanie Sterling's razor-sharp heels clicked across the flooring as she advanced. "We've been waiting two hours for that cake! You can’t do one single task; no wonder you will never be Luna material for the Sterling Moon pack." Stephanie was Liam's mother. From the moment I mated into the Alpha family, Stephanie had made no secret of her dislike; she was the reason Liam was convinced to hold off and force me to prove myself as Luna material. Over time, that contempt had only grown bolder, more vicious, no longer even pretending to hide it. Failing to see Liam, their Alpha, standing up for me, much of the pack started to support and see the validity in the points that their retired Luna was making. My hands shook. "This was supposed to be our anniversary party." Liam caught my elbow and steered me out of the room for privacy. "Baby, I'd planned a surprise for you, but Breanne asked for a pack-wide birthday celebration when she returned, so—" "So, instead of standing up for your mate, yet again, you conceded and did what they wanted. It’s fine for me to be let down, but not her? Message received, Liam." I wrenched my arm free, the movement sending fresh pain through my bruised ribs from the attack. I doubled over with a gasp. Before Liam could reach for me, Stephanie's voice sliced through the garden again. "Liam! Stop coddling her and get over here. This is why the wolfless should never hold ranks; they're weak and attention grabbers. Forget the cake, we'll just serve the petit fours instead." "Coming." He hesitated, then pressed a kiss to my temple. "We'll talk later." I remained crouched in the foyer of the packhouse as another wave of pain, this one far deeper than physical, crashed over me. Not a single pack member had asked why I looked like I'd been in a car wreck, why I'd been crying. From the other room where everyone gathered, the opening chords of "Happy Birthday" floated toward me. Each syrupy note felt like another papercut to my heart. It hit me suddenly—I hadn't celebrated a birthday since mating into the Alpha family, not once, though my own fell just days apart from Breanne's. And Liam had known this; he made a joke about the coincidence of his two best gals' being birthday buddies, but mine was always overshadowed. He quickly forgot about mine. I wiped my cheeks, giving myself a self-mocking smile. I should have known better than to hope for something more than what I already received. As the sun dipped low, I rose, my shadow stretching lonely behind me. Without a word, I climbed the stairs and clicked the bedroom door shut of the Alpha suite. Under the bathroom's harsh lighting, I peeled off my ruined dress and threw it in the trash. Steam fogged the mirrors as I scrubbed at skin that still felt dirty from the rogue's hands. I stayed under the scalding water until my fingers pruned. Wrapped in an oversized robe, I sat curled on the window seat watching party lights twinkle below until the last guest departed. At 11:00 PM, the bedroom door finally creaked open. I didn't turn when Liam's familiar cologne filled the room. I heard him hang up his jacket, then felt his whiskey-warm hands on my shoulders. "Happy anniversary, my beautiful, stunning mate." His lips brushed my ear. "Guess what I got you?" I shrugged him off. "I honestly don't care." He knelt before me, producing a velvet box with the flourish of a magician. "I had this carved from that Eclipse Stone rough. It is rumoured to help awaken latent wolfen spirits, strengthen auras and bring new beginnings.” Liam fastened the pendant around my neck. The cold stone settled between my chest like a brand. "Stunning." He kissed the hollow of my throat. "I was thinking that it’s been three years since we mated, and you have done so well proving yourself to me and this pack. I want us to now try for a pup. Bring this pack a new heir.” "Yeah, that’s not happening," I rejected the idea instantly. His chuckle was dark velvet. "You won't have to lift a finger, darling. I'll do all the—" "Liam." I met his gaze for the first time that night. “I want to submit an official request to break our mate bond!” Chapter 2 This Time, His Sweet Talk Won't Work My mind was made up before he finally came to our room. This wasn't like my previous impulsive threats in an attempt to get him to see the mistakes he was continuously making in our bond. This time, I was genuinely determined to leave. Three years of mateship flashed through my mind. I had lost count of how many times Liam had prioritized Breanne over my feelings or dismissed me because his mother said so. Who was his mate, and who was just a friend? I could no longer answer that question, and I was tired of trying to defend us. We weren’t bonded. Not the way the typical Alpha and mate were. It was usual for an Alpha never to leave his Luna’s side. She was his number one priority, even though the pack came second. The Alpha's mate was the heart of the pack and respected as an equal, but I was neither of those things. I haven’t been from the start. Breanne, even though she was briefly sent away, was still respected and noticed more than I could even hope for. If someone kept treating you in ways you disliked, it was because you allowed it. I had let it slide every other time. But today, Liam had crossed my final line. This day was our third anniversary. I didn’t care that he forgot my birthday, dinners, or events we planned together. I did, however, care about this milestone moment. A promise he made was long forgotten. This was that tipping point for my patience. “Really, Claire? You are threatening to reject our mate bond again? Don't say that every time you're upset, sweetheart. I was wrong about today. I'll make it up to you tomorrow." My eyes showed no emotion. “Don't bother. Not everything can be made up, and you can only backburner your mate for so long before she grows tired of being at the bottom of the priorities, Liam.” "Of course, this can be fixed. There's always next year. We will have a pup by then, and you will have long forgotten this little hiccup and tantrum." Liam pushed me down onto the sofa, kissing my face tenderly. With my hands pinned above my head, I wasn’t able to push him off. He expected the topic of having pups would appease me and calm my boiling anger. I had had enough of his nonsense and non-committal ways. I stared blankly at the ceiling as tears unexpectedly rolled down my cheeks. I lay like a dead weight. In the past, whenever we would fight or I would throw a tantrum, as Liam would title it, all he would do was use the mate bond against me. His kisses, his touch, his desires would wear me down, and I would accept his hollowed words of apology and his flashy gifts as though they meant something more than pacifying childish behaviour, in his mind. But this time, even though he held me down and I couldn’t resist, I was also not participating or encouraging him to continue. He was so self-absorbed that he couldn’t even realize that I wasn’t a willing participant. I was motionless, soundless, non-responsive. As Liam kept kissing me, his hands touched every part of my bruised body, utterly unaware of the pain he was inflicting both physically and emotionally. I felt his body suddenly freeze at the sound of a whimpered sob that slipped out of me. He looked out with hooded eyes, which quickly sobered and turned serious when he saw the tears in my eyes. His expression was frozen in panic. "Baby, why are you crying?" He quickly turned on the light. "Wait—you seemed off when you came home. Did something happen?" Finally, he remembered, but the damage between us was already done. My heart twisted, wishing that it didn’t take crying while he wanted sex to cover his mistakes for him to notice something was wrong. At the thought of how much distance was between us, more tears fell. Under the light, Liam finally saw the slight swelling on my face, the scratches on my arms and body, and the deep gash on my right leg with dried blood. His pupils contracted. "What happened?" I could sense his wolf stirring under the surface. It was clear that someone had hurt me, but they were only now realizing it. Just as I opened my mouth, his phone rang. I looked at the screen and rolled my eyes. Of course, it was Breanne. Liam sighed and offered a small apologetic smile before he answered in front of me. "Breanne, what's wrong?" "Liam, I think I ate something bad. My stomach hurts so much. Can you take me to the hospital?" Breanne's sugary voice came through. Liam automatically started to agree. I could see his eyes widen with panic at the thought that she was in pain. But right before he responded, he looked at me and my reddened, tear-filled eyes. "It's late. Claire and I are already in bed. Ask Mom if there's any medicine at home." Stephanie's sharp voice interrupted, "Liam, come now! This isn't ordinary pain. It could be appendicitis! She's pale as a ghost!" Liam's brow furrowed. "Fine. I'm coming." My heart sank like a stone. I shook my head in disbelief and turned away, refusing to meet his eyes. Yet again, I was pushed aside. Liam dressed quickly but hesitated at the door. After a long moment, he took my hand. "You're hurt too. Come with me, we'll get you checked at the hospital." That single word, "too", cut like a knife. I laughed dryly. "No need. Go ahead, play hero for another woman. If your mate's pain is less important than staying and understanding what happened, then your friend who has a stomach ache, don’t bother dragging me around like an accessory with false concern. I'd rather be alone." Liam stiffened. He opened his mouth to speak, but the phone kept ringing insistently. Finally, he sighed and pressed his black card into my hand. "Buy whatever you want. Consider it an apology." The door slammed shut. I weighed the card in my palm and smiled bitterly. Liam only ever had two ways to appease me—sex or money. It used to work. I fooled myself into believing it meant he cared, that he wasn’t good with expressing emotions, but I saw it for what it was now. This time, his sweet talk won't work. I walked to the closet and in the back corner, I pulled out my old suitcase. Inside was the most valuable thing I owned. My freedom. It was an official Rejection agreement signed the night before our mating. Back then, Liam had insisted on accepting our mate bond despite his family's objections. Afraid of being trapped in a toxic pack and mating, I had made him sign this; if I ever wanted to break the bond, he had to agree unconditionally. I thought we’d never need it. Liam had probably forgotten it existed. But I hadn't. During one fight, I had even consulted a lawyer who confirmed its validity. I could file for an official rejection of the bond with just this document and 30 days cooling-off period. Since he had already signed it, there was no need for Liam's consent for me to file it now. The Elders within the Council would perform the rejection ceremony within their own chambers. There was no need for either of us to be present. That was typically why Alphas refrained from preemptively signing these types of contracts. It relinquished control without their knowledge. Now was the time. Chapter 3 The Breaking Point I didn't sleep all night; I couldn’t. Instead, I spent those hours cutting up every photograph of us together. There weren’t many, I realized. My phone was filled with pictures of Liam whenever I could sneak photos when he was distracted or busy. He was honestly an Adonis of a man. But three years together, we had exactly twenty-three pictures of us together as a couple, and only thirteen of those were just Liam and me. The remaining ten were with Breanne. I snuck downstairs before anyone else woke up and went into Liam's office. There on the desk was a picture. It was of him and Breanne, hugging and smiling into the camera. They looked happy. Too happy. My inner bitter bitch was vomiting at the sight. On the other side of the desk was a picture of the three of us. That's right, not me and my mate. It was Breanne pressed against Liam's side, smiling up at him, and I was smiling at the camera on the other side. My arm was linked around his, and he was smiling, but for which female in the picture, your guess was as good as mine. I took the picture out of the frame, and bent it so that I was folded to the back. There, now he had two perfect couple pictures of him and Breanne. I will simply bow out of this weird three-way relationship. By dawn, I had already filed the official rejection agreement papers at the Council's registry office. Then I donated all the designer outfits Liam had bought me to charity. Afterward, I drove out of the pack grounds for a few hours to pawn every piece of jewelry he'd ever given me at the local broker's. I didn’t want it getting back to Liam, or the pack gossip mill to run rampant with their own speculations. Not yet anyway. It was a surprisingly large chunk of money in return, one thing I knew for sure about Liam. When he was grovelling for his indifferences and mistakes, he never cheaped out on the apology jewelry. The broker didn’t have the full amount on hand, so I opted to have it wired, which worked fine for me. I opened a new bank account and provided them with the necessary information. I returned to the packhouse early that afternoon. I had requested that the gardener cut down the Cherry Blossom tree in the pack’s courtyard. He was ordered to burn every branch and leaf until only ashes remained. When I agreed to mate with Liam, I had my reservations because his family didn’t support their Alpha heir accepting the bond to a wolfless orphan with average financial standings. Liam planted the tree as a token of his pledge of devotion to us and our bond. I fell for it, thinking it would make us stronger. But I was wrong. By late afternoon, I had either sold, donated or destroyed every token of Liam and his devotion to me and our bond: everything but the Eclipse stone pendant. Some legends state that the Moon Goddess herself blessed the eclipse stone to strengthen the will of the wolfless. Call me a fool, but it still served as a sliver of proof that at some point, he did care enough to seek out the stone for me. Now that everything was removed, it was time for me to step out and prepare everything for my new life after this month-long cooldown period ended, and I was no longer the unwanted mate of Alpha Liam Sterling. I knew I had to be smart and figure out my path now, as I had no family to turn to once the rejection was completed. When I was seven, my father had disappeared after a mountain climbing accident. It was speculated that rogues were involved, as they were heavy in the area at the time. My mother re-mated not long afterwards, and we became part of the Thorne family. They were the overlords, if you will, of the Crown of Thornes Pack, rivals of The Sterling Moon pack and next door neighbours to the territory. My mother left the Thorne family after accusations and rumours of her infidelity and gambling debts. I didn’t believe it, but it seemed that everyone else did. I had no idea where she even went. She certainly didn’t seek me out after she left that night, abandoning me. The only person who would even be considered family at this point was Lucien Thorne. He was my former stepbrother from my mother's second mating. However, Lucien was notorious for his short temper, and he constantly mistreated me while we lived under the same roof, so I would sooner wind up homeless than seek his help. The heat of Liam’s black card was burning a hole in my pocket, serving as a reminder of his literal words: “Buy whatever you want and consider it as an apology.” Okay! I will. I went to the bank and after the teller spoke with the branch manager to confirm my approval of using the Alpha’s account for a withdrawal, yup, that's right, I held no status, so I wasn’t even recognized with authority over our marital account; I withdrew one million dollars from his account. It was insulting and frustrating to know that Breanne can walk in here and not have as many hoops to jump through to get at my mate’s money. But that’s fine. I have already started to let go of my hold on him emotionally. My head has already done so. As I waited for the teller to return with the funds, my phone rang. Liyah Cruz. She was my closest friend before I accepted the bond with Liam. Liam didn’t like her influence on me, as he put it, so over the years, our friendship became strained. For her to be reaching out and calling me now, it had to be important. "Liyah? What's wrong?" I answered right away. "Oh, thank the Goddess. Claire, the International Equestrian Championships start in a month, but I just got injured during training." Liyah's voice was thick with disappointment. "Claire, you were the most talented rider we knew. I could think of no one else to take over. Could you compete in my place?" The memories came flooding back. Had I not mated with Liam, I might have become as renowned as Liyah in equestrian circles. But Liam had disapproved of me riding; he often called it unladylike. He'd gone as far as going behind my back and selling my beloved white stallion, Mirage, to a good owner, cutting off my last connection to the sport. The silence stretched until Liyah sighed. "I forgot your mate doesn't allow—" "I'll do it," I interrupted. "One month. I'll be ready." Liyah's excited squeal pierced through the receiver. "Really? Oh my Goddess! Everyone always said you shouldn't have given up your talent for mating! You're finally coming back to us!" My hand trembled around the phone. Yes, before mating into the Sterling Moon pack and Alpha family, I had shone so brightly. Before Liam, I used to be many things. I was the university's star student—straight A's in every subject. A gifted painter, champion rider, runway model, master chef, and award-winning debater—there was nothing I couldn't excel at. But three years of mating had eroded it all. I hadn't touched a paintbrush in years. I have forgotten how to walk a runway, and even lost my sharp tongue in arguments—forced to submit to even my mate's family and house staff. Only my cooking skills remained polished because I have cooked for Liam every single day since the beginning of our bond acceptance. Only now did I realize how much of myself I had sacrificed. But it wasn't too late. I could still start over. This was that chance to start taking my life by the reins, so to speak, and returning to the Claire that used to walk proudly with her chin held high. Chapter 4 Meeting on Horseback I met Liyah at the stables we once rode at together. “Thank you, Claire-bear. I can’t believe you are actually here.” Liyah launched herself on top of me, despite her knee brace. I thought I understood what I gave up to be with Liam, my mate, but I didn’t understand a fraction of it. This crazy woman, who used to be my world, wrapped around me. How did I let him separate us? “It’s me who should thank you, Lee-Lee. I’ve missed you. I’m sorry. No more boys between us, I promise.” I sobbed. Liyah looked up, and I saw the understanding in her eyes. We both wiped our faces and laughed at our equally blotchy faces. “Okay, later, we'll discuss everything!” She looked at me with as much conviction as her tiny body could muster. I nodded and smiled. “But now, let me introduce you to Diva, my stallion. Just a warning, he lives up to the name periodically. I think it’s an adorable quirk for him and refuse to break it out of him. You’ll love him!” Liyah leads us to the stables, where we meet the horse. Liyah was right. We matched instantly. It isn’t easy for a shifter to bond with a stallion, but I never had those worries. I was always able to click with any animal, to the point where Liyah's brother spent a year calling me freaking snow white! I hated it, but he wasn’t wrong. I galloped across the equestrian field at dawn, the stallion I rode was kicking up dew as it raced toward the rising sun. Then I saw them. Liam and Breanne shared a white mare, ambling toward my direction. Breanne was dressed in her pristine white riding jodhpurs with the matching show coat, leaned back against Liam's chest. Liam's attire was the stark contrast of black on black. I watched him bend his head low, whispering something in Breanne’s ear, causing a fit of giggles from her. I had waited for him to return all night. When I had reached out and called him to ask if he would be returning that night, I was told, by him, that since Breanna needed an emergency appendectomy, he would not leave her side until she recovered. That was when I cut up our photos, burning them to ashes. As I watch them now, a question came to my mind, causing my brow to arch. When did appendectomy patients start riding horses the next day? My grip tightened on the reins just as Breanne spotted me. “Oh! Liam, how spooky. Doesn’t that woman look just like Claire!”At her teasing words, I watched as Liam's head snapped up. There, I sat astride my stallion, the tailored navy riding jacket accentuating my hourglass figure, my gaze glacial. I knew he felt it. Dismounting, Liam approached until he could only see the sharp angle of my jaw. "Sweetheart, since when do you ride? I thought you quit that. You should've told me you were coming." The memory of his and Breanne’s intimate pose churned my stomach. I pressed a hand to my mouth to keep from being sick at the thought before answering flatly. "Would you have answered if I called?" This acidic tone only emerged when I was furious. Liam's smile turned placating. "My fault—left my phone in the car. It turned out to be a false alarm about Breanne's appendix. Since she's competing in the International Equestrian Championships next month, I was only helping her practice." Breanne urged her mare forward, pouting. "Liam, why must we explain everything to her? Come back, we have more important things to focus on. You haven't finished teaching me." "An International Championship contender needs amateur instruction? How curious. I wonder if anyone else here is getting that kind of coaching? But, Liam, if she requires coaching, I'll do it." As Liam turned, my voice froze him. Liam’s expression initially fell flat at my words, but he quickly brightened at my offer. "Exactly! Breanne, Claire won that championship years ago." 'How touching that he finally remembered I have value,' I thought bitterly. Breanne bit her lip. "But—" After years together, I knew Breanne’s games. She wasn’t as nervous on a horse as she portrayed. It was all an act for Liam. "No buts." I raised my riding crop. "Let's ride." The crop came down on Breanne's mare, which bolted forward with a whinny as Breanne shrieked. Liam paled. "Claire! She wasn't ready—" "Real trainers surprise their students." My amber eyes glinted. “Your coddling would've kept her mediocre forever.” Dust sprayed Liam's face as I galloped after Breanne, leaving him standing there, cheeks burning as if slapped. Good. This was just the beginning of my resistance. Breanne and I raced across the field. Though I was starting late, my black stallion, Diva, was not one to be outshone, and we soon overtook Breanne's white mare. For three years, Breanne had only seen the docile, obedient Claire. This commanding version, I’m sure, was unnerving. I could hear her growling, which, to be honest, was only slowing her own horse down. Her mare would not be able to focus on a race, with its rider losing its hold over herself. It was bound to spook her mare soon, and if she weren’t careful, she would get bucked. But as the saying goes, not my circus, not my monkeys. Diva and I were focused on ourselves. I could sense Breanne's determination to beat me. But, no matter how she pushed her champion mare, I remained ahead. As Diva and I passed her again, I caught a flash of movement from Breanne out of the corner of my eye. She pulled a hairpin out of her pocket and hurled it at Diva. That hairpin had been a gift from her friend at her birthday party, and she had been keeping it close to her chest just now. It was made of silver, and the sharp end drove hard into Diva's rump. Diva was instantly startled. Despite my expert handling and calming charm, which I have often used in the past to soothe a panicked horse, Diva threw me. I felt the gnash from the rock sticking out from the ground, which I hit my head on. The impact sending black spots across my vision—and a cry in absolute agony. My abdominal area pinched and screamed with a sharp and sudden pain like nothing I have ever felt before. There was blood on my hand when I touched it. I needed to get up. I needed to get back and get medical help because I knew Breanne wasn’t going to get me any. As I tried to push myself up off the ground with one hand, while the other was wrapped tightly around my stomach, still crying in sheer pain, a polished boot came forcefully down, cracking the bones in my hand. "Ah—!" The pain forced a gasp through clenched teeth. Chapter 5 The Two-Faced Woman "Claire, weren't you so impressive on horseback just now? How did you end up on the ground so fast?" Breanne crouched down, blinking her wide, innocent-looking eyes as she taunted me, pressing her boot harder against my hand, breaking the bones. She knew I was wolfless, and the pain she was causing; this was why she was doing it. To send me a message. I was hoping someone would come and find us, but the odds of this far from the training grounds were unlikely. "Oh my, I'm so sorry!" Breanne feigned surprise, finally lifting her foot with exaggerated remorse. "I didn't even see your hand there. How careless of me." “It’s to be expected with those massive feet of yours. What is that a size ten in men's?” I watched her eyes flash in anger briefly before she reined it back in. I yanked my hand back, and when Breanne reached out to help me up. I would always refuse her help; it was always a ploy for something worse. When she tried again, I recoiled, pushing myself up to my feet with gritted teeth. "Claire, that must've hurt. With riding skills like yours, how could you possibly think you were qualified to teach me?" Breanne smirked. "Only a fool would believe such a pitiful act, Breanne.” I glared, refusing to back down. "Oh, please. Can't accept that you're just not as good as I am? No wonder Liam doesn't like you much—you're such a sore loser." Breanne let out a mocking laugh. Breanne wasn’t hiding her petty, vindictive behaviour. She wanted me to know her intentions of returning and that she hadn't forgiven me for having her exiled. The reason Breanne was sent away a year ago was that I had walked in on her and Liam in the throes of passion. They were both half-naked and stuck to each other. Liam seemed to snap out of his daze the moment I entered the room and yanked Breanne off him. The thud of her head to the edge of the dresser brought out her wolf, and warriors nearby who heard the yelling managed to catch Breanne just in time before she could attack me. Liam sobered up instantly and demanded answers. Breanne played the confused card. That, like Liam, she had drunk a little too much at the pack celebration. She must have gotten confused about which floor she was on and passed out in mine and his bedroom, thinking it was hers. After all, his scent calms her, so she made sure to add that part—one extra little jab between Liam and me. Liam swore up and down that he was confused and thought it was me under the covers in bed. That, with the amount of wolfwine he had consumed, he didn’t realize it wasn’t me until my scent entered the room, and his wolf halted their action immediately recognizing their error. I moved to a different room, and Liam tried to separate himself from Breanne. Then he learned that Breanne approached me afterward and told me that Liam was aware it was her. After all, why would they confuse their mates? Unfortunately for Breanne, she did it in front of a witness, and they told several others, which led Liam to ask me about it. I confirmed that I knew he was aware that it was Breanne, as she told me so herself, and that I wanted to break the bond if he didn’t send her away as proof of his devotion to the mates' bond. I could see that he didn’t want to, but Liam was also someone who cared too much about image to have the wolfen community know that he lost his true mate over the Beta’s daughter affair scandal. With the third wheel gone, our mate bond had finally stabilized. I had hoped to start trying for a pup on our anniversary after I was announced as the new Luna of the Sterling Moon pack. But now Breanne was back, something of which Liam failed to inform me—especially considering it nearly ended us only a year ago. His lack of consideration over that confused me. Did his wolf also agree with this decision? Surely his wolf would realize better than Liam that this would ultimately bring out the bond to an end. "Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about," I said coolly. "But don't worry. I'll be out of your way soon. Then you two can do whatever you want." I turned away, whistling sharply for my horse. Breanne's face flushed crimson. She grabbed my arm and pressed her fingers deep into the flesh. “What the hell are you implying? What plans could I possibly have?” "You know exactly what I mean. But just a heads-up—mistresses in ranked mate bonds are illegal without Elder consent. And bastard pups tend to be shunned by packs altogether. So think carefully." Breanne's face went scarlet. "You—you're disgusting! How dare you accuse me and Liam of—" The sound of galloping hooves cut her off. Her eyes widened as though she hadn't expected us to be interrupted so soon. I turned to the sound of approaching Hooves, which gave Breanne time to growl her threat before she partially shifted and lunged at me with the intent to maul me where I stood. A chill ran down my spine—only to be overshadowed by the thunderous sound of a horse's disapproving whinny. Next thing I knew, Breanne was whimpering on the ground, crying in sheer agony as a scarred, filthy white stallion trampled her. My breath hitched, my eyes widened in disbelief. I knew this stallion. And then I saw it—the faint brown patch on the stallion's head. My blood turned to ice. No. It can’t be. "Mirage?" My voice cracked. The horse stopped mid-stomp, ears twitching. The sound of my voice stopped the Stallion from continuing its attack on Breanne, who had now reverted to her bruised human state, no longer partially shifted. The Stallion turned and looked at me. "Mirage!" I choked out, rushing forward to grab the reins. "It's really you!" I hadn't summoned my borrowed stallion. I had summoned him. My champion. My partner. My horse that Liam sold from under me, promising he went to a good home. Now, his coat was matted, his skin was patchy with disease, and his body was crisscrossed with whip marks. He was abused. Mirage had once been a regal, snow-white stallion, bought at auction by the Thornes. He had carried me to victory in countless competitions. He wasn't just a horse. He was my family. One of the most precious things I had. It took everything in me to forgive him for going behind my back and forcing me to stop riding by selling Mirage off in the first place, but it helped soothe the pain to know that at least he was being taken care of wherever he was. Liam had promised he'd be cared for. He lied. He looked me in the eye and lied to my face. He gave Mirage to a home that had continuously abused and neglected him. These wounds were a combination of old and recent. This was what Liam considered a good home? Tears burned my eyes as I ran my hands over his ruined coat. My heart was breaking. The abuse Mirage would have been enduring all this time, thinking I abandoned him. "Claire! Breanne!" Liam's voice cut through the air as another set of hooves approached. Chapter 6 The Fall The injuries and now Mirage, I was breaking inside and now outside. Just as my knees gave way, a firm hand caught my arm. "What took you so long out here? Are you all right?" Liam's voice, usually so tender, sounded distant in my ears. Through my tears, I turned to confront him about Mirage's condition, but Breanne's weak whimper cut through the air. "Liam.” She whimpered weakly. “Please, help me,” she pleaded. Liam stiffened as if struck. He released me immediately, like he was catching fire at just the mere touch of me. I staggered from the sudden loss of assistance and contact from my mate, and watched in disbelief as his attention snapped to Breanne's crumpled form on the ground. "Breanne!" His eyes reddened as he gathered her into his arms, cradling her close to her chest, "Oh my Goddess, what happened? How did this—?" I watched as he gently wiped away the tears staining her cheek. His eyes began to mist up. It was as though I were watching a live-action romance. The long-lost lover, dying in her beloved's arms. It would have been touching if it wasn't for the fact that that was my mate, holding another woman so tenderly while I stood five feet from them in significantly more pain. "Claire couldn't handle her horse. When I offered to help her back up, she then turned it around and blamed me! When I tried to explain I wasn’t at fault, she set that wretched beast on me!" Breanne's tears fell like broken pearls. Her voice grew faint as she added dramatically, "Liam, please, I can't feel my legs. What if I never walk again?" Liam's expression darkened as he listened to Breanne’s version of events. He turned to me with a sudden coldness I had never seen before. "Is this true?" He growled in anger, clutching Breanne closer to him protectively. A searing pain tore through my abdomen before I could respond. I cried out at the suddenness of it, and clutched my stomach, gasping through clenched teeth as metallic bile rose in my throat. Liam didn’t even flinch at the sight of my obvious pain before him. "I'm taking Breanne to the hospital," he said coldly. "If you did this, Claire—" He left the threat hanging as he cradled Breanne closer. I have never heard of an Alpha, or any rank member in my school studies or observations, threatening his mates and Luna over just a friend. It was against Wolfen code and ethics, but I suppose that didn’t matter to Liam or the Sterling Moon pack. This was going to become a regular occurrence, I could already sense it. I watched through blurred vision as Breanne gave one last performance. "Liam, I—" Her eyelids fluttered shut with theatrical perfection. "Bree-Bree! Stay with me! Please don’t leave me, baby. I’m here. Don’t you dare leave me!" Liam shouted, already running partially shifted into his wolf to allow himself to cradle her and use his Alpha wolf strength and speed at the same time. Behind him, I collapsed with a thud that echoed across the field. I briefly saw Liam hesitate mid-stride—just for a second. Regardless, he didn’t turn around at the sound of my collapse and shallow, laboured breaths. I watched as they continued to run away with Breanne in their arms, leaving me where I lay. My heart broke, even though I had filed and decided to leave both Liam and this horrible pack; a small part of me still held onto a sliver of hope that Liam would see the path he was taking and how far it was from us. But he didn’t, and that was when everything went dark for me. ***** When I regained consciousness, the sterile glare of surgical lights assaulted my vision. Cold metal instruments clinked nearby as my legs were positioned apart. I tried to speak, but the drugs held me paralyzed. The doctors' voices floated above me like ghosts. I could sense the movements around me, but I was awake, unable to move, feel, or speak. It was a surreal experience, but oddly familiar to my life since I had mated with the Sterling family. Nothing more than an ornament on the wall to all, including my mate. "Such a shame—two months along. Who goes horseback riding when they're pregnant?" "The fall detached the embryo completely. Must have been quite the impact. She is lucky to be alive." "Without a wolf, another hour, and she wouldn’t have been." "That man who brought her in—was that her husband? He was colder than a block of ice, but as Handsome as the Devil himself. Can’t say much about their mateship part, he simply paid the bill and left without a word." "Enough chatter. Let’s finish this up before she hemorrhages." Each medical term floating to my ears—pregnancy, embryo, hemorrhage, dilation and curettage—pierced my drugged haze like silver blades to the heart. The one that stuck out the most was broken. I knew they were talking about my hand, but it was so much deeper than that. I felt broken. I lost my pup. Until recently, I would have loved to have Liam and my first pup. Everything about us seemed happy and together, but now, it seemed symbolic to lose the pups I never knew I had. I was losing a mate I should never have had to fight this hard to keep. Everything was perfect until I saw it was all a smoke screen and not meant to be. Just like this pup. False hope. I struggled against the numbness, but my body refused to obey. Something sharp scraped inside me, painless but violating. The crushing weight of realization dragged me under before I could scream, I was once again enveloped by empty darkness. "Claire ... Claire ..." Time lost all meaning. A distant voice called my name while someone shook my arm. With monumental effort, I forced my eyes open. Once again, the antiseptic glare of hospital lights assaulted my vision—I was in a hospital room.
"""Please, Liam, I just lost our baby. Don't let them take my blood."" My voice was barely a whisper, my body still trembling from the surgery—from the emptiness where our child used to be. But my husband didn't even look at me. His gaze was fixed on the ER doors, where doctors shouted about Breanne's critical blood loss. Breanne Telder. The Beta's daughter. His best friend. The woman he swore was""just like a sister.” The same woman who caused the fall that cost me our pup. ""She's RH-negative and we're out of stock. Find donors—now!"" The surgeon said urgently. ""Take hers."" Liam's arm slid around my waist—not to comfort me, not to hold me—but to push me forward like an offering.""Wolfless born shifters are universal donors. Her blood will save Breanne."" I froze as if struck by lightning, my disbelieving eyes lifting to meet his. Did he and his wolf even realize what they'd done? They didn't have to say the rejection—offering their mate's blood to another woman screamed it loud enough. ""Liam,"" I managed to whisper, ""I just lost our pup—"" ""Spare me the lies. I am done believing you!"" His eyes were cold steel. ""Breanne's life comes first right now."" The words cut deeper than any blade. I straightened, ignoring the spinning in my head, every inch of me trembling but unbroken. ""You've made your choice, Liam. And after today…"" my voice didn't crack this time ""I'll make mine."" The doctor's hand gripped my arm, leading me toward the blood lab. ""I'll donate the blood,"" I didn't fight it. ""But in return, you will agree to end our mate bond.”" ***** Chapter 1 Dropping the Mate I stood at the gate of the Sterling Moon Packhouse, clutching a cake box that had begun to melt in the summer heat. My usually pristine blonde hair was now stuck to my neck and face in damp strands, and my designer dress was now ruined with mud and swamp stains. I hadn't meant to arrive at my third mating anniversary looking like I had been dragged through a hedge backward and then tossed in the swamp lands beyond the pack grounds. But then again, being cornered and ambushed by rogues, conveniently knowing my whereabouts without an escort or protection, wasn't exactly part of my agenda either. A mysterious yet heroic stranger had rescued me and driven me back to the edge of my mate’s pack territory when Liam Sterling, my mate and the pack's Alpha, hadn't answered any of my fifteen frantic calls. I had almost convinced myself he was simply busy orchestrating some grand anniversary surprise. That had to be it. Otherwise, why else would he send me out alone for the cake retrieval and then not bother to answer my calls? I quickened my pace toward the entrance of the packhouse, not wanting to delay the celebration any longer than I already had. I rounded the corner only to stop dead at the sight before me. The entire packhouse had been transformed with floral arches, helium balloons, and an enormous banner. My fingers tightened around the cake box. I had doubts about walking into the grand hall; perhaps I should slip upstairs to change first. Then Liam's familiar voice called out. "There's my beautiful mate! Took you long enough, sweetheart. Everyone's waiting for the cake. Were the directions not clear enough?" He teased, not taking in the dishevelled state of my appearance or the fact that my smile didn’t reach my eyes. He often failed to see me. I looked up to find my mate looking devastatingly handsome in a white Tom Ford suit, his gray waistcoat accentuating those broad shoulders I used to trace my fingers over. He hadn't dressed like this for me in years. I pushed aside the gnawing doubts starting to fill my heart and embraced the fact that he was trying to make things right. This was not the time to voice my disappointments with his lack of attention or concern. We're here to celebrate our mate bond with the pack. This was also the year that he promised to swear me in as the official Luna, to lead by his side. Three years of proving myself capable despite not having a wolf of my own, and now here we were. My lips began curving into a smile despite myself. Maybe the rogues and the ambush, the ruined dress, the ignored calls—perhaps none of it mattered now that I was home. Liam would keep me safe, and we were going to announce that I was stepping into a role that should have been mine when we first mated. "Liam, I was just—" I was about to explain the rogues, the ambush, the mysterious saviour, but was cut off mid-sentence. "Liam! Is that my cake?" A shrill voice interrupted as Breanne Telder materialized behind Liam, looping her arm through his as though it was where she belonged. She was Liam’s father's Beta’s daughter. Otherwise known as the third wheel in our relationship and the pick me girl that Liam always did. She was also not supposed to be here. She was sent away a while ago, and Liam promised to focus solely on us. "You flew me home just for this birthday surprise? Best Alpha bestie ever!" The cake box slipped from my fingers, landing with a sickening splat on the custom marble flooring beneath me. The same flooring I wanted to either swallow me or Breanna up in this moment. Birthday surprise? What the hell did that mean? Those two words echoed in my skull like gunshots. For weeks, I had known Liam was planning something secretive. The custom-ordered flowers were delivered under the cover of darkness. The expensive Eclipse Stone rough he'd purchased at auction. All those whispered phone calls I had pretended not to hear. It all led to this moment, but it wasn’t the moment I had expected. I had woven every scrap of evidence into fantasies of candlelit vows renewed, of Liam dropping to one knee all over again. Even when he hadn't picked up during my attack from rogues, I had made excuses for him. Now Breanne's smug smile shattered those delusions like a hammer through stained glass. "What the hell were you thinking, Claire?" Stephanie Sterling's razor-sharp heels clicked across the flooring as she advanced. "We've been waiting two hours for that cake! You can’t do one single task; no wonder you will never be Luna material for the Sterling Moon pack." Stephanie was Liam's mother. From the moment I mated into the Alpha family, Stephanie had made no secret of her dislike; she was the reason Liam was convinced to hold off and force me to prove myself as Luna material. Over time, that contempt had only grown bolder, more vicious, no longer even pretending to hide it. Failing to see Liam, their Alpha, standing up for me, much of the pack started to support and see the validity in the points that their retired Luna was making. My hands shook. "This was supposed to be our anniversary party." Liam caught my elbow and steered me out of the room for privacy. "Baby, I'd planned a surprise for you, but Breanne asked for a pack-wide birthday celebration when she returned, so—" "So, instead of standing up for your mate, yet again, you conceded and did what they wanted. It’s fine for me to be let down, but not her? Message received, Liam." I wrenched my arm free, the movement sending fresh pain through my bruised ribs from the attack. I doubled over with a gasp. Before Liam could reach for me, Stephanie's voice sliced through the garden again. "Liam! Stop coddling her and get over here. This is why the wolfless should never hold ranks; they're weak and attention grabbers. Forget the cake, we'll just serve the petit fours instead." "Coming." He hesitated, then pressed a kiss to my temple. "We'll talk later." I remained crouched in the foyer of the packhouse as another wave of pain, this one far deeper than physical, crashed over me. Not a single pack member had asked why I looked like I'd been in a car wreck, why I'd been crying. From the other room where everyone gathered, the opening chords of "Happy Birthday" floated toward me. Each syrupy note felt like another papercut to my heart. It hit me suddenly—I hadn't celebrated a birthday since mating into the Alpha family, not once, though my own fell just days apart from Breanne's. And Liam had known this; he made a joke about the coincidence of his two best gals' being birthday buddies, but mine was always overshadowed. He quickly forgot about mine. I wiped my cheeks, giving myself a self-mocking smile. I should have known better than to hope for something more than what I already received. As the sun dipped low, I rose, my shadow stretching lonely behind me. Without a word, I climbed the stairs and clicked the bedroom door shut of the Alpha suite. Under the bathroom's harsh lighting, I peeled off my ruined dress and threw it in the trash. Steam fogged the mirrors as I scrubbed at skin that still felt dirty from the rogue's hands. I stayed under the scalding water until my fingers pruned. Wrapped in an oversized robe, I sat curled on the window seat watching party lights twinkle below until the last guest departed. At 11:00 PM, the bedroom door finally creaked open. I didn't turn when Liam's familiar cologne filled the room. I heard him hang up his jacket, then felt his whiskey-warm hands on my shoulders. "Happy anniversary, my beautiful, stunning mate." His lips brushed my ear. "Guess what I got you?" I shrugged him off. "I honestly don't care." He knelt before me, producing a velvet box with the flourish of a magician. "I had this carved from that Eclipse Stone rough. It is rumoured to help awaken latent wolfen spirits, strengthen auras and bring new beginnings.” Liam fastened the pendant around my neck. The cold stone settled between my chest like a brand. "Stunning." He kissed the hollow of my throat. "I was thinking that it’s been three years since we mated, and you have done so well proving yourself to me and this pack. I want us to now try for a pup. Bring this pack a new heir.” "Yeah, that’s not happening," I rejected the idea instantly. His chuckle was dark velvet. "You won't have to lift a finger, darling. I'll do all the—" "Liam." I met his gaze for the first time that night. “I want to submit an official request to break our mate bond!” Chapter 2 This Time, His Sweet Talk Won't Work My mind was made up before he finally came to our room. This wasn't like my previous impulsive threats in an attempt to get him to see the mistakes he was continuously making in our bond. This time, I was genuinely determined to leave. Three years of mateship flashed through my mind. I had lost count of how many times Liam had prioritized Breanne over my feelings or dismissed me because his mother said so. Who was his mate, and who was just a friend? I could no longer answer that question, and I was tired of trying to defend us. We weren’t bonded. Not the way the typical Alpha and mate were. It was usual for an Alpha never to leave his Luna’s side. She was his number one priority, even though the pack came second. The Alpha's mate was the heart of the pack and respected as an equal, but I was neither of those things. I haven’t been from the start. Breanne, even though she was briefly sent away, was still respected and noticed more than I could even hope for. If someone kept treating you in ways you disliked, it was because you allowed it. I had let it slide every other time. But today, Liam had crossed my final line. This day was our third anniversary. I didn’t care that he forgot my birthday, dinners, or events we planned together. I did, however, care about this milestone moment. A promise he made was long forgotten. This was that tipping point for my patience. “Really, Claire? You are threatening to reject our mate bond again? Don't say that every time you're upset, sweetheart. I was wrong about today. I'll make it up to you tomorrow." My eyes showed no emotion. “Don't bother. Not everything can be made up, and you can only backburner your mate for so long before she grows tired of being at the bottom of the priorities, Liam.” "Of course, this can be fixed. There's always next year. We will have a pup by then, and you will have long forgotten this little hiccup and tantrum." Liam pushed me down onto the sofa, kissing my face tenderly. With my hands pinned above my head, I wasn’t able to push him off. He expected the topic of having pups would appease me and calm my boiling anger. I had had enough of his nonsense and non-committal ways. I stared blankly at the ceiling as tears unexpectedly rolled down my cheeks. I lay like a dead weight. In the past, whenever we would fight or I would throw a tantrum, as Liam would title it, all he would do was use the mate bond against me. His kisses, his touch, his desires would wear me down, and I would accept his hollowed words of apology and his flashy gifts as though they meant something more than pacifying childish behaviour, in his mind. But this time, even though he held me down and I couldn’t resist, I was also not participating or encouraging him to continue. He was so self-absorbed that he couldn’t even realize that I wasn’t a willing participant. I was motionless, soundless, non-responsive. As Liam kept kissing me, his hands touched every part of my bruised body, utterly unaware of the pain he was inflicting both physically and emotionally. I felt his body suddenly freeze at the sound of a whimpered sob that slipped out of me. He looked out with hooded eyes, which quickly sobered and turned serious when he saw the tears in my eyes. His expression was frozen in panic. "Baby, why are you crying?" He quickly turned on the light. "Wait—you seemed off when you came home. Did something happen?" Finally, he remembered, but the damage between us was already done. My heart twisted, wishing that it didn’t take crying while he wanted sex to cover his mistakes for him to notice something was wrong. At the thought of how much distance was between us, more tears fell. Under the light, Liam finally saw the slight swelling on my face, the scratches on my arms and body, and the deep gash on my right leg with dried blood. His pupils contracted. "What happened?" I could sense his wolf stirring under the surface. It was clear that someone had hurt me, but they were only now realizing it. Just as I opened my mouth, his phone rang. I looked at the screen and rolled my eyes. Of course, it was Breanne. Liam sighed and offered a small apologetic smile before he answered in front of me. "Breanne, what's wrong?" "Liam, I think I ate something bad. My stomach hurts so much. Can you take me to the hospital?" Breanne's sugary voice came through. Liam automatically started to agree. I could see his eyes widen with panic at the thought that she was in pain. But right before he responded, he looked at me and my reddened, tear-filled eyes. "It's late. Claire and I are already in bed. Ask Mom if there's any medicine at home." Stephanie's sharp voice interrupted, "Liam, come now! This isn't ordinary pain. It could be appendicitis! She's pale as a ghost!" Liam's brow furrowed. "Fine. I'm coming." My heart sank like a stone. I shook my head in disbelief and turned away, refusing to meet his eyes. Yet again, I was pushed aside. Liam dressed quickly but hesitated at the door. After a long moment, he took my hand. "You're hurt too. Come with me, we'll get you checked at the hospital." That single word, "too", cut like a knife. I laughed dryly. "No need. Go ahead, play hero for another woman. If your mate's pain is less important than staying and understanding what happened, then your friend who has a stomach ache, don’t bother dragging me around like an accessory with false concern. I'd rather be alone." Liam stiffened. He opened his mouth to speak, but the phone kept ringing insistently. Finally, he sighed and pressed his black card into my hand. "Buy whatever you want. Consider it an apology." The door slammed shut. I weighed the card in my palm and smiled bitterly. Liam only ever had two ways to appease me—sex or money. It used to work. I fooled myself into believing it meant he cared, that he wasn’t good with expressing emotions, but I saw it for what it was now. This time, his sweet talk won't work. I walked to the closet and in the back corner, I pulled out my old suitcase. Inside was the most valuable thing I owned. My freedom. It was an official Rejection agreement signed the night before our mating. Back then, Liam had insisted on accepting our mate bond despite his family's objections. Afraid of being trapped in a toxic pack and mating, I had made him sign this; if I ever wanted to break the bond, he had to agree unconditionally. I thought we’d never need it. Liam had probably forgotten it existed. But I hadn't. During one fight, I had even consulted a lawyer who confirmed its validity. I could file for an official rejection of the bond with just this document and 30 days cooling-off period. Since he had already signed it, there was no need for Liam's consent for me to file it now. The Elders within the Council would perform the rejection ceremony within their own chambers. There was no need for either of us to be present. That was typically why Alphas refrained from preemptively signing these types of contracts. It relinquished control without their knowledge. Now was the time. Chapter 3 The Breaking Point I didn't sleep all night; I couldn’t. Instead, I spent those hours cutting up every photograph of us together. There weren’t many, I realized. My phone was filled with pictures of Liam whenever I could sneak photos when he was distracted or busy. He was honestly an Adonis of a man. But three years together, we had exactly twenty-three pictures of us together as a couple, and only thirteen of those were just Liam and me. The remaining ten were with Breanne. I snuck downstairs before anyone else woke up and went into Liam's office. There on the desk was a picture. It was of him and Breanne, hugging and smiling into the camera. They looked happy. Too happy. My inner bitter bitch was vomiting at the sight. On the other side of the desk was a picture of the three of us. That's right, not me and my mate. It was Breanne pressed against Liam's side, smiling up at him, and I was smiling at the camera on the other side. My arm was linked around his, and he was smiling, but for which female in the picture, your guess was as good as mine. I took the picture out of the frame, and bent it so that I was folded to the back. There, now he had two perfect couple pictures of him and Breanne. I will simply bow out of this weird three-way relationship. By dawn, I had already filed the official rejection agreement papers at the Council's registry office. Then I donated all the designer outfits Liam had bought me to charity. Afterward, I drove out of the pack grounds for a few hours to pawn every piece of jewelry he'd ever given me at the local broker's. I didn’t want it getting back to Liam, or the pack gossip mill to run rampant with their own speculations. Not yet anyway. It was a surprisingly large chunk of money in return, one thing I knew for sure about Liam. When he was grovelling for his indifferences and mistakes, he never cheaped out on the apology jewelry. The broker didn’t have the full amount on hand, so I opted to have it wired, which worked fine for me. I opened a new bank account and provided them with the necessary information. I returned to the packhouse early that afternoon. I had requested that the gardener cut down the Cherry Blossom tree in the pack’s courtyard. He was ordered to burn every branch and leaf until only ashes remained. When I agreed to mate with Liam, I had my reservations because his family didn’t support their Alpha heir accepting the bond to a wolfless orphan with average financial standings. Liam planted the tree as a token of his pledge of devotion to us and our bond. I fell for it, thinking it would make us stronger. But I was wrong. By late afternoon, I had either sold, donated or destroyed every token of Liam and his devotion to me and our bond: everything but the Eclipse stone pendant. Some legends state that the Moon Goddess herself blessed the eclipse stone to strengthen the will of the wolfless. Call me a fool, but it still served as a sliver of proof that at some point, he did care enough to seek out the stone for me. Now that everything was removed, it was time for me to step out and prepare everything for my new life after this month-long cooldown period ended, and I was no longer the unwanted mate of Alpha Liam Sterling. I knew I had to be smart and figure out my path now, as I had no family to turn to once the rejection was completed. When I was seven, my father had disappeared after a mountain climbing accident. It was speculated that rogues were involved, as they were heavy in the area at the time. My mother re-mated not long afterwards, and we became part of the Thorne family. They were the overlords, if you will, of the Crown of Thornes Pack, rivals of The Sterling Moon pack and next door neighbours to the territory. My mother left the Thorne family after accusations and rumours of her infidelity and gambling debts. I didn’t believe it, but it seemed that everyone else did. I had no idea where she even went. She certainly didn’t seek me out after she left that night, abandoning me. The only person who would even be considered family at this point was Lucien Thorne. He was my former stepbrother from my mother's second mating. However, Lucien was notorious for his short temper, and he constantly mistreated me while we lived under the same roof, so I would sooner wind up homeless than seek his help. The heat of Liam’s black card was burning a hole in my pocket, serving as a reminder of his literal words: “Buy whatever you want and consider it as an apology.” Okay! I will. I went to the bank and after the teller spoke with the branch manager to confirm my approval of using the Alpha’s account for a withdrawal, yup, that's right, I held no status, so I wasn’t even recognized with authority over our marital account; I withdrew one million dollars from his account. It was insulting and frustrating to know that Breanne can walk in here and not have as many hoops to jump through to get at my mate’s money. But that’s fine. I have already started to let go of my hold on him emotionally. My head has already done so. As I waited for the teller to return with the funds, my phone rang. Liyah Cruz. She was my closest friend before I accepted the bond with Liam. Liam didn’t like her influence on me, as he put it, so over the years, our friendship became strained. For her to be reaching out and calling me now, it had to be important. "Liyah? What's wrong?" I answered right away. "Oh, thank the Goddess. Claire, the International Equestrian Championships start in a month, but I just got injured during training." Liyah's voice was thick with disappointment. "Claire, you were the most talented rider we knew. I could think of no one else to take over. Could you compete in my place?" The memories came flooding back. Had I not mated with Liam, I might have become as renowned as Liyah in equestrian circles. But Liam had disapproved of me riding; he often called it unladylike. He'd gone as far as going behind my back and selling my beloved white stallion, Mirage, to a good owner, cutting off my last connection to the sport. The silence stretched until Liyah sighed. "I forgot your mate doesn't allow—" "I'll do it," I interrupted. "One month. I'll be ready." Liyah's excited squeal pierced through the receiver. "Really? Oh my Goddess! Everyone always said you shouldn't have given up your talent for mating! You're finally coming back to us!" My hand trembled around the phone. Yes, before mating into the Sterling Moon pack and Alpha family, I had shone so brightly. Before Liam, I used to be many things. I was the university's star student—straight A's in every subject. A gifted painter, champion rider, runway model, master chef, and award-winning debater—there was nothing I couldn't excel at. But three years of mating had eroded it all. I hadn't touched a paintbrush in years. I have forgotten how to walk a runway, and even lost my sharp tongue in arguments—forced to submit to even my mate's family and house staff. Only my cooking skills remained polished because I have cooked for Liam every single day since the beginning of our bond acceptance. Only now did I realize how much of myself I had sacrificed. But it wasn't too late. I could still start over. This was that chance to start taking my life by the reins, so to speak, and returning to the Claire that used to walk proudly with her chin held high. Chapter 4 Meeting on Horseback I met Liyah at the stables we once rode at together. “Thank you, Claire-bear. I can’t believe you are actually here.” Liyah launched herself on top of me, despite her knee brace. I thought I understood what I gave up to be with Liam, my mate, but I didn’t understand a fraction of it. This crazy woman, who used to be my world, wrapped around me. How did I let him separate us? “It’s me who should thank you, Lee-Lee. I’ve missed you. I’m sorry. No more boys between us, I promise.” I sobbed. Liyah looked up, and I saw the understanding in her eyes. We both wiped our faces and laughed at our equally blotchy faces. “Okay, later, we'll discuss everything!” She looked at me with as much conviction as her tiny body could muster. I nodded and smiled. “But now, let me introduce you to Diva, my stallion. Just a warning, he lives up to the name periodically. I think it’s an adorable quirk for him and refuse to break it out of him. You’ll love him!” Liyah leads us to the stables, where we meet the horse. Liyah was right. We matched instantly. It isn’t easy for a shifter to bond with a stallion, but I never had those worries. I was always able to click with any animal, to the point where Liyah's brother spent a year calling me freaking snow white! I hated it, but he wasn’t wrong. I galloped across the equestrian field at dawn, the stallion I rode was kicking up dew as it raced toward the rising sun. Then I saw them. Liam and Breanne shared a white mare, ambling toward my direction. Breanne was dressed in her pristine white riding jodhpurs with the matching show coat, leaned back against Liam's chest. Liam's attire was the stark contrast of black on black. I watched him bend his head low, whispering something in Breanne’s ear, causing a fit of giggles from her. I had waited for him to return all night. When I had reached out and called him to ask if he would be returning that night, I was told, by him, that since Breanna needed an emergency appendectomy, he would not leave her side until she recovered. That was when I cut up our photos, burning them to ashes. As I watch them now, a question came to my mind, causing my brow to arch. When did appendectomy patients start riding horses the next day? My grip tightened on the reins just as Breanne spotted me. “Oh! Liam, how spooky. Doesn’t that woman look just like Claire!”At her teasing words, I watched as Liam's head snapped up. There, I sat astride my stallion, the tailored navy riding jacket accentuating my hourglass figure, my gaze glacial. I knew he felt it. Dismounting, Liam approached until he could only see the sharp angle of my jaw. "Sweetheart, since when do you ride? I thought you quit that. You should've told me you were coming." The memory of his and Breanne’s intimate pose churned my stomach. I pressed a hand to my mouth to keep from being sick at the thought before answering flatly. "Would you have answered if I called?" This acidic tone only emerged when I was furious. Liam's smile turned placating. "My fault—left my phone in the car. It turned out to be a false alarm about Breanne's appendix. Since she's competing in the International Equestrian Championships next month, I was only helping her practice." Breanne urged her mare forward, pouting. "Liam, why must we explain everything to her? Come back, we have more important things to focus on. You haven't finished teaching me." "An International Championship contender needs amateur instruction? How curious. I wonder if anyone else here is getting that kind of coaching? But, Liam, if she requires coaching, I'll do it." As Liam turned, my voice froze him. Liam’s expression initially fell flat at my words, but he quickly brightened at my offer. "Exactly! Breanne, Claire won that championship years ago." 'How touching that he finally remembered I have value,' I thought bitterly. Breanne bit her lip. "But—" After years together, I knew Breanne’s games. She wasn’t as nervous on a horse as she portrayed. It was all an act for Liam. "No buts." I raised my riding crop. "Let's ride." The crop came down on Breanne's mare, which bolted forward with a whinny as Breanne shrieked. Liam paled. "Claire! She wasn't ready—" "Real trainers surprise their students." My amber eyes glinted. “Your coddling would've kept her mediocre forever.” Dust sprayed Liam's face as I galloped after Breanne, leaving him standing there, cheeks burning as if slapped. Good. This was just the beginning of my resistance. Breanne and I raced across the field. Though I was starting late, my black stallion, Diva, was not one to be outshone, and we soon overtook Breanne's white mare. For three years, Breanne had only seen the docile, obedient Claire. This commanding version, I’m sure, was unnerving. I could hear her growling, which, to be honest, was only slowing her own horse down. Her mare would not be able to focus on a race, with its rider losing its hold over herself. It was bound to spook her mare soon, and if she weren’t careful, she would get bucked. But as the saying goes, not my circus, not my monkeys. Diva and I were focused on ourselves. I could sense Breanne's determination to beat me. But, no matter how she pushed her champion mare, I remained ahead. As Diva and I passed her again, I caught a flash of movement from Breanne out of the corner of my eye. She pulled a hairpin out of her pocket and hurled it at Diva. That hairpin had been a gift from her friend at her birthday party, and she had been keeping it close to her chest just now. It was made of silver, and the sharp end drove hard into Diva's rump. Diva was instantly startled. Despite my expert handling and calming charm, which I have often used in the past to soothe a panicked horse, Diva threw me. I felt the gnash from the rock sticking out from the ground, which I hit my head on. The impact sending black spots across my vision—and a cry in absolute agony. My abdominal area pinched and screamed with a sharp and sudden pain like nothing I have ever felt before. There was blood on my hand when I touched it. I needed to get up. I needed to get back and get medical help because I knew Breanne wasn’t going to get me any. As I tried to push myself up off the ground with one hand, while the other was wrapped tightly around my stomach, still crying in sheer pain, a polished boot came forcefully down, cracking the bones in my hand. "Ah—!" The pain forced a gasp through clenched teeth. Chapter 5 The Two-Faced Woman "Claire, weren't you so impressive on horseback just now? How did you end up on the ground so fast?" Breanne crouched down, blinking her wide, innocent-looking eyes as she taunted me, pressing her boot harder against my hand, breaking the bones. She knew I was wolfless, and the pain she was causing; this was why she was doing it. To send me a message. I was hoping someone would come and find us, but the odds of this far from the training grounds were unlikely. "Oh my, I'm so sorry!" Breanne feigned surprise, finally lifting her foot with exaggerated remorse. "I didn't even see your hand there. How careless of me." “It’s to be expected with those massive feet of yours. What is that a size ten in men's?” I watched her eyes flash in anger briefly before she reined it back in. I yanked my hand back, and when Breanne reached out to help me up. I would always refuse her help; it was always a ploy for something worse. When she tried again, I recoiled, pushing myself up to my feet with gritted teeth. "Claire, that must've hurt. With riding skills like yours, how could you possibly think you were qualified to teach me?" Breanne smirked. "Only a fool would believe such a pitiful act, Breanne.” I glared, refusing to back down. "Oh, please. Can't accept that you're just not as good as I am? No wonder Liam doesn't like you much—you're such a sore loser." Breanne let out a mocking laugh. Breanne wasn’t hiding her petty, vindictive behaviour. She wanted me to know her intentions of returning and that she hadn't forgiven me for having her exiled. The reason Breanne was sent away a year ago was that I had walked in on her and Liam in the throes of passion. They were both half-naked and stuck to each other. Liam seemed to snap out of his daze the moment I entered the room and yanked Breanne off him. The thud of her head to the edge of the dresser brought out her wolf, and warriors nearby who heard the yelling managed to catch Breanne just in time before she could attack me. Liam sobered up instantly and demanded answers. Breanne played the confused card. That, like Liam, she had drunk a little too much at the pack celebration. She must have gotten confused about which floor she was on and passed out in mine and his bedroom, thinking it was hers. After all, his scent calms her, so she made sure to add that part—one extra little jab between Liam and me. Liam swore up and down that he was confused and thought it was me under the covers in bed. That, with the amount of wolfwine he had consumed, he didn’t realize it wasn’t me until my scent entered the room, and his wolf halted their action immediately recognizing their error. I moved to a different room, and Liam tried to separate himself from Breanne. Then he learned that Breanne approached me afterward and told me that Liam was aware it was her. After all, why would they confuse their mates? Unfortunately for Breanne, she did it in front of a witness, and they told several others, which led Liam to ask me about it. I confirmed that I knew he was aware that it was Breanne, as she told me so herself, and that I wanted to break the bond if he didn’t send her away as proof of his devotion to the mates' bond. I could see that he didn’t want to, but Liam was also someone who cared too much about image to have the wolfen community know that he lost his true mate over the Beta’s daughter affair scandal. With the third wheel gone, our mate bond had finally stabilized. I had hoped to start trying for a pup on our anniversary after I was announced as the new Luna of the Sterling Moon pack. But now Breanne was back, something of which Liam failed to inform me—especially considering it nearly ended us only a year ago. His lack of consideration over that confused me. Did his wolf also agree with this decision? Surely his wolf would realize better than Liam that this would ultimately bring out the bond to an end. "Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about," I said coolly. "But don't worry. I'll be out of your way soon. Then you two can do whatever you want." I turned away, whistling sharply for my horse. Breanne's face flushed crimson. She grabbed my arm and pressed her fingers deep into the flesh. “What the hell are you implying? What plans could I possibly have?” "You know exactly what I mean. But just a heads-up—mistresses in ranked mate bonds are illegal without Elder consent. And bastard pups tend to be shunned by packs altogether. So think carefully." Breanne's face went scarlet. "You—you're disgusting! How dare you accuse me and Liam of—" The sound of galloping hooves cut her off. Her eyes widened as though she hadn't expected us to be interrupted so soon. I turned to the sound of approaching Hooves, which gave Breanne time to growl her threat before she partially shifted and lunged at me with the intent to maul me where I stood. A chill ran down my spine—only to be overshadowed by the thunderous sound of a horse's disapproving whinny. Next thing I knew, Breanne was whimpering on the ground, crying in sheer agony as a scarred, filthy white stallion trampled her. My breath hitched, my eyes widened in disbelief. I knew this stallion. And then I saw it—the faint brown patch on the stallion's head. My blood turned to ice. No. It can’t be. "Mirage?" My voice cracked. The horse stopped mid-stomp, ears twitching. The sound of my voice stopped the Stallion from continuing its attack on Breanne, who had now reverted to her bruised human state, no longer partially shifted. The Stallion turned and looked at me. "Mirage!" I choked out, rushing forward to grab the reins. "It's really you!" I hadn't summoned my borrowed stallion. I had summoned him. My champion. My partner. My horse that Liam sold from under me, promising he went to a good home. Now, his coat was matted, his skin was patchy with disease, and his body was crisscrossed with whip marks. He was abused. Mirage had once been a regal, snow-white stallion, bought at auction by the Thornes. He had carried me to victory in countless competitions. He wasn't just a horse. He was my family. One of the most precious things I had. It took everything in me to forgive him for going behind my back and forcing me to stop riding by selling Mirage off in the first place, but it helped soothe the pain to know that at least he was being taken care of wherever he was. Liam had promised he'd be cared for. He lied. He looked me in the eye and lied to my face. He gave Mirage to a home that had continuously abused and neglected him. These wounds were a combination of old and recent. This was what Liam considered a good home? Tears burned my eyes as I ran my hands over his ruined coat. My heart was breaking. The abuse Mirage would have been enduring all this time, thinking I abandoned him. "Claire! Breanne!" Liam's voice cut through the air as another set of hooves approached. Chapter 6 The Fall The injuries and now Mirage, I was breaking inside and now outside. Just as my knees gave way, a firm hand caught my arm. "What took you so long out here? Are you all right?" Liam's voice, usually so tender, sounded distant in my ears. Through my tears, I turned to confront him about Mirage's condition, but Breanne's weak whimper cut through the air. "Liam.” She whimpered weakly. “Please, help me,” she pleaded. Liam stiffened as if struck. He released me immediately, like he was catching fire at just the mere touch of me. I staggered from the sudden loss of assistance and contact from my mate, and watched in disbelief as his attention snapped to Breanne's crumpled form on the ground. "Breanne!" His eyes reddened as he gathered her into his arms, cradling her close to her chest, "Oh my Goddess, what happened? How did this—?" I watched as he gently wiped away the tears staining her cheek. His eyes began to mist up. It was as though I were watching a live-action romance. The long-lost lover, dying in her beloved's arms. It would have been touching if it wasn't for the fact that that was my mate, holding another woman so tenderly while I stood five feet from them in significantly more pain. "Claire couldn't handle her horse. When I offered to help her back up, she then turned it around and blamed me! When I tried to explain I wasn’t at fault, she set that wretched beast on me!" Breanne's tears fell like broken pearls. Her voice grew faint as she added dramatically, "Liam, please, I can't feel my legs. What if I never walk again?" Liam's expression darkened as he listened to Breanne’s version of events. He turned to me with a sudden coldness I had never seen before. "Is this true?" He growled in anger, clutching Breanne closer to him protectively. A searing pain tore through my abdomen before I could respond. I cried out at the suddenness of it, and clutched my stomach, gasping through clenched teeth as metallic bile rose in my throat. Liam didn’t even flinch at the sight of my obvious pain before him. "I'm taking Breanne to the hospital," he said coldly. "If you did this, Claire—" He left the threat hanging as he cradled Breanne closer. I have never heard of an Alpha, or any rank member in my school studies or observations, threatening his mates and Luna over just a friend. It was against Wolfen code and ethics, but I suppose that didn’t matter to Liam or the Sterling Moon pack. This was going to become a regular occurrence, I could already sense it. I watched through blurred vision as Breanne gave one last performance. "Liam, I—" Her eyelids fluttered shut with theatrical perfection. "Bree-Bree! Stay with me! Please don’t leave me, baby. I’m here. Don’t you dare leave me!" Liam shouted, already running partially shifted into his wolf to allow himself to cradle her and use his Alpha wolf strength and speed at the same time. Behind him, I collapsed with a thud that echoed across the field. I briefly saw Liam hesitate mid-stride—just for a second. Regardless, he didn’t turn around at the sound of my collapse and shallow, laboured breaths. I watched as they continued to run away with Breanne in their arms, leaving me where I lay. My heart broke, even though I had filed and decided to leave both Liam and this horrible pack; a small part of me still held onto a sliver of hope that Liam would see the path he was taking and how far it was from us. But he didn’t, and that was when everything went dark for me. ***** When I regained consciousness, the sterile glare of surgical lights assaulted my vision. Cold metal instruments clinked nearby as my legs were positioned apart. I tried to speak, but the drugs held me paralyzed. The doctors' voices floated above me like ghosts. I could sense the movements around me, but I was awake, unable to move, feel, or speak. It was a surreal experience, but oddly familiar to my life since I had mated with the Sterling family. Nothing more than an ornament on the wall to all, including my mate. "Such a shame—two months along. Who goes horseback riding when they're pregnant?" "The fall detached the embryo completely. Must have been quite the impact. She is lucky to be alive." "Without a wolf, another hour, and she wouldn’t have been." "That man who brought her in—was that her husband? He was colder than a block of ice, but as Handsome as the Devil himself. Can’t say much about their mateship part, he simply paid the bill and left without a word." "Enough chatter. Let’s finish this up before she hemorrhages." Each medical term floating to my ears—pregnancy, embryo, hemorrhage, dilation and curettage—pierced my drugged haze like silver blades to the heart. The one that stuck out the most was broken. I knew they were talking about my hand, but it was so much deeper than that. I felt broken. I lost my pup. Until recently, I would have loved to have Liam and my first pup. Everything about us seemed happy and together, but now, it seemed symbolic to lose the pups I never knew I had. I was losing a mate I should never have had to fight this hard to keep. Everything was perfect until I saw it was all a smoke screen and not meant to be. Just like this pup. False hope. I struggled against the numbness, but my body refused to obey. Something sharp scraped inside me, painless but violating. The crushing weight of realization dragged me under before I could scream, I was once again enveloped by empty darkness. "Claire ... Claire ..." Time lost all meaning. A distant voice called my name while someone shook my arm. With monumental effort, I forced my eyes open. Once again, the antiseptic glare of hospital lights assaulted my vision—I was in a hospital room.
"""Please, Liam, I just lost our baby. Don't let them take my blood."" My voice was barely a whisper, my body still trembling from the surgery—from the emptiness where our child used to be. But my husband didn't even look at me. His gaze was fixed on the ER doors, where doctors shouted about Breanne's critical blood loss. Breanne Telder. The Beta's daughter. His best friend. The woman he swore was""just like a sister.” The same woman who caused the fall that cost me our pup. ""She's RH-negative and we're out of stock. Find donors—now!"" The surgeon said urgently. ""Take hers."" Liam's arm slid around my waist—not to comfort me, not to hold me—but to push me forward like an offering.""Wolfless born shifters are universal donors. Her blood will save Breanne."" I froze as if struck by lightning, my disbelieving eyes lifting to meet his. Did he and his wolf even realize what they'd done? They didn't have to say the rejection—offering their mate's blood to another woman screamed it loud enough. ""Liam,"" I managed to whisper, ""I just lost our pup—"" ""Spare me the lies. I am done believing you!"" His eyes were cold steel. ""Breanne's life comes first right now."" The words cut deeper than any blade. I straightened, ignoring the spinning in my head, every inch of me trembling but unbroken. ""You've made your choice, Liam. And after today…"" my voice didn't crack this time ""I'll make mine."" The doctor's hand gripped my arm, leading me toward the blood lab. ""I'll donate the blood,"" I didn't fight it. ""But in return, you will agree to end our mate bond.”" ***** Chapter 1 Dropping the Mate I stood at the gate of the Sterling Moon Packhouse, clutching a cake box that had begun to melt in the summer heat. My usually pristine blonde hair was now stuck to my neck and face in damp strands, and my designer dress was now ruined with mud and swamp stains. I hadn't meant to arrive at my third mating anniversary looking like I had been dragged through a hedge backward and then tossed in the swamp lands beyond the pack grounds. But then again, being cornered and ambushed by rogues, conveniently knowing my whereabouts without an escort or protection, wasn't exactly part of my agenda either. A mysterious yet heroic stranger had rescued me and driven me back to the edge of my mate’s pack territory when Liam Sterling, my mate and the pack's Alpha, hadn't answered any of my fifteen frantic calls. I had almost convinced myself he was simply busy orchestrating some grand anniversary surprise. That had to be it. Otherwise, why else would he send me out alone for the cake retrieval and then not bother to answer my calls? I quickened my pace toward the entrance of the packhouse, not wanting to delay the celebration any longer than I already had. I rounded the corner only to stop dead at the sight before me. The entire packhouse had been transformed with floral arches, helium balloons, and an enormous banner. My fingers tightened around the cake box. I had doubts about walking into the grand hall; perhaps I should slip upstairs to change first. Then Liam's familiar voice called out. "There's my beautiful mate! Took you long enough, sweetheart. Everyone's waiting for the cake. Were the directions not clear enough?" He teased, not taking in the dishevelled state of my appearance or the fact that my smile didn’t reach my eyes. He often failed to see me. I looked up to find my mate looking devastatingly handsome in a white Tom Ford suit, his gray waistcoat accentuating those broad shoulders I used to trace my fingers over. He hadn't dressed like this for me in years. I pushed aside the gnawing doubts starting to fill my heart and embraced the fact that he was trying to make things right. This was not the time to voice my disappointments with his lack of attention or concern. We're here to celebrate our mate bond with the pack. This was also the year that he promised to swear me in as the official Luna, to lead by his side. Three years of proving myself capable despite not having a wolf of my own, and now here we were. My lips began curving into a smile despite myself. Maybe the rogues and the ambush, the ruined dress, the ignored calls—perhaps none of it mattered now that I was home. Liam would keep me safe, and we were going to announce that I was stepping into a role that should have been mine when we first mated. "Liam, I was just—" I was about to explain the rogues, the ambush, the mysterious saviour, but was cut off mid-sentence. "Liam! Is that my cake?" A shrill voice interrupted as Breanne Telder materialized behind Liam, looping her arm through his as though it was where she belonged. She was Liam’s father's Beta’s daughter. Otherwise known as the third wheel in our relationship and the pick me girl that Liam always did. She was also not supposed to be here. She was sent away a while ago, and Liam promised to focus solely on us. "You flew me home just for this birthday surprise? Best Alpha bestie ever!" The cake box slipped from my fingers, landing with a sickening splat on the custom marble flooring beneath me. The same flooring I wanted to either swallow me or Breanna up in this moment. Birthday surprise? What the hell did that mean? Those two words echoed in my skull like gunshots. For weeks, I had known Liam was planning something secretive. The custom-ordered flowers were delivered under the cover of darkness. The expensive Eclipse Stone rough he'd purchased at auction. All those whispered phone calls I had pretended not to hear. It all led to this moment, but it wasn’t the moment I had expected. I had woven every scrap of evidence into fantasies of candlelit vows renewed, of Liam dropping to one knee all over again. Even when he hadn't picked up during my attack from rogues, I had made excuses for him. Now Breanne's smug smile shattered those delusions like a hammer through stained glass. "What the hell were you thinking, Claire?" Stephanie Sterling's razor-sharp heels clicked across the flooring as she advanced. "We've been waiting two hours for that cake! You can’t do one single task; no wonder you will never be Luna material for the Sterling Moon pack." Stephanie was Liam's mother. From the moment I mated into the Alpha family, Stephanie had made no secret of her dislike; she was the reason Liam was convinced to hold off and force me to prove myself as Luna material. Over time, that contempt had only grown bolder, more vicious, no longer even pretending to hide it. Failing to see Liam, their Alpha, standing up for me, much of the pack started to support and see the validity in the points that their retired Luna was making. My hands shook. "This was supposed to be our anniversary party." Liam caught my elbow and steered me out of the room for privacy. "Baby, I'd planned a surprise for you, but Breanne asked for a pack-wide birthday celebration when she returned, so—" "So, instead of standing up for your mate, yet again, you conceded and did what they wanted. It’s fine for me to be let down, but not her? Message received, Liam." I wrenched my arm free, the movement sending fresh pain through my bruised ribs from the attack. I doubled over with a gasp. Before Liam could reach for me, Stephanie's voice sliced through the garden again. "Liam! Stop coddling her and get over here. This is why the wolfless should never hold ranks; they're weak and attention grabbers. Forget the cake, we'll just serve the petit fours instead." "Coming." He hesitated, then pressed a kiss to my temple. "We'll talk later." I remained crouched in the foyer of the packhouse as another wave of pain, this one far deeper than physical, crashed over me. Not a single pack member had asked why I looked like I'd been in a car wreck, why I'd been crying. From the other room where everyone gathered, the opening chords of "Happy Birthday" floated toward me. Each syrupy note felt like another papercut to my heart. It hit me suddenly—I hadn't celebrated a birthday since mating into the Alpha family, not once, though my own fell just days apart from Breanne's. And Liam had known this; he made a joke about the coincidence of his two best gals' being birthday buddies, but mine was always overshadowed. He quickly forgot about mine. I wiped my cheeks, giving myself a self-mocking smile. I should have known better than to hope for something more than what I already received. As the sun dipped low, I rose, my shadow stretching lonely behind me. Without a word, I climbed the stairs and clicked the bedroom door shut of the Alpha suite. Under the bathroom's harsh lighting, I peeled off my ruined dress and threw it in the trash. Steam fogged the mirrors as I scrubbed at skin that still felt dirty from the rogue's hands. I stayed under the scalding water until my fingers pruned. Wrapped in an oversized robe, I sat curled on the window seat watching party lights twinkle below until the last guest departed. At 11:00 PM, the bedroom door finally creaked open. I didn't turn when Liam's familiar cologne filled the room. I heard him hang up his jacket, then felt his whiskey-warm hands on my shoulders. "Happy anniversary, my beautiful, stunning mate." His lips brushed my ear. "Guess what I got you?" I shrugged him off. "I honestly don't care." He knelt before me, producing a velvet box with the flourish of a magician. "I had this carved from that Eclipse Stone rough. It is rumoured to help awaken latent wolfen spirits, strengthen auras and bring new beginnings.” Liam fastened the pendant around my neck. The cold stone settled between my chest like a brand. "Stunning." He kissed the hollow of my throat. "I was thinking that it’s been three years since we mated, and you have done so well proving yourself to me and this pack. I want us to now try for a pup. Bring this pack a new heir.” "Yeah, that’s not happening," I rejected the idea instantly. His chuckle was dark velvet. "You won't have to lift a finger, darling. I'll do all the—" "Liam." I met his gaze for the first time that night. “I want to submit an official request to break our mate bond!” Chapter 2 This Time, His Sweet Talk Won't Work My mind was made up before he finally came to our room. This wasn't like my previous impulsive threats in an attempt to get him to see the mistakes he was continuously making in our bond. This time, I was genuinely determined to leave. Three years of mateship flashed through my mind. I had lost count of how many times Liam had prioritized Breanne over my feelings or dismissed me because his mother said so. Who was his mate, and who was just a friend? I could no longer answer that question, and I was tired of trying to defend us. We weren’t bonded. Not the way the typical Alpha and mate were. It was usual for an Alpha never to leave his Luna’s side. She was his number one priority, even though the pack came second. The Alpha's mate was the heart of the pack and respected as an equal, but I was neither of those things. I haven’t been from the start. Breanne, even though she was briefly sent away, was still respected and noticed more than I could even hope for. If someone kept treating you in ways you disliked, it was because you allowed it. I had let it slide every other time. But today, Liam had crossed my final line. This day was our third anniversary. I didn’t care that he forgot my birthday, dinners, or events we planned together. I did, however, care about this milestone moment. A promise he made was long forgotten. This was that tipping point for my patience. “Really, Claire? You are threatening to reject our mate bond again? Don't say that every time you're upset, sweetheart. I was wrong about today. I'll make it up to you tomorrow." My eyes showed no emotion. “Don't bother. Not everything can be made up, and you can only backburner your mate for so long before she grows tired of being at the bottom of the priorities, Liam.” "Of course, this can be fixed. There's always next year. We will have a pup by then, and you will have long forgotten this little hiccup and tantrum." Liam pushed me down onto the sofa, kissing my face tenderly. With my hands pinned above my head, I wasn’t able to push him off. He expected the topic of having pups would appease me and calm my boiling anger. I had had enough of his nonsense and non-committal ways. I stared blankly at the ceiling as tears unexpectedly rolled down my cheeks. I lay like a dead weight. In the past, whenever we would fight or I would throw a tantrum, as Liam would title it, all he would do was use the mate bond against me. His kisses, his touch, his desires would wear me down, and I would accept his hollowed words of apology and his flashy gifts as though they meant something more than pacifying childish behaviour, in his mind. But this time, even though he held me down and I couldn’t resist, I was also not participating or encouraging him to continue. He was so self-absorbed that he couldn’t even realize that I wasn’t a willing participant. I was motionless, soundless, non-responsive. As Liam kept kissing me, his hands touched every part of my bruised body, utterly unaware of the pain he was inflicting both physically and emotionally. I felt his body suddenly freeze at the sound of a whimpered sob that slipped out of me. He looked out with hooded eyes, which quickly sobered and turned serious when he saw the tears in my eyes. His expression was frozen in panic. "Baby, why are you crying?" He quickly turned on the light. "Wait—you seemed off when you came home. Did something happen?" Finally, he remembered, but the damage between us was already done. My heart twisted, wishing that it didn’t take crying while he wanted sex to cover his mistakes for him to notice something was wrong. At the thought of how much distance was between us, more tears fell. Under the light, Liam finally saw the slight swelling on my face, the scratches on my arms and body, and the deep gash on my right leg with dried blood. His pupils contracted. "What happened?" I could sense his wolf stirring under the surface. It was clear that someone had hurt me, but they were only now realizing it. Just as I opened my mouth, his phone rang. I looked at the screen and rolled my eyes. Of course, it was Breanne. Liam sighed and offered a small apologetic smile before he answered in front of me. "Breanne, what's wrong?" "Liam, I think I ate something bad. My stomach hurts so much. Can you take me to the hospital?" Breanne's sugary voice came through. Liam automatically started to agree. I could see his eyes widen with panic at the thought that she was in pain. But right before he responded, he looked at me and my reddened, tear-filled eyes. "It's late. Claire and I are already in bed. Ask Mom if there's any medicine at home." Stephanie's sharp voice interrupted, "Liam, come now! This isn't ordinary pain. It could be appendicitis! She's pale as a ghost!" Liam's brow furrowed. "Fine. I'm coming." My heart sank like a stone. I shook my head in disbelief and turned away, refusing to meet his eyes. Yet again, I was pushed aside. Liam dressed quickly but hesitated at the door. After a long moment, he took my hand. "You're hurt too. Come with me, we'll get you checked at the hospital." That single word, "too", cut like a knife. I laughed dryly. "No need. Go ahead, play hero for another woman. If your mate's pain is less important than staying and understanding what happened, then your friend who has a stomach ache, don’t bother dragging me around like an accessory with false concern. I'd rather be alone." Liam stiffened. He opened his mouth to speak, but the phone kept ringing insistently. Finally, he sighed and pressed his black card into my hand. "Buy whatever you want. Consider it an apology." The door slammed shut. I weighed the card in my palm and smiled bitterly. Liam only ever had two ways to appease me—sex or money. It used to work. I fooled myself into believing it meant he cared, that he wasn’t good with expressing emotions, but I saw it for what it was now. This time, his sweet talk won't work. I walked to the closet and in the back corner, I pulled out my old suitcase. Inside was the most valuable thing I owned. My freedom. It was an official Rejection agreement signed the night before our mating. Back then, Liam had insisted on accepting our mate bond despite his family's objections. Afraid of being trapped in a toxic pack and mating, I had made him sign this; if I ever wanted to break the bond, he had to agree unconditionally. I thought we’d never need it. Liam had probably forgotten it existed. But I hadn't. During one fight, I had even consulted a lawyer who confirmed its validity. I could file for an official rejection of the bond with just this document and 30 days cooling-off period. Since he had already signed it, there was no need for Liam's consent for me to file it now. The Elders within the Council would perform the rejection ceremony within their own chambers. There was no need for either of us to be present. That was typically why Alphas refrained from preemptively signing these types of contracts. It relinquished control without their knowledge. Now was the time. Chapter 3 The Breaking Point I didn't sleep all night; I couldn’t. Instead, I spent those hours cutting up every photograph of us together. There weren’t many, I realized. My phone was filled with pictures of Liam whenever I could sneak photos when he was distracted or busy. He was honestly an Adonis of a man. But three years together, we had exactly twenty-three pictures of us together as a couple, and only thirteen of those were just Liam and me. The remaining ten were with Breanne. I snuck downstairs before anyone else woke up and went into Liam's office. There on the desk was a picture. It was of him and Breanne, hugging and smiling into the camera. They looked happy. Too happy. My inner bitter bitch was vomiting at the sight. On the other side of the desk was a picture of the three of us. That's right, not me and my mate. It was Breanne pressed against Liam's side, smiling up at him, and I was smiling at the camera on the other side. My arm was linked around his, and he was smiling, but for which female in the picture, your guess was as good as mine. I took the picture out of the frame, and bent it so that I was folded to the back. There, now he had two perfect couple pictures of him and Breanne. I will simply bow out of this weird three-way relationship. By dawn, I had already filed the official rejection agreement papers at the Council's registry office. Then I donated all the designer outfits Liam had bought me to charity. Afterward, I drove out of the pack grounds for a few hours to pawn every piece of jewelry he'd ever given me at the local broker's. I didn’t want it getting back to Liam, or the pack gossip mill to run rampant with their own speculations. Not yet anyway. It was a surprisingly large chunk of money in return, one thing I knew for sure about Liam. When he was grovelling for his indifferences and mistakes, he never cheaped out on the apology jewelry. The broker didn’t have the full amount on hand, so I opted to have it wired, which worked fine for me. I opened a new bank account and provided them with the necessary information. I returned to the packhouse early that afternoon. I had requested that the gardener cut down the Cherry Blossom tree in the pack’s courtyard. He was ordered to burn every branch and leaf until only ashes remained. When I agreed to mate with Liam, I had my reservations because his family didn’t support their Alpha heir accepting the bond to a wolfless orphan with average financial standings. Liam planted the tree as a token of his pledge of devotion to us and our bond. I fell for it, thinking it would make us stronger. But I was wrong. By late afternoon, I had either sold, donated or destroyed every token of Liam and his devotion to me and our bond: everything but the Eclipse stone pendant. Some legends state that the Moon Goddess herself blessed the eclipse stone to strengthen the will of the wolfless. Call me a fool, but it still served as a sliver of proof that at some point, he did care enough to seek out the stone for me. Now that everything was removed, it was time for me to step out and prepare everything for my new life after this month-long cooldown period ended, and I was no longer the unwanted mate of Alpha Liam Sterling. I knew I had to be smart and figure out my path now, as I had no family to turn to once the rejection was completed. When I was seven, my father had disappeared after a mountain climbing accident. It was speculated that rogues were involved, as they were heavy in the area at the time. My mother re-mated not long afterwards, and we became part of the Thorne family. They were the overlords, if you will, of the Crown of Thornes Pack, rivals of The Sterling Moon pack and next door neighbours to the territory. My mother left the Thorne family after accusations and rumours of her infidelity and gambling debts. I didn’t believe it, but it seemed that everyone else did. I had no idea where she even went. She certainly didn’t seek me out after she left that night, abandoning me. The only person who would even be considered family at this point was Lucien Thorne. He was my former stepbrother from my mother's second mating. However, Lucien was notorious for his short temper, and he constantly mistreated me while we lived under the same roof, so I would sooner wind up homeless than seek his help. The heat of Liam’s black card was burning a hole in my pocket, serving as a reminder of his literal words: “Buy whatever you want and consider it as an apology.” Okay! I will. I went to the bank and after the teller spoke with the branch manager to confirm my approval of using the Alpha’s account for a withdrawal, yup, that's right, I held no status, so I wasn’t even recognized with authority over our marital account; I withdrew one million dollars from his account. It was insulting and frustrating to know that Breanne can walk in here and not have as many hoops to jump through to get at my mate’s money. But that’s fine. I have already started to let go of my hold on him emotionally. My head has already done so. As I waited for the teller to return with the funds, my phone rang. Liyah Cruz. She was my closest friend before I accepted the bond with Liam. Liam didn’t like her influence on me, as he put it, so over the years, our friendship became strained. For her to be reaching out and calling me now, it had to be important. "Liyah? What's wrong?" I answered right away. "Oh, thank the Goddess. Claire, the International Equestrian Championships start in a month, but I just got injured during training." Liyah's voice was thick with disappointment. "Claire, you were the most talented rider we knew. I could think of no one else to take over. Could you compete in my place?" The memories came flooding back. Had I not mated with Liam, I might have become as renowned as Liyah in equestrian circles. But Liam had disapproved of me riding; he often called it unladylike. He'd gone as far as going behind my back and selling my beloved white stallion, Mirage, to a good owner, cutting off my last connection to the sport. The silence stretched until Liyah sighed. "I forgot your mate doesn't allow—" "I'll do it," I interrupted. "One month. I'll be ready." Liyah's excited squeal pierced through the receiver. "Really? Oh my Goddess! Everyone always said you shouldn't have given up your talent for mating! You're finally coming back to us!" My hand trembled around the phone. Yes, before mating into the Sterling Moon pack and Alpha family, I had shone so brightly. Before Liam, I used to be many things. I was the university's star student—straight A's in every subject. A gifted painter, champion rider, runway model, master chef, and award-winning debater—there was nothing I couldn't excel at. But three years of mating had eroded it all. I hadn't touched a paintbrush in years. I have forgotten how to walk a runway, and even lost my sharp tongue in arguments—forced to submit to even my mate's family and house staff. Only my cooking skills remained polished because I have cooked for Liam every single day since the beginning of our bond acceptance. Only now did I realize how much of myself I had sacrificed. But it wasn't too late. I could still start over. This was that chance to start taking my life by the reins, so to speak, and returning to the Claire that used to walk proudly with her chin held high. Chapter 4 Meeting on Horseback I met Liyah at the stables we once rode at together. “Thank you, Claire-bear. I can’t believe you are actually here.” Liyah launched herself on top of me, despite her knee brace. I thought I understood what I gave up to be with Liam, my mate, but I didn’t understand a fraction of it. This crazy woman, who used to be my world, wrapped around me. How did I let him separate us? “It’s me who should thank you, Lee-Lee. I’ve missed you. I’m sorry. No more boys between us, I promise.” I sobbed. Liyah looked up, and I saw the understanding in her eyes. We both wiped our faces and laughed at our equally blotchy faces. “Okay, later, we'll discuss everything!” She looked at me with as much conviction as her tiny body could muster. I nodded and smiled. “But now, let me introduce you to Diva, my stallion. Just a warning, he lives up to the name periodically. I think it’s an adorable quirk for him and refuse to break it out of him. You’ll love him!” Liyah leads us to the stables, where we meet the horse. Liyah was right. We matched instantly. It isn’t easy for a shifter to bond with a stallion, but I never had those worries. I was always able to click with any animal, to the point where Liyah's brother spent a year calling me freaking snow white! I hated it, but he wasn’t wrong. I galloped across the equestrian field at dawn, the stallion I rode was kicking up dew as it raced toward the rising sun. Then I saw them. Liam and Breanne shared a white mare, ambling toward my direction. Breanne was dressed in her pristine white riding jodhpurs with the matching show coat, leaned back against Liam's chest. Liam's attire was the stark contrast of black on black. I watched him bend his head low, whispering something in Breanne’s ear, causing a fit of giggles from her. I had waited for him to return all night. When I had reached out and called him to ask if he would be returning that night, I was told, by him, that since Breanna needed an emergency appendectomy, he would not leave her side until she recovered. That was when I cut up our photos, burning them to ashes. As I watch them now, a question came to my mind, causing my brow to arch. When did appendectomy patients start riding horses the next day? My grip tightened on the reins just as Breanne spotted me. “Oh! Liam, how spooky. Doesn’t that woman look just like Claire!”At her teasing words, I watched as Liam's head snapped up. There, I sat astride my stallion, the tailored navy riding jacket accentuating my hourglass figure, my gaze glacial. I knew he felt it. Dismounting, Liam approached until he could only see the sharp angle of my jaw. "Sweetheart, since when do you ride? I thought you quit that. You should've told me you were coming." The memory of his and Breanne’s intimate pose churned my stomach. I pressed a hand to my mouth to keep from being sick at the thought before answering flatly. "Would you have answered if I called?" This acidic tone only emerged when I was furious. Liam's smile turned placating. "My fault—left my phone in the car. It turned out to be a false alarm about Breanne's appendix. Since she's competing in the International Equestrian Championships next month, I was only helping her practice." Breanne urged her mare forward, pouting. "Liam, why must we explain everything to her? Come back, we have more important things to focus on. You haven't finished teaching me." "An International Championship contender needs amateur instruction? How curious. I wonder if anyone else here is getting that kind of coaching? But, Liam, if she requires coaching, I'll do it." As Liam turned, my voice froze him. Liam’s expression initially fell flat at my words, but he quickly brightened at my offer. "Exactly! Breanne, Claire won that championship years ago." 'How touching that he finally remembered I have value,' I thought bitterly. Breanne bit her lip. "But—" After years together, I knew Breanne’s games. She wasn’t as nervous on a horse as she portrayed. It was all an act for Liam. "No buts." I raised my riding crop. "Let's ride." The crop came down on Breanne's mare, which bolted forward with a whinny as Breanne shrieked. Liam paled. "Claire! She wasn't ready—" "Real trainers surprise their students." My amber eyes glinted. “Your coddling would've kept her mediocre forever.” Dust sprayed Liam's face as I galloped after Breanne, leaving him standing there, cheeks burning as if slapped. Good. This was just the beginning of my resistance. Breanne and I raced across the field. Though I was starting late, my black stallion, Diva, was not one to be outshone, and we soon overtook Breanne's white mare. For three years, Breanne had only seen the docile, obedient Claire. This commanding version, I’m sure, was unnerving. I could hear her growling, which, to be honest, was only slowing her own horse down. Her mare would not be able to focus on a race, with its rider losing its hold over herself. It was bound to spook her mare soon, and if she weren’t careful, she would get bucked. But as the saying goes, not my circus, not my monkeys. Diva and I were focused on ourselves. I could sense Breanne's determination to beat me. But, no matter how she pushed her champion mare, I remained ahead. As Diva and I passed her again, I caught a flash of movement from Breanne out of the corner of my eye. She pulled a hairpin out of her pocket and hurled it at Diva. That hairpin had been a gift from her friend at her birthday party, and she had been keeping it close to her chest just now. It was made of silver, and the sharp end drove hard into Diva's rump. Diva was instantly startled. Despite my expert handling and calming charm, which I have often used in the past to soothe a panicked horse, Diva threw me. I felt the gnash from the rock sticking out from the ground, which I hit my head on. The impact sending black spots across my vision—and a cry in absolute agony. My abdominal area pinched and screamed with a sharp and sudden pain like nothing I have ever felt before. There was blood on my hand when I touched it. I needed to get up. I needed to get back and get medical help because I knew Breanne wasn’t going to get me any. As I tried to push myself up off the ground with one hand, while the other was wrapped tightly around my stomach, still crying in sheer pain, a polished boot came forcefully down, cracking the bones in my hand. "Ah—!" The pain forced a gasp through clenched teeth. Chapter 5 The Two-Faced Woman "Claire, weren't you so impressive on horseback just now? How did you end up on the ground so fast?" Breanne crouched down, blinking her wide, innocent-looking eyes as she taunted me, pressing her boot harder against my hand, breaking the bones. She knew I was wolfless, and the pain she was causing; this was why she was doing it. To send me a message. I was hoping someone would come and find us, but the odds of this far from the training grounds were unlikely. "Oh my, I'm so sorry!" Breanne feigned surprise, finally lifting her foot with exaggerated remorse. "I didn't even see your hand there. How careless of me." “It’s to be expected with those massive feet of yours. What is that a size ten in men's?” I watched her eyes flash in anger briefly before she reined it back in. I yanked my hand back, and when Breanne reached out to help me up. I would always refuse her help; it was always a ploy for something worse. When she tried again, I recoiled, pushing myself up to my feet with gritted teeth. "Claire, that must've hurt. With riding skills like yours, how could you possibly think you were qualified to teach me?" Breanne smirked. "Only a fool would believe such a pitiful act, Breanne.” I glared, refusing to back down. "Oh, please. Can't accept that you're just not as good as I am? No wonder Liam doesn't like you much—you're such a sore loser." Breanne let out a mocking laugh. Breanne wasn’t hiding her petty, vindictive behaviour. She wanted me to know her intentions of returning and that she hadn't forgiven me for having her exiled. The reason Breanne was sent away a year ago was that I had walked in on her and Liam in the throes of passion. They were both half-naked and stuck to each other. Liam seemed to snap out of his daze the moment I entered the room and yanked Breanne off him. The thud of her head to the edge of the dresser brought out her wolf, and warriors nearby who heard the yelling managed to catch Breanne just in time before she could attack me. Liam sobered up instantly and demanded answers. Breanne played the confused card. That, like Liam, she had drunk a little too much at the pack celebration. She must have gotten confused about which floor she was on and passed out in mine and his bedroom, thinking it was hers. After all, his scent calms her, so she made sure to add that part—one extra little jab between Liam and me. Liam swore up and down that he was confused and thought it was me under the covers in bed. That, with the amount of wolfwine he had consumed, he didn’t realize it wasn’t me until my scent entered the room, and his wolf halted their action immediately recognizing their error. I moved to a different room, and Liam tried to separate himself from Breanne. Then he learned that Breanne approached me afterward and told me that Liam was aware it was her. After all, why would they confuse their mates? Unfortunately for Breanne, she did it in front of a witness, and they told several others, which led Liam to ask me about it. I confirmed that I knew he was aware that it was Breanne, as she told me so herself, and that I wanted to break the bond if he didn’t send her away as proof of his devotion to the mates' bond. I could see that he didn’t want to, but Liam was also someone who cared too much about image to have the wolfen community know that he lost his true mate over the Beta’s daughter affair scandal. With the third wheel gone, our mate bond had finally stabilized. I had hoped to start trying for a pup on our anniversary after I was announced as the new Luna of the Sterling Moon pack. But now Breanne was back, something of which Liam failed to inform me—especially considering it nearly ended us only a year ago. His lack of consideration over that confused me. Did his wolf also agree with this decision? Surely his wolf would realize better than Liam that this would ultimately bring out the bond to an end. "Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about," I said coolly. "But don't worry. I'll be out of your way soon. Then you two can do whatever you want." I turned away, whistling sharply for my horse. Breanne's face flushed crimson. She grabbed my arm and pressed her fingers deep into the flesh. “What the hell are you implying? What plans could I possibly have?” "You know exactly what I mean. But just a heads-up—mistresses in ranked mate bonds are illegal without Elder consent. And bastard pups tend to be shunned by packs altogether. So think carefully." Breanne's face went scarlet. "You—you're disgusting! How dare you accuse me and Liam of—" The sound of galloping hooves cut her off. Her eyes widened as though she hadn't expected us to be interrupted so soon. I turned to the sound of approaching Hooves, which gave Breanne time to growl her threat before she partially shifted and lunged at me with the intent to maul me where I stood. A chill ran down my spine—only to be overshadowed by the thunderous sound of a horse's disapproving whinny. Next thing I knew, Breanne was whimpering on the ground, crying in sheer agony as a scarred, filthy white stallion trampled her. My breath hitched, my eyes widened in disbelief. I knew this stallion. And then I saw it—the faint brown patch on the stallion's head. My blood turned to ice. No. It can’t be. "Mirage?" My voice cracked. The horse stopped mid-stomp, ears twitching. The sound of my voice stopped the Stallion from continuing its attack on Breanne, who had now reverted to her bruised human state, no longer partially shifted. The Stallion turned and looked at me. "Mirage!" I choked out, rushing forward to grab the reins. "It's really you!" I hadn't summoned my borrowed stallion. I had summoned him. My champion. My partner. My horse that Liam sold from under me, promising he went to a good home. Now, his coat was matted, his skin was patchy with disease, and his body was crisscrossed with whip marks. He was abused. Mirage had once been a regal, snow-white stallion, bought at auction by the Thornes. He had carried me to victory in countless competitions. He wasn't just a horse. He was my family. One of the most precious things I had. It took everything in me to forgive him for going behind my back and forcing me to stop riding by selling Mirage off in the first place, but it helped soothe the pain to know that at least he was being taken care of wherever he was. Liam had promised he'd be cared for. He lied. He looked me in the eye and lied to my face. He gave Mirage to a home that had continuously abused and neglected him. These wounds were a combination of old and recent. This was what Liam considered a good home? Tears burned my eyes as I ran my hands over his ruined coat. My heart was breaking. The abuse Mirage would have been enduring all this time, thinking I abandoned him. "Claire! Breanne!" Liam's voice cut through the air as another set of hooves approached. Chapter 6 The Fall The injuries and now Mirage, I was breaking inside and now outside. Just as my knees gave way, a firm hand caught my arm. "What took you so long out here? Are you all right?" Liam's voice, usually so tender, sounded distant in my ears. Through my tears, I turned to confront him about Mirage's condition, but Breanne's weak whimper cut through the air. "Liam.” She whimpered weakly. “Please, help me,” she pleaded. Liam stiffened as if struck. He released me immediately, like he was catching fire at just the mere touch of me. I staggered from the sudden loss of assistance and contact from my mate, and watched in disbelief as his attention snapped to Breanne's crumpled form on the ground. "Breanne!" His eyes reddened as he gathered her into his arms, cradling her close to her chest, "Oh my Goddess, what happened? How did this—?" I watched as he gently wiped away the tears staining her cheek. His eyes began to mist up. It was as though I were watching a live-action romance. The long-lost lover, dying in her beloved's arms. It would have been touching if it wasn't for the fact that that was my mate, holding another woman so tenderly while I stood five feet from them in significantly more pain. "Claire couldn't handle her horse. When I offered to help her back up, she then turned it around and blamed me! When I tried to explain I wasn’t at fault, she set that wretched beast on me!" Breanne's tears fell like broken pearls. Her voice grew faint as she added dramatically, "Liam, please, I can't feel my legs. What if I never walk again?" Liam's expression darkened as he listened to Breanne’s version of events. He turned to me with a sudden coldness I had never seen before. "Is this true?" He growled in anger, clutching Breanne closer to him protectively. A searing pain tore through my abdomen before I could respond. I cried out at the suddenness of it, and clutched my stomach, gasping through clenched teeth as metallic bile rose in my throat. Liam didn’t even flinch at the sight of my obvious pain before him. "I'm taking Breanne to the hospital," he said coldly. "If you did this, Claire—" He left the threat hanging as he cradled Breanne closer. I have never heard of an Alpha, or any rank member in my school studies or observations, threatening his mates and Luna over just a friend. It was against Wolfen code and ethics, but I suppose that didn’t matter to Liam or the Sterling Moon pack. This was going to become a regular occurrence, I could already sense it. I watched through blurred vision as Breanne gave one last performance. "Liam, I—" Her eyelids fluttered shut with theatrical perfection. "Bree-Bree! Stay with me! Please don’t leave me, baby. I’m here. Don’t you dare leave me!" Liam shouted, already running partially shifted into his wolf to allow himself to cradle her and use his Alpha wolf strength and speed at the same time. Behind him, I collapsed with a thud that echoed across the field. I briefly saw Liam hesitate mid-stride—just for a second. Regardless, he didn’t turn around at the sound of my collapse and shallow, laboured breaths. I watched as they continued to run away with Breanne in their arms, leaving me where I lay. My heart broke, even though I had filed and decided to leave both Liam and this horrible pack; a small part of me still held onto a sliver of hope that Liam would see the path he was taking and how far it was from us. But he didn’t, and that was when everything went dark for me. ***** When I regained consciousness, the sterile glare of surgical lights assaulted my vision. Cold metal instruments clinked nearby as my legs were positioned apart. I tried to speak, but the drugs held me paralyzed. The doctors' voices floated above me like ghosts. I could sense the movements around me, but I was awake, unable to move, feel, or speak. It was a surreal experience, but oddly familiar to my life since I had mated with the Sterling family. Nothing more than an ornament on the wall to all, including my mate. "Such a shame—two months along. Who goes horseback riding when they're pregnant?" "The fall detached the embryo completely. Must have been quite the impact. She is lucky to be alive." "Without a wolf, another hour, and she wouldn’t have been." "That man who brought her in—was that her husband? He was colder than a block of ice, but as Handsome as the Devil himself. Can’t say much about their mateship part, he simply paid the bill and left without a word." "Enough chatter. Let’s finish this up before she hemorrhages." Each medical term floating to my ears—pregnancy, embryo, hemorrhage, dilation and curettage—pierced my drugged haze like silver blades to the heart. The one that stuck out the most was broken. I knew they were talking about my hand, but it was so much deeper than that. I felt broken. I lost my pup. Until recently, I would have loved to have Liam and my first pup. Everything about us seemed happy and together, but now, it seemed symbolic to lose the pups I never knew I had. I was losing a mate I should never have had to fight this hard to keep. Everything was perfect until I saw it was all a smoke screen and not meant to be. Just like this pup. False hope. I struggled against the numbness, but my body refused to obey. Something sharp scraped inside me, painless but violating. The crushing weight of realization dragged me under before I could scream, I was once again enveloped by empty darkness. "Claire ... Claire ..." Time lost all meaning. A distant voice called my name while someone shook my arm. With monumental effort, I forced my eyes open. Once again, the antiseptic glare of hospital lights assaulted my vision—I was in a hospital room.
"""Please, Liam, I just lost our baby. Don't let them take my blood."" My voice was barely a whisper, my body still trembling from the surgery—from the emptiness where our child used to be. But my husband didn't even look at me. His gaze was fixed on the ER doors, where doctors shouted about Breanne's critical blood loss. Breanne Telder. The Beta's daughter. His best friend. The woman he swore was""just like a sister.” The same woman who caused the fall that cost me our pup. ""She's RH-negative and we're out of stock. Find donors—now!"" The surgeon said urgently. ""Take hers."" Liam's arm slid around my waist—not to comfort me, not to hold me—but to push me forward like an offering.""Wolfless born shifters are universal donors. Her blood will save Breanne."" I froze as if struck by lightning, my disbelieving eyes lifting to meet his. Did he and his wolf even realize what they'd done? They didn't have to say the rejection—offering their mate's blood to another woman screamed it loud enough. ""Liam,"" I managed to whisper, ""I just lost our pup—"" ""Spare me the lies. I am done believing you!"" His eyes were cold steel. ""Breanne's life comes first right now."" The words cut deeper than any blade. I straightened, ignoring the spinning in my head, every inch of me trembling but unbroken. ""You've made your choice, Liam. And after today…"" my voice didn't crack this time ""I'll make mine."" The doctor's hand gripped my arm, leading me toward the blood lab. ""I'll donate the blood,"" I didn't fight it. ""But in return, you will agree to end our mate bond.”" ***** Chapter 1 Dropping the Mate I stood at the gate of the Sterling Moon Packhouse, clutching a cake box that had begun to melt in the summer heat. My usually pristine blonde hair was now stuck to my neck and face in damp strands, and my designer dress was now ruined with mud and swamp stains. I hadn't meant to arrive at my third mating anniversary looking like I had been dragged through a hedge backward and then tossed in the swamp lands beyond the pack grounds. But then again, being cornered and ambushed by rogues, conveniently knowing my whereabouts without an escort or protection, wasn't exactly part of my agenda either. A mysterious yet heroic stranger had rescued me and driven me back to the edge of my mate’s pack territory when Liam Sterling, my mate and the pack's Alpha, hadn't answered any of my fifteen frantic calls. I had almost convinced myself he was simply busy orchestrating some grand anniversary surprise. That had to be it. Otherwise, why else would he send me out alone for the cake retrieval and then not bother to answer my calls? I quickened my pace toward the entrance of the packhouse, not wanting to delay the celebration any longer than I already had. I rounded the corner only to stop dead at the sight before me. The entire packhouse had been transformed with floral arches, helium balloons, and an enormous banner. My fingers tightened around the cake box. I had doubts about walking into the grand hall; perhaps I should slip upstairs to change first. Then Liam's familiar voice called out. "There's my beautiful mate! Took you long enough, sweetheart. Everyone's waiting for the cake. Were the directions not clear enough?" He teased, not taking in the dishevelled state of my appearance or the fact that my smile didn’t reach my eyes. He often failed to see me. I looked up to find my mate looking devastatingly handsome in a white Tom Ford suit, his gray waistcoat accentuating those broad shoulders I used to trace my fingers over. He hadn't dressed like this for me in years. I pushed aside the gnawing doubts starting to fill my heart and embraced the fact that he was trying to make things right. This was not the time to voice my disappointments with his lack of attention or concern. We're here to celebrate our mate bond with the pack. This was also the year that he promised to swear me in as the official Luna, to lead by his side. Three years of proving myself capable despite not having a wolf of my own, and now here we were. My lips began curving into a smile despite myself. Maybe the rogues and the ambush, the ruined dress, the ignored calls—perhaps none of it mattered now that I was home. Liam would keep me safe, and we were going to announce that I was stepping into a role that should have been mine when we first mated. "Liam, I was just—" I was about to explain the rogues, the ambush, the mysterious saviour, but was cut off mid-sentence. "Liam! Is that my cake?" A shrill voice interrupted as Breanne Telder materialized behind Liam, looping her arm through his as though it was where she belonged. She was Liam’s father's Beta’s daughter. Otherwise known as the third wheel in our relationship and the pick me girl that Liam always did. She was also not supposed to be here. She was sent away a while ago, and Liam promised to focus solely on us. "You flew me home just for this birthday surprise? Best Alpha bestie ever!" The cake box slipped from my fingers, landing with a sickening splat on the custom marble flooring beneath me. The same flooring I wanted to either swallow me or Breanna up in this moment. Birthday surprise? What the hell did that mean? Those two words echoed in my skull like gunshots. For weeks, I had known Liam was planning something secretive. The custom-ordered flowers were delivered under the cover of darkness. The expensive Eclipse Stone rough he'd purchased at auction. All those whispered phone calls I had pretended not to hear. It all led to this moment, but it wasn’t the moment I had expected. I had woven every scrap of evidence into fantasies of candlelit vows renewed, of Liam dropping to one knee all over again. Even when he hadn't picked up during my attack from rogues, I had made excuses for him. Now Breanne's smug smile shattered those delusions like a hammer through stained glass. "What the hell were you thinking, Claire?" Stephanie Sterling's razor-sharp heels clicked across the flooring as she advanced. "We've been waiting two hours for that cake! You can’t do one single task; no wonder you will never be Luna material for the Sterling Moon pack." Stephanie was Liam's mother. From the moment I mated into the Alpha family, Stephanie had made no secret of her dislike; she was the reason Liam was convinced to hold off and force me to prove myself as Luna material. Over time, that contempt had only grown bolder, more vicious, no longer even pretending to hide it. Failing to see Liam, their Alpha, standing up for me, much of the pack started to support and see the validity in the points that their retired Luna was making. My hands shook. "This was supposed to be our anniversary party." Liam caught my elbow and steered me out of the room for privacy. "Baby, I'd planned a surprise for you, but Breanne asked for a pack-wide birthday celebration when she returned, so—" "So, instead of standing up for your mate, yet again, you conceded and did what they wanted. It’s fine for me to be let down, but not her? Message received, Liam." I wrenched my arm free, the movement sending fresh pain through my bruised ribs from the attack. I doubled over with a gasp. Before Liam could reach for me, Stephanie's voice sliced through the garden again. "Liam! Stop coddling her and get over here. This is why the wolfless should never hold ranks; they're weak and attention grabbers. Forget the cake, we'll just serve the petit fours instead." "Coming." He hesitated, then pressed a kiss to my temple. "We'll talk later." I remained crouched in the foyer of the packhouse as another wave of pain, this one far deeper than physical, crashed over me. Not a single pack member had asked why I looked like I'd been in a car wreck, why I'd been crying. From the other room where everyone gathered, the opening chords of "Happy Birthday" floated toward me. Each syrupy note felt like another papercut to my heart. It hit me suddenly—I hadn't celebrated a birthday since mating into the Alpha family, not once, though my own fell just days apart from Breanne's. And Liam had known this; he made a joke about the coincidence of his two best gals' being birthday buddies, but mine was always overshadowed. He quickly forgot about mine. I wiped my cheeks, giving myself a self-mocking smile. I should have known better than to hope for something more than what I already received. As the sun dipped low, I rose, my shadow stretching lonely behind me. Without a word, I climbed the stairs and clicked the bedroom door shut of the Alpha suite. Under the bathroom's harsh lighting, I peeled off my ruined dress and threw it in the trash. Steam fogged the mirrors as I scrubbed at skin that still felt dirty from the rogue's hands. I stayed under the scalding water until my fingers pruned. Wrapped in an oversized robe, I sat curled on the window seat watching party lights twinkle below until the last guest departed. At 11:00 PM, the bedroom door finally creaked open. I didn't turn when Liam's familiar cologne filled the room. I heard him hang up his jacket, then felt his whiskey-warm hands on my shoulders. "Happy anniversary, my beautiful, stunning mate." His lips brushed my ear. "Guess what I got you?" I shrugged him off. "I honestly don't care." He knelt before me, producing a velvet box with the flourish of a magician. "I had this carved from that Eclipse Stone rough. It is rumoured to help awaken latent wolfen spirits, strengthen auras and bring new beginnings.” Liam fastened the pendant around my neck. The cold stone settled between my chest like a brand. "Stunning." He kissed the hollow of my throat. "I was thinking that it’s been three years since we mated, and you have done so well proving yourself to me and this pack. I want us to now try for a pup. Bring this pack a new heir.” "Yeah, that’s not happening," I rejected the idea instantly. His chuckle was dark velvet. "You won't have to lift a finger, darling. I'll do all the—" "Liam." I met his gaze for the first time that night. “I want to submit an official request to break our mate bond!” Chapter 2 This Time, His Sweet Talk Won't Work My mind was made up before he finally came to our room. This wasn't like my previous impulsive threats in an attempt to get him to see the mistakes he was continuously making in our bond. This time, I was genuinely determined to leave. Three years of mateship flashed through my mind. I had lost count of how many times Liam had prioritized Breanne over my feelings or dismissed me because his mother said so. Who was his mate, and who was just a friend? I could no longer answer that question, and I was tired of trying to defend us. We weren’t bonded. Not the way the typical Alpha and mate were. It was usual for an Alpha never to leave his Luna’s side. She was his number one priority, even though the pack came second. The Alpha's mate was the heart of the pack and respected as an equal, but I was neither of those things. I haven’t been from the start. Breanne, even though she was briefly sent away, was still respected and noticed more than I could even hope for. If someone kept treating you in ways you disliked, it was because you allowed it. I had let it slide every other time. But today, Liam had crossed my final line. This day was our third anniversary. I didn’t care that he forgot my birthday, dinners, or events we planned together. I did, however, care about this milestone moment. A promise he made was long forgotten. This was that tipping point for my patience. “Really, Claire? You are threatening to reject our mate bond again? Don't say that every time you're upset, sweetheart. I was wrong about today. I'll make it up to you tomorrow." My eyes showed no emotion. “Don't bother. Not everything can be made up, and you can only backburner your mate for so long before she grows tired of being at the bottom of the priorities, Liam.” "Of course, this can be fixed. There's always next year. We will have a pup by then, and you will have long forgotten this little hiccup and tantrum." Liam pushed me down onto the sofa, kissing my face tenderly. With my hands pinned above my head, I wasn’t able to push him off. He expected the topic of having pups would appease me and calm my boiling anger. I had had enough of his nonsense and non-committal ways. I stared blankly at the ceiling as tears unexpectedly rolled down my cheeks. I lay like a dead weight. In the past, whenever we would fight or I would throw a tantrum, as Liam would title it, all he would do was use the mate bond against me. His kisses, his touch, his desires would wear me down, and I would accept his hollowed words of apology and his flashy gifts as though they meant something more than pacifying childish behaviour, in his mind. But this time, even though he held me down and I couldn’t resist, I was also not participating or encouraging him to continue. He was so self-absorbed that he couldn’t even realize that I wasn’t a willing participant. I was motionless, soundless, non-responsive. As Liam kept kissing me, his hands touched every part of my bruised body, utterly unaware of the pain he was inflicting both physically and emotionally. I felt his body suddenly freeze at the sound of a whimpered sob that slipped out of me. He looked out with hooded eyes, which quickly sobered and turned serious when he saw the tears in my eyes. His expression was frozen in panic. "Baby, why are you crying?" He quickly turned on the light. "Wait—you seemed off when you came home. Did something happen?" Finally, he remembered, but the damage between us was already done. My heart twisted, wishing that it didn’t take crying while he wanted sex to cover his mistakes for him to notice something was wrong. At the thought of how much distance was between us, more tears fell. Under the light, Liam finally saw the slight swelling on my face, the scratches on my arms and body, and the deep gash on my right leg with dried blood. His pupils contracted. "What happened?" I could sense his wolf stirring under the surface. It was clear that someone had hurt me, but they were only now realizing it. Just as I opened my mouth, his phone rang. I looked at the screen and rolled my eyes. Of course, it was Breanne. Liam sighed and offered a small apologetic smile before he answered in front of me. "Breanne, what's wrong?" "Liam, I think I ate something bad. My stomach hurts so much. Can you take me to the hospital?" Breanne's sugary voice came through. Liam automatically started to agree. I could see his eyes widen with panic at the thought that she was in pain. But right before he responded, he looked at me and my reddened, tear-filled eyes. "It's late. Claire and I are already in bed. Ask Mom if there's any medicine at home." Stephanie's sharp voice interrupted, "Liam, come now! This isn't ordinary pain. It could be appendicitis! She's pale as a ghost!" Liam's brow furrowed. "Fine. I'm coming." My heart sank like a stone. I shook my head in disbelief and turned away, refusing to meet his eyes. Yet again, I was pushed aside. Liam dressed quickly but hesitated at the door. After a long moment, he took my hand. "You're hurt too. Come with me, we'll get you checked at the hospital." That single word, "too", cut like a knife. I laughed dryly. "No need. Go ahead, play hero for another woman. If your mate's pain is less important than staying and understanding what happened, then your friend who has a stomach ache, don’t bother dragging me around like an accessory with false concern. I'd rather be alone." Liam stiffened. He opened his mouth to speak, but the phone kept ringing insistently. Finally, he sighed and pressed his black card into my hand. "Buy whatever you want. Consider it an apology." The door slammed shut. I weighed the card in my palm and smiled bitterly. Liam only ever had two ways to appease me—sex or money. It used to work. I fooled myself into believing it meant he cared, that he wasn’t good with expressing emotions, but I saw it for what it was now. This time, his sweet talk won't work. I walked to the closet and in the back corner, I pulled out my old suitcase. Inside was the most valuable thing I owned. My freedom. It was an official Rejection agreement signed the night before our mating. Back then, Liam had insisted on accepting our mate bond despite his family's objections. Afraid of being trapped in a toxic pack and mating, I had made him sign this; if I ever wanted to break the bond, he had to agree unconditionally. I thought we’d never need it. Liam had probably forgotten it existed. But I hadn't. During one fight, I had even consulted a lawyer who confirmed its validity. I could file for an official rejection of the bond with just this document and 30 days cooling-off period. Since he had already signed it, there was no need for Liam's consent for me to file it now. The Elders within the Council would perform the rejection ceremony within their own chambers. There was no need for either of us to be present. That was typically why Alphas refrained from preemptively signing these types of contracts. It relinquished control without their knowledge. Now was the time. Chapter 3 The Breaking Point I didn't sleep all night; I couldn’t. Instead, I spent those hours cutting up every photograph of us together. There weren’t many, I realized. My phone was filled with pictures of Liam whenever I could sneak photos when he was distracted or busy. He was honestly an Adonis of a man. But three years together, we had exactly twenty-three pictures of us together as a couple, and only thirteen of those were just Liam and me. The remaining ten were with Breanne. I snuck downstairs before anyone else woke up and went into Liam's office. There on the desk was a picture. It was of him and Breanne, hugging and smiling into the camera. They looked happy. Too happy. My inner bitter bitch was vomiting at the sight. On the other side of the desk was a picture of the three of us. That's right, not me and my mate. It was Breanne pressed against Liam's side, smiling up at him, and I was smiling at the camera on the other side. My arm was linked around his, and he was smiling, but for which female in the picture, your guess was as good as mine. I took the picture out of the frame, and bent it so that I was folded to the back. There, now he had two perfect couple pictures of him and Breanne. I will simply bow out of this weird three-way relationship. By dawn, I had already filed the official rejection agreement papers at the Council's registry office. Then I donated all the designer outfits Liam had bought me to charity. Afterward, I drove out of the pack grounds for a few hours to pawn every piece of jewelry he'd ever given me at the local broker's. I didn’t want it getting back to Liam, or the pack gossip mill to run rampant with their own speculations. Not yet anyway. It was a surprisingly large chunk of money in return, one thing I knew for sure about Liam. When he was grovelling for his indifferences and mistakes, he never cheaped out on the apology jewelry. The broker didn’t have the full amount on hand, so I opted to have it wired, which worked fine for me. I opened a new bank account and provided them with the necessary information. I returned to the packhouse early that afternoon. I had requested that the gardener cut down the Cherry Blossom tree in the pack’s courtyard. He was ordered to burn every branch and leaf until only ashes remained. When I agreed to mate with Liam, I had my reservations because his family didn’t support their Alpha heir accepting the bond to a wolfless orphan with average financial standings. Liam planted the tree as a token of his pledge of devotion to us and our bond. I fell for it, thinking it would make us stronger. But I was wrong. By late afternoon, I had either sold, donated or destroyed every token of Liam and his devotion to me and our bond: everything but the Eclipse stone pendant. Some legends state that the Moon Goddess herself blessed the eclipse stone to strengthen the will of the wolfless. Call me a fool, but it still served as a sliver of proof that at some point, he did care enough to seek out the stone for me. Now that everything was removed, it was time for me to step out and prepare everything for my new life after this month-long cooldown period ended, and I was no longer the unwanted mate of Alpha Liam Sterling. I knew I had to be smart and figure out my path now, as I had no family to turn to once the rejection was completed. When I was seven, my father had disappeared after a mountain climbing accident. It was speculated that rogues were involved, as they were heavy in the area at the time. My mother re-mated not long afterwards, and we became part of the Thorne family. They were the overlords, if you will, of the Crown of Thornes Pack, rivals of The Sterling Moon pack and next door neighbours to the territory. My mother left the Thorne family after accusations and rumours of her infidelity and gambling debts. I didn’t believe it, but it seemed that everyone else did. I had no idea where she even went. She certainly didn’t seek me out after she left that night, abandoning me. The only person who would even be considered family at this point was Lucien Thorne. He was my former stepbrother from my mother's second mating. However, Lucien was notorious for his short temper, and he constantly mistreated me while we lived under the same roof, so I would sooner wind up homeless than seek his help. The heat of Liam’s black card was burning a hole in my pocket, serving as a reminder of his literal words: “Buy whatever you want and consider it as an apology.” Okay! I will. I went to the bank and after the teller spoke with the branch manager to confirm my approval of using the Alpha’s account for a withdrawal, yup, that's right, I held no status, so I wasn’t even recognized with authority over our marital account; I withdrew one million dollars from his account. It was insulting and frustrating to know that Breanne can walk in here and not have as many hoops to jump through to get at my mate’s money. But that’s fine. I have already started to let go of my hold on him emotionally. My head has already done so. As I waited for the teller to return with the funds, my phone rang. Liyah Cruz. She was my closest friend before I accepted the bond with Liam. Liam didn’t like her influence on me, as he put it, so over the years, our friendship became strained. For her to be reaching out and calling me now, it had to be important. "Liyah? What's wrong?" I answered right away. "Oh, thank the Goddess. Claire, the International Equestrian Championships start in a month, but I just got injured during training." Liyah's voice was thick with disappointment. "Claire, you were the most talented rider we knew. I could think of no one else to take over. Could you compete in my place?" The memories came flooding back. Had I not mated with Liam, I might have become as renowned as Liyah in equestrian circles. But Liam had disapproved of me riding; he often called it unladylike. He'd gone as far as going behind my back and selling my beloved white stallion, Mirage, to a good owner, cutting off my last connection to the sport. The silence stretched until Liyah sighed. "I forgot your mate doesn't allow—" "I'll do it," I interrupted. "One month. I'll be ready." Liyah's excited squeal pierced through the receiver. "Really? Oh my Goddess! Everyone always said you shouldn't have given up your talent for mating! You're finally coming back to us!" My hand trembled around the phone. Yes, before mating into the Sterling Moon pack and Alpha family, I had shone so brightly. Before Liam, I used to be many things. I was the university's star student—straight A's in every subject. A gifted painter, champion rider, runway model, master chef, and award-winning debater—there was nothing I couldn't excel at. But three years of mating had eroded it all. I hadn't touched a paintbrush in years. I have forgotten how to walk a runway, and even lost my sharp tongue in arguments—forced to submit to even my mate's family and house staff. Only my cooking skills remained polished because I have cooked for Liam every single day since the beginning of our bond acceptance. Only now did I realize how much of myself I had sacrificed. But it wasn't too late. I could still start over. This was that chance to start taking my life by the reins, so to speak, and returning to the Claire that used to walk proudly with her chin held high. Chapter 4 Meeting on Horseback I met Liyah at the stables we once rode at together. “Thank you, Claire-bear. I can’t believe you are actually here.” Liyah launched herself on top of me, despite her knee brace. I thought I understood what I gave up to be with Liam, my mate, but I didn’t understand a fraction of it. This crazy woman, who used to be my world, wrapped around me. How did I let him separate us? “It’s me who should thank you, Lee-Lee. I’ve missed you. I’m sorry. No more boys between us, I promise.” I sobbed. Liyah looked up, and I saw the understanding in her eyes. We both wiped our faces and laughed at our equally blotchy faces. “Okay, later, we'll discuss everything!” She looked at me with as much conviction as her tiny body could muster. I nodded and smiled. “But now, let me introduce you to Diva, my stallion. Just a warning, he lives up to the name periodically. I think it’s an adorable quirk for him and refuse to break it out of him. You’ll love him!” Liyah leads us to the stables, where we meet the horse. Liyah was right. We matched instantly. It isn’t easy for a shifter to bond with a stallion, but I never had those worries. I was always able to click with any animal, to the point where Liyah's brother spent a year calling me freaking snow white! I hated it, but he wasn’t wrong. I galloped across the equestrian field at dawn, the stallion I rode was kicking up dew as it raced toward the rising sun. Then I saw them. Liam and Breanne shared a white mare, ambling toward my direction. Breanne was dressed in her pristine white riding jodhpurs with the matching show coat, leaned back against Liam's chest. Liam's attire was the stark contrast of black on black. I watched him bend his head low, whispering something in Breanne’s ear, causing a fit of giggles from her. I had waited for him to return all night. When I had reached out and called him to ask if he would be returning that night, I was told, by him, that since Breanna needed an emergency appendectomy, he would not leave her side until she recovered. That was when I cut up our photos, burning them to ashes. As I watch them now, a question came to my mind, causing my brow to arch. When did appendectomy patients start riding horses the next day? My grip tightened on the reins just as Breanne spotted me. “Oh! Liam, how spooky. Doesn’t that woman look just like Claire!”At her teasing words, I watched as Liam's head snapped up. There, I sat astride my stallion, the tailored navy riding jacket accentuating my hourglass figure, my gaze glacial. I knew he felt it. Dismounting, Liam approached until he could only see the sharp angle of my jaw. "Sweetheart, since when do you ride? I thought you quit that. You should've told me you were coming." The memory of his and Breanne’s intimate pose churned my stomach. I pressed a hand to my mouth to keep from being sick at the thought before answering flatly. "Would you have answered if I called?" This acidic tone only emerged when I was furious. Liam's smile turned placating. "My fault—left my phone in the car. It turned out to be a false alarm about Breanne's appendix. Since she's competing in the International Equestrian Championships next month, I was only helping her practice." Breanne urged her mare forward, pouting. "Liam, why must we explain everything to her? Come back, we have more important things to focus on. You haven't finished teaching me." "An International Championship contender needs amateur instruction? How curious. I wonder if anyone else here is getting that kind of coaching? But, Liam, if she requires coaching, I'll do it." As Liam turned, my voice froze him. Liam’s expression initially fell flat at my words, but he quickly brightened at my offer. "Exactly! Breanne, Claire won that championship years ago." 'How touching that he finally remembered I have value,' I thought bitterly. Breanne bit her lip. "But—" After years together, I knew Breanne’s games. She wasn’t as nervous on a horse as she portrayed. It was all an act for Liam. "No buts." I raised my riding crop. "Let's ride." The crop came down on Breanne's mare, which bolted forward with a whinny as Breanne shrieked. Liam paled. "Claire! She wasn't ready—" "Real trainers surprise their students." My amber eyes glinted. “Your coddling would've kept her mediocre forever.” Dust sprayed Liam's face as I galloped after Breanne, leaving him standing there, cheeks burning as if slapped. Good. This was just the beginning of my resistance. Breanne and I raced across the field. Though I was starting late, my black stallion, Diva, was not one to be outshone, and we soon overtook Breanne's white mare. For three years, Breanne had only seen the docile, obedient Claire. This commanding version, I’m sure, was unnerving. I could hear her growling, which, to be honest, was only slowing her own horse down. Her mare would not be able to focus on a race, with its rider losing its hold over herself. It was bound to spook her mare soon, and if she weren’t careful, she would get bucked. But as the saying goes, not my circus, not my monkeys. Diva and I were focused on ourselves. I could sense Breanne's determination to beat me. But, no matter how she pushed her champion mare, I remained ahead. As Diva and I passed her again, I caught a flash of movement from Breanne out of the corner of my eye. She pulled a hairpin out of her pocket and hurled it at Diva. That hairpin had been a gift from her friend at her birthday party, and she had been keeping it close to her chest just now. It was made of silver, and the sharp end drove hard into Diva's rump. Diva was instantly startled. Despite my expert handling and calming charm, which I have often used in the past to soothe a panicked horse, Diva threw me. I felt the gnash from the rock sticking out from the ground, which I hit my head on. The impact sending black spots across my vision—and a cry in absolute agony. My abdominal area pinched and screamed with a sharp and sudden pain like nothing I have ever felt before. There was blood on my hand when I touched it. I needed to get up. I needed to get back and get medical help because I knew Breanne wasn’t going to get me any. As I tried to push myself up off the ground with one hand, while the other was wrapped tightly around my stomach, still crying in sheer pain, a polished boot came forcefully down, cracking the bones in my hand. "Ah—!" The pain forced a gasp through clenched teeth. Chapter 5 The Two-Faced Woman "Claire, weren't you so impressive on horseback just now? How did you end up on the ground so fast?" Breanne crouched down, blinking her wide, innocent-looking eyes as she taunted me, pressing her boot harder against my hand, breaking the bones. She knew I was wolfless, and the pain she was causing; this was why she was doing it. To send me a message. I was hoping someone would come and find us, but the odds of this far from the training grounds were unlikely. "Oh my, I'm so sorry!" Breanne feigned surprise, finally lifting her foot with exaggerated remorse. "I didn't even see your hand there. How careless of me." “It’s to be expected with those massive feet of yours. What is that a size ten in men's?” I watched her eyes flash in anger briefly before she reined it back in. I yanked my hand back, and when Breanne reached out to help me up. I would always refuse her help; it was always a ploy for something worse. When she tried again, I recoiled, pushing myself up to my feet with gritted teeth. "Claire, that must've hurt. With riding skills like yours, how could you possibly think you were qualified to teach me?" Breanne smirked. "Only a fool would believe such a pitiful act, Breanne.” I glared, refusing to back down. "Oh, please. Can't accept that you're just not as good as I am? No wonder Liam doesn't like you much—you're such a sore loser." Breanne let out a mocking laugh. Breanne wasn’t hiding her petty, vindictive behaviour. She wanted me to know her intentions of returning and that she hadn't forgiven me for having her exiled. The reason Breanne was sent away a year ago was that I had walked in on her and Liam in the throes of passion. They were both half-naked and stuck to each other. Liam seemed to snap out of his daze the moment I entered the room and yanked Breanne off him. The thud of her head to the edge of the dresser brought out her wolf, and warriors nearby who heard the yelling managed to catch Breanne just in time before she could attack me. Liam sobered up instantly and demanded answers. Breanne played the confused card. That, like Liam, she had drunk a little too much at the pack celebration. She must have gotten confused about which floor she was on and passed out in mine and his bedroom, thinking it was hers. After all, his scent calms her, so she made sure to add that part—one extra little jab between Liam and me. Liam swore up and down that he was confused and thought it was me under the covers in bed. That, with the amount of wolfwine he had consumed, he didn’t realize it wasn’t me until my scent entered the room, and his wolf halted their action immediately recognizing their error. I moved to a different room, and Liam tried to separate himself from Breanne. Then he learned that Breanne approached me afterward and told me that Liam was aware it was her. After all, why would they confuse their mates? Unfortunately for Breanne, she did it in front of a witness, and they told several others, which led Liam to ask me about it. I confirmed that I knew he was aware that it was Breanne, as she told me so herself, and that I wanted to break the bond if he didn’t send her away as proof of his devotion to the mates' bond. I could see that he didn’t want to, but Liam was also someone who cared too much about image to have the wolfen community know that he lost his true mate over the Beta’s daughter affair scandal. With the third wheel gone, our mate bond had finally stabilized. I had hoped to start trying for a pup on our anniversary after I was announced as the new Luna of the Sterling Moon pack. But now Breanne was back, something of which Liam failed to inform me—especially considering it nearly ended us only a year ago. His lack of consideration over that confused me. Did his wolf also agree with this decision? Surely his wolf would realize better than Liam that this would ultimately bring out the bond to an end. "Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about," I said coolly. "But don't worry. I'll be out of your way soon. Then you two can do whatever you want." I turned away, whistling sharply for my horse. Breanne's face flushed crimson. She grabbed my arm and pressed her fingers deep into the flesh. “What the hell are you implying? What plans could I possibly have?” "You know exactly what I mean. But just a heads-up—mistresses in ranked mate bonds are illegal without Elder consent. And bastard pups tend to be shunned by packs altogether. So think carefully." Breanne's face went scarlet. "You—you're disgusting! How dare you accuse me and Liam of—" The sound of galloping hooves cut her off. Her eyes widened as though she hadn't expected us to be interrupted so soon. I turned to the sound of approaching Hooves, which gave Breanne time to growl her threat before she partially shifted and lunged at me with the intent to maul me where I stood. A chill ran down my spine—only to be overshadowed by the thunderous sound of a horse's disapproving whinny. Next thing I knew, Breanne was whimpering on the ground, crying in sheer agony as a scarred, filthy white stallion trampled her. My breath hitched, my eyes widened in disbelief. I knew this stallion. And then I saw it—the faint brown patch on the stallion's head. My blood turned to ice. No. It can’t be. "Mirage?" My voice cracked. The horse stopped mid-stomp, ears twitching. The sound of my voice stopped the Stallion from continuing its attack on Breanne, who had now reverted to her bruised human state, no longer partially shifted. The Stallion turned and looked at me. "Mirage!" I choked out, rushing forward to grab the reins. "It's really you!" I hadn't summoned my borrowed stallion. I had summoned him. My champion. My partner. My horse that Liam sold from under me, promising he went to a good home. Now, his coat was matted, his skin was patchy with disease, and his body was crisscrossed with whip marks. He was abused. Mirage had once been a regal, snow-white stallion, bought at auction by the Thornes. He had carried me to victory in countless competitions. He wasn't just a horse. He was my family. One of the most precious things I had. It took everything in me to forgive him for going behind my back and forcing me to stop riding by selling Mirage off in the first place, but it helped soothe the pain to know that at least he was being taken care of wherever he was. Liam had promised he'd be cared for. He lied. He looked me in the eye and lied to my face. He gave Mirage to a home that had continuously abused and neglected him. These wounds were a combination of old and recent. This was what Liam considered a good home? Tears burned my eyes as I ran my hands over his ruined coat. My heart was breaking. The abuse Mirage would have been enduring all this time, thinking I abandoned him. "Claire! Breanne!" Liam's voice cut through the air as another set of hooves approached. Chapter 6 The Fall The injuries and now Mirage, I was breaking inside and now outside. Just as my knees gave way, a firm hand caught my arm. "What took you so long out here? Are you all right?" Liam's voice, usually so tender, sounded distant in my ears. Through my tears, I turned to confront him about Mirage's condition, but Breanne's weak whimper cut through the air. "Liam.” She whimpered weakly. “Please, help me,” she pleaded. Liam stiffened as if struck. He released me immediately, like he was catching fire at just the mere touch of me. I staggered from the sudden loss of assistance and contact from my mate, and watched in disbelief as his attention snapped to Breanne's crumpled form on the ground. "Breanne!" His eyes reddened as he gathered her into his arms, cradling her close to her chest, "Oh my Goddess, what happened? How did this—?" I watched as he gently wiped away the tears staining her cheek. His eyes began to mist up. It was as though I were watching a live-action romance. The long-lost lover, dying in her beloved's arms. It would have been touching if it wasn't for the fact that that was my mate, holding another woman so tenderly while I stood five feet from them in significantly more pain. "Claire couldn't handle her horse. When I offered to help her back up, she then turned it around and blamed me! When I tried to explain I wasn’t at fault, she set that wretched beast on me!" Breanne's tears fell like broken pearls. Her voice grew faint as she added dramatically, "Liam, please, I can't feel my legs. What if I never walk again?" Liam's expression darkened as he listened to Breanne’s version of events. He turned to me with a sudden coldness I had never seen before. "Is this true?" He growled in anger, clutching Breanne closer to him protectively. A searing pain tore through my abdomen before I could respond. I cried out at the suddenness of it, and clutched my stomach, gasping through clenched teeth as metallic bile rose in my throat. Liam didn’t even flinch at the sight of my obvious pain before him. "I'm taking Breanne to the hospital," he said coldly. "If you did this, Claire—" He left the threat hanging as he cradled Breanne closer. I have never heard of an Alpha, or any rank member in my school studies or observations, threatening his mates and Luna over just a friend. It was against Wolfen code and ethics, but I suppose that didn’t matter to Liam or the Sterling Moon pack. This was going to become a regular occurrence, I could already sense it. I watched through blurred vision as Breanne gave one last performance. "Liam, I—" Her eyelids fluttered shut with theatrical perfection. "Bree-Bree! Stay with me! Please don’t leave me, baby. I’m here. Don’t you dare leave me!" Liam shouted, already running partially shifted into his wolf to allow himself to cradle her and use his Alpha wolf strength and speed at the same time. Behind him, I collapsed with a thud that echoed across the field. I briefly saw Liam hesitate mid-stride—just for a second. Regardless, he didn’t turn around at the sound of my collapse and shallow, laboured breaths. I watched as they continued to run away with Breanne in their arms, leaving me where I lay. My heart broke, even though I had filed and decided to leave both Liam and this horrible pack; a small part of me still held onto a sliver of hope that Liam would see the path he was taking and how far it was from us. But he didn’t, and that was when everything went dark for me. ***** When I regained consciousness, the sterile glare of surgical lights assaulted my vision. Cold metal instruments clinked nearby as my legs were positioned apart. I tried to speak, but the drugs held me paralyzed. The doctors' voices floated above me like ghosts. I could sense the movements around me, but I was awake, unable to move, feel, or speak. It was a surreal experience, but oddly familiar to my life since I had mated with the Sterling family. Nothing more than an ornament on the wall to all, including my mate. "Such a shame—two months along. Who goes horseback riding when they're pregnant?" "The fall detached the embryo completely. Must have been quite the impact. She is lucky to be alive." "Without a wolf, another hour, and she wouldn’t have been." "That man who brought her in—was that her husband? He was colder than a block of ice, but as Handsome as the Devil himself. Can’t say much about their mateship part, he simply paid the bill and left without a word." "Enough chatter. Let’s finish this up before she hemorrhages." Each medical term floating to my ears—pregnancy, embryo, hemorrhage, dilation and curettage—pierced my drugged haze like silver blades to the heart. The one that stuck out the most was broken. I knew they were talking about my hand, but it was so much deeper than that. I felt broken. I lost my pup. Until recently, I would have loved to have Liam and my first pup. Everything about us seemed happy and together, but now, it seemed symbolic to lose the pups I never knew I had. I was losing a mate I should never have had to fight this hard to keep. Everything was perfect until I saw it was all a smoke screen and not meant to be. Just like this pup. False hope. I struggled against the numbness, but my body refused to obey. Something sharp scraped inside me, painless but violating. The crushing weight of realization dragged me under before I could scream, I was once again enveloped by empty darkness. "Claire ... Claire ..." Time lost all meaning. A distant voice called my name while someone shook my arm. With monumental effort, I forced my eyes open. Once again, the antiseptic glare of hospital lights assaulted my vision—I was in a hospital room.
"""Please, Liam, I just lost our baby. Don't let them take my blood."" My voice was barely a whisper, my body still trembling from the surgery—from the emptiness where our child used to be. But my husband didn't even look at me. His gaze was fixed on the ER doors, where doctors shouted about Breanne's critical blood loss. Breanne Telder. The Beta's daughter. His best friend. The woman he swore was""just like a sister.” The same woman who caused the fall that cost me our pup. ""She's RH-negative and we're out of stock. Find donors—now!"" The surgeon said urgently. ""Take hers."" Liam's arm slid around my waist—not to comfort me, not to hold me—but to push me forward like an offering.""Wolfless born shifters are universal donors. Her blood will save Breanne."" I froze as if struck by lightning, my disbelieving eyes lifting to meet his. Did he and his wolf even realize what they'd done? They didn't have to say the rejection—offering their mate's blood to another woman screamed it loud enough. ""Liam,"" I managed to whisper, ""I just lost our pup—"" ""Spare me the lies. I am done believing you!"" His eyes were cold steel. ""Breanne's life comes first right now."" The words cut deeper than any blade. I straightened, ignoring the spinning in my head, every inch of me trembling but unbroken. ""You've made your choice, Liam. And after today…"" my voice didn't crack this time ""I'll make mine."" The doctor's hand gripped my arm, leading me toward the blood lab. ""I'll donate the blood,"" I didn't fight it. ""But in return, you will agree to end our mate bond.”" ***** Chapter 1 Dropping the Mate I stood at the gate of the Sterling Moon Packhouse, clutching a cake box that had begun to melt in the summer heat. My usually pristine blonde hair was now stuck to my neck and face in damp strands, and my designer dress was now ruined with mud and swamp stains. I hadn't meant to arrive at my third mating anniversary looking like I had been dragged through a hedge backward and then tossed in the swamp lands beyond the pack grounds. But then again, being cornered and ambushed by rogues, conveniently knowing my whereabouts without an escort or protection, wasn't exactly part of my agenda either. A mysterious yet heroic stranger had rescued me and driven me back to the edge of my mate’s pack territory when Liam Sterling, my mate and the pack's Alpha, hadn't answered any of my fifteen frantic calls. I had almost convinced myself he was simply busy orchestrating some grand anniversary surprise. That had to be it. Otherwise, why else would he send me out alone for the cake retrieval and then not bother to answer my calls? I quickened my pace toward the entrance of the packhouse, not wanting to delay the celebration any longer than I already had. I rounded the corner only to stop dead at the sight before me. The entire packhouse had been transformed with floral arches, helium balloons, and an enormous banner. My fingers tightened around the cake box. I had doubts about walking into the grand hall; perhaps I should slip upstairs to change first. Then Liam's familiar voice called out. "There's my beautiful mate! Took you long enough, sweetheart. Everyone's waiting for the cake. Were the directions not clear enough?" He teased, not taking in the dishevelled state of my appearance or the fact that my smile didn’t reach my eyes. He often failed to see me. I looked up to find my mate looking devastatingly handsome in a white Tom Ford suit, his gray waistcoat accentuating those broad shoulders I used to trace my fingers over. He hadn't dressed like this for me in years. I pushed aside the gnawing doubts starting to fill my heart and embraced the fact that he was trying to make things right. This was not the time to voice my disappointments with his lack of attention or concern. We're here to celebrate our mate bond with the pack. This was also the year that he promised to swear me in as the official Luna, to lead by his side. Three years of proving myself capable despite not having a wolf of my own, and now here we were. My lips began curving into a smile despite myself. Maybe the rogues and the ambush, the ruined dress, the ignored calls—perhaps none of it mattered now that I was home. Liam would keep me safe, and we were going to announce that I was stepping into a role that should have been mine when we first mated. "Liam, I was just—" I was about to explain the rogues, the ambush, the mysterious saviour, but was cut off mid-sentence. "Liam! Is that my cake?" A shrill voice interrupted as Breanne Telder materialized behind Liam, looping her arm through his as though it was where she belonged. She was Liam’s father's Beta’s daughter. Otherwise known as the third wheel in our relationship and the pick me girl that Liam always did. She was also not supposed to be here. She was sent away a while ago, and Liam promised to focus solely on us. "You flew me home just for this birthday surprise? Best Alpha bestie ever!" The cake box slipped from my fingers, landing with a sickening splat on the custom marble flooring beneath me. The same flooring I wanted to either swallow me or Breanna up in this moment. Birthday surprise? What the hell did that mean? Those two words echoed in my skull like gunshots. For weeks, I had known Liam was planning something secretive. The custom-ordered flowers were delivered under the cover of darkness. The expensive Eclipse Stone rough he'd purchased at auction. All those whispered phone calls I had pretended not to hear. It all led to this moment, but it wasn’t the moment I had expected. I had woven every scrap of evidence into fantasies of candlelit vows renewed, of Liam dropping to one knee all over again. Even when he hadn't picked up during my attack from rogues, I had made excuses for him. Now Breanne's smug smile shattered those delusions like a hammer through stained glass. "What the hell were you thinking, Claire?" Stephanie Sterling's razor-sharp heels clicked across the flooring as she advanced. "We've been waiting two hours for that cake! You can’t do one single task; no wonder you will never be Luna material for the Sterling Moon pack." Stephanie was Liam's mother. From the moment I mated into the Alpha family, Stephanie had made no secret of her dislike; she was the reason Liam was convinced to hold off and force me to prove myself as Luna material. Over time, that contempt had only grown bolder, more vicious, no longer even pretending to hide it. Failing to see Liam, their Alpha, standing up for me, much of the pack started to support and see the validity in the points that their retired Luna was making. My hands shook. "This was supposed to be our anniversary party." Liam caught my elbow and steered me out of the room for privacy. "Baby, I'd planned a surprise for you, but Breanne asked for a pack-wide birthday celebration when she returned, so—" "So, instead of standing up for your mate, yet again, you conceded and did what they wanted. It’s fine for me to be let down, but not her? Message received, Liam." I wrenched my arm free, the movement sending fresh pain through my bruised ribs from the attack. I doubled over with a gasp. Before Liam could reach for me, Stephanie's voice sliced through the garden again. "Liam! Stop coddling her and get over here. This is why the wolfless should never hold ranks; they're weak and attention grabbers. Forget the cake, we'll just serve the petit fours instead." "Coming." He hesitated, then pressed a kiss to my temple. "We'll talk later." I remained crouched in the foyer of the packhouse as another wave of pain, this one far deeper than physical, crashed over me. Not a single pack member had asked why I looked like I'd been in a car wreck, why I'd been crying. From the other room where everyone gathered, the opening chords of "Happy Birthday" floated toward me. Each syrupy note felt like another papercut to my heart. It hit me suddenly—I hadn't celebrated a birthday since mating into the Alpha family, not once, though my own fell just days apart from Breanne's. And Liam had known this; he made a joke about the coincidence of his two best gals' being birthday buddies, but mine was always overshadowed. He quickly forgot about mine. I wiped my cheeks, giving myself a self-mocking smile. I should have known better than to hope for something more than what I already received. As the sun dipped low, I rose, my shadow stretching lonely behind me. Without a word, I climbed the stairs and clicked the bedroom door shut of the Alpha suite. Under the bathroom's harsh lighting, I peeled off my ruined dress and threw it in the trash. Steam fogged the mirrors as I scrubbed at skin that still felt dirty from the rogue's hands. I stayed under the scalding water until my fingers pruned. Wrapped in an oversized robe, I sat curled on the window seat watching party lights twinkle below until the last guest departed. At 11:00 PM, the bedroom door finally creaked open. I didn't turn when Liam's familiar cologne filled the room. I heard him hang up his jacket, then felt his whiskey-warm hands on my shoulders. "Happy anniversary, my beautiful, stunning mate." His lips brushed my ear. "Guess what I got you?" I shrugged him off. "I honestly don't care." He knelt before me, producing a velvet box with the flourish of a magician. "I had this carved from that Eclipse Stone rough. It is rumoured to help awaken latent wolfen spirits, strengthen auras and bring new beginnings.” Liam fastened the pendant around my neck. The cold stone settled between my chest like a brand. "Stunning." He kissed the hollow of my throat. "I was thinking that it’s been three years since we mated, and you have done so well proving yourself to me and this pack. I want us to now try for a pup. Bring this pack a new heir.” "Yeah, that’s not happening," I rejected the idea instantly. His chuckle was dark velvet. "You won't have to lift a finger, darling. I'll do all the—" "Liam." I met his gaze for the first time that night. “I want to submit an official request to break our mate bond!” Chapter 2 This Time, His Sweet Talk Won't Work My mind was made up before he finally came to our room. This wasn't like my previous impulsive threats in an attempt to get him to see the mistakes he was continuously making in our bond. This time, I was genuinely determined to leave. Three years of mateship flashed through my mind. I had lost count of how many times Liam had prioritized Breanne over my feelings or dismissed me because his mother said so. Who was his mate, and who was just a friend? I could no longer answer that question, and I was tired of trying to defend us. We weren’t bonded. Not the way the typical Alpha and mate were. It was usual for an Alpha never to leave his Luna’s side. She was his number one priority, even though the pack came second. The Alpha's mate was the heart of the pack and respected as an equal, but I was neither of those things. I haven’t been from the start. Breanne, even though she was briefly sent away, was still respected and noticed more than I could even hope for. If someone kept treating you in ways you disliked, it was because you allowed it. I had let it slide every other time. But today, Liam had crossed my final line. This day was our third anniversary. I didn’t care that he forgot my birthday, dinners, or events we planned together. I did, however, care about this milestone moment. A promise he made was long forgotten. This was that tipping point for my patience. “Really, Claire? You are threatening to reject our mate bond again? Don't say that every time you're upset, sweetheart. I was wrong about today. I'll make it up to you tomorrow." My eyes showed no emotion. “Don't bother. Not everything can be made up, and you can only backburner your mate for so long before she grows tired of being at the bottom of the priorities, Liam.” "Of course, this can be fixed. There's always next year. We will have a pup by then, and you will have long forgotten this little hiccup and tantrum." Liam pushed me down onto the sofa, kissing my face tenderly. With my hands pinned above my head, I wasn’t able to push him off. He expected the topic of having pups would appease me and calm my boiling anger. I had had enough of his nonsense and non-committal ways. I stared blankly at the ceiling as tears unexpectedly rolled down my cheeks. I lay like a dead weight. In the past, whenever we would fight or I would throw a tantrum, as Liam would title it, all he would do was use the mate bond against me. His kisses, his touch, his desires would wear me down, and I would accept his hollowed words of apology and his flashy gifts as though they meant something more than pacifying childish behaviour, in his mind. But this time, even though he held me down and I couldn’t resist, I was also not participating or encouraging him to continue. He was so self-absorbed that he couldn’t even realize that I wasn’t a willing participant. I was motionless, soundless, non-responsive. As Liam kept kissing me, his hands touched every part of my bruised body, utterly unaware of the pain he was inflicting both physically and emotionally. I felt his body suddenly freeze at the sound of a whimpered sob that slipped out of me. He looked out with hooded eyes, which quickly sobered and turned serious when he saw the tears in my eyes. His expression was frozen in panic. "Baby, why are you crying?" He quickly turned on the light. "Wait—you seemed off when you came home. Did something happen?" Finally, he remembered, but the damage between us was already done. My heart twisted, wishing that it didn’t take crying while he wanted sex to cover his mistakes for him to notice something was wrong. At the thought of how much distance was between us, more tears fell. Under the light, Liam finally saw the slight swelling on my face, the scratches on my arms and body, and the deep gash on my right leg with dried blood. His pupils contracted. "What happened?" I could sense his wolf stirring under the surface. It was clear that someone had hurt me, but they were only now realizing it. Just as I opened my mouth, his phone rang. I looked at the screen and rolled my eyes. Of course, it was Breanne. Liam sighed and offered a small apologetic smile before he answered in front of me. "Breanne, what's wrong?" "Liam, I think I ate something bad. My stomach hurts so much. Can you take me to the hospital?" Breanne's sugary voice came through. Liam automatically started to agree. I could see his eyes widen with panic at the thought that she was in pain. But right before he responded, he looked at me and my reddened, tear-filled eyes. "It's late. Claire and I are already in bed. Ask Mom if there's any medicine at home." Stephanie's sharp voice interrupted, "Liam, come now! This isn't ordinary pain. It could be appendicitis! She's pale as a ghost!" Liam's brow furrowed. "Fine. I'm coming." My heart sank like a stone. I shook my head in disbelief and turned away, refusing to meet his eyes. Yet again, I was pushed aside. Liam dressed quickly but hesitated at the door. After a long moment, he took my hand. "You're hurt too. Come with me, we'll get you checked at the hospital." That single word, "too", cut like a knife. I laughed dryly. "No need. Go ahead, play hero for another woman. If your mate's pain is less important than staying and understanding what happened, then your friend who has a stomach ache, don’t bother dragging me around like an accessory with false concern. I'd rather be alone." Liam stiffened. He opened his mouth to speak, but the phone kept ringing insistently. Finally, he sighed and pressed his black card into my hand. "Buy whatever you want. Consider it an apology." The door slammed shut. I weighed the card in my palm and smiled bitterly. Liam only ever had two ways to appease me—sex or money. It used to work. I fooled myself into believing it meant he cared, that he wasn’t good with expressing emotions, but I saw it for what it was now. This time, his sweet talk won't work. I walked to the closet and in the back corner, I pulled out my old suitcase. Inside was the most valuable thing I owned. My freedom. It was an official Rejection agreement signed the night before our mating. Back then, Liam had insisted on accepting our mate bond despite his family's objections. Afraid of being trapped in a toxic pack and mating, I had made him sign this; if I ever wanted to break the bond, he had to agree unconditionally. I thought we’d never need it. Liam had probably forgotten it existed. But I hadn't. During one fight, I had even consulted a lawyer who confirmed its validity. I could file for an official rejection of the bond with just this document and 30 days cooling-off period. Since he had already signed it, there was no need for Liam's consent for me to file it now. The Elders within the Council would perform the rejection ceremony within their own chambers. There was no need for either of us to be present. That was typically why Alphas refrained from preemptively signing these types of contracts. It relinquished control without their knowledge. Now was the time. Chapter 3 The Breaking Point I didn't sleep all night; I couldn’t. Instead, I spent those hours cutting up every photograph of us together. There weren’t many, I realized. My phone was filled with pictures of Liam whenever I could sneak photos when he was distracted or busy. He was honestly an Adonis of a man. But three years together, we had exactly twenty-three pictures of us together as a couple, and only thirteen of those were just Liam and me. The remaining ten were with Breanne. I snuck downstairs before anyone else woke up and went into Liam's office. There on the desk was a picture. It was of him and Breanne, hugging and smiling into the camera. They looked happy. Too happy. My inner bitter bitch was vomiting at the sight. On the other side of the desk was a picture of the three of us. That's right, not me and my mate. It was Breanne pressed against Liam's side, smiling up at him, and I was smiling at the camera on the other side. My arm was linked around his, and he was smiling, but for which female in the picture, your guess was as good as mine. I took the picture out of the frame, and bent it so that I was folded to the back. There, now he had two perfect couple pictures of him and Breanne. I will simply bow out of this weird three-way relationship. By dawn, I had already filed the official rejection agreement papers at the Council's registry office. Then I donated all the designer outfits Liam had bought me to charity. Afterward, I drove out of the pack grounds for a few hours to pawn every piece of jewelry he'd ever given me at the local broker's. I didn’t want it getting back to Liam, or the pack gossip mill to run rampant with their own speculations. Not yet anyway. It was a surprisingly large chunk of money in return, one thing I knew for sure about Liam. When he was grovelling for his indifferences and mistakes, he never cheaped out on the apology jewelry. The broker didn’t have the full amount on hand, so I opted to have it wired, which worked fine for me. I opened a new bank account and provided them with the necessary information. I returned to the packhouse early that afternoon. I had requested that the gardener cut down the Cherry Blossom tree in the pack’s courtyard. He was ordered to burn every branch and leaf until only ashes remained. When I agreed to mate with Liam, I had my reservations because his family didn’t support their Alpha heir accepting the bond to a wolfless orphan with average financial standings. Liam planted the tree as a token of his pledge of devotion to us and our bond. I fell for it, thinking it would make us stronger. But I was wrong. By late afternoon, I had either sold, donated or destroyed every token of Liam and his devotion to me and our bond: everything but the Eclipse stone pendant. Some legends state that the Moon Goddess herself blessed the eclipse stone to strengthen the will of the wolfless. Call me a fool, but it still served as a sliver of proof that at some point, he did care enough to seek out the stone for me. Now that everything was removed, it was time for me to step out and prepare everything for my new life after this month-long cooldown period ended, and I was no longer the unwanted mate of Alpha Liam Sterling. I knew I had to be smart and figure out my path now, as I had no family to turn to once the rejection was completed. When I was seven, my father had disappeared after a mountain climbing accident. It was speculated that rogues were involved, as they were heavy in the area at the time. My mother re-mated not long afterwards, and we became part of the Thorne family. They were the overlords, if you will, of the Crown of Thornes Pack, rivals of The Sterling Moon pack and next door neighbours to the territory. My mother left the Thorne family after accusations and rumours of her infidelity and gambling debts. I didn’t believe it, but it seemed that everyone else did. I had no idea where she even went. She certainly didn’t seek me out after she left that night, abandoning me. The only person who would even be considered family at this point was Lucien Thorne. He was my former stepbrother from my mother's second mating. However, Lucien was notorious for his short temper, and he constantly mistreated me while we lived under the same roof, so I would sooner wind up homeless than seek his help. The heat of Liam’s black card was burning a hole in my pocket, serving as a reminder of his literal words: “Buy whatever you want and consider it as an apology.” Okay! I will. I went to the bank and after the teller spoke with the branch manager to confirm my approval of using the Alpha’s account for a withdrawal, yup, that's right, I held no status, so I wasn’t even recognized with authority over our marital account; I withdrew one million dollars from his account. It was insulting and frustrating to know that Breanne can walk in here and not have as many hoops to jump through to get at my mate’s money. But that’s fine. I have already started to let go of my hold on him emotionally. My head has already done so. As I waited for the teller to return with the funds, my phone rang. Liyah Cruz. She was my closest friend before I accepted the bond with Liam. Liam didn’t like her influence on me, as he put it, so over the years, our friendship became strained. For her to be reaching out and calling me now, it had to be important. "Liyah? What's wrong?" I answered right away. "Oh, thank the Goddess. Claire, the International Equestrian Championships start in a month, but I just got injured during training." Liyah's voice was thick with disappointment. "Claire, you were the most talented rider we knew. I could think of no one else to take over. Could you compete in my place?" The memories came flooding back. Had I not mated with Liam, I might have become as renowned as Liyah in equestrian circles. But Liam had disapproved of me riding; he often called it unladylike. He'd gone as far as going behind my back and selling my beloved white stallion, Mirage, to a good owner, cutting off my last connection to the sport. The silence stretched until Liyah sighed. "I forgot your mate doesn't allow—" "I'll do it," I interrupted. "One month. I'll be ready." Liyah's excited squeal pierced through the receiver. "Really? Oh my Goddess! Everyone always said you shouldn't have given up your talent for mating! You're finally coming back to us!" My hand trembled around the phone. Yes, before mating into the Sterling Moon pack and Alpha family, I had shone so brightly. Before Liam, I used to be many things. I was the university's star student—straight A's in every subject. A gifted painter, champion rider, runway model, master chef, and award-winning debater—there was nothing I couldn't excel at. But three years of mating had eroded it all. I hadn't touched a paintbrush in years. I have forgotten how to walk a runway, and even lost my sharp tongue in arguments—forced to submit to even my mate's family and house staff. Only my cooking skills remained polished because I have cooked for Liam every single day since the beginning of our bond acceptance. Only now did I realize how much of myself I had sacrificed. But it wasn't too late. I could still start over. This was that chance to start taking my life by the reins, so to speak, and returning to the Claire that used to walk proudly with her chin held high. Chapter 4 Meeting on Horseback I met Liyah at the stables we once rode at together. “Thank you, Claire-bear. I can’t believe you are actually here.” Liyah launched herself on top of me, despite her knee brace. I thought I understood what I gave up to be with Liam, my mate, but I didn’t understand a fraction of it. This crazy woman, who used to be my world, wrapped around me. How did I let him separate us? “It’s me who should thank you, Lee-Lee. I’ve missed you. I’m sorry. No more boys between us, I promise.” I sobbed. Liyah looked up, and I saw the understanding in her eyes. We both wiped our faces and laughed at our equally blotchy faces. “Okay, later, we'll discuss everything!” She looked at me with as much conviction as her tiny body could muster. I nodded and smiled. “But now, let me introduce you to Diva, my stallion. Just a warning, he lives up to the name periodically. I think it’s an adorable quirk for him and refuse to break it out of him. You’ll love him!” Liyah leads us to the stables, where we meet the horse. Liyah was right. We matched instantly. It isn’t easy for a shifter to bond with a stallion, but I never had those worries. I was always able to click with any animal, to the point where Liyah's brother spent a year calling me freaking snow white! I hated it, but he wasn’t wrong. I galloped across the equestrian field at dawn, the stallion I rode was kicking up dew as it raced toward the rising sun. Then I saw them. Liam and Breanne shared a white mare, ambling toward my direction. Breanne was dressed in her pristine white riding jodhpurs with the matching show coat, leaned back against Liam's chest. Liam's attire was the stark contrast of black on black. I watched him bend his head low, whispering something in Breanne’s ear, causing a fit of giggles from her. I had waited for him to return all night. When I had reached out and called him to ask if he would be returning that night, I was told, by him, that since Breanna needed an emergency appendectomy, he would not leave her side until she recovered. That was when I cut up our photos, burning them to ashes. As I watch them now, a question came to my mind, causing my brow to arch. When did appendectomy patients start riding horses the next day? My grip tightened on the reins just as Breanne spotted me. “Oh! Liam, how spooky. Doesn’t that woman look just like Claire!”At her teasing words, I watched as Liam's head snapped up. There, I sat astride my stallion, the tailored navy riding jacket accentuating my hourglass figure, my gaze glacial. I knew he felt it. Dismounting, Liam approached until he could only see the sharp angle of my jaw. "Sweetheart, since when do you ride? I thought you quit that. You should've told me you were coming." The memory of his and Breanne’s intimate pose churned my stomach. I pressed a hand to my mouth to keep from being sick at the thought before answering flatly. "Would you have answered if I called?" This acidic tone only emerged when I was furious. Liam's smile turned placating. "My fault—left my phone in the car. It turned out to be a false alarm about Breanne's appendix. Since she's competing in the International Equestrian Championships next month, I was only helping her practice." Breanne urged her mare forward, pouting. "Liam, why must we explain everything to her? Come back, we have more important things to focus on. You haven't finished teaching me." "An International Championship contender needs amateur instruction? How curious. I wonder if anyone else here is getting that kind of coaching? But, Liam, if she requires coaching, I'll do it." As Liam turned, my voice froze him. Liam’s expression initially fell flat at my words, but he quickly brightened at my offer. "Exactly! Breanne, Claire won that championship years ago." 'How touching that he finally remembered I have value,' I thought bitterly. Breanne bit her lip. "But—" After years together, I knew Breanne’s games. She wasn’t as nervous on a horse as she portrayed. It was all an act for Liam. "No buts." I raised my riding crop. "Let's ride." The crop came down on Breanne's mare, which bolted forward with a whinny as Breanne shrieked. Liam paled. "Claire! She wasn't ready—" "Real trainers surprise their students." My amber eyes glinted. “Your coddling would've kept her mediocre forever.” Dust sprayed Liam's face as I galloped after Breanne, leaving him standing there, cheeks burning as if slapped. Good. This was just the beginning of my resistance. Breanne and I raced across the field. Though I was starting late, my black stallion, Diva, was not one to be outshone, and we soon overtook Breanne's white mare. For three years, Breanne had only seen the docile, obedient Claire. This commanding version, I’m sure, was unnerving. I could hear her growling, which, to be honest, was only slowing her own horse down. Her mare would not be able to focus on a race, with its rider losing its hold over herself. It was bound to spook her mare soon, and if she weren’t careful, she would get bucked. But as the saying goes, not my circus, not my monkeys. Diva and I were focused on ourselves. I could sense Breanne's determination to beat me. But, no matter how she pushed her champion mare, I remained ahead. As Diva and I passed her again, I caught a flash of movement from Breanne out of the corner of my eye. She pulled a hairpin out of her pocket and hurled it at Diva. That hairpin had been a gift from her friend at her birthday party, and she had been keeping it close to her chest just now. It was made of silver, and the sharp end drove hard into Diva's rump. Diva was instantly startled. Despite my expert handling and calming charm, which I have often used in the past to soothe a panicked horse, Diva threw me. I felt the gnash from the rock sticking out from the ground, which I hit my head on. The impact sending black spots across my vision—and a cry in absolute agony. My abdominal area pinched and screamed with a sharp and sudden pain like nothing I have ever felt before. There was blood on my hand when I touched it. I needed to get up. I needed to get back and get medical help because I knew Breanne wasn’t going to get me any. As I tried to push myself up off the ground with one hand, while the other was wrapped tightly around my stomach, still crying in sheer pain, a polished boot came forcefully down, cracking the bones in my hand. "Ah—!" The pain forced a gasp through clenched teeth. Chapter 5 The Two-Faced Woman "Claire, weren't you so impressive on horseback just now? How did you end up on the ground so fast?" Breanne crouched down, blinking her wide, innocent-looking eyes as she taunted me, pressing her boot harder against my hand, breaking the bones. She knew I was wolfless, and the pain she was causing; this was why she was doing it. To send me a message. I was hoping someone would come and find us, but the odds of this far from the training grounds were unlikely. "Oh my, I'm so sorry!" Breanne feigned surprise, finally lifting her foot with exaggerated remorse. "I didn't even see your hand there. How careless of me." “It’s to be expected with those massive feet of yours. What is that a size ten in men's?” I watched her eyes flash in anger briefly before she reined it back in. I yanked my hand back, and when Breanne reached out to help me up. I would always refuse her help; it was always a ploy for something worse. When she tried again, I recoiled, pushing myself up to my feet with gritted teeth. "Claire, that must've hurt. With riding skills like yours, how could you possibly think you were qualified to teach me?" Breanne smirked. "Only a fool would believe such a pitiful act, Breanne.” I glared, refusing to back down. "Oh, please. Can't accept that you're just not as good as I am? No wonder Liam doesn't like you much—you're such a sore loser." Breanne let out a mocking laugh. Breanne wasn’t hiding her petty, vindictive behaviour. She wanted me to know her intentions of returning and that she hadn't forgiven me for having her exiled. The reason Breanne was sent away a year ago was that I had walked in on her and Liam in the throes of passion. They were both half-naked and stuck to each other. Liam seemed to snap out of his daze the moment I entered the room and yanked Breanne off him. The thud of her head to the edge of the dresser brought out her wolf, and warriors nearby who heard the yelling managed to catch Breanne just in time before she could attack me. Liam sobered up instantly and demanded answers. Breanne played the confused card. That, like Liam, she had drunk a little too much at the pack celebration. She must have gotten confused about which floor she was on and passed out in mine and his bedroom, thinking it was hers. After all, his scent calms her, so she made sure to add that part—one extra little jab between Liam and me. Liam swore up and down that he was confused and thought it was me under the covers in bed. That, with the amount of wolfwine he had consumed, he didn’t realize it wasn’t me until my scent entered the room, and his wolf halted their action immediately recognizing their error. I moved to a different room, and Liam tried to separate himself from Breanne. Then he learned that Breanne approached me afterward and told me that Liam was aware it was her. After all, why would they confuse their mates? Unfortunately for Breanne, she did it in front of a witness, and they told several others, which led Liam to ask me about it. I confirmed that I knew he was aware that it was Breanne, as she told me so herself, and that I wanted to break the bond if he didn’t send her away as proof of his devotion to the mates' bond. I could see that he didn’t want to, but Liam was also someone who cared too much about image to have the wolfen community know that he lost his true mate over the Beta’s daughter affair scandal. With the third wheel gone, our mate bond had finally stabilized. I had hoped to start trying for a pup on our anniversary after I was announced as the new Luna of the Sterling Moon pack. But now Breanne was back, something of which Liam failed to inform me—especially considering it nearly ended us only a year ago. His lack of consideration over that confused me. Did his wolf also agree with this decision? Surely his wolf would realize better than Liam that this would ultimately bring out the bond to an end. "Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about," I said coolly. "But don't worry. I'll be out of your way soon. Then you two can do whatever you want." I turned away, whistling sharply for my horse. Breanne's face flushed crimson. She grabbed my arm and pressed her fingers deep into the flesh. “What the hell are you implying? What plans could I possibly have?” "You know exactly what I mean. But just a heads-up—mistresses in ranked mate bonds are illegal without Elder consent. And bastard pups tend to be shunned by packs altogether. So think carefully." Breanne's face went scarlet. "You—you're disgusting! How dare you accuse me and Liam of—" The sound of galloping hooves cut her off. Her eyes widened as though she hadn't expected us to be interrupted so soon. I turned to the sound of approaching Hooves, which gave Breanne time to growl her threat before she partially shifted and lunged at me with the intent to maul me where I stood. A chill ran down my spine—only to be overshadowed by the thunderous sound of a horse's disapproving whinny. Next thing I knew, Breanne was whimpering on the ground, crying in sheer agony as a scarred, filthy white stallion trampled her. My breath hitched, my eyes widened in disbelief. I knew this stallion. And then I saw it—the faint brown patch on the stallion's head. My blood turned to ice. No. It can’t be. "Mirage?" My voice cracked. The horse stopped mid-stomp, ears twitching. The sound of my voice stopped the Stallion from continuing its attack on Breanne, who had now reverted to her bruised human state, no longer partially shifted. The Stallion turned and looked at me. "Mirage!" I choked out, rushing forward to grab the reins. "It's really you!" I hadn't summoned my borrowed stallion. I had summoned him. My champion. My partner. My horse that Liam sold from under me, promising he went to a good home. Now, his coat was matted, his skin was patchy with disease, and his body was crisscrossed with whip marks. He was abused. Mirage had once been a regal, snow-white stallion, bought at auction by the Thornes. He had carried me to victory in countless competitions. He wasn't just a horse. He was my family. One of the most precious things I had. It took everything in me to forgive him for going behind my back and forcing me to stop riding by selling Mirage off in the first place, but it helped soothe the pain to know that at least he was being taken care of wherever he was. Liam had promised he'd be cared for. He lied. He looked me in the eye and lied to my face. He gave Mirage to a home that had continuously abused and neglected him. These wounds were a combination of old and recent. This was what Liam considered a good home? Tears burned my eyes as I ran my hands over his ruined coat. My heart was breaking. The abuse Mirage would have been enduring all this time, thinking I abandoned him. "Claire! Breanne!" Liam's voice cut through the air as another set of hooves approached. Chapter 6 The Fall The injuries and now Mirage, I was breaking inside and now outside. Just as my knees gave way, a firm hand caught my arm. "What took you so long out here? Are you all right?" Liam's voice, usually so tender, sounded distant in my ears. Through my tears, I turned to confront him about Mirage's condition, but Breanne's weak whimper cut through the air. "Liam.” She whimpered weakly. “Please, help me,” she pleaded. Liam stiffened as if struck. He released me immediately, like he was catching fire at just the mere touch of me. I staggered from the sudden loss of assistance and contact from my mate, and watched in disbelief as his attention snapped to Breanne's crumpled form on the ground. "Breanne!" His eyes reddened as he gathered her into his arms, cradling her close to her chest, "Oh my Goddess, what happened? How did this—?" I watched as he gently wiped away the tears staining her cheek. His eyes began to mist up. It was as though I were watching a live-action romance. The long-lost lover, dying in her beloved's arms. It would have been touching if it wasn't for the fact that that was my mate, holding another woman so tenderly while I stood five feet from them in significantly more pain. "Claire couldn't handle her horse. When I offered to help her back up, she then turned it around and blamed me! When I tried to explain I wasn’t at fault, she set that wretched beast on me!" Breanne's tears fell like broken pearls. Her voice grew faint as she added dramatically, "Liam, please, I can't feel my legs. What if I never walk again?" Liam's expression darkened as he listened to Breanne’s version of events. He turned to me with a sudden coldness I had never seen before. "Is this true?" He growled in anger, clutching Breanne closer to him protectively. A searing pain tore through my abdomen before I could respond. I cried out at the suddenness of it, and clutched my stomach, gasping through clenched teeth as metallic bile rose in my throat. Liam didn’t even flinch at the sight of my obvious pain before him. "I'm taking Breanne to the hospital," he said coldly. "If you did this, Claire—" He left the threat hanging as he cradled Breanne closer. I have never heard of an Alpha, or any rank member in my school studies or observations, threatening his mates and Luna over just a friend. It was against Wolfen code and ethics, but I suppose that didn’t matter to Liam or the Sterling Moon pack. This was going to become a regular occurrence, I could already sense it. I watched through blurred vision as Breanne gave one last performance. "Liam, I—" Her eyelids fluttered shut with theatrical perfection. "Bree-Bree! Stay with me! Please don’t leave me, baby. I’m here. Don’t you dare leave me!" Liam shouted, already running partially shifted into his wolf to allow himself to cradle her and use his Alpha wolf strength and speed at the same time. Behind him, I collapsed with a thud that echoed across the field. I briefly saw Liam hesitate mid-stride—just for a second. Regardless, he didn’t turn around at the sound of my collapse and shallow, laboured breaths. I watched as they continued to run away with Breanne in their arms, leaving me where I lay. My heart broke, even though I had filed and decided to leave both Liam and this horrible pack; a small part of me still held onto a sliver of hope that Liam would see the path he was taking and how far it was from us. But he didn’t, and that was when everything went dark for me. ***** When I regained consciousness, the sterile glare of surgical lights assaulted my vision. Cold metal instruments clinked nearby as my legs were positioned apart. I tried to speak, but the drugs held me paralyzed. The doctors' voices floated above me like ghosts. I could sense the movements around me, but I was awake, unable to move, feel, or speak. It was a surreal experience, but oddly familiar to my life since I had mated with the Sterling family. Nothing more than an ornament on the wall to all, including my mate. "Such a shame—two months along. Who goes horseback riding when they're pregnant?" "The fall detached the embryo completely. Must have been quite the impact. She is lucky to be alive." "Without a wolf, another hour, and she wouldn’t have been." "That man who brought her in—was that her husband? He was colder than a block of ice, but as Handsome as the Devil himself. Can’t say much about their mateship part, he simply paid the bill and left without a word." "Enough chatter. Let’s finish this up before she hemorrhages." Each medical term floating to my ears—pregnancy, embryo, hemorrhage, dilation and curettage—pierced my drugged haze like silver blades to the heart. The one that stuck out the most was broken. I knew they were talking about my hand, but it was so much deeper than that. I felt broken. I lost my pup. Until recently, I would have loved to have Liam and my first pup. Everything about us seemed happy and together, but now, it seemed symbolic to lose the pups I never knew I had. I was losing a mate I should never have had to fight this hard to keep. Everything was perfect until I saw it was all a smoke screen and not meant to be. Just like this pup. False hope. I struggled against the numbness, but my body refused to obey. Something sharp scraped inside me, painless but violating. The crushing weight of realization dragged me under before I could scream, I was once again enveloped by empty darkness. "Claire ... Claire ..." Time lost all meaning. A distant voice called my name while someone shook my arm. With monumental effort, I forced my eyes open. Once again, the antiseptic glare of hospital lights assaulted my vision—I was in a hospital room.
"""Please, Liam, I just lost our baby. Don't let them take my blood."" My voice was barely a whisper, my body still trembling from the surgery—from the emptiness where our child used to be. But my husband didn't even look at me. His gaze was fixed on the ER doors, where doctors shouted about Breanne's critical blood loss. Breanne Telder. The Beta's daughter. His best friend. The woman he swore was""just like a sister.” The same woman who caused the fall that cost me our pup. ""She's RH-negative and we're out of stock. Find donors—now!"" The surgeon said urgently. ""Take hers."" Liam's arm slid around my waist—not to comfort me, not to hold me—but to push me forward like an offering.""Wolfless born shifters are universal donors. Her blood will save Breanne."" I froze as if struck by lightning, my disbelieving eyes lifting to meet his. Did he and his wolf even realize what they'd done? They didn't have to say the rejection—offering their mate's blood to another woman screamed it loud enough. ""Liam,"" I managed to whisper, ""I just lost our pup—"" ""Spare me the lies. I am done believing you!"" His eyes were cold steel. ""Breanne's life comes first right now."" The words cut deeper than any blade. I straightened, ignoring the spinning in my head, every inch of me trembling but unbroken. ""You've made your choice, Liam. And after today…"" my voice didn't crack this time ""I'll make mine."" The doctor's hand gripped my arm, leading me toward the blood lab. ""I'll donate the blood,"" I didn't fight it. ""But in return, you will agree to end our mate bond.”" ***** Chapter 1 Dropping the Mate I stood at the gate of the Sterling Moon Packhouse, clutching a cake box that had begun to melt in the summer heat. My usually pristine blonde hair was now stuck to my neck and face in damp strands, and my designer dress was now ruined with mud and swamp stains. I hadn't meant to arrive at my third mating anniversary looking like I had been dragged through a hedge backward and then tossed in the swamp lands beyond the pack grounds. But then again, being cornered and ambushed by rogues, conveniently knowing my whereabouts without an escort or protection, wasn't exactly part of my agenda either. A mysterious yet heroic stranger had rescued me and driven me back to the edge of my mate’s pack territory when Liam Sterling, my mate and the pack's Alpha, hadn't answered any of my fifteen frantic calls. I had almost convinced myself he was simply busy orchestrating some grand anniversary surprise. That had to be it. Otherwise, why else would he send me out alone for the cake retrieval and then not bother to answer my calls? I quickened my pace toward the entrance of the packhouse, not wanting to delay the celebration any longer than I already had. I rounded the corner only to stop dead at the sight before me. The entire packhouse had been transformed with floral arches, helium balloons, and an enormous banner. My fingers tightened around the cake box. I had doubts about walking into the grand hall; perhaps I should slip upstairs to change first. Then Liam's familiar voice called out. "There's my beautiful mate! Took you long enough, sweetheart. Everyone's waiting for the cake. Were the directions not clear enough?" He teased, not taking in the dishevelled state of my appearance or the fact that my smile didn’t reach my eyes. He often failed to see me. I looked up to find my mate looking devastatingly handsome in a white Tom Ford suit, his gray waistcoat accentuating those broad shoulders I used to trace my fingers over. He hadn't dressed like this for me in years. I pushed aside the gnawing doubts starting to fill my heart and embraced the fact that he was trying to make things right. This was not the time to voice my disappointments with his lack of attention or concern. We're here to celebrate our mate bond with the pack. This was also the year that he promised to swear me in as the official Luna, to lead by his side. Three years of proving myself capable despite not having a wolf of my own, and now here we were. My lips began curving into a smile despite myself. Maybe the rogues and the ambush, the ruined dress, the ignored calls—perhaps none of it mattered now that I was home. Liam would keep me safe, and we were going to announce that I was stepping into a role that should have been mine when we first mated. "Liam, I was just—" I was about to explain the rogues, the ambush, the mysterious saviour, but was cut off mid-sentence. "Liam! Is that my cake?" A shrill voice interrupted as Breanne Telder materialized behind Liam, looping her arm through his as though it was where she belonged. She was Liam’s father's Beta’s daughter. Otherwise known as the third wheel in our relationship and the pick me girl that Liam always did. She was also not supposed to be here. She was sent away a while ago, and Liam promised to focus solely on us. "You flew me home just for this birthday surprise? Best Alpha bestie ever!" The cake box slipped from my fingers, landing with a sickening splat on the custom marble flooring beneath me. The same flooring I wanted to either swallow me or Breanna up in this moment. Birthday surprise? What the hell did that mean? Those two words echoed in my skull like gunshots. For weeks, I had known Liam was planning something secretive. The custom-ordered flowers were delivered under the cover of darkness. The expensive Eclipse Stone rough he'd purchased at auction. All those whispered phone calls I had pretended not to hear. It all led to this moment, but it wasn’t the moment I had expected. I had woven every scrap of evidence into fantasies of candlelit vows renewed, of Liam dropping to one knee all over again. Even when he hadn't picked up during my attack from rogues, I had made excuses for him. Now Breanne's smug smile shattered those delusions like a hammer through stained glass. "What the hell were you thinking, Claire?" Stephanie Sterling's razor-sharp heels clicked across the flooring as she advanced. "We've been waiting two hours for that cake! You can’t do one single task; no wonder you will never be Luna material for the Sterling Moon pack." Stephanie was Liam's mother. From the moment I mated into the Alpha family, Stephanie had made no secret of her dislike; she was the reason Liam was convinced to hold off and force me to prove myself as Luna material. Over time, that contempt had only grown bolder, more vicious, no longer even pretending to hide it. Failing to see Liam, their Alpha, standing up for me, much of the pack started to support and see the validity in the points that their retired Luna was making. My hands shook. "This was supposed to be our anniversary party." Liam caught my elbow and steered me out of the room for privacy. "Baby, I'd planned a surprise for you, but Breanne asked for a pack-wide birthday celebration when she returned, so—" "So, instead of standing up for your mate, yet again, you conceded and did what they wanted. It’s fine for me to be let down, but not her? Message received, Liam." I wrenched my arm free, the movement sending fresh pain through my bruised ribs from the attack. I doubled over with a gasp. Before Liam could reach for me, Stephanie's voice sliced through the garden again. "Liam! Stop coddling her and get over here. This is why the wolfless should never hold ranks; they're weak and attention grabbers. Forget the cake, we'll just serve the petit fours instead." "Coming." He hesitated, then pressed a kiss to my temple. "We'll talk later." I remained crouched in the foyer of the packhouse as another wave of pain, this one far deeper than physical, crashed over me. Not a single pack member had asked why I looked like I'd been in a car wreck, why I'd been crying. From the other room where everyone gathered, the opening chords of "Happy Birthday" floated toward me. Each syrupy note felt like another papercut to my heart. It hit me suddenly—I hadn't celebrated a birthday since mating into the Alpha family, not once, though my own fell just days apart from Breanne's. And Liam had known this; he made a joke about the coincidence of his two best gals' being birthday buddies, but mine was always overshadowed. He quickly forgot about mine. I wiped my cheeks, giving myself a self-mocking smile. I should have known better than to hope for something more than what I already received. As the sun dipped low, I rose, my shadow stretching lonely behind me. Without a word, I climbed the stairs and clicked the bedroom door shut of the Alpha suite. Under the bathroom's harsh lighting, I peeled off my ruined dress and threw it in the trash. Steam fogged the mirrors as I scrubbed at skin that still felt dirty from the rogue's hands. I stayed under the scalding water until my fingers pruned. Wrapped in an oversized robe, I sat curled on the window seat watching party lights twinkle below until the last guest departed. At 11:00 PM, the bedroom door finally creaked open. I didn't turn when Liam's familiar cologne filled the room. I heard him hang up his jacket, then felt his whiskey-warm hands on my shoulders. "Happy anniversary, my beautiful, stunning mate." His lips brushed my ear. "Guess what I got you?" I shrugged him off. "I honestly don't care." He knelt before me, producing a velvet box with the flourish of a magician. "I had this carved from that Eclipse Stone rough. It is rumoured to help awaken latent wolfen spirits, strengthen auras and bring new beginnings.” Liam fastened the pendant around my neck. The cold stone settled between my chest like a brand. "Stunning." He kissed the hollow of my throat. "I was thinking that it’s been three years since we mated, and you have done so well proving yourself to me and this pack. I want us to now try for a pup. Bring this pack a new heir.” "Yeah, that’s not happening," I rejected the idea instantly. His chuckle was dark velvet. "You won't have to lift a finger, darling. I'll do all the—" "Liam." I met his gaze for the first time that night. “I want to submit an official request to break our mate bond!” Chapter 2 This Time, His Sweet Talk Won't Work My mind was made up before he finally came to our room. This wasn't like my previous impulsive threats in an attempt to get him to see the mistakes he was continuously making in our bond. This time, I was genuinely determined to leave. Three years of mateship flashed through my mind. I had lost count of how many times Liam had prioritized Breanne over my feelings or dismissed me because his mother said so. Who was his mate, and who was just a friend? I could no longer answer that question, and I was tired of trying to defend us. We weren’t bonded. Not the way the typical Alpha and mate were. It was usual for an Alpha never to leave his Luna’s side. She was his number one priority, even though the pack came second. The Alpha's mate was the heart of the pack and respected as an equal, but I was neither of those things. I haven’t been from the start. Breanne, even though she was briefly sent away, was still respected and noticed more than I could even hope for. If someone kept treating you in ways you disliked, it was because you allowed it. I had let it slide every other time. But today, Liam had crossed my final line. This day was our third anniversary. I didn’t care that he forgot my birthday, dinners, or events we planned together. I did, however, care about this milestone moment. A promise he made was long forgotten. This was that tipping point for my patience. “Really, Claire? You are threatening to reject our mate bond again? Don't say that every time you're upset, sweetheart. I was wrong about today. I'll make it up to you tomorrow." My eyes showed no emotion. “Don't bother. Not everything can be made up, and you can only backburner your mate for so long before she grows tired of being at the bottom of the priorities, Liam.” "Of course, this can be fixed. There's always next year. We will have a pup by then, and you will have long forgotten this little hiccup and tantrum." Liam pushed me down onto the sofa, kissing my face tenderly. With my hands pinned above my head, I wasn’t able to push him off. He expected the topic of having pups would appease me and calm my boiling anger. I had had enough of his nonsense and non-committal ways. I stared blankly at the ceiling as tears unexpectedly rolled down my cheeks. I lay like a dead weight. In the past, whenever we would fight or I would throw a tantrum, as Liam would title it, all he would do was use the mate bond against me. His kisses, his touch, his desires would wear me down, and I would accept his hollowed words of apology and his flashy gifts as though they meant something more than pacifying childish behaviour, in his mind. But this time, even though he held me down and I couldn’t resist, I was also not participating or encouraging him to continue. He was so self-absorbed that he couldn’t even realize that I wasn’t a willing participant. I was motionless, soundless, non-responsive. As Liam kept kissing me, his hands touched every part of my bruised body, utterly unaware of the pain he was inflicting both physically and emotionally. I felt his body suddenly freeze at the sound of a whimpered sob that slipped out of me. He looked out with hooded eyes, which quickly sobered and turned serious when he saw the tears in my eyes. His expression was frozen in panic. "Baby, why are you crying?" He quickly turned on the light. "Wait—you seemed off when you came home. Did something happen?" Finally, he remembered, but the damage between us was already done. My heart twisted, wishing that it didn’t take crying while he wanted sex to cover his mistakes for him to notice something was wrong. At the thought of how much distance was between us, more tears fell. Under the light, Liam finally saw the slight swelling on my face, the scratches on my arms and body, and the deep gash on my right leg with dried blood. His pupils contracted. "What happened?" I could sense his wolf stirring under the surface. It was clear that someone had hurt me, but they were only now realizing it. Just as I opened my mouth, his phone rang. I looked at the screen and rolled my eyes. Of course, it was Breanne. Liam sighed and offered a small apologetic smile before he answered in front of me. "Breanne, what's wrong?" "Liam, I think I ate something bad. My stomach hurts so much. Can you take me to the hospital?" Breanne's sugary voice came through. Liam automatically started to agree. I could see his eyes widen with panic at the thought that she was in pain. But right before he responded, he looked at me and my reddened, tear-filled eyes. "It's late. Claire and I are already in bed. Ask Mom if there's any medicine at home." Stephanie's sharp voice interrupted, "Liam, come now! This isn't ordinary pain. It could be appendicitis! She's pale as a ghost!" Liam's brow furrowed. "Fine. I'm coming." My heart sank like a stone. I shook my head in disbelief and turned away, refusing to meet his eyes. Yet again, I was pushed aside. Liam dressed quickly but hesitated at the door. After a long moment, he took my hand. "You're hurt too. Come with me, we'll get you checked at the hospital." That single word, "too", cut like a knife. I laughed dryly. "No need. Go ahead, play hero for another woman. If your mate's pain is less important than staying and understanding what happened, then your friend who has a stomach ache, don’t bother dragging me around like an accessory with false concern. I'd rather be alone." Liam stiffened. He opened his mouth to speak, but the phone kept ringing insistently. Finally, he sighed and pressed his black card into my hand. "Buy whatever you want. Consider it an apology." The door slammed shut. I weighed the card in my palm and smiled bitterly. Liam only ever had two ways to appease me—sex or money. It used to work. I fooled myself into believing it meant he cared, that he wasn’t good with expressing emotions, but I saw it for what it was now. This time, his sweet talk won't work. I walked to the closet and in the back corner, I pulled out my old suitcase. Inside was the most valuable thing I owned. My freedom. It was an official Rejection agreement signed the night before our mating. Back then, Liam had insisted on accepting our mate bond despite his family's objections. Afraid of being trapped in a toxic pack and mating, I had made him sign this; if I ever wanted to break the bond, he had to agree unconditionally. I thought we’d never need it. Liam had probably forgotten it existed. But I hadn't. During one fight, I had even consulted a lawyer who confirmed its validity. I could file for an official rejection of the bond with just this document and 30 days cooling-off period. Since he had already signed it, there was no need for Liam's consent for me to file it now. The Elders within the Council would perform the rejection ceremony within their own chambers. There was no need for either of us to be present. That was typically why Alphas refrained from preemptively signing these types of contracts. It relinquished control without their knowledge. Now was the time. Chapter 3 The Breaking Point I didn't sleep all night; I couldn’t. Instead, I spent those hours cutting up every photograph of us together. There weren’t many, I realized. My phone was filled with pictures of Liam whenever I could sneak photos when he was distracted or busy. He was honestly an Adonis of a man. But three years together, we had exactly twenty-three pictures of us together as a couple, and only thirteen of those were just Liam and me. The remaining ten were with Breanne. I snuck downstairs before anyone else woke up and went into Liam's office. There on the desk was a picture. It was of him and Breanne, hugging and smiling into the camera. They looked happy. Too happy. My inner bitter bitch was vomiting at the sight. On the other side of the desk was a picture of the three of us. That's right, not me and my mate. It was Breanne pressed against Liam's side, smiling up at him, and I was smiling at the camera on the other side. My arm was linked around his, and he was smiling, but for which female in the picture, your guess was as good as mine. I took the picture out of the frame, and bent it so that I was folded to the back. There, now he had two perfect couple pictures of him and Breanne. I will simply bow out of this weird three-way relationship. By dawn, I had already filed the official rejection agreement papers at the Council's registry office. Then I donated all the designer outfits Liam had bought me to charity. Afterward, I drove out of the pack grounds for a few hours to pawn every piece of jewelry he'd ever given me at the local broker's. I didn’t want it getting back to Liam, or the pack gossip mill to run rampant with their own speculations. Not yet anyway. It was a surprisingly large chunk of money in return, one thing I knew for sure about Liam. When he was grovelling for his indifferences and mistakes, he never cheaped out on the apology jewelry. The broker didn’t have the full amount on hand, so I opted to have it wired, which worked fine for me. I opened a new bank account and provided them with the necessary information. I returned to the packhouse early that afternoon. I had requested that the gardener cut down the Cherry Blossom tree in the pack’s courtyard. He was ordered to burn every branch and leaf until only ashes remained. When I agreed to mate with Liam, I had my reservations because his family didn’t support their Alpha heir accepting the bond to a wolfless orphan with average financial standings. Liam planted the tree as a token of his pledge of devotion to us and our bond. I fell for it, thinking it would make us stronger. But I was wrong. By late afternoon, I had either sold, donated or destroyed every token of Liam and his devotion to me and our bond: everything but the Eclipse stone pendant. Some legends state that the Moon Goddess herself blessed the eclipse stone to strengthen the will of the wolfless. Call me a fool, but it still served as a sliver of proof that at some point, he did care enough to seek out the stone for me. Now that everything was removed, it was time for me to step out and prepare everything for my new life after this month-long cooldown period ended, and I was no longer the unwanted mate of Alpha Liam Sterling. I knew I had to be smart and figure out my path now, as I had no family to turn to once the rejection was completed. When I was seven, my father had disappeared after a mountain climbing accident. It was speculated that rogues were involved, as they were heavy in the area at the time. My mother re-mated not long afterwards, and we became part of the Thorne family. They were the overlords, if you will, of the Crown of Thornes Pack, rivals of The Sterling Moon pack and next door neighbours to the territory. My mother left the Thorne family after accusations and rumours of her infidelity and gambling debts. I didn’t believe it, but it seemed that everyone else did. I had no idea where she even went. She certainly didn’t seek me out after she left that night, abandoning me. The only person who would even be considered family at this point was Lucien Thorne. He was my former stepbrother from my mother's second mating. However, Lucien was notorious for his short temper, and he constantly mistreated me while we lived under the same roof, so I would sooner wind up homeless than seek his help. The heat of Liam’s black card was burning a hole in my pocket, serving as a reminder of his literal words: “Buy whatever you want and consider it as an apology.” Okay! I will. I went to the bank and after the teller spoke with the branch manager to confirm my approval of using the Alpha’s account for a withdrawal, yup, that's right, I held no status, so I wasn’t even recognized with authority over our marital account; I withdrew one million dollars from his account. It was insulting and frustrating to know that Breanne can walk in here and not have as many hoops to jump through to get at my mate’s money. But that’s fine. I have already started to let go of my hold on him emotionally. My head has already done so. As I waited for the teller to return with the funds, my phone rang. Liyah Cruz. She was my closest friend before I accepted the bond with Liam. Liam didn’t like her influence on me, as he put it, so over the years, our friendship became strained. For her to be reaching out and calling me now, it had to be important. "Liyah? What's wrong?" I answered right away. "Oh, thank the Goddess. Claire, the International Equestrian Championships start in a month, but I just got injured during training." Liyah's voice was thick with disappointment. "Claire, you were the most talented rider we knew. I could think of no one else to take over. Could you compete in my place?" The memories came flooding back. Had I not mated with Liam, I might have become as renowned as Liyah in equestrian circles. But Liam had disapproved of me riding; he often called it unladylike. He'd gone as far as going behind my back and selling my beloved white stallion, Mirage, to a good owner, cutting off my last connection to the sport. The silence stretched until Liyah sighed. "I forgot your mate doesn't allow—" "I'll do it," I interrupted. "One month. I'll be ready." Liyah's excited squeal pierced through the receiver. "Really? Oh my Goddess! Everyone always said you shouldn't have given up your talent for mating! You're finally coming back to us!" My hand trembled around the phone. Yes, before mating into the Sterling Moon pack and Alpha family, I had shone so brightly. Before Liam, I used to be many things. I was the university's star student—straight A's in every subject. A gifted painter, champion rider, runway model, master chef, and award-winning debater—there was nothing I couldn't excel at. But three years of mating had eroded it all. I hadn't touched a paintbrush in years. I have forgotten how to walk a runway, and even lost my sharp tongue in arguments—forced to submit to even my mate's family and house staff. Only my cooking skills remained polished because I have cooked for Liam every single day since the beginning of our bond acceptance. Only now did I realize how much of myself I had sacrificed. But it wasn't too late. I could still start over. This was that chance to start taking my life by the reins, so to speak, and returning to the Claire that used to walk proudly with her chin held high. Chapter 4 Meeting on Horseback I met Liyah at the stables we once rode at together. “Thank you, Claire-bear. I can’t believe you are actually here.” Liyah launched herself on top of me, despite her knee brace. I thought I understood what I gave up to be with Liam, my mate, but I didn’t understand a fraction of it. This crazy woman, who used to be my world, wrapped around me. How did I let him separate us? “It’s me who should thank you, Lee-Lee. I’ve missed you. I’m sorry. No more boys between us, I promise.” I sobbed. Liyah looked up, and I saw the understanding in her eyes. We both wiped our faces and laughed at our equally blotchy faces. “Okay, later, we'll discuss everything!” She looked at me with as much conviction as her tiny body could muster. I nodded and smiled. “But now, let me introduce you to Diva, my stallion. Just a warning, he lives up to the name periodically. I think it’s an adorable quirk for him and refuse to break it out of him. You’ll love him!” Liyah leads us to the stables, where we meet the horse. Liyah was right. We matched instantly. It isn’t easy for a shifter to bond with a stallion, but I never had those worries. I was always able to click with any animal, to the point where Liyah's brother spent a year calling me freaking snow white! I hated it, but he wasn’t wrong. I galloped across the equestrian field at dawn, the stallion I rode was kicking up dew as it raced toward the rising sun. Then I saw them. Liam and Breanne shared a white mare, ambling toward my direction. Breanne was dressed in her pristine white riding jodhpurs with the matching show coat, leaned back against Liam's chest. Liam's attire was the stark contrast of black on black. I watched him bend his head low, whispering something in Breanne’s ear, causing a fit of giggles from her. I had waited for him to return all night. When I had reached out and called him to ask if he would be returning that night, I was told, by him, that since Breanna needed an emergency appendectomy, he would not leave her side until she recovered. That was when I cut up our photos, burning them to ashes. As I watch them now, a question came to my mind, causing my brow to arch. When did appendectomy patients start riding horses the next day? My grip tightened on the reins just as Breanne spotted me. “Oh! Liam, how spooky. Doesn’t that woman look just like Claire!”At her teasing words, I watched as Liam's head snapped up. There, I sat astride my stallion, the tailored navy riding jacket accentuating my hourglass figure, my gaze glacial. I knew he felt it. Dismounting, Liam approached until he could only see the sharp angle of my jaw. "Sweetheart, since when do you ride? I thought you quit that. You should've told me you were coming." The memory of his and Breanne’s intimate pose churned my stomach. I pressed a hand to my mouth to keep from being sick at the thought before answering flatly. "Would you have answered if I called?" This acidic tone only emerged when I was furious. Liam's smile turned placating. "My fault—left my phone in the car. It turned out to be a false alarm about Breanne's appendix. Since she's competing in the International Equestrian Championships next month, I was only helping her practice." Breanne urged her mare forward, pouting. "Liam, why must we explain everything to her? Come back, we have more important things to focus on. You haven't finished teaching me." "An International Championship contender needs amateur instruction? How curious. I wonder if anyone else here is getting that kind of coaching? But, Liam, if she requires coaching, I'll do it." As Liam turned, my voice froze him. Liam’s expression initially fell flat at my words, but he quickly brightened at my offer. "Exactly! Breanne, Claire won that championship years ago." 'How touching that he finally remembered I have value,' I thought bitterly. Breanne bit her lip. "But—" After years together, I knew Breanne’s games. She wasn’t as nervous on a horse as she portrayed. It was all an act for Liam. "No buts." I raised my riding crop. "Let's ride." The crop came down on Breanne's mare, which bolted forward with a whinny as Breanne shrieked. Liam paled. "Claire! She wasn't ready—" "Real trainers surprise their students." My amber eyes glinted. “Your coddling would've kept her mediocre forever.” Dust sprayed Liam's face as I galloped after Breanne, leaving him standing there, cheeks burning as if slapped. Good. This was just the beginning of my resistance. Breanne and I raced across the field. Though I was starting late, my black stallion, Diva, was not one to be outshone, and we soon overtook Breanne's white mare. For three years, Breanne had only seen the docile, obedient Claire. This commanding version, I’m sure, was unnerving. I could hear her growling, which, to be honest, was only slowing her own horse down. Her mare would not be able to focus on a race, with its rider losing its hold over herself. It was bound to spook her mare soon, and if she weren’t careful, she would get bucked. But as the saying goes, not my circus, not my monkeys. Diva and I were focused on ourselves. I could sense Breanne's determination to beat me. But, no matter how she pushed her champion mare, I remained ahead. As Diva and I passed her again, I caught a flash of movement from Breanne out of the corner of my eye. She pulled a hairpin out of her pocket and hurled it at Diva. That hairpin had been a gift from her friend at her birthday party, and she had been keeping it close to her chest just now. It was made of silver, and the sharp end drove hard into Diva's rump. Diva was instantly startled. Despite my expert handling and calming charm, which I have often used in the past to soothe a panicked horse, Diva threw me. I felt the gnash from the rock sticking out from the ground, which I hit my head on. The impact sending black spots across my vision—and a cry in absolute agony. My abdominal area pinched and screamed with a sharp and sudden pain like nothing I have ever felt before. There was blood on my hand when I touched it. I needed to get up. I needed to get back and get medical help because I knew Breanne wasn’t going to get me any. As I tried to push myself up off the ground with one hand, while the other was wrapped tightly around my stomach, still crying in sheer pain, a polished boot came forcefully down, cracking the bones in my hand. "Ah—!" The pain forced a gasp through clenched teeth. Chapter 5 The Two-Faced Woman "Claire, weren't you so impressive on horseback just now? How did you end up on the ground so fast?" Breanne crouched down, blinking her wide, innocent-looking eyes as she taunted me, pressing her boot harder against my hand, breaking the bones. She knew I was wolfless, and the pain she was causing; this was why she was doing it. To send me a message. I was hoping someone would come and find us, but the odds of this far from the training grounds were unlikely. "Oh my, I'm so sorry!" Breanne feigned surprise, finally lifting her foot with exaggerated remorse. "I didn't even see your hand there. How careless of me." “It’s to be expected with those massive feet of yours. What is that a size ten in men's?” I watched her eyes flash in anger briefly before she reined it back in. I yanked my hand back, and when Breanne reached out to help me up. I would always refuse her help; it was always a ploy for something worse. When she tried again, I recoiled, pushing myself up to my feet with gritted teeth. "Claire, that must've hurt. With riding skills like yours, how could you possibly think you were qualified to teach me?" Breanne smirked. "Only a fool would believe such a pitiful act, Breanne.” I glared, refusing to back down. "Oh, please. Can't accept that you're just not as good as I am? No wonder Liam doesn't like you much—you're such a sore loser." Breanne let out a mocking laugh. Breanne wasn’t hiding her petty, vindictive behaviour. She wanted me to know her intentions of returning and that she hadn't forgiven me for having her exiled. The reason Breanne was sent away a year ago was that I had walked in on her and Liam in the throes of passion. They were both half-naked and stuck to each other. Liam seemed to snap out of his daze the moment I entered the room and yanked Breanne off him. The thud of her head to the edge of the dresser brought out her wolf, and warriors nearby who heard the yelling managed to catch Breanne just in time before she could attack me. Liam sobered up instantly and demanded answers. Breanne played the confused card. That, like Liam, she had drunk a little too much at the pack celebration. She must have gotten confused about which floor she was on and passed out in mine and his bedroom, thinking it was hers. After all, his scent calms her, so she made sure to add that part—one extra little jab between Liam and me. Liam swore up and down that he was confused and thought it was me under the covers in bed. That, with the amount of wolfwine he had consumed, he didn’t realize it wasn’t me until my scent entered the room, and his wolf halted their action immediately recognizing their error. I moved to a different room, and Liam tried to separate himself from Breanne. Then he learned that Breanne approached me afterward and told me that Liam was aware it was her. After all, why would they confuse their mates? Unfortunately for Breanne, she did it in front of a witness, and they told several others, which led Liam to ask me about it. I confirmed that I knew he was aware that it was Breanne, as she told me so herself, and that I wanted to break the bond if he didn’t send her away as proof of his devotion to the mates' bond. I could see that he didn’t want to, but Liam was also someone who cared too much about image to have the wolfen community know that he lost his true mate over the Beta’s daughter affair scandal. With the third wheel gone, our mate bond had finally stabilized. I had hoped to start trying for a pup on our anniversary after I was announced as the new Luna of the Sterling Moon pack. But now Breanne was back, something of which Liam failed to inform me—especially considering it nearly ended us only a year ago. His lack of consideration over that confused me. Did his wolf also agree with this decision? Surely his wolf would realize better than Liam that this would ultimately bring out the bond to an end. "Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about," I said coolly. "But don't worry. I'll be out of your way soon. Then you two can do whatever you want." I turned away, whistling sharply for my horse. Breanne's face flushed crimson. She grabbed my arm and pressed her fingers deep into the flesh. “What the hell are you implying? What plans could I possibly have?” "You know exactly what I mean. But just a heads-up—mistresses in ranked mate bonds are illegal without Elder consent. And bastard pups tend to be shunned by packs altogether. So think carefully." Breanne's face went scarlet. "You—you're disgusting! How dare you accuse me and Liam of—" The sound of galloping hooves cut her off. Her eyes widened as though she hadn't expected us to be interrupted so soon. I turned to the sound of approaching Hooves, which gave Breanne time to growl her threat before she partially shifted and lunged at me with the intent to maul me where I stood. A chill ran down my spine—only to be overshadowed by the thunderous sound of a horse's disapproving whinny. Next thing I knew, Breanne was whimpering on the ground, crying in sheer agony as a scarred, filthy white stallion trampled her. My breath hitched, my eyes widened in disbelief. I knew this stallion. And then I saw it—the faint brown patch on the stallion's head. My blood turned to ice. No. It can’t be. "Mirage?" My voice cracked. The horse stopped mid-stomp, ears twitching. The sound of my voice stopped the Stallion from continuing its attack on Breanne, who had now reverted to her bruised human state, no longer partially shifted. The Stallion turned and looked at me. "Mirage!" I choked out, rushing forward to grab the reins. "It's really you!" I hadn't summoned my borrowed stallion. I had summoned him. My champion. My partner. My horse that Liam sold from under me, promising he went to a good home. Now, his coat was matted, his skin was patchy with disease, and his body was crisscrossed with whip marks. He was abused. Mirage had once been a regal, snow-white stallion, bought at auction by the Thornes. He had carried me to victory in countless competitions. He wasn't just a horse. He was my family. One of the most precious things I had. It took everything in me to forgive him for going behind my back and forcing me to stop riding by selling Mirage off in the first place, but it helped soothe the pain to know that at least he was being taken care of wherever he was. Liam had promised he'd be cared for. He lied. He looked me in the eye and lied to my face. He gave Mirage to a home that had continuously abused and neglected him. These wounds were a combination of old and recent. This was what Liam considered a good home? Tears burned my eyes as I ran my hands over his ruined coat. My heart was breaking. The abuse Mirage would have been enduring all this time, thinking I abandoned him. "Claire! Breanne!" Liam's voice cut through the air as another set of hooves approached. Chapter 6 The Fall The injuries and now Mirage, I was breaking inside and now outside. Just as my knees gave way, a firm hand caught my arm. "What took you so long out here? Are you all right?" Liam's voice, usually so tender, sounded distant in my ears. Through my tears, I turned to confront him about Mirage's condition, but Breanne's weak whimper cut through the air. "Liam.” She whimpered weakly. “Please, help me,” she pleaded. Liam stiffened as if struck. He released me immediately, like he was catching fire at just the mere touch of me. I staggered from the sudden loss of assistance and contact from my mate, and watched in disbelief as his attention snapped to Breanne's crumpled form on the ground. "Breanne!" His eyes reddened as he gathered her into his arms, cradling her close to her chest, "Oh my Goddess, what happened? How did this—?" I watched as he gently wiped away the tears staining her cheek. His eyes began to mist up. It was as though I were watching a live-action romance. The long-lost lover, dying in her beloved's arms. It would have been touching if it wasn't for the fact that that was my mate, holding another woman so tenderly while I stood five feet from them in significantly more pain. "Claire couldn't handle her horse. When I offered to help her back up, she then turned it around and blamed me! When I tried to explain I wasn’t at fault, she set that wretched beast on me!" Breanne's tears fell like broken pearls. Her voice grew faint as she added dramatically, "Liam, please, I can't feel my legs. What if I never walk again?" Liam's expression darkened as he listened to Breanne’s version of events. He turned to me with a sudden coldness I had never seen before. "Is this true?" He growled in anger, clutching Breanne closer to him protectively. A searing pain tore through my abdomen before I could respond. I cried out at the suddenness of it, and clutched my stomach, gasping through clenched teeth as metallic bile rose in my throat. Liam didn’t even flinch at the sight of my obvious pain before him. "I'm taking Breanne to the hospital," he said coldly. "If you did this, Claire—" He left the threat hanging as he cradled Breanne closer. I have never heard of an Alpha, or any rank member in my school studies or observations, threatening his mates and Luna over just a friend. It was against Wolfen code and ethics, but I suppose that didn’t matter to Liam or the Sterling Moon pack. This was going to become a regular occurrence, I could already sense it. I watched through blurred vision as Breanne gave one last performance. "Liam, I—" Her eyelids fluttered shut with theatrical perfection. "Bree-Bree! Stay with me! Please don’t leave me, baby. I’m here. Don’t you dare leave me!" Liam shouted, already running partially shifted into his wolf to allow himself to cradle her and use his Alpha wolf strength and speed at the same time. Behind him, I collapsed with a thud that echoed across the field. I briefly saw Liam hesitate mid-stride—just for a second. Regardless, he didn’t turn around at the sound of my collapse and shallow, laboured breaths. I watched as they continued to run away with Breanne in their arms, leaving me where I lay. My heart broke, even though I had filed and decided to leave both Liam and this horrible pack; a small part of me still held onto a sliver of hope that Liam would see the path he was taking and how far it was from us. But he didn’t, and that was when everything went dark for me. ***** When I regained consciousness, the sterile glare of surgical lights assaulted my vision. Cold metal instruments clinked nearby as my legs were positioned apart. I tried to speak, but the drugs held me paralyzed. The doctors' voices floated above me like ghosts. I could sense the movements around me, but I was awake, unable to move, feel, or speak. It was a surreal experience, but oddly familiar to my life since I had mated with the Sterling family. Nothing more than an ornament on the wall to all, including my mate. "Such a shame—two months along. Who goes horseback riding when they're pregnant?" "The fall detached the embryo completely. Must have been quite the impact. She is lucky to be alive." "Without a wolf, another hour, and she wouldn’t have been." "That man who brought her in—was that her husband? He was colder than a block of ice, but as Handsome as the Devil himself. Can’t say much about their mateship part, he simply paid the bill and left without a word." "Enough chatter. Let’s finish this up before she hemorrhages." Each medical term floating to my ears—pregnancy, embryo, hemorrhage, dilation and curettage—pierced my drugged haze like silver blades to the heart. The one that stuck out the most was broken. I knew they were talking about my hand, but it was so much deeper than that. I felt broken. I lost my pup. Until recently, I would have loved to have Liam and my first pup. Everything about us seemed happy and together, but now, it seemed symbolic to lose the pups I never knew I had. I was losing a mate I should never have had to fight this hard to keep. Everything was perfect until I saw it was all a smoke screen and not meant to be. Just like this pup. False hope. I struggled against the numbness, but my body refused to obey. Something sharp scraped inside me, painless but violating. The crushing weight of realization dragged me under before I could scream, I was once again enveloped by empty darkness. "Claire ... Claire ..." Time lost all meaning. A distant voice called my name while someone shook my arm. With monumental effort, I forced my eyes open. Once again, the antiseptic glare of hospital lights assaulted my vision—I was in a hospital room.
"""Please, Liam, I just lost our baby. Don't let them take my blood."" My voice was barely a whisper, my body still trembling from the surgery—from the emptiness where our child used to be. But my husband didn't even look at me. His gaze was fixed on the ER doors, where doctors shouted about Breanne's critical blood loss. Breanne Telder. The Beta's daughter. His best friend. The woman he swore was""just like a sister.” The same woman who caused the fall that cost me our pup. ""She's RH-negative and we're out of stock. Find donors—now!"" The surgeon said urgently. ""Take hers."" Liam's arm slid around my waist—not to comfort me, not to hold me—but to push me forward like an offering.""Wolfless born shifters are universal donors. Her blood will save Breanne."" I froze as if struck by lightning, my disbelieving eyes lifting to meet his. Did he and his wolf even realize what they'd done? They didn't have to say the rejection—offering their mate's blood to another woman screamed it loud enough. ""Liam,"" I managed to whisper, ""I just lost our pup—"" ""Spare me the lies. I am done believing you!"" His eyes were cold steel. ""Breanne's life comes first right now."" The words cut deeper than any blade. I straightened, ignoring the spinning in my head, every inch of me trembling but unbroken. ""You've made your choice, Liam. And after today…"" my voice didn't crack this time ""I'll make mine."" The doctor's hand gripped my arm, leading me toward the blood lab. ""I'll donate the blood,"" I didn't fight it. ""But in return, you will agree to end our mate bond.”" ***** Chapter 1 Dropping the Mate I stood at the gate of the Sterling Moon Packhouse, clutching a cake box that had begun to melt in the summer heat. My usually pristine blonde hair was now stuck to my neck and face in damp strands, and my designer dress was now ruined with mud and swamp stains. I hadn't meant to arrive at my third mating anniversary looking like I had been dragged through a hedge backward and then tossed in the swamp lands beyond the pack grounds. But then again, being cornered and ambushed by rogues, conveniently knowing my whereabouts without an escort or protection, wasn't exactly part of my agenda either. A mysterious yet heroic stranger had rescued me and driven me back to the edge of my mate’s pack territory when Liam Sterling, my mate and the pack's Alpha, hadn't answered any of my fifteen frantic calls. I had almost convinced myself he was simply busy orchestrating some grand anniversary surprise. That had to be it. Otherwise, why else would he send me out alone for the cake retrieval and then not bother to answer my calls? I quickened my pace toward the entrance of the packhouse, not wanting to delay the celebration any longer than I already had. I rounded the corner only to stop dead at the sight before me. The entire packhouse had been transformed with floral arches, helium balloons, and an enormous banner. My fingers tightened around the cake box. I had doubts about walking into the grand hall; perhaps I should slip upstairs to change first. Then Liam's familiar voice called out. "There's my beautiful mate! Took you long enough, sweetheart. Everyone's waiting for the cake. Were the directions not clear enough?" He teased, not taking in the dishevelled state of my appearance or the fact that my smile didn’t reach my eyes. He often failed to see me. I looked up to find my mate looking devastatingly handsome in a white Tom Ford suit, his gray waistcoat accentuating those broad shoulders I used to trace my fingers over. He hadn't dressed like this for me in years. I pushed aside the gnawing doubts starting to fill my heart and embraced the fact that he was trying to make things right. This was not the time to voice my disappointments with his lack of attention or concern. We're here to celebrate our mate bond with the pack. This was also the year that he promised to swear me in as the official Luna, to lead by his side. Three years of proving myself capable despite not having a wolf of my own, and now here we were. My lips began curving into a smile despite myself. Maybe the rogues and the ambush, the ruined dress, the ignored calls—perhaps none of it mattered now that I was home. Liam would keep me safe, and we were going to announce that I was stepping into a role that should have been mine when we first mated. "Liam, I was just—" I was about to explain the rogues, the ambush, the mysterious saviour, but was cut off mid-sentence. "Liam! Is that my cake?" A shrill voice interrupted as Breanne Telder materialized behind Liam, looping her arm through his as though it was where she belonged. She was Liam’s father's Beta’s daughter. Otherwise known as the third wheel in our relationship and the pick me girl that Liam always did. She was also not supposed to be here. She was sent away a while ago, and Liam promised to focus solely on us. "You flew me home just for this birthday surprise? Best Alpha bestie ever!" The cake box slipped from my fingers, landing with a sickening splat on the custom marble flooring beneath me. The same flooring I wanted to either swallow me or Breanna up in this moment. Birthday surprise? What the hell did that mean? Those two words echoed in my skull like gunshots. For weeks, I had known Liam was planning something secretive. The custom-ordered flowers were delivered under the cover of darkness. The expensive Eclipse Stone rough he'd purchased at auction. All those whispered phone calls I had pretended not to hear. It all led to this moment, but it wasn’t the moment I had expected. I had woven every scrap of evidence into fantasies of candlelit vows renewed, of Liam dropping to one knee all over again. Even when he hadn't picked up during my attack from rogues, I had made excuses for him. Now Breanne's smug smile shattered those delusions like a hammer through stained glass. "What the hell were you thinking, Claire?" Stephanie Sterling's razor-sharp heels clicked across the flooring as she advanced. "We've been waiting two hours for that cake! You can’t do one single task; no wonder you will never be Luna material for the Sterling Moon pack." Stephanie was Liam's mother. From the moment I mated into the Alpha family, Stephanie had made no secret of her dislike; she was the reason Liam was convinced to hold off and force me to prove myself as Luna material. Over time, that contempt had only grown bolder, more vicious, no longer even pretending to hide it. Failing to see Liam, their Alpha, standing up for me, much of the pack started to support and see the validity in the points that their retired Luna was making. My hands shook. "This was supposed to be our anniversary party." Liam caught my elbow and steered me out of the room for privacy. "Baby, I'd planned a surprise for you, but Breanne asked for a pack-wide birthday celebration when she returned, so—" "So, instead of standing up for your mate, yet again, you conceded and did what they wanted. It’s fine for me to be let down, but not her? Message received, Liam." I wrenched my arm free, the movement sending fresh pain through my bruised ribs from the attack. I doubled over with a gasp. Before Liam could reach for me, Stephanie's voice sliced through the garden again. "Liam! Stop coddling her and get over here. This is why the wolfless should never hold ranks; they're weak and attention grabbers. Forget the cake, we'll just serve the petit fours instead." "Coming." He hesitated, then pressed a kiss to my temple. "We'll talk later." I remained crouched in the foyer of the packhouse as another wave of pain, this one far deeper than physical, crashed over me. Not a single pack member had asked why I looked like I'd been in a car wreck, why I'd been crying. From the other room where everyone gathered, the opening chords of "Happy Birthday" floated toward me. Each syrupy note felt like another papercut to my heart. It hit me suddenly—I hadn't celebrated a birthday since mating into the Alpha family, not once, though my own fell just days apart from Breanne's. And Liam had known this; he made a joke about the coincidence of his two best gals' being birthday buddies, but mine was always overshadowed. He quickly forgot about mine. I wiped my cheeks, giving myself a self-mocking smile. I should have known better than to hope for something more than what I already received. As the sun dipped low, I rose, my shadow stretching lonely behind me. Without a word, I climbed the stairs and clicked the bedroom door shut of the Alpha suite. Under the bathroom's harsh lighting, I peeled off my ruined dress and threw it in the trash. Steam fogged the mirrors as I scrubbed at skin that still felt dirty from the rogue's hands. I stayed under the scalding water until my fingers pruned. Wrapped in an oversized robe, I sat curled on the window seat watching party lights twinkle below until the last guest departed. At 11:00 PM, the bedroom door finally creaked open. I didn't turn when Liam's familiar cologne filled the room. I heard him hang up his jacket, then felt his whiskey-warm hands on my shoulders. "Happy anniversary, my beautiful, stunning mate." His lips brushed my ear. "Guess what I got you?" I shrugged him off. "I honestly don't care." He knelt before me, producing a velvet box with the flourish of a magician. "I had this carved from that Eclipse Stone rough. It is rumoured to help awaken latent wolfen spirits, strengthen auras and bring new beginnings.” Liam fastened the pendant around my neck. The cold stone settled between my chest like a brand. "Stunning." He kissed the hollow of my throat. "I was thinking that it’s been three years since we mated, and you have done so well proving yourself to me and this pack. I want us to now try for a pup. Bring this pack a new heir.” "Yeah, that’s not happening," I rejected the idea instantly. His chuckle was dark velvet. "You won't have to lift a finger, darling. I'll do all the—" "Liam." I met his gaze for the first time that night. “I want to submit an official request to break our mate bond!” Chapter 2 This Time, His Sweet Talk Won't Work My mind was made up before he finally came to our room. This wasn't like my previous impulsive threats in an attempt to get him to see the mistakes he was continuously making in our bond. This time, I was genuinely determined to leave. Three years of mateship flashed through my mind. I had lost count of how many times Liam had prioritized Breanne over my feelings or dismissed me because his mother said so. Who was his mate, and who was just a friend? I could no longer answer that question, and I was tired of trying to defend us. We weren’t bonded. Not the way the typical Alpha and mate were. It was usual for an Alpha never to leave his Luna’s side. She was his number one priority, even though the pack came second. The Alpha's mate was the heart of the pack and respected as an equal, but I was neither of those things. I haven’t been from the start. Breanne, even though she was briefly sent away, was still respected and noticed more than I could even hope for. If someone kept treating you in ways you disliked, it was because you allowed it. I had let it slide every other time. But today, Liam had crossed my final line. This day was our third anniversary. I didn’t care that he forgot my birthday, dinners, or events we planned together. I did, however, care about this milestone moment. A promise he made was long forgotten. This was that tipping point for my patience. “Really, Claire? You are threatening to reject our mate bond again? Don't say that every time you're upset, sweetheart. I was wrong about today. I'll make it up to you tomorrow." My eyes showed no emotion. “Don't bother. Not everything can be made up, and you can only backburner your mate for so long before she grows tired of being at the bottom of the priorities, Liam.” "Of course, this can be fixed. There's always next year. We will have a pup by then, and you will have long forgotten this little hiccup and tantrum." Liam pushed me down onto the sofa, kissing my face tenderly. With my hands pinned above my head, I wasn’t able to push him off. He expected the topic of having pups would appease me and calm my boiling anger. I had had enough of his nonsense and non-committal ways. I stared blankly at the ceiling as tears unexpectedly rolled down my cheeks. I lay like a dead weight. In the past, whenever we would fight or I would throw a tantrum, as Liam would title it, all he would do was use the mate bond against me. His kisses, his touch, his desires would wear me down, and I would accept his hollowed words of apology and his flashy gifts as though they meant something more than pacifying childish behaviour, in his mind. But this time, even though he held me down and I couldn’t resist, I was also not participating or encouraging him to continue. He was so self-absorbed that he couldn’t even realize that I wasn’t a willing participant. I was motionless, soundless, non-responsive. As Liam kept kissing me, his hands touched every part of my bruised body, utterly unaware of the pain he was inflicting both physically and emotionally. I felt his body suddenly freeze at the sound of a whimpered sob that slipped out of me. He looked out with hooded eyes, which quickly sobered and turned serious when he saw the tears in my eyes. His expression was frozen in panic. "Baby, why are you crying?" He quickly turned on the light. "Wait—you seemed off when you came home. Did something happen?" Finally, he remembered, but the damage between us was already done. My heart twisted, wishing that it didn’t take crying while he wanted sex to cover his mistakes for him to notice something was wrong. At the thought of how much distance was between us, more tears fell. Under the light, Liam finally saw the slight swelling on my face, the scratches on my arms and body, and the deep gash on my right leg with dried blood. His pupils contracted. "What happened?" I could sense his wolf stirring under the surface. It was clear that someone had hurt me, but they were only now realizing it. Just as I opened my mouth, his phone rang. I looked at the screen and rolled my eyes. Of course, it was Breanne. Liam sighed and offered a small apologetic smile before he answered in front of me. "Breanne, what's wrong?" "Liam, I think I ate something bad. My stomach hurts so much. Can you take me to the hospital?" Breanne's sugary voice came through. Liam automatically started to agree. I could see his eyes widen with panic at the thought that she was in pain. But right before he responded, he looked at me and my reddened, tear-filled eyes. "It's late. Claire and I are already in bed. Ask Mom if there's any medicine at home." Stephanie's sharp voice interrupted, "Liam, come now! This isn't ordinary pain. It could be appendicitis! She's pale as a ghost!" Liam's brow furrowed. "Fine. I'm coming." My heart sank like a stone. I shook my head in disbelief and turned away, refusing to meet his eyes. Yet again, I was pushed aside. Liam dressed quickly but hesitated at the door. After a long moment, he took my hand. "You're hurt too. Come with me, we'll get you checked at the hospital." That single word, "too", cut like a knife. I laughed dryly. "No need. Go ahead, play hero for another woman. If your mate's pain is less important than staying and understanding what happened, then your friend who has a stomach ache, don’t bother dragging me around like an accessory with false concern. I'd rather be alone." Liam stiffened. He opened his mouth to speak, but the phone kept ringing insistently. Finally, he sighed and pressed his black card into my hand. "Buy whatever you want. Consider it an apology." The door slammed shut. I weighed the card in my palm and smiled bitterly. Liam only ever had two ways to appease me—sex or money. It used to work. I fooled myself into believing it meant he cared, that he wasn’t good with expressing emotions, but I saw it for what it was now. This time, his sweet talk won't work. I walked to the closet and in the back corner, I pulled out my old suitcase. Inside was the most valuable thing I owned. My freedom. It was an official Rejection agreement signed the night before our mating. Back then, Liam had insisted on accepting our mate bond despite his family's objections. Afraid of being trapped in a toxic pack and mating, I had made him sign this; if I ever wanted to break the bond, he had to agree unconditionally. I thought we’d never need it. Liam had probably forgotten it existed. But I hadn't. During one fight, I had even consulted a lawyer who confirmed its validity. I could file for an official rejection of the bond with just this document and 30 days cooling-off period. Since he had already signed it, there was no need for Liam's consent for me to file it now. The Elders within the Council would perform the rejection ceremony within their own chambers. There was no need for either of us to be present. That was typically why Alphas refrained from preemptively signing these types of contracts. It relinquished control without their knowledge. Now was the time. Chapter 3 The Breaking Point I didn't sleep all night; I couldn’t. Instead, I spent those hours cutting up every photograph of us together. There weren’t many, I realized. My phone was filled with pictures of Liam whenever I could sneak photos when he was distracted or busy. He was honestly an Adonis of a man. But three years together, we had exactly twenty-three pictures of us together as a couple, and only thirteen of those were just Liam and me. The remaining ten were with Breanne. I snuck downstairs before anyone else woke up and went into Liam's office. There on the desk was a picture. It was of him and Breanne, hugging and smiling into the camera. They looked happy. Too happy. My inner bitter bitch was vomiting at the sight. On the other side of the desk was a picture of the three of us. That's right, not me and my mate. It was Breanne pressed against Liam's side, smiling up at him, and I was smiling at the camera on the other side. My arm was linked around his, and he was smiling, but for which female in the picture, your guess was as good as mine. I took the picture out of the frame, and bent it so that I was folded to the back. There, now he had two perfect couple pictures of him and Breanne. I will simply bow out of this weird three-way relationship. By dawn, I had already filed the official rejection agreement papers at the Council's registry office. Then I donated all the designer outfits Liam had bought me to charity. Afterward, I drove out of the pack grounds for a few hours to pawn every piece of jewelry he'd ever given me at the local broker's. I didn’t want it getting back to Liam, or the pack gossip mill to run rampant with their own speculations. Not yet anyway. It was a surprisingly large chunk of money in return, one thing I knew for sure about Liam. When he was grovelling for his indifferences and mistakes, he never cheaped out on the apology jewelry. The broker didn’t have the full amount on hand, so I opted to have it wired, which worked fine for me. I opened a new bank account and provided them with the necessary information. I returned to the packhouse early that afternoon. I had requested that the gardener cut down the Cherry Blossom tree in the pack’s courtyard. He was ordered to burn every branch and leaf until only ashes remained. When I agreed to mate with Liam, I had my reservations because his family didn’t support their Alpha heir accepting the bond to a wolfless orphan with average financial standings. Liam planted the tree as a token of his pledge of devotion to us and our bond. I fell for it, thinking it would make us stronger. But I was wrong. By late afternoon, I had either sold, donated or destroyed every token of Liam and his devotion to me and our bond: everything but the Eclipse stone pendant. Some legends state that the Moon Goddess herself blessed the eclipse stone to strengthen the will of the wolfless. Call me a fool, but it still served as a sliver of proof that at some point, he did care enough to seek out the stone for me. Now that everything was removed, it was time for me to step out and prepare everything for my new life after this month-long cooldown period ended, and I was no longer the unwanted mate of Alpha Liam Sterling. I knew I had to be smart and figure out my path now, as I had no family to turn to once the rejection was completed. When I was seven, my father had disappeared after a mountain climbing accident. It was speculated that rogues were involved, as they were heavy in the area at the time. My mother re-mated not long afterwards, and we became part of the Thorne family. They were the overlords, if you will, of the Crown of Thornes Pack, rivals of The Sterling Moon pack and next door neighbours to the territory. My mother left the Thorne family after accusations and rumours of her infidelity and gambling debts. I didn’t believe it, but it seemed that everyone else did. I had no idea where she even went. She certainly didn’t seek me out after she left that night, abandoning me. The only person who would even be considered family at this point was Lucien Thorne. He was my former stepbrother from my mother's second mating. However, Lucien was notorious for his short temper, and he constantly mistreated me while we lived under the same roof, so I would sooner wind up homeless than seek his help. The heat of Liam’s black card was burning a hole in my pocket, serving as a reminder of his literal words: “Buy whatever you want and consider it as an apology.” Okay! I will. I went to the bank and after the teller spoke with the branch manager to confirm my approval of using the Alpha’s account for a withdrawal, yup, that's right, I held no status, so I wasn’t even recognized with authority over our marital account; I withdrew one million dollars from his account. It was insulting and frustrating to know that Breanne can walk in here and not have as many hoops to jump through to get at my mate’s money. But that’s fine. I have already started to let go of my hold on him emotionally. My head has already done so. As I waited for the teller to return with the funds, my phone rang. Liyah Cruz. She was my closest friend before I accepted the bond with Liam. Liam didn’t like her influence on me, as he put it, so over the years, our friendship became strained. For her to be reaching out and calling me now, it had to be important. "Liyah? What's wrong?" I answered right away. "Oh, thank the Goddess. Claire, the International Equestrian Championships start in a month, but I just got injured during training." Liyah's voice was thick with disappointment. "Claire, you were the most talented rider we knew. I could think of no one else to take over. Could you compete in my place?" The memories came flooding back. Had I not mated with Liam, I might have become as renowned as Liyah in equestrian circles. But Liam had disapproved of me riding; he often called it unladylike. He'd gone as far as going behind my back and selling my beloved white stallion, Mirage, to a good owner, cutting off my last connection to the sport. The silence stretched until Liyah sighed. "I forgot your mate doesn't allow—" "I'll do it," I interrupted. "One month. I'll be ready." Liyah's excited squeal pierced through the receiver. "Really? Oh my Goddess! Everyone always said you shouldn't have given up your talent for mating! You're finally coming back to us!" My hand trembled around the phone. Yes, before mating into the Sterling Moon pack and Alpha family, I had shone so brightly. Before Liam, I used to be many things. I was the university's star student—straight A's in every subject. A gifted painter, champion rider, runway model, master chef, and award-winning debater—there was nothing I couldn't excel at. But three years of mating had eroded it all. I hadn't touched a paintbrush in years. I have forgotten how to walk a runway, and even lost my sharp tongue in arguments—forced to submit to even my mate's family and house staff. Only my cooking skills remained polished because I have cooked for Liam every single day since the beginning of our bond acceptance. Only now did I realize how much of myself I had sacrificed. But it wasn't too late. I could still start over. This was that chance to start taking my life by the reins, so to speak, and returning to the Claire that used to walk proudly with her chin held high. Chapter 4 Meeting on Horseback I met Liyah at the stables we once rode at together. “Thank you, Claire-bear. I can’t believe you are actually here.” Liyah launched herself on top of me, despite her knee brace. I thought I understood what I gave up to be with Liam, my mate, but I didn’t understand a fraction of it. This crazy woman, who used to be my world, wrapped around me. How did I let him separate us? “It’s me who should thank you, Lee-Lee. I’ve missed you. I’m sorry. No more boys between us, I promise.” I sobbed. Liyah looked up, and I saw the understanding in her eyes. We both wiped our faces and laughed at our equally blotchy faces. “Okay, later, we'll discuss everything!” She looked at me with as much conviction as her tiny body could muster. I nodded and smiled. “But now, let me introduce you to Diva, my stallion. Just a warning, he lives up to the name periodically. I think it’s an adorable quirk for him and refuse to break it out of him. You’ll love him!” Liyah leads us to the stables, where we meet the horse. Liyah was right. We matched instantly. It isn’t easy for a shifter to bond with a stallion, but I never had those worries. I was always able to click with any animal, to the point where Liyah's brother spent a year calling me freaking snow white! I hated it, but he wasn’t wrong. I galloped across the equestrian field at dawn, the stallion I rode was kicking up dew as it raced toward the rising sun. Then I saw them. Liam and Breanne shared a white mare, ambling toward my direction. Breanne was dressed in her pristine white riding jodhpurs with the matching show coat, leaned back against Liam's chest. Liam's attire was the stark contrast of black on black. I watched him bend his head low, whispering something in Breanne’s ear, causing a fit of giggles from her. I had waited for him to return all night. When I had reached out and called him to ask if he would be returning that night, I was told, by him, that since Breanna needed an emergency appendectomy, he would not leave her side until she recovered. That was when I cut up our photos, burning them to ashes. As I watch them now, a question came to my mind, causing my brow to arch. When did appendectomy patients start riding horses the next day? My grip tightened on the reins just as Breanne spotted me. “Oh! Liam, how spooky. Doesn’t that woman look just like Claire!”At her teasing words, I watched as Liam's head snapped up. There, I sat astride my stallion, the tailored navy riding jacket accentuating my hourglass figure, my gaze glacial. I knew he felt it. Dismounting, Liam approached until he could only see the sharp angle of my jaw. "Sweetheart, since when do you ride? I thought you quit that. You should've told me you were coming." The memory of his and Breanne’s intimate pose churned my stomach. I pressed a hand to my mouth to keep from being sick at the thought before answering flatly. "Would you have answered if I called?" This acidic tone only emerged when I was furious. Liam's smile turned placating. "My fault—left my phone in the car. It turned out to be a false alarm about Breanne's appendix. Since she's competing in the International Equestrian Championships next month, I was only helping her practice." Breanne urged her mare forward, pouting. "Liam, why must we explain everything to her? Come back, we have more important things to focus on. You haven't finished teaching me." "An International Championship contender needs amateur instruction? How curious. I wonder if anyone else here is getting that kind of coaching? But, Liam, if she requires coaching, I'll do it." As Liam turned, my voice froze him. Liam’s expression initially fell flat at my words, but he quickly brightened at my offer. "Exactly! Breanne, Claire won that championship years ago." 'How touching that he finally remembered I have value,' I thought bitterly. Breanne bit her lip. "But—" After years together, I knew Breanne’s games. She wasn’t as nervous on a horse as she portrayed. It was all an act for Liam. "No buts." I raised my riding crop. "Let's ride." The crop came down on Breanne's mare, which bolted forward with a whinny as Breanne shrieked. Liam paled. "Claire! She wasn't ready—" "Real trainers surprise their students." My amber eyes glinted. “Your coddling would've kept her mediocre forever.” Dust sprayed Liam's face as I galloped after Breanne, leaving him standing there, cheeks burning as if slapped. Good. This was just the beginning of my resistance. Breanne and I raced across the field. Though I was starting late, my black stallion, Diva, was not one to be outshone, and we soon overtook Breanne's white mare. For three years, Breanne had only seen the docile, obedient Claire. This commanding version, I’m sure, was unnerving. I could hear her growling, which, to be honest, was only slowing her own horse down. Her mare would not be able to focus on a race, with its rider losing its hold over herself. It was bound to spook her mare soon, and if she weren’t careful, she would get bucked. But as the saying goes, not my circus, not my monkeys. Diva and I were focused on ourselves. I could sense Breanne's determination to beat me. But, no matter how she pushed her champion mare, I remained ahead. As Diva and I passed her again, I caught a flash of movement from Breanne out of the corner of my eye. She pulled a hairpin out of her pocket and hurled it at Diva. That hairpin had been a gift from her friend at her birthday party, and she had been keeping it close to her chest just now. It was made of silver, and the sharp end drove hard into Diva's rump. Diva was instantly startled. Despite my expert handling and calming charm, which I have often used in the past to soothe a panicked horse, Diva threw me. I felt the gnash from the rock sticking out from the ground, which I hit my head on. The impact sending black spots across my vision—and a cry in absolute agony. My abdominal area pinched and screamed with a sharp and sudden pain like nothing I have ever felt before. There was blood on my hand when I touched it. I needed to get up. I needed to get back and get medical help because I knew Breanne wasn’t going to get me any. As I tried to push myself up off the ground with one hand, while the other was wrapped tightly around my stomach, still crying in sheer pain, a polished boot came forcefully down, cracking the bones in my hand. "Ah—!" The pain forced a gasp through clenched teeth. Chapter 5 The Two-Faced Woman "Claire, weren't you so impressive on horseback just now? How did you end up on the ground so fast?" Breanne crouched down, blinking her wide, innocent-looking eyes as she taunted me, pressing her boot harder against my hand, breaking the bones. She knew I was wolfless, and the pain she was causing; this was why she was doing it. To send me a message. I was hoping someone would come and find us, but the odds of this far from the training grounds were unlikely. "Oh my, I'm so sorry!" Breanne feigned surprise, finally lifting her foot with exaggerated remorse. "I didn't even see your hand there. How careless of me." “It’s to be expected with those massive feet of yours. What is that a size ten in men's?” I watched her eyes flash in anger briefly before she reined it back in. I yanked my hand back, and when Breanne reached out to help me up. I would always refuse her help; it was always a ploy for something worse. When she tried again, I recoiled, pushing myself up to my feet with gritted teeth. "Claire, that must've hurt. With riding skills like yours, how could you possibly think you were qualified to teach me?" Breanne smirked. "Only a fool would believe such a pitiful act, Breanne.” I glared, refusing to back down. "Oh, please. Can't accept that you're just not as good as I am? No wonder Liam doesn't like you much—you're such a sore loser." Breanne let out a mocking laugh. Breanne wasn’t hiding her petty, vindictive behaviour. She wanted me to know her intentions of returning and that she hadn't forgiven me for having her exiled. The reason Breanne was sent away a year ago was that I had walked in on her and Liam in the throes of passion. They were both half-naked and stuck to each other. Liam seemed to snap out of his daze the moment I entered the room and yanked Breanne off him. The thud of her head to the edge of the dresser brought out her wolf, and warriors nearby who heard the yelling managed to catch Breanne just in time before she could attack me. Liam sobered up instantly and demanded answers. Breanne played the confused card. That, like Liam, she had drunk a little too much at the pack celebration. She must have gotten confused about which floor she was on and passed out in mine and his bedroom, thinking it was hers. After all, his scent calms her, so she made sure to add that part—one extra little jab between Liam and me. Liam swore up and down that he was confused and thought it was me under the covers in bed. That, with the amount of wolfwine he had consumed, he didn’t realize it wasn’t me until my scent entered the room, and his wolf halted their action immediately recognizing their error. I moved to a different room, and Liam tried to separate himself from Breanne. Then he learned that Breanne approached me afterward and told me that Liam was aware it was her. After all, why would they confuse their mates? Unfortunately for Breanne, she did it in front of a witness, and they told several others, which led Liam to ask me about it. I confirmed that I knew he was aware that it was Breanne, as she told me so herself, and that I wanted to break the bond if he didn’t send her away as proof of his devotion to the mates' bond. I could see that he didn’t want to, but Liam was also someone who cared too much about image to have the wolfen community know that he lost his true mate over the Beta’s daughter affair scandal. With the third wheel gone, our mate bond had finally stabilized. I had hoped to start trying for a pup on our anniversary after I was announced as the new Luna of the Sterling Moon pack. But now Breanne was back, something of which Liam failed to inform me—especially considering it nearly ended us only a year ago. His lack of consideration over that confused me. Did his wolf also agree with this decision? Surely his wolf would realize better than Liam that this would ultimately bring out the bond to an end. "Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about," I said coolly. "But don't worry. I'll be out of your way soon. Then you two can do whatever you want." I turned away, whistling sharply for my horse. Breanne's face flushed crimson. She grabbed my arm and pressed her fingers deep into the flesh. “What the hell are you implying? What plans could I possibly have?” "You know exactly what I mean. But just a heads-up—mistresses in ranked mate bonds are illegal without Elder consent. And bastard pups tend to be shunned by packs altogether. So think carefully." Breanne's face went scarlet. "You—you're disgusting! How dare you accuse me and Liam of—" The sound of galloping hooves cut her off. Her eyes widened as though she hadn't expected us to be interrupted so soon. I turned to the sound of approaching Hooves, which gave Breanne time to growl her threat before she partially shifted and lunged at me with the intent to maul me where I stood. A chill ran down my spine—only to be overshadowed by the thunderous sound of a horse's disapproving whinny. Next thing I knew, Breanne was whimpering on the ground, crying in sheer agony as a scarred, filthy white stallion trampled her. My breath hitched, my eyes widened in disbelief. I knew this stallion. And then I saw it—the faint brown patch on the stallion's head. My blood turned to ice. No. It can’t be. "Mirage?" My voice cracked. The horse stopped mid-stomp, ears twitching. The sound of my voice stopped the Stallion from continuing its attack on Breanne, who had now reverted to her bruised human state, no longer partially shifted. The Stallion turned and looked at me. "Mirage!" I choked out, rushing forward to grab the reins. "It's really you!" I hadn't summoned my borrowed stallion. I had summoned him. My champion. My partner. My horse that Liam sold from under me, promising he went to a good home. Now, his coat was matted, his skin was patchy with disease, and his body was crisscrossed with whip marks. He was abused. Mirage had once been a regal, snow-white stallion, bought at auction by the Thornes. He had carried me to victory in countless competitions. He wasn't just a horse. He was my family. One of the most precious things I had. It took everything in me to forgive him for going behind my back and forcing me to stop riding by selling Mirage off in the first place, but it helped soothe the pain to know that at least he was being taken care of wherever he was. Liam had promised he'd be cared for. He lied. He looked me in the eye and lied to my face. He gave Mirage to a home that had continuously abused and neglected him. These wounds were a combination of old and recent. This was what Liam considered a good home? Tears burned my eyes as I ran my hands over his ruined coat. My heart was breaking. The abuse Mirage would have been enduring all this time, thinking I abandoned him. "Claire! Breanne!" Liam's voice cut through the air as another set of hooves approached. Chapter 6 The Fall The injuries and now Mirage, I was breaking inside and now outside. Just as my knees gave way, a firm hand caught my arm. "What took you so long out here? Are you all right?" Liam's voice, usually so tender, sounded distant in my ears. Through my tears, I turned to confront him about Mirage's condition, but Breanne's weak whimper cut through the air. "Liam.” She whimpered weakly. “Please, help me,” she pleaded. Liam stiffened as if struck. He released me immediately, like he was catching fire at just the mere touch of me. I staggered from the sudden loss of assistance and contact from my mate, and watched in disbelief as his attention snapped to Breanne's crumpled form on the ground. "Breanne!" His eyes reddened as he gathered her into his arms, cradling her close to her chest, "Oh my Goddess, what happened? How did this—?" I watched as he gently wiped away the tears staining her cheek. His eyes began to mist up. It was as though I were watching a live-action romance. The long-lost lover, dying in her beloved's arms. It would have been touching if it wasn't for the fact that that was my mate, holding another woman so tenderly while I stood five feet from them in significantly more pain. "Claire couldn't handle her horse. When I offered to help her back up, she then turned it around and blamed me! When I tried to explain I wasn’t at fault, she set that wretched beast on me!" Breanne's tears fell like broken pearls. Her voice grew faint as she added dramatically, "Liam, please, I can't feel my legs. What if I never walk again?" Liam's expression darkened as he listened to Breanne’s version of events. He turned to me with a sudden coldness I had never seen before. "Is this true?" He growled in anger, clutching Breanne closer to him protectively. A searing pain tore through my abdomen before I could respond. I cried out at the suddenness of it, and clutched my stomach, gasping through clenched teeth as metallic bile rose in my throat. Liam didn’t even flinch at the sight of my obvious pain before him. "I'm taking Breanne to the hospital," he said coldly. "If you did this, Claire—" He left the threat hanging as he cradled Breanne closer. I have never heard of an Alpha, or any rank member in my school studies or observations, threatening his mates and Luna over just a friend. It was against Wolfen code and ethics, but I suppose that didn’t matter to Liam or the Sterling Moon pack. This was going to become a regular occurrence, I could already sense it. I watched through blurred vision as Breanne gave one last performance. "Liam, I—" Her eyelids fluttered shut with theatrical perfection. "Bree-Bree! Stay with me! Please don’t leave me, baby. I’m here. Don’t you dare leave me!" Liam shouted, already running partially shifted into his wolf to allow himself to cradle her and use his Alpha wolf strength and speed at the same time. Behind him, I collapsed with a thud that echoed across the field. I briefly saw Liam hesitate mid-stride—just for a second. Regardless, he didn’t turn around at the sound of my collapse and shallow, laboured breaths. I watched as they continued to run away with Breanne in their arms, leaving me where I lay. My heart broke, even though I had filed and decided to leave both Liam and this horrible pack; a small part of me still held onto a sliver of hope that Liam would see the path he was taking and how far it was from us. But he didn’t, and that was when everything went dark for me. ***** When I regained consciousness, the sterile glare of surgical lights assaulted my vision. Cold metal instruments clinked nearby as my legs were positioned apart. I tried to speak, but the drugs held me paralyzed. The doctors' voices floated above me like ghosts. I could sense the movements around me, but I was awake, unable to move, feel, or speak. It was a surreal experience, but oddly familiar to my life since I had mated with the Sterling family. Nothing more than an ornament on the wall to all, including my mate. "Such a shame—two months along. Who goes horseback riding when they're pregnant?" "The fall detached the embryo completely. Must have been quite the impact. She is lucky to be alive." "Without a wolf, another hour, and she wouldn’t have been." "That man who brought her in—was that her husband? He was colder than a block of ice, but as Handsome as the Devil himself. Can’t say much about their mateship part, he simply paid the bill and left without a word." "Enough chatter. Let’s finish this up before she hemorrhages." Each medical term floating to my ears—pregnancy, embryo, hemorrhage, dilation and curettage—pierced my drugged haze like silver blades to the heart. The one that stuck out the most was broken. I knew they were talking about my hand, but it was so much deeper than that. I felt broken. I lost my pup. Until recently, I would have loved to have Liam and my first pup. Everything about us seemed happy and together, but now, it seemed symbolic to lose the pups I never knew I had. I was losing a mate I should never have had to fight this hard to keep. Everything was perfect until I saw it was all a smoke screen and not meant to be. Just like this pup. False hope. I struggled against the numbness, but my body refused to obey. Something sharp scraped inside me, painless but violating. The crushing weight of realization dragged me under before I could scream, I was once again enveloped by empty darkness. "Claire ... Claire ..." Time lost all meaning. A distant voice called my name while someone shook my arm. With monumental effort, I forced my eyes open. Once again, the antiseptic glare of hospital lights assaulted my vision—I was in a hospital room.
"""Please, Liam, I just lost our baby. Don't let them take my blood."" My voice was barely a whisper, my body still trembling from the surgery—from the emptiness where our child used to be. But my husband didn't even look at me. His gaze was fixed on the ER doors, where doctors shouted about Breanne's critical blood loss. Breanne Telder. The Beta's daughter. His best friend. The woman he swore was""just like a sister.” The same woman who caused the fall that cost me our pup. ""She's RH-negative and we're out of stock. Find donors—now!"" The surgeon said urgently. ""Take hers."" Liam's arm slid around my waist—not to comfort me, not to hold me—but to push me forward like an offering.""Wolfless born shifters are universal donors. Her blood will save Breanne."" I froze as if struck by lightning, my disbelieving eyes lifting to meet his. Did he and his wolf even realize what they'd done? They didn't have to say the rejection—offering their mate's blood to another woman screamed it loud enough. ""Liam,"" I managed to whisper, ""I just lost our pup—"" ""Spare me the lies. I am done believing you!"" His eyes were cold steel. ""Breanne's life comes first right now."" The words cut deeper than any blade. I straightened, ignoring the spinning in my head, every inch of me trembling but unbroken. ""You've made your choice, Liam. And after today…"" my voice didn't crack this time ""I'll make mine."" The doctor's hand gripped my arm, leading me toward the blood lab. ""I'll donate the blood,"" I didn't fight it. ""But in return, you will agree to end our mate bond.”" ***** Chapter 1 Dropping the Mate I stood at the gate of the Sterling Moon Packhouse, clutching a cake box that had begun to melt in the summer heat. My usually pristine blonde hair was now stuck to my neck and face in damp strands, and my designer dress was now ruined with mud and swamp stains. I hadn't meant to arrive at my third mating anniversary looking like I had been dragged through a hedge backward and then tossed in the swamp lands beyond the pack grounds. But then again, being cornered and ambushed by rogues, conveniently knowing my whereabouts without an escort or protection, wasn't exactly part of my agenda either. A mysterious yet heroic stranger had rescued me and driven me back to the edge of my mate’s pack territory when Liam Sterling, my mate and the pack's Alpha, hadn't answered any of my fifteen frantic calls. I had almost convinced myself he was simply busy orchestrating some grand anniversary surprise. That had to be it. Otherwise, why else would he send me out alone for the cake retrieval and then not bother to answer my calls? I quickened my pace toward the entrance of the packhouse, not wanting to delay the celebration any longer than I already had. I rounded the corner only to stop dead at the sight before me. The entire packhouse had been transformed with floral arches, helium balloons, and an enormous banner. My fingers tightened around the cake box. I had doubts about walking into the grand hall; perhaps I should slip upstairs to change first. Then Liam's familiar voice called out. "There's my beautiful mate! Took you long enough, sweetheart. Everyone's waiting for the cake. Were the directions not clear enough?" He teased, not taking in the dishevelled state of my appearance or the fact that my smile didn’t reach my eyes. He often failed to see me. I looked up to find my mate looking devastatingly handsome in a white Tom Ford suit, his gray waistcoat accentuating those broad shoulders I used to trace my fingers over. He hadn't dressed like this for me in years. I pushed aside the gnawing doubts starting to fill my heart and embraced the fact that he was trying to make things right. This was not the time to voice my disappointments with his lack of attention or concern. We're here to celebrate our mate bond with the pack. This was also the year that he promised to swear me in as the official Luna, to lead by his side. Three years of proving myself capable despite not having a wolf of my own, and now here we were. My lips began curving into a smile despite myself. Maybe the rogues and the ambush, the ruined dress, the ignored calls—perhaps none of it mattered now that I was home. Liam would keep me safe, and we were going to announce that I was stepping into a role that should have been mine when we first mated. "Liam, I was just—" I was about to explain the rogues, the ambush, the mysterious saviour, but was cut off mid-sentence. "Liam! Is that my cake?" A shrill voice interrupted as Breanne Telder materialized behind Liam, looping her arm through his as though it was where she belonged. She was Liam’s father's Beta’s daughter. Otherwise known as the third wheel in our relationship and the pick me girl that Liam always did. She was also not supposed to be here. She was sent away a while ago, and Liam promised to focus solely on us. "You flew me home just for this birthday surprise? Best Alpha bestie ever!" The cake box slipped from my fingers, landing with a sickening splat on the custom marble flooring beneath me. The same flooring I wanted to either swallow me or Breanna up in this moment. Birthday surprise? What the hell did that mean? Those two words echoed in my skull like gunshots. For weeks, I had known Liam was planning something secretive. The custom-ordered flowers were delivered under the cover of darkness. The expensive Eclipse Stone rough he'd purchased at auction. All those whispered phone calls I had pretended not to hear. It all led to this moment, but it wasn’t the moment I had expected. I had woven every scrap of evidence into fantasies of candlelit vows renewed, of Liam dropping to one knee all over again. Even when he hadn't picked up during my attack from rogues, I had made excuses for him. Now Breanne's smug smile shattered those delusions like a hammer through stained glass. "What the hell were you thinking, Claire?" Stephanie Sterling's razor-sharp heels clicked across the flooring as she advanced. "We've been waiting two hours for that cake! You can’t do one single task; no wonder you will never be Luna material for the Sterling Moon pack." Stephanie was Liam's mother. From the moment I mated into the Alpha family, Stephanie had made no secret of her dislike; she was the reason Liam was convinced to hold off and force me to prove myself as Luna material. Over time, that contempt had only grown bolder, more vicious, no longer even pretending to hide it. Failing to see Liam, their Alpha, standing up for me, much of the pack started to support and see the validity in the points that their retired Luna was making. My hands shook. "This was supposed to be our anniversary party." Liam caught my elbow and steered me out of the room for privacy. "Baby, I'd planned a surprise for you, but Breanne asked for a pack-wide birthday celebration when she returned, so—" "So, instead of standing up for your mate, yet again, you conceded and did what they wanted. It’s fine for me to be let down, but not her? Message received, Liam." I wrenched my arm free, the movement sending fresh pain through my bruised ribs from the attack. I doubled over with a gasp. Before Liam could reach for me, Stephanie's voice sliced through the garden again. "Liam! Stop coddling her and get over here. This is why the wolfless should never hold ranks; they're weak and attention grabbers. Forget the cake, we'll just serve the petit fours instead." "Coming." He hesitated, then pressed a kiss to my temple. "We'll talk later." I remained crouched in the foyer of the packhouse as another wave of pain, this one far deeper than physical, crashed over me. Not a single pack member had asked why I looked like I'd been in a car wreck, why I'd been crying. From the other room where everyone gathered, the opening chords of "Happy Birthday" floated toward me. Each syrupy note felt like another papercut to my heart. It hit me suddenly—I hadn't celebrated a birthday since mating into the Alpha family, not once, though my own fell just days apart from Breanne's. And Liam had known this; he made a joke about the coincidence of his two best gals' being birthday buddies, but mine was always overshadowed. He quickly forgot about mine. I wiped my cheeks, giving myself a self-mocking smile. I should have known better than to hope for something more than what I already received. As the sun dipped low, I rose, my shadow stretching lonely behind me. Without a word, I climbed the stairs and clicked the bedroom door shut of the Alpha suite. Under the bathroom's harsh lighting, I peeled off my ruined dress and threw it in the trash. Steam fogged the mirrors as I scrubbed at skin that still felt dirty from the rogue's hands. I stayed under the scalding water until my fingers pruned. Wrapped in an oversized robe, I sat curled on the window seat watching party lights twinkle below until the last guest departed. At 11:00 PM, the bedroom door finally creaked open. I didn't turn when Liam's familiar cologne filled the room. I heard him hang up his jacket, then felt his whiskey-warm hands on my shoulders. "Happy anniversary, my beautiful, stunning mate." His lips brushed my ear. "Guess what I got you?" I shrugged him off. "I honestly don't care." He knelt before me, producing a velvet box with the flourish of a magician. "I had this carved from that Eclipse Stone rough. It is rumoured to help awaken latent wolfen spirits, strengthen auras and bring new beginnings.” Liam fastened the pendant around my neck. The cold stone settled between my chest like a brand. "Stunning." He kissed the hollow of my throat. "I was thinking that it’s been three years since we mated, and you have done so well proving yourself to me and this pack. I want us to now try for a pup. Bring this pack a new heir.” "Yeah, that’s not happening," I rejected the idea instantly. His chuckle was dark velvet. "You won't have to lift a finger, darling. I'll do all the—" "Liam." I met his gaze for the first time that night. “I want to submit an official request to break our mate bond!” Chapter 2 This Time, His Sweet Talk Won't Work My mind was made up before he finally came to our room. This wasn't like my previous impulsive threats in an attempt to get him to see the mistakes he was continuously making in our bond. This time, I was genuinely determined to leave. Three years of mateship flashed through my mind. I had lost count of how many times Liam had prioritized Breanne over my feelings or dismissed me because his mother said so. Who was his mate, and who was just a friend? I could no longer answer that question, and I was tired of trying to defend us. We weren’t bonded. Not the way the typical Alpha and mate were. It was usual for an Alpha never to leave his Luna’s side. She was his number one priority, even though the pack came second. The Alpha's mate was the heart of the pack and respected as an equal, but I was neither of those things. I haven’t been from the start. Breanne, even though she was briefly sent away, was still respected and noticed more than I could even hope for. If someone kept treating you in ways you disliked, it was because you allowed it. I had let it slide every other time. But today, Liam had crossed my final line. This day was our third anniversary. I didn’t care that he forgot my birthday, dinners, or events we planned together. I did, however, care about this milestone moment. A promise he made was long forgotten. This was that tipping point for my patience. “Really, Claire? You are threatening to reject our mate bond again? Don't say that every time you're upset, sweetheart. I was wrong about today. I'll make it up to you tomorrow." My eyes showed no emotion. “Don't bother. Not everything can be made up, and you can only backburner your mate for so long before she grows tired of being at the bottom of the priorities, Liam.” "Of course, this can be fixed. There's always next year. We will have a pup by then, and you will have long forgotten this little hiccup and tantrum." Liam pushed me down onto the sofa, kissing my face tenderly. With my hands pinned above my head, I wasn’t able to push him off. He expected the topic of having pups would appease me and calm my boiling anger. I had had enough of his nonsense and non-committal ways. I stared blankly at the ceiling as tears unexpectedly rolled down my cheeks. I lay like a dead weight. In the past, whenever we would fight or I would throw a tantrum, as Liam would title it, all he would do was use the mate bond against me. His kisses, his touch, his desires would wear me down, and I would accept his hollowed words of apology and his flashy gifts as though they meant something more than pacifying childish behaviour, in his mind. But this time, even though he held me down and I couldn’t resist, I was also not participating or encouraging him to continue. He was so self-absorbed that he couldn’t even realize that I wasn’t a willing participant. I was motionless, soundless, non-responsive. As Liam kept kissing me, his hands touched every part of my bruised body, utterly unaware of the pain he was inflicting both physically and emotionally. I felt his body suddenly freeze at the sound of a whimpered sob that slipped out of me. He looked out with hooded eyes, which quickly sobered and turned serious when he saw the tears in my eyes. His expression was frozen in panic. "Baby, why are you crying?" He quickly turned on the light. "Wait—you seemed off when you came home. Did something happen?" Finally, he remembered, but the damage between us was already done. My heart twisted, wishing that it didn’t take crying while he wanted sex to cover his mistakes for him to notice something was wrong. At the thought of how much distance was between us, more tears fell. Under the light, Liam finally saw the slight swelling on my face, the scratches on my arms and body, and the deep gash on my right leg with dried blood. His pupils contracted. "What happened?" I could sense his wolf stirring under the surface. It was clear that someone had hurt me, but they were only now realizing it. Just as I opened my mouth, his phone rang. I looked at the screen and rolled my eyes. Of course, it was Breanne. Liam sighed and offered a small apologetic smile before he answered in front of me. "Breanne, what's wrong?" "Liam, I think I ate something bad. My stomach hurts so much. Can you take me to the hospital?" Breanne's sugary voice came through. Liam automatically started to agree. I could see his eyes widen with panic at the thought that she was in pain. But right before he responded, he looked at me and my reddened, tear-filled eyes. "It's late. Claire and I are already in bed. Ask Mom if there's any medicine at home." Stephanie's sharp voice interrupted, "Liam, come now! This isn't ordinary pain. It could be appendicitis! She's pale as a ghost!" Liam's brow furrowed. "Fine. I'm coming." My heart sank like a stone. I shook my head in disbelief and turned away, refusing to meet his eyes. Yet again, I was pushed aside. Liam dressed quickly but hesitated at the door. After a long moment, he took my hand. "You're hurt too. Come with me, we'll get you checked at the hospital." That single word, "too", cut like a knife. I laughed dryly. "No need. Go ahead, play hero for another woman. If your mate's pain is less important than staying and understanding what happened, then your friend who has a stomach ache, don’t bother dragging me around like an accessory with false concern. I'd rather be alone." Liam stiffened. He opened his mouth to speak, but the phone kept ringing insistently. Finally, he sighed and pressed his black card into my hand. "Buy whatever you want. Consider it an apology." The door slammed shut. I weighed the card in my palm and smiled bitterly. Liam only ever had two ways to appease me—sex or money. It used to work. I fooled myself into believing it meant he cared, that he wasn’t good with expressing emotions, but I saw it for what it was now. This time, his sweet talk won't work. I walked to the closet and in the back corner, I pulled out my old suitcase. Inside was the most valuable thing I owned. My freedom. It was an official Rejection agreement signed the night before our mating. Back then, Liam had insisted on accepting our mate bond despite his family's objections. Afraid of being trapped in a toxic pack and mating, I had made him sign this; if I ever wanted to break the bond, he had to agree unconditionally. I thought we’d never need it. Liam had probably forgotten it existed. But I hadn't. During one fight, I had even consulted a lawyer who confirmed its validity. I could file for an official rejection of the bond with just this document and 30 days cooling-off period. Since he had already signed it, there was no need for Liam's consent for me to file it now. The Elders within the Council would perform the rejection ceremony within their own chambers. There was no need for either of us to be present. That was typically why Alphas refrained from preemptively signing these types of contracts. It relinquished control without their knowledge. Now was the time. Chapter 3 The Breaking Point I didn't sleep all night; I couldn’t. Instead, I spent those hours cutting up every photograph of us together. There weren’t many, I realized. My phone was filled with pictures of Liam whenever I could sneak photos when he was distracted or busy. He was honestly an Adonis of a man. But three years together, we had exactly twenty-three pictures of us together as a couple, and only thirteen of those were just Liam and me. The remaining ten were with Breanne. I snuck downstairs before anyone else woke up and went into Liam's office. There on the desk was a picture. It was of him and Breanne, hugging and smiling into the camera. They looked happy. Too happy. My inner bitter bitch was vomiting at the sight. On the other side of the desk was a picture of the three of us. That's right, not me and my mate. It was Breanne pressed against Liam's side, smiling up at him, and I was smiling at the camera on the other side. My arm was linked around his, and he was smiling, but for which female in the picture, your guess was as good as mine. I took the picture out of the frame, and bent it so that I was folded to the back. There, now he had two perfect couple pictures of him and Breanne. I will simply bow out of this weird three-way relationship. By dawn, I had already filed the official rejection agreement papers at the Council's registry office. Then I donated all the designer outfits Liam had bought me to charity. Afterward, I drove out of the pack grounds for a few hours to pawn every piece of jewelry he'd ever given me at the local broker's. I didn’t want it getting back to Liam, or the pack gossip mill to run rampant with their own speculations. Not yet anyway. It was a surprisingly large chunk of money in return, one thing I knew for sure about Liam. When he was grovelling for his indifferences and mistakes, he never cheaped out on the apology jewelry. The broker didn’t have the full amount on hand, so I opted to have it wired, which worked fine for me. I opened a new bank account and provided them with the necessary information. I returned to the packhouse early that afternoon. I had requested that the gardener cut down the Cherry Blossom tree in the pack’s courtyard. He was ordered to burn every branch and leaf until only ashes remained. When I agreed to mate with Liam, I had my reservations because his family didn’t support their Alpha heir accepting the bond to a wolfless orphan with average financial standings. Liam planted the tree as a token of his pledge of devotion to us and our bond. I fell for it, thinking it would make us stronger. But I was wrong. By late afternoon, I had either sold, donated or destroyed every token of Liam and his devotion to me and our bond: everything but the Eclipse stone pendant. Some legends state that the Moon Goddess herself blessed the eclipse stone to strengthen the will of the wolfless. Call me a fool, but it still served as a sliver of proof that at some point, he did care enough to seek out the stone for me. Now that everything was removed, it was time for me to step out and prepare everything for my new life after this month-long cooldown period ended, and I was no longer the unwanted mate of Alpha Liam Sterling. I knew I had to be smart and figure out my path now, as I had no family to turn to once the rejection was completed. When I was seven, my father had disappeared after a mountain climbing accident. It was speculated that rogues were involved, as they were heavy in the area at the time. My mother re-mated not long afterwards, and we became part of the Thorne family. They were the overlords, if you will, of the Crown of Thornes Pack, rivals of The Sterling Moon pack and next door neighbours to the territory. My mother left the Thorne family after accusations and rumours of her infidelity and gambling debts. I didn’t believe it, but it seemed that everyone else did. I had no idea where she even went. She certainly didn’t seek me out after she left that night, abandoning me. The only person who would even be considered family at this point was Lucien Thorne. He was my former stepbrother from my mother's second mating. However, Lucien was notorious for his short temper, and he constantly mistreated me while we lived under the same roof, so I would sooner wind up homeless than seek his help. The heat of Liam’s black card was burning a hole in my pocket, serving as a reminder of his literal words: “Buy whatever you want and consider it as an apology.” Okay! I will. I went to the bank and after the teller spoke with the branch manager to confirm my approval of using the Alpha’s account for a withdrawal, yup, that's right, I held no status, so I wasn’t even recognized with authority over our marital account; I withdrew one million dollars from his account. It was insulting and frustrating to know that Breanne can walk in here and not have as many hoops to jump through to get at my mate’s money. But that’s fine. I have already started to let go of my hold on him emotionally. My head has already done so. As I waited for the teller to return with the funds, my phone rang. Liyah Cruz. She was my closest friend before I accepted the bond with Liam. Liam didn’t like her influence on me, as he put it, so over the years, our friendship became strained. For her to be reaching out and calling me now, it had to be important. "Liyah? What's wrong?" I answered right away. "Oh, thank the Goddess. Claire, the International Equestrian Championships start in a month, but I just got injured during training." Liyah's voice was thick with disappointment. "Claire, you were the most talented rider we knew. I could think of no one else to take over. Could you compete in my place?" The memories came flooding back. Had I not mated with Liam, I might have become as renowned as Liyah in equestrian circles. But Liam had disapproved of me riding; he often called it unladylike. He'd gone as far as going behind my back and selling my beloved white stallion, Mirage, to a good owner, cutting off my last connection to the sport. The silence stretched until Liyah sighed. "I forgot your mate doesn't allow—" "I'll do it," I interrupted. "One month. I'll be ready." Liyah's excited squeal pierced through the receiver. "Really? Oh my Goddess! Everyone always said you shouldn't have given up your talent for mating! You're finally coming back to us!" My hand trembled around the phone. Yes, before mating into the Sterling Moon pack and Alpha family, I had shone so brightly. Before Liam, I used to be many things. I was the university's star student—straight A's in every subject. A gifted painter, champion rider, runway model, master chef, and award-winning debater—there was nothing I couldn't excel at. But three years of mating had eroded it all. I hadn't touched a paintbrush in years. I have forgotten how to walk a runway, and even lost my sharp tongue in arguments—forced to submit to even my mate's family and house staff. Only my cooking skills remained polished because I have cooked for Liam every single day since the beginning of our bond acceptance. Only now did I realize how much of myself I had sacrificed. But it wasn't too late. I could still start over. This was that chance to start taking my life by the reins, so to speak, and returning to the Claire that used to walk proudly with her chin held high. Chapter 4 Meeting on Horseback I met Liyah at the stables we once rode at together. “Thank you, Claire-bear. I can’t believe you are actually here.” Liyah launched herself on top of me, despite her knee brace. I thought I understood what I gave up to be with Liam, my mate, but I didn’t understand a fraction of it. This crazy woman, who used to be my world, wrapped around me. How did I let him separate us? “It’s me who should thank you, Lee-Lee. I’ve missed you. I’m sorry. No more boys between us, I promise.” I sobbed. Liyah looked up, and I saw the understanding in her eyes. We both wiped our faces and laughed at our equally blotchy faces. “Okay, later, we'll discuss everything!” She looked at me with as much conviction as her tiny body could muster. I nodded and smiled. “But now, let me introduce you to Diva, my stallion. Just a warning, he lives up to the name periodically. I think it’s an adorable quirk for him and refuse to break it out of him. You’ll love him!” Liyah leads us to the stables, where we meet the horse. Liyah was right. We matched instantly. It isn’t easy for a shifter to bond with a stallion, but I never had those worries. I was always able to click with any animal, to the point where Liyah's brother spent a year calling me freaking snow white! I hated it, but he wasn’t wrong. I galloped across the equestrian field at dawn, the stallion I rode was kicking up dew as it raced toward the rising sun. Then I saw them. Liam and Breanne shared a white mare, ambling toward my direction. Breanne was dressed in her pristine white riding jodhpurs with the matching show coat, leaned back against Liam's chest. Liam's attire was the stark contrast of black on black. I watched him bend his head low, whispering something in Breanne’s ear, causing a fit of giggles from her. I had waited for him to return all night. When I had reached out and called him to ask if he would be returning that night, I was told, by him, that since Breanna needed an emergency appendectomy, he would not leave her side until she recovered. That was when I cut up our photos, burning them to ashes. As I watch them now, a question came to my mind, causing my brow to arch. When did appendectomy patients start riding horses the next day? My grip tightened on the reins just as Breanne spotted me. “Oh! Liam, how spooky. Doesn’t that woman look just like Claire!”At her teasing words, I watched as Liam's head snapped up. There, I sat astride my stallion, the tailored navy riding jacket accentuating my hourglass figure, my gaze glacial. I knew he felt it. Dismounting, Liam approached until he could only see the sharp angle of my jaw. "Sweetheart, since when do you ride? I thought you quit that. You should've told me you were coming." The memory of his and Breanne’s intimate pose churned my stomach. I pressed a hand to my mouth to keep from being sick at the thought before answering flatly. "Would you have answered if I called?" This acidic tone only emerged when I was furious. Liam's smile turned placating. "My fault—left my phone in the car. It turned out to be a false alarm about Breanne's appendix. Since she's competing in the International Equestrian Championships next month, I was only helping her practice." Breanne urged her mare forward, pouting. "Liam, why must we explain everything to her? Come back, we have more important things to focus on. You haven't finished teaching me." "An International Championship contender needs amateur instruction? How curious. I wonder if anyone else here is getting that kind of coaching? But, Liam, if she requires coaching, I'll do it." As Liam turned, my voice froze him. Liam’s expression initially fell flat at my words, but he quickly brightened at my offer. "Exactly! Breanne, Claire won that championship years ago." 'How touching that he finally remembered I have value,' I thought bitterly. Breanne bit her lip. "But—" After years together, I knew Breanne’s games. She wasn’t as nervous on a horse as she portrayed. It was all an act for Liam. "No buts." I raised my riding crop. "Let's ride." The crop came down on Breanne's mare, which bolted forward with a whinny as Breanne shrieked. Liam paled. "Claire! She wasn't ready—" "Real trainers surprise their students." My amber eyes glinted. “Your coddling would've kept her mediocre forever.” Dust sprayed Liam's face as I galloped after Breanne, leaving him standing there, cheeks burning as if slapped. Good. This was just the beginning of my resistance. Breanne and I raced across the field. Though I was starting late, my black stallion, Diva, was not one to be outshone, and we soon overtook Breanne's white mare. For three years, Breanne had only seen the docile, obedient Claire. This commanding version, I’m sure, was unnerving. I could hear her growling, which, to be honest, was only slowing her own horse down. Her mare would not be able to focus on a race, with its rider losing its hold over herself. It was bound to spook her mare soon, and if she weren’t careful, she would get bucked. But as the saying goes, not my circus, not my monkeys. Diva and I were focused on ourselves. I could sense Breanne's determination to beat me. But, no matter how she pushed her champion mare, I remained ahead. As Diva and I passed her again, I caught a flash of movement from Breanne out of the corner of my eye. She pulled a hairpin out of her pocket and hurled it at Diva. That hairpin had been a gift from her friend at her birthday party, and she had been keeping it close to her chest just now. It was made of silver, and the sharp end drove hard into Diva's rump. Diva was instantly startled. Despite my expert handling and calming charm, which I have often used in the past to soothe a panicked horse, Diva threw me. I felt the gnash from the rock sticking out from the ground, which I hit my head on. The impact sending black spots across my vision—and a cry in absolute agony. My abdominal area pinched and screamed with a sharp and sudden pain like nothing I have ever felt before. There was blood on my hand when I touched it. I needed to get up. I needed to get back and get medical help because I knew Breanne wasn’t going to get me any. As I tried to push myself up off the ground with one hand, while the other was wrapped tightly around my stomach, still crying in sheer pain, a polished boot came forcefully down, cracking the bones in my hand. "Ah—!" The pain forced a gasp through clenched teeth. Chapter 5 The Two-Faced Woman "Claire, weren't you so impressive on horseback just now? How did you end up on the ground so fast?" Breanne crouched down, blinking her wide, innocent-looking eyes as she taunted me, pressing her boot harder against my hand, breaking the bones. She knew I was wolfless, and the pain she was causing; this was why she was doing it. To send me a message. I was hoping someone would come and find us, but the odds of this far from the training grounds were unlikely. "Oh my, I'm so sorry!" Breanne feigned surprise, finally lifting her foot with exaggerated remorse. "I didn't even see your hand there. How careless of me." “It’s to be expected with those massive feet of yours. What is that a size ten in men's?” I watched her eyes flash in anger briefly before she reined it back in. I yanked my hand back, and when Breanne reached out to help me up. I would always refuse her help; it was always a ploy for something worse. When she tried again, I recoiled, pushing myself up to my feet with gritted teeth. "Claire, that must've hurt. With riding skills like yours, how could you possibly think you were qualified to teach me?" Breanne smirked. "Only a fool would believe such a pitiful act, Breanne.” I glared, refusing to back down. "Oh, please. Can't accept that you're just not as good as I am? No wonder Liam doesn't like you much—you're such a sore loser." Breanne let out a mocking laugh. Breanne wasn’t hiding her petty, vindictive behaviour. She wanted me to know her intentions of returning and that she hadn't forgiven me for having her exiled. The reason Breanne was sent away a year ago was that I had walked in on her and Liam in the throes of passion. They were both half-naked and stuck to each other. Liam seemed to snap out of his daze the moment I entered the room and yanked Breanne off him. The thud of her head to the edge of the dresser brought out her wolf, and warriors nearby who heard the yelling managed to catch Breanne just in time before she could attack me. Liam sobered up instantly and demanded answers. Breanne played the confused card. That, like Liam, she had drunk a little too much at the pack celebration. She must have gotten confused about which floor she was on and passed out in mine and his bedroom, thinking it was hers. After all, his scent calms her, so she made sure to add that part—one extra little jab between Liam and me. Liam swore up and down that he was confused and thought it was me under the covers in bed. That, with the amount of wolfwine he had consumed, he didn’t realize it wasn’t me until my scent entered the room, and his wolf halted their action immediately recognizing their error. I moved to a different room, and Liam tried to separate himself from Breanne. Then he learned that Breanne approached me afterward and told me that Liam was aware it was her. After all, why would they confuse their mates? Unfortunately for Breanne, she did it in front of a witness, and they told several others, which led Liam to ask me about it. I confirmed that I knew he was aware that it was Breanne, as she told me so herself, and that I wanted to break the bond if he didn’t send her away as proof of his devotion to the mates' bond. I could see that he didn’t want to, but Liam was also someone who cared too much about image to have the wolfen community know that he lost his true mate over the Beta’s daughter affair scandal. With the third wheel gone, our mate bond had finally stabilized. I had hoped to start trying for a pup on our anniversary after I was announced as the new Luna of the Sterling Moon pack. But now Breanne was back, something of which Liam failed to inform me—especially considering it nearly ended us only a year ago. His lack of consideration over that confused me. Did his wolf also agree with this decision? Surely his wolf would realize better than Liam that this would ultimately bring out the bond to an end. "Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about," I said coolly. "But don't worry. I'll be out of your way soon. Then you two can do whatever you want." I turned away, whistling sharply for my horse. Breanne's face flushed crimson. She grabbed my arm and pressed her fingers deep into the flesh. “What the hell are you implying? What plans could I possibly have?” "You know exactly what I mean. But just a heads-up—mistresses in ranked mate bonds are illegal without Elder consent. And bastard pups tend to be shunned by packs altogether. So think carefully." Breanne's face went scarlet. "You—you're disgusting! How dare you accuse me and Liam of—" The sound of galloping hooves cut her off. Her eyes widened as though she hadn't expected us to be interrupted so soon. I turned to the sound of approaching Hooves, which gave Breanne time to growl her threat before she partially shifted and lunged at me with the intent to maul me where I stood. A chill ran down my spine—only to be overshadowed by the thunderous sound of a horse's disapproving whinny. Next thing I knew, Breanne was whimpering on the ground, crying in sheer agony as a scarred, filthy white stallion trampled her. My breath hitched, my eyes widened in disbelief. I knew this stallion. And then I saw it—the faint brown patch on the stallion's head. My blood turned to ice. No. It can’t be. "Mirage?" My voice cracked. The horse stopped mid-stomp, ears twitching. The sound of my voice stopped the Stallion from continuing its attack on Breanne, who had now reverted to her bruised human state, no longer partially shifted. The Stallion turned and looked at me. "Mirage!" I choked out, rushing forward to grab the reins. "It's really you!" I hadn't summoned my borrowed stallion. I had summoned him. My champion. My partner. My horse that Liam sold from under me, promising he went to a good home. Now, his coat was matted, his skin was patchy with disease, and his body was crisscrossed with whip marks. He was abused. Mirage had once been a regal, snow-white stallion, bought at auction by the Thornes. He had carried me to victory in countless competitions. He wasn't just a horse. He was my family. One of the most precious things I had. It took everything in me to forgive him for going behind my back and forcing me to stop riding by selling Mirage off in the first place, but it helped soothe the pain to know that at least he was being taken care of wherever he was. Liam had promised he'd be cared for. He lied. He looked me in the eye and lied to my face. He gave Mirage to a home that had continuously abused and neglected him. These wounds were a combination of old and recent. This was what Liam considered a good home? Tears burned my eyes as I ran my hands over his ruined coat. My heart was breaking. The abuse Mirage would have been enduring all this time, thinking I abandoned him. "Claire! Breanne!" Liam's voice cut through the air as another set of hooves approached. Chapter 6 The Fall The injuries and now Mirage, I was breaking inside and now outside. Just as my knees gave way, a firm hand caught my arm. "What took you so long out here? Are you all right?" Liam's voice, usually so tender, sounded distant in my ears. Through my tears, I turned to confront him about Mirage's condition, but Breanne's weak whimper cut through the air. "Liam.” She whimpered weakly. “Please, help me,” she pleaded. Liam stiffened as if struck. He released me immediately, like he was catching fire at just the mere touch of me. I staggered from the sudden loss of assistance and contact from my mate, and watched in disbelief as his attention snapped to Breanne's crumpled form on the ground. "Breanne!" His eyes reddened as he gathered her into his arms, cradling her close to her chest, "Oh my Goddess, what happened? How did this—?" I watched as he gently wiped away the tears staining her cheek. His eyes began to mist up. It was as though I were watching a live-action romance. The long-lost lover, dying in her beloved's arms. It would have been touching if it wasn't for the fact that that was my mate, holding another woman so tenderly while I stood five feet from them in significantly more pain. "Claire couldn't handle her horse. When I offered to help her back up, she then turned it around and blamed me! When I tried to explain I wasn’t at fault, she set that wretched beast on me!" Breanne's tears fell like broken pearls. Her voice grew faint as she added dramatically, "Liam, please, I can't feel my legs. What if I never walk again?" Liam's expression darkened as he listened to Breanne’s version of events. He turned to me with a sudden coldness I had never seen before. "Is this true?" He growled in anger, clutching Breanne closer to him protectively. A searing pain tore through my abdomen before I could respond. I cried out at the suddenness of it, and clutched my stomach, gasping through clenched teeth as metallic bile rose in my throat. Liam didn’t even flinch at the sight of my obvious pain before him. "I'm taking Breanne to the hospital," he said coldly. "If you did this, Claire—" He left the threat hanging as he cradled Breanne closer. I have never heard of an Alpha, or any rank member in my school studies or observations, threatening his mates and Luna over just a friend. It was against Wolfen code and ethics, but I suppose that didn’t matter to Liam or the Sterling Moon pack. This was going to become a regular occurrence, I could already sense it. I watched through blurred vision as Breanne gave one last performance. "Liam, I—" Her eyelids fluttered shut with theatrical perfection. "Bree-Bree! Stay with me! Please don’t leave me, baby. I’m here. Don’t you dare leave me!" Liam shouted, already running partially shifted into his wolf to allow himself to cradle her and use his Alpha wolf strength and speed at the same time. Behind him, I collapsed with a thud that echoed across the field. I briefly saw Liam hesitate mid-stride—just for a second. Regardless, he didn’t turn around at the sound of my collapse and shallow, laboured breaths. I watched as they continued to run away with Breanne in their arms, leaving me where I lay. My heart broke, even though I had filed and decided to leave both Liam and this horrible pack; a small part of me still held onto a sliver of hope that Liam would see the path he was taking and how far it was from us. But he didn’t, and that was when everything went dark for me. ***** When I regained consciousness, the sterile glare of surgical lights assaulted my vision. Cold metal instruments clinked nearby as my legs were positioned apart. I tried to speak, but the drugs held me paralyzed. The doctors' voices floated above me like ghosts. I could sense the movements around me, but I was awake, unable to move, feel, or speak. It was a surreal experience, but oddly familiar to my life since I had mated with the Sterling family. Nothing more than an ornament on the wall to all, including my mate. "Such a shame—two months along. Who goes horseback riding when they're pregnant?" "The fall detached the embryo completely. Must have been quite the impact. She is lucky to be alive." "Without a wolf, another hour, and she wouldn’t have been." "That man who brought her in—was that her husband? He was colder than a block of ice, but as Handsome as the Devil himself. Can’t say much about their mateship part, he simply paid the bill and left without a word." "Enough chatter. Let’s finish this up before she hemorrhages." Each medical term floating to my ears—pregnancy, embryo, hemorrhage, dilation and curettage—pierced my drugged haze like silver blades to the heart. The one that stuck out the most was broken. I knew they were talking about my hand, but it was so much deeper than that. I felt broken. I lost my pup. Until recently, I would have loved to have Liam and my first pup. Everything about us seemed happy and together, but now, it seemed symbolic to lose the pups I never knew I had. I was losing a mate I should never have had to fight this hard to keep. Everything was perfect until I saw it was all a smoke screen and not meant to be. Just like this pup. False hope. I struggled against the numbness, but my body refused to obey. Something sharp scraped inside me, painless but violating. The crushing weight of realization dragged me under before I could scream, I was once again enveloped by empty darkness. "Claire ... Claire ..." Time lost all meaning. A distant voice called my name while someone shook my arm. With monumental effort, I forced my eyes open. Once again, the antiseptic glare of hospital lights assaulted my vision—I was in a hospital room.
"""Please, Liam, I just lost our baby. Don't let them take my blood."" My voice was barely a whisper, my body still trembling from the surgery—from the emptiness where our child used to be. But my husband didn't even look at me. His gaze was fixed on the ER doors, where doctors shouted about Breanne's critical blood loss. Breanne Telder. The Beta's daughter. His best friend. The woman he swore was""just like a sister.” The same woman who caused the fall that cost me our pup. ""She's RH-negative and we're out of stock. Find donors—now!"" The surgeon said urgently. ""Take hers."" Liam's arm slid around my waist—not to comfort me, not to hold me—but to push me forward like an offering.""Wolfless born shifters are universal donors. Her blood will save Breanne."" I froze as if struck by lightning, my disbelieving eyes lifting to meet his. Did he and his wolf even realize what they'd done? They didn't have to say the rejection—offering their mate's blood to another woman screamed it loud enough. ""Liam,"" I managed to whisper, ""I just lost our pup—"" ""Spare me the lies. I am done believing you!"" His eyes were cold steel. ""Breanne's life comes first right now."" The words cut deeper than any blade. I straightened, ignoring the spinning in my head, every inch of me trembling but unbroken. ""You've made your choice, Liam. And after today…"" my voice didn't crack this time ""I'll make mine."" The doctor's hand gripped my arm, leading me toward the blood lab. ""I'll donate the blood,"" I didn't fight it. ""But in return, you will agree to end our mate bond.”" ***** Chapter 1 Dropping the Mate I stood at the gate of the Sterling Moon Packhouse, clutching a cake box that had begun to melt in the summer heat. My usually pristine blonde hair was now stuck to my neck and face in damp strands, and my designer dress was now ruined with mud and swamp stains. I hadn't meant to arrive at my third mating anniversary looking like I had been dragged through a hedge backward and then tossed in the swamp lands beyond the pack grounds. But then again, being cornered and ambushed by rogues, conveniently knowing my whereabouts without an escort or protection, wasn't exactly part of my agenda either. A mysterious yet heroic stranger had rescued me and driven me back to the edge of my mate’s pack territory when Liam Sterling, my mate and the pack's Alpha, hadn't answered any of my fifteen frantic calls. I had almost convinced myself he was simply busy orchestrating some grand anniversary surprise. That had to be it. Otherwise, why else would he send me out alone for the cake retrieval and then not bother to answer my calls? I quickened my pace toward the entrance of the packhouse, not wanting to delay the celebration any longer than I already had. I rounded the corner only to stop dead at the sight before me. The entire packhouse had been transformed with floral arches, helium balloons, and an enormous banner. My fingers tightened around the cake box. I had doubts about walking into the grand hall; perhaps I should slip upstairs to change first. Then Liam's familiar voice called out. "There's my beautiful mate! Took you long enough, sweetheart. Everyone's waiting for the cake. Were the directions not clear enough?" He teased, not taking in the dishevelled state of my appearance or the fact that my smile didn’t reach my eyes. He often failed to see me. I looked up to find my mate looking devastatingly handsome in a white Tom Ford suit, his gray waistcoat accentuating those broad shoulders I used to trace my fingers over. He hadn't dressed like this for me in years. I pushed aside the gnawing doubts starting to fill my heart and embraced the fact that he was trying to make things right. This was not the time to voice my disappointments with his lack of attention or concern. We're here to celebrate our mate bond with the pack. This was also the year that he promised to swear me in as the official Luna, to lead by his side. Three years of proving myself capable despite not having a wolf of my own, and now here we were. My lips began curving into a smile despite myself. Maybe the rogues and the ambush, the ruined dress, the ignored calls—perhaps none of it mattered now that I was home. Liam would keep me safe, and we were going to announce that I was stepping into a role that should have been mine when we first mated. "Liam, I was just—" I was about to explain the rogues, the ambush, the mysterious saviour, but was cut off mid-sentence. "Liam! Is that my cake?" A shrill voice interrupted as Breanne Telder materialized behind Liam, looping her arm through his as though it was where she belonged. She was Liam’s father's Beta’s daughter. Otherwise known as the third wheel in our relationship and the pick me girl that Liam always did. She was also not supposed to be here. She was sent away a while ago, and Liam promised to focus solely on us. "You flew me home just for this birthday surprise? Best Alpha bestie ever!" The cake box slipped from my fingers, landing with a sickening splat on the custom marble flooring beneath me. The same flooring I wanted to either swallow me or Breanna up in this moment. Birthday surprise? What the hell did that mean? Those two words echoed in my skull like gunshots. For weeks, I had known Liam was planning something secretive. The custom-ordered flowers were delivered under the cover of darkness. The expensive Eclipse Stone rough he'd purchased at auction. All those whispered phone calls I had pretended not to hear. It all led to this moment, but it wasn’t the moment I had expected. I had woven every scrap of evidence into fantasies of candlelit vows renewed, of Liam dropping to one knee all over again. Even when he hadn't picked up during my attack from rogues, I had made excuses for him. Now Breanne's smug smile shattered those delusions like a hammer through stained glass. "What the hell were you thinking, Claire?" Stephanie Sterling's razor-sharp heels clicked across the flooring as she advanced. "We've been waiting two hours for that cake! You can’t do one single task; no wonder you will never be Luna material for the Sterling Moon pack." Stephanie was Liam's mother. From the moment I mated into the Alpha family, Stephanie had made no secret of her dislike; she was the reason Liam was convinced to hold off and force me to prove myself as Luna material. Over time, that contempt had only grown bolder, more vicious, no longer even pretending to hide it. Failing to see Liam, their Alpha, standing up for me, much of the pack started to support and see the validity in the points that their retired Luna was making. My hands shook. "This was supposed to be our anniversary party." Liam caught my elbow and steered me out of the room for privacy. "Baby, I'd planned a surprise for you, but Breanne asked for a pack-wide birthday celebration when she returned, so—" "So, instead of standing up for your mate, yet again, you conceded and did what they wanted. It’s fine for me to be let down, but not her? Message received, Liam." I wrenched my arm free, the movement sending fresh pain through my bruised ribs from the attack. I doubled over with a gasp. Before Liam could reach for me, Stephanie's voice sliced through the garden again. "Liam! Stop coddling her and get over here. This is why the wolfless should never hold ranks; they're weak and attention grabbers. Forget the cake, we'll just serve the petit fours instead." "Coming." He hesitated, then pressed a kiss to my temple. "We'll talk later." I remained crouched in the foyer of the packhouse as another wave of pain, this one far deeper than physical, crashed over me. Not a single pack member had asked why I looked like I'd been in a car wreck, why I'd been crying. From the other room where everyone gathered, the opening chords of "Happy Birthday" floated toward me. Each syrupy note felt like another papercut to my heart. It hit me suddenly—I hadn't celebrated a birthday since mating into the Alpha family, not once, though my own fell just days apart from Breanne's. And Liam had known this; he made a joke about the coincidence of his two best gals' being birthday buddies, but mine was always overshadowed. He quickly forgot about mine. I wiped my cheeks, giving myself a self-mocking smile. I should have known better than to hope for something more than what I already received. As the sun dipped low, I rose, my shadow stretching lonely behind me. Without a word, I climbed the stairs and clicked the bedroom door shut of the Alpha suite. Under the bathroom's harsh lighting, I peeled off my ruined dress and threw it in the trash. Steam fogged the mirrors as I scrubbed at skin that still felt dirty from the rogue's hands. I stayed under the scalding water until my fingers pruned. Wrapped in an oversized robe, I sat curled on the window seat watching party lights twinkle below until the last guest departed. At 11:00 PM, the bedroom door finally creaked open. I didn't turn when Liam's familiar cologne filled the room. I heard him hang up his jacket, then felt his whiskey-warm hands on my shoulders. "Happy anniversary, my beautiful, stunning mate." His lips brushed my ear. "Guess what I got you?" I shrugged him off. "I honestly don't care." He knelt before me, producing a velvet box with the flourish of a magician. "I had this carved from that Eclipse Stone rough. It is rumoured to help awaken latent wolfen spirits, strengthen auras and bring new beginnings.” Liam fastened the pendant around my neck. The cold stone settled between my chest like a brand. "Stunning." He kissed the hollow of my throat. "I was thinking that it’s been three years since we mated, and you have done so well proving yourself to me and this pack. I want us to now try for a pup. Bring this pack a new heir.” "Yeah, that’s not happening," I rejected the idea instantly. His chuckle was dark velvet. "You won't have to lift a finger, darling. I'll do all the—" "Liam." I met his gaze for the first time that night. “I want to submit an official request to break our mate bond!” Chapter 2 This Time, His Sweet Talk Won't Work My mind was made up before he finally came to our room. This wasn't like my previous impulsive threats in an attempt to get him to see the mistakes he was continuously making in our bond. This time, I was genuinely determined to leave. Three years of mateship flashed through my mind. I had lost count of how many times Liam had prioritized Breanne over my feelings or dismissed me because his mother said so. Who was his mate, and who was just a friend? I could no longer answer that question, and I was tired of trying to defend us. We weren’t bonded. Not the way the typical Alpha and mate were. It was usual for an Alpha never to leave his Luna’s side. She was his number one priority, even though the pack came second. The Alpha's mate was the heart of the pack and respected as an equal, but I was neither of those things. I haven’t been from the start. Breanne, even though she was briefly sent away, was still respected and noticed more than I could even hope for. If someone kept treating you in ways you disliked, it was because you allowed it. I had let it slide every other time. But today, Liam had crossed my final line. This day was our third anniversary. I didn’t care that he forgot my birthday, dinners, or events we planned together. I did, however, care about this milestone moment. A promise he made was long forgotten. This was that tipping point for my patience. “Really, Claire? You are threatening to reject our mate bond again? Don't say that every time you're upset, sweetheart. I was wrong about today. I'll make it up to you tomorrow." My eyes showed no emotion. “Don't bother. Not everything can be made up, and you can only backburner your mate for so long before she grows tired of being at the bottom of the priorities, Liam.” "Of course, this can be fixed. There's always next year. We will have a pup by then, and you will have long forgotten this little hiccup and tantrum." Liam pushed me down onto the sofa, kissing my face tenderly. With my hands pinned above my head, I wasn’t able to push him off. He expected the topic of having pups would appease me and calm my boiling anger. I had had enough of his nonsense and non-committal ways. I stared blankly at the ceiling as tears unexpectedly rolled down my cheeks. I lay like a dead weight. In the past, whenever we would fight or I would throw a tantrum, as Liam would title it, all he would do was use the mate bond against me. His kisses, his touch, his desires would wear me down, and I would accept his hollowed words of apology and his flashy gifts as though they meant something more than pacifying childish behaviour, in his mind. But this time, even though he held me down and I couldn’t resist, I was also not participating or encouraging him to continue. He was so self-absorbed that he couldn’t even realize that I wasn’t a willing participant. I was motionless, soundless, non-responsive. As Liam kept kissing me, his hands touched every part of my bruised body, utterly unaware of the pain he was inflicting both physically and emotionally. I felt his body suddenly freeze at the sound of a whimpered sob that slipped out of me. He looked out with hooded eyes, which quickly sobered and turned serious when he saw the tears in my eyes. His expression was frozen in panic. "Baby, why are you crying?" He quickly turned on the light. "Wait—you seemed off when you came home. Did something happen?" Finally, he remembered, but the damage between us was already done. My heart twisted, wishing that it didn’t take crying while he wanted sex to cover his mistakes for him to notice something was wrong. At the thought of how much distance was between us, more tears fell. Under the light, Liam finally saw the slight swelling on my face, the scratches on my arms and body, and the deep gash on my right leg with dried blood. His pupils contracted. "What happened?" I could sense his wolf stirring under the surface. It was clear that someone had hurt me, but they were only now realizing it. Just as I opened my mouth, his phone rang. I looked at the screen and rolled my eyes. Of course, it was Breanne. Liam sighed and offered a small apologetic smile before he answered in front of me. "Breanne, what's wrong?" "Liam, I think I ate something bad. My stomach hurts so much. Can you take me to the hospital?" Breanne's sugary voice came through. Liam automatically started to agree. I could see his eyes widen with panic at the thought that she was in pain. But right before he responded, he looked at me and my reddened, tear-filled eyes. "It's late. Claire and I are already in bed. Ask Mom if there's any medicine at home." Stephanie's sharp voice interrupted, "Liam, come now! This isn't ordinary pain. It could be appendicitis! She's pale as a ghost!" Liam's brow furrowed. "Fine. I'm coming." My heart sank like a stone. I shook my head in disbelief and turned away, refusing to meet his eyes. Yet again, I was pushed aside. Liam dressed quickly but hesitated at the door. After a long moment, he took my hand. "You're hurt too. Come with me, we'll get you checked at the hospital." That single word, "too", cut like a knife. I laughed dryly. "No need. Go ahead, play hero for another woman. If your mate's pain is less important than staying and understanding what happened, then your friend who has a stomach ache, don’t bother dragging me around like an accessory with false concern. I'd rather be alone." Liam stiffened. He opened his mouth to speak, but the phone kept ringing insistently. Finally, he sighed and pressed his black card into my hand. "Buy whatever you want. Consider it an apology." The door slammed shut. I weighed the card in my palm and smiled bitterly. Liam only ever had two ways to appease me—sex or money. It used to work. I fooled myself into believing it meant he cared, that he wasn’t good with expressing emotions, but I saw it for what it was now. This time, his sweet talk won't work. I walked to the closet and in the back corner, I pulled out my old suitcase. Inside was the most valuable thing I owned. My freedom. It was an official Rejection agreement signed the night before our mating. Back then, Liam had insisted on accepting our mate bond despite his family's objections. Afraid of being trapped in a toxic pack and mating, I had made him sign this; if I ever wanted to break the bond, he had to agree unconditionally. I thought we’d never need it. Liam had probably forgotten it existed. But I hadn't. During one fight, I had even consulted a lawyer who confirmed its validity. I could file for an official rejection of the bond with just this document and 30 days cooling-off period. Since he had already signed it, there was no need for Liam's consent for me to file it now. The Elders within the Council would perform the rejection ceremony within their own chambers. There was no need for either of us to be present. That was typically why Alphas refrained from preemptively signing these types of contracts. It relinquished control without their knowledge. Now was the time. Chapter 3 The Breaking Point I didn't sleep all night; I couldn’t. Instead, I spent those hours cutting up every photograph of us together. There weren’t many, I realized. My phone was filled with pictures of Liam whenever I could sneak photos when he was distracted or busy. He was honestly an Adonis of a man. But three years together, we had exactly twenty-three pictures of us together as a couple, and only thirteen of those were just Liam and me. The remaining ten were with Breanne. I snuck downstairs before anyone else woke up and went into Liam's office. There on the desk was a picture. It was of him and Breanne, hugging and smiling into the camera. They looked happy. Too happy. My inner bitter bitch was vomiting at the sight. On the other side of the desk was a picture of the three of us. That's right, not me and my mate. It was Breanne pressed against Liam's side, smiling up at him, and I was smiling at the camera on the other side. My arm was linked around his, and he was smiling, but for which female in the picture, your guess was as good as mine. I took the picture out of the frame, and bent it so that I was folded to the back. There, now he had two perfect couple pictures of him and Breanne. I will simply bow out of this weird three-way relationship. By dawn, I had already filed the official rejection agreement papers at the Council's registry office. Then I donated all the designer outfits Liam had bought me to charity. Afterward, I drove out of the pack grounds for a few hours to pawn every piece of jewelry he'd ever given me at the local broker's. I didn’t want it getting back to Liam, or the pack gossip mill to run rampant with their own speculations. Not yet anyway. It was a surprisingly large chunk of money in return, one thing I knew for sure about Liam. When he was grovelling for his indifferences and mistakes, he never cheaped out on the apology jewelry. The broker didn’t have the full amount on hand, so I opted to have it wired, which worked fine for me. I opened a new bank account and provided them with the necessary information. I returned to the packhouse early that afternoon. I had requested that the gardener cut down the Cherry Blossom tree in the pack’s courtyard. He was ordered to burn every branch and leaf until only ashes remained. When I agreed to mate with Liam, I had my reservations because his family didn’t support their Alpha heir accepting the bond to a wolfless orphan with average financial standings. Liam planted the tree as a token of his pledge of devotion to us and our bond. I fell for it, thinking it would make us stronger. But I was wrong. By late afternoon, I had either sold, donated or destroyed every token of Liam and his devotion to me and our bond: everything but the Eclipse stone pendant. Some legends state that the Moon Goddess herself blessed the eclipse stone to strengthen the will of the wolfless. Call me a fool, but it still served as a sliver of proof that at some point, he did care enough to seek out the stone for me. Now that everything was removed, it was time for me to step out and prepare everything for my new life after this month-long cooldown period ended, and I was no longer the unwanted mate of Alpha Liam Sterling. I knew I had to be smart and figure out my path now, as I had no family to turn to once the rejection was completed. When I was seven, my father had disappeared after a mountain climbing accident. It was speculated that rogues were involved, as they were heavy in the area at the time. My mother re-mated not long afterwards, and we became part of the Thorne family. They were the overlords, if you will, of the Crown of Thornes Pack, rivals of The Sterling Moon pack and next door neighbours to the territory. My mother left the Thorne family after accusations and rumours of her infidelity and gambling debts. I didn’t believe it, but it seemed that everyone else did. I had no idea where she even went. She certainly didn’t seek me out after she left that night, abandoning me. The only person who would even be considered family at this point was Lucien Thorne. He was my former stepbrother from my mother's second mating. However, Lucien was notorious for his short temper, and he constantly mistreated me while we lived under the same roof, so I would sooner wind up homeless than seek his help. The heat of Liam’s black card was burning a hole in my pocket, serving as a reminder of his literal words: “Buy whatever you want and consider it as an apology.” Okay! I will. I went to the bank and after the teller spoke with the branch manager to confirm my approval of using the Alpha’s account for a withdrawal, yup, that's right, I held no status, so I wasn’t even recognized with authority over our marital account; I withdrew one million dollars from his account. It was insulting and frustrating to know that Breanne can walk in here and not have as many hoops to jump through to get at my mate’s money. But that’s fine. I have already started to let go of my hold on him emotionally. My head has already done so. As I waited for the teller to return with the funds, my phone rang. Liyah Cruz. She was my closest friend before I accepted the bond with Liam. Liam didn’t like her influence on me, as he put it, so over the years, our friendship became strained. For her to be reaching out and calling me now, it had to be important. "Liyah? What's wrong?" I answered right away. "Oh, thank the Goddess. Claire, the International Equestrian Championships start in a month, but I just got injured during training." Liyah's voice was thick with disappointment. "Claire, you were the most talented rider we knew. I could think of no one else to take over. Could you compete in my place?" The memories came flooding back. Had I not mated with Liam, I might have become as renowned as Liyah in equestrian circles. But Liam had disapproved of me riding; he often called it unladylike. He'd gone as far as going behind my back and selling my beloved white stallion, Mirage, to a good owner, cutting off my last connection to the sport. The silence stretched until Liyah sighed. "I forgot your mate doesn't allow—" "I'll do it," I interrupted. "One month. I'll be ready." Liyah's excited squeal pierced through the receiver. "Really? Oh my Goddess! Everyone always said you shouldn't have given up your talent for mating! You're finally coming back to us!" My hand trembled around the phone. Yes, before mating into the Sterling Moon pack and Alpha family, I had shone so brightly. Before Liam, I used to be many things. I was the university's star student—straight A's in every subject. A gifted painter, champion rider, runway model, master chef, and award-winning debater—there was nothing I couldn't excel at. But three years of mating had eroded it all. I hadn't touched a paintbrush in years. I have forgotten how to walk a runway, and even lost my sharp tongue in arguments—forced to submit to even my mate's family and house staff. Only my cooking skills remained polished because I have cooked for Liam every single day since the beginning of our bond acceptance. Only now did I realize how much of myself I had sacrificed. But it wasn't too late. I could still start over. This was that chance to start taking my life by the reins, so to speak, and returning to the Claire that used to walk proudly with her chin held high. Chapter 4 Meeting on Horseback I met Liyah at the stables we once rode at together. “Thank you, Claire-bear. I can’t believe you are actually here.” Liyah launched herself on top of me, despite her knee brace. I thought I understood what I gave up to be with Liam, my mate, but I didn’t understand a fraction of it. This crazy woman, who used to be my world, wrapped around me. How did I let him separate us? “It’s me who should thank you, Lee-Lee. I’ve missed you. I’m sorry. No more boys between us, I promise.” I sobbed. Liyah looked up, and I saw the understanding in her eyes. We both wiped our faces and laughed at our equally blotchy faces. “Okay, later, we'll discuss everything!” She looked at me with as much conviction as her tiny body could muster. I nodded and smiled. “But now, let me introduce you to Diva, my stallion. Just a warning, he lives up to the name periodically. I think it’s an adorable quirk for him and refuse to break it out of him. You’ll love him!” Liyah leads us to the stables, where we meet the horse. Liyah was right. We matched instantly. It isn’t easy for a shifter to bond with a stallion, but I never had those worries. I was always able to click with any animal, to the point where Liyah's brother spent a year calling me freaking snow white! I hated it, but he wasn’t wrong. I galloped across the equestrian field at dawn, the stallion I rode was kicking up dew as it raced toward the rising sun. Then I saw them. Liam and Breanne shared a white mare, ambling toward my direction. Breanne was dressed in her pristine white riding jodhpurs with the matching show coat, leaned back against Liam's chest. Liam's attire was the stark contrast of black on black. I watched him bend his head low, whispering something in Breanne’s ear, causing a fit of giggles from her. I had waited for him to return all night. When I had reached out and called him to ask if he would be returning that night, I was told, by him, that since Breanna needed an emergency appendectomy, he would not leave her side until she recovered. That was when I cut up our photos, burning them to ashes. As I watch them now, a question came to my mind, causing my brow to arch. When did appendectomy patients start riding horses the next day? My grip tightened on the reins just as Breanne spotted me. “Oh! Liam, how spooky. Doesn’t that woman look just like Claire!”At her teasing words, I watched as Liam's head snapped up. There, I sat astride my stallion, the tailored navy riding jacket accentuating my hourglass figure, my gaze glacial. I knew he felt it. Dismounting, Liam approached until he could only see the sharp angle of my jaw. "Sweetheart, since when do you ride? I thought you quit that. You should've told me you were coming." The memory of his and Breanne’s intimate pose churned my stomach. I pressed a hand to my mouth to keep from being sick at the thought before answering flatly. "Would you have answered if I called?" This acidic tone only emerged when I was furious. Liam's smile turned placating. "My fault—left my phone in the car. It turned out to be a false alarm about Breanne's appendix. Since she's competing in the International Equestrian Championships next month, I was only helping her practice." Breanne urged her mare forward, pouting. "Liam, why must we explain everything to her? Come back, we have more important things to focus on. You haven't finished teaching me." "An International Championship contender needs amateur instruction? How curious. I wonder if anyone else here is getting that kind of coaching? But, Liam, if she requires coaching, I'll do it." As Liam turned, my voice froze him. Liam’s expression initially fell flat at my words, but he quickly brightened at my offer. "Exactly! Breanne, Claire won that championship years ago." 'How touching that he finally remembered I have value,' I thought bitterly. Breanne bit her lip. "But—" After years together, I knew Breanne’s games. She wasn’t as nervous on a horse as she portrayed. It was all an act for Liam. "No buts." I raised my riding crop. "Let's ride." The crop came down on Breanne's mare, which bolted forward with a whinny as Breanne shrieked. Liam paled. "Claire! She wasn't ready—" "Real trainers surprise their students." My amber eyes glinted. “Your coddling would've kept her mediocre forever.” Dust sprayed Liam's face as I galloped after Breanne, leaving him standing there, cheeks burning as if slapped. Good. This was just the beginning of my resistance. Breanne and I raced across the field. Though I was starting late, my black stallion, Diva, was not one to be outshone, and we soon overtook Breanne's white mare. For three years, Breanne had only seen the docile, obedient Claire. This commanding version, I’m sure, was unnerving. I could hear her growling, which, to be honest, was only slowing her own horse down. Her mare would not be able to focus on a race, with its rider losing its hold over herself. It was bound to spook her mare soon, and if she weren’t careful, she would get bucked. But as the saying goes, not my circus, not my monkeys. Diva and I were focused on ourselves. I could sense Breanne's determination to beat me. But, no matter how she pushed her champion mare, I remained ahead. As Diva and I passed her again, I caught a flash of movement from Breanne out of the corner of my eye. She pulled a hairpin out of her pocket and hurled it at Diva. That hairpin had been a gift from her friend at her birthday party, and she had been keeping it close to her chest just now. It was made of silver, and the sharp end drove hard into Diva's rump. Diva was instantly startled. Despite my expert handling and calming charm, which I have often used in the past to soothe a panicked horse, Diva threw me. I felt the gnash from the rock sticking out from the ground, which I hit my head on. The impact sending black spots across my vision—and a cry in absolute agony. My abdominal area pinched and screamed with a sharp and sudden pain like nothing I have ever felt before. There was blood on my hand when I touched it. I needed to get up. I needed to get back and get medical help because I knew Breanne wasn’t going to get me any. As I tried to push myself up off the ground with one hand, while the other was wrapped tightly around my stomach, still crying in sheer pain, a polished boot came forcefully down, cracking the bones in my hand. "Ah—!" The pain forced a gasp through clenched teeth. Chapter 5 The Two-Faced Woman "Claire, weren't you so impressive on horseback just now? How did you end up on the ground so fast?" Breanne crouched down, blinking her wide, innocent-looking eyes as she taunted me, pressing her boot harder against my hand, breaking the bones. She knew I was wolfless, and the pain she was causing; this was why she was doing it. To send me a message. I was hoping someone would come and find us, but the odds of this far from the training grounds were unlikely. "Oh my, I'm so sorry!" Breanne feigned surprise, finally lifting her foot with exaggerated remorse. "I didn't even see your hand there. How careless of me." “It’s to be expected with those massive feet of yours. What is that a size ten in men's?” I watched her eyes flash in anger briefly before she reined it back in. I yanked my hand back, and when Breanne reached out to help me up. I would always refuse her help; it was always a ploy for something worse. When she tried again, I recoiled, pushing myself up to my feet with gritted teeth. "Claire, that must've hurt. With riding skills like yours, how could you possibly think you were qualified to teach me?" Breanne smirked. "Only a fool would believe such a pitiful act, Breanne.” I glared, refusing to back down. "Oh, please. Can't accept that you're just not as good as I am? No wonder Liam doesn't like you much—you're such a sore loser." Breanne let out a mocking laugh. Breanne wasn’t hiding her petty, vindictive behaviour. She wanted me to know her intentions of returning and that she hadn't forgiven me for having her exiled. The reason Breanne was sent away a year ago was that I had walked in on her and Liam in the throes of passion. They were both half-naked and stuck to each other. Liam seemed to snap out of his daze the moment I entered the room and yanked Breanne off him. The thud of her head to the edge of the dresser brought out her wolf, and warriors nearby who heard the yelling managed to catch Breanne just in time before she could attack me. Liam sobered up instantly and demanded answers. Breanne played the confused card. That, like Liam, she had drunk a little too much at the pack celebration. She must have gotten confused about which floor she was on and passed out in mine and his bedroom, thinking it was hers. After all, his scent calms her, so she made sure to add that part—one extra little jab between Liam and me. Liam swore up and down that he was confused and thought it was me under the covers in bed. That, with the amount of wolfwine he had consumed, he didn’t realize it wasn’t me until my scent entered the room, and his wolf halted their action immediately recognizing their error. I moved to a different room, and Liam tried to separate himself from Breanne. Then he learned that Breanne approached me afterward and told me that Liam was aware it was her. After all, why would they confuse their mates? Unfortunately for Breanne, she did it in front of a witness, and they told several others, which led Liam to ask me about it. I confirmed that I knew he was aware that it was Breanne, as she told me so herself, and that I wanted to break the bond if he didn’t send her away as proof of his devotion to the mates' bond. I could see that he didn’t want to, but Liam was also someone who cared too much about image to have the wolfen community know that he lost his true mate over the Beta’s daughter affair scandal. With the third wheel gone, our mate bond had finally stabilized. I had hoped to start trying for a pup on our anniversary after I was announced as the new Luna of the Sterling Moon pack. But now Breanne was back, something of which Liam failed to inform me—especially considering it nearly ended us only a year ago. His lack of consideration over that confused me. Did his wolf also agree with this decision? Surely his wolf would realize better than Liam that this would ultimately bring out the bond to an end. "Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about," I said coolly. "But don't worry. I'll be out of your way soon. Then you two can do whatever you want." I turned away, whistling sharply for my horse. Breanne's face flushed crimson. She grabbed my arm and pressed her fingers deep into the flesh. “What the hell are you implying? What plans could I possibly have?” "You know exactly what I mean. But just a heads-up—mistresses in ranked mate bonds are illegal without Elder consent. And bastard pups tend to be shunned by packs altogether. So think carefully." Breanne's face went scarlet. "You—you're disgusting! How dare you accuse me and Liam of—" The sound of galloping hooves cut her off. Her eyes widened as though she hadn't expected us to be interrupted so soon. I turned to the sound of approaching Hooves, which gave Breanne time to growl her threat before she partially shifted and lunged at me with the intent to maul me where I stood. A chill ran down my spine—only to be overshadowed by the thunderous sound of a horse's disapproving whinny. Next thing I knew, Breanne was whimpering on the ground, crying in sheer agony as a scarred, filthy white stallion trampled her. My breath hitched, my eyes widened in disbelief. I knew this stallion. And then I saw it—the faint brown patch on the stallion's head. My blood turned to ice. No. It can’t be. "Mirage?" My voice cracked. The horse stopped mid-stomp, ears twitching. The sound of my voice stopped the Stallion from continuing its attack on Breanne, who had now reverted to her bruised human state, no longer partially shifted. The Stallion turned and looked at me. "Mirage!" I choked out, rushing forward to grab the reins. "It's really you!" I hadn't summoned my borrowed stallion. I had summoned him. My champion. My partner. My horse that Liam sold from under me, promising he went to a good home. Now, his coat was matted, his skin was patchy with disease, and his body was crisscrossed with whip marks. He was abused. Mirage had once been a regal, snow-white stallion, bought at auction by the Thornes. He had carried me to victory in countless competitions. He wasn't just a horse. He was my family. One of the most precious things I had. It took everything in me to forgive him for going behind my back and forcing me to stop riding by selling Mirage off in the first place, but it helped soothe the pain to know that at least he was being taken care of wherever he was. Liam had promised he'd be cared for. He lied. He looked me in the eye and lied to my face. He gave Mirage to a home that had continuously abused and neglected him. These wounds were a combination of old and recent. This was what Liam considered a good home? Tears burned my eyes as I ran my hands over his ruined coat. My heart was breaking. The abuse Mirage would have been enduring all this time, thinking I abandoned him. "Claire! Breanne!" Liam's voice cut through the air as another set of hooves approached. Chapter 6 The Fall The injuries and now Mirage, I was breaking inside and now outside. Just as my knees gave way, a firm hand caught my arm. "What took you so long out here? Are you all right?" Liam's voice, usually so tender, sounded distant in my ears. Through my tears, I turned to confront him about Mirage's condition, but Breanne's weak whimper cut through the air. "Liam.” She whimpered weakly. “Please, help me,” she pleaded. Liam stiffened as if struck. He released me immediately, like he was catching fire at just the mere touch of me. I staggered from the sudden loss of assistance and contact from my mate, and watched in disbelief as his attention snapped to Breanne's crumpled form on the ground. "Breanne!" His eyes reddened as he gathered her into his arms, cradling her close to her chest, "Oh my Goddess, what happened? How did this—?" I watched as he gently wiped away the tears staining her cheek. His eyes began to mist up. It was as though I were watching a live-action romance. The long-lost lover, dying in her beloved's arms. It would have been touching if it wasn't for the fact that that was my mate, holding another woman so tenderly while I stood five feet from them in significantly more pain. "Claire couldn't handle her horse. When I offered to help her back up, she then turned it around and blamed me! When I tried to explain I wasn’t at fault, she set that wretched beast on me!" Breanne's tears fell like broken pearls. Her voice grew faint as she added dramatically, "Liam, please, I can't feel my legs. What if I never walk again?" Liam's expression darkened as he listened to Breanne’s version of events. He turned to me with a sudden coldness I had never seen before. "Is this true?" He growled in anger, clutching Breanne closer to him protectively. A searing pain tore through my abdomen before I could respond. I cried out at the suddenness of it, and clutched my stomach, gasping through clenched teeth as metallic bile rose in my throat. Liam didn’t even flinch at the sight of my obvious pain before him. "I'm taking Breanne to the hospital," he said coldly. "If you did this, Claire—" He left the threat hanging as he cradled Breanne closer. I have never heard of an Alpha, or any rank member in my school studies or observations, threatening his mates and Luna over just a friend. It was against Wolfen code and ethics, but I suppose that didn’t matter to Liam or the Sterling Moon pack. This was going to become a regular occurrence, I could already sense it. I watched through blurred vision as Breanne gave one last performance. "Liam, I—" Her eyelids fluttered shut with theatrical perfection. "Bree-Bree! Stay with me! Please don’t leave me, baby. I’m here. Don’t you dare leave me!" Liam shouted, already running partially shifted into his wolf to allow himself to cradle her and use his Alpha wolf strength and speed at the same time. Behind him, I collapsed with a thud that echoed across the field. I briefly saw Liam hesitate mid-stride—just for a second. Regardless, he didn’t turn around at the sound of my collapse and shallow, laboured breaths. I watched as they continued to run away with Breanne in their arms, leaving me where I lay. My heart broke, even though I had filed and decided to leave both Liam and this horrible pack; a small part of me still held onto a sliver of hope that Liam would see the path he was taking and how far it was from us. But he didn’t, and that was when everything went dark for me. ***** When I regained consciousness, the sterile glare of surgical lights assaulted my vision. Cold metal instruments clinked nearby as my legs were positioned apart. I tried to speak, but the drugs held me paralyzed. The doctors' voices floated above me like ghosts. I could sense the movements around me, but I was awake, unable to move, feel, or speak. It was a surreal experience, but oddly familiar to my life since I had mated with the Sterling family. Nothing more than an ornament on the wall to all, including my mate. "Such a shame—two months along. Who goes horseback riding when they're pregnant?" "The fall detached the embryo completely. Must have been quite the impact. She is lucky to be alive." "Without a wolf, another hour, and she wouldn’t have been." "That man who brought her in—was that her husband? He was colder than a block of ice, but as Handsome as the Devil himself. Can’t say much about their mateship part, he simply paid the bill and left without a word." "Enough chatter. Let’s finish this up before she hemorrhages." Each medical term floating to my ears—pregnancy, embryo, hemorrhage, dilation and curettage—pierced my drugged haze like silver blades to the heart. The one that stuck out the most was broken. I knew they were talking about my hand, but it was so much deeper than that. I felt broken. I lost my pup. Until recently, I would have loved to have Liam and my first pup. Everything about us seemed happy and together, but now, it seemed symbolic to lose the pups I never knew I had. I was losing a mate I should never have had to fight this hard to keep. Everything was perfect until I saw it was all a smoke screen and not meant to be. Just like this pup. False hope. I struggled against the numbness, but my body refused to obey. Something sharp scraped inside me, painless but violating. The crushing weight of realization dragged me under before I could scream, I was once again enveloped by empty darkness. "Claire ... Claire ..." Time lost all meaning. A distant voice called my name while someone shook my arm. With monumental effort, I forced my eyes open. Once again, the antiseptic glare of hospital lights assaulted my vision—I was in a hospital room.
"""Please, Liam, I just lost our baby. Don't let them take my blood."" My voice was barely a whisper, my body still trembling from the surgery—from the emptiness where our child used to be. But my husband didn't even look at me. His gaze was fixed on the ER doors, where doctors shouted about Breanne's critical blood loss. Breanne Telder. The Beta's daughter. His best friend. The woman he swore was""just like a sister.” The same woman who caused the fall that cost me our pup. ""She's RH-negative and we're out of stock. Find donors—now!"" The surgeon said urgently. ""Take hers."" Liam's arm slid around my waist—not to comfort me, not to hold me—but to push me forward like an offering.""Wolfless born shifters are universal donors. Her blood will save Breanne."" I froze as if struck by lightning, my disbelieving eyes lifting to meet his. Did he and his wolf even realize what they'd done? They didn't have to say the rejection—offering their mate's blood to another woman screamed it loud enough. ""Liam,"" I managed to whisper, ""I just lost our pup—"" ""Spare me the lies. I am done believing you!"" His eyes were cold steel. ""Breanne's life comes first right now."" The words cut deeper than any blade. I straightened, ignoring the spinning in my head, every inch of me trembling but unbroken. ""You've made your choice, Liam. And after today…"" my voice didn't crack this time ""I'll make mine."" The doctor's hand gripped my arm, leading me toward the blood lab. ""I'll donate the blood,"" I didn't fight it. ""But in return, you will agree to end our mate bond.”" ***** Chapter 1 Dropping the Mate I stood at the gate of the Sterling Moon Packhouse, clutching a cake box that had begun to melt in the summer heat. My usually pristine blonde hair was now stuck to my neck and face in damp strands, and my designer dress was now ruined with mud and swamp stains. I hadn't meant to arrive at my third mating anniversary looking like I had been dragged through a hedge backward and then tossed in the swamp lands beyond the pack grounds. But then again, being cornered and ambushed by rogues, conveniently knowing my whereabouts without an escort or protection, wasn't exactly part of my agenda either. A mysterious yet heroic stranger had rescued me and driven me back to the edge of my mate’s pack territory when Liam Sterling, my mate and the pack's Alpha, hadn't answered any of my fifteen frantic calls. I had almost convinced myself he was simply busy orchestrating some grand anniversary surprise. That had to be it. Otherwise, why else would he send me out alone for the cake retrieval and then not bother to answer my calls? I quickened my pace toward the entrance of the packhouse, not wanting to delay the celebration any longer than I already had. I rounded the corner only to stop dead at the sight before me. The entire packhouse had been transformed with floral arches, helium balloons, and an enormous banner. My fingers tightened around the cake box. I had doubts about walking into the grand hall; perhaps I should slip upstairs to change first. Then Liam's familiar voice called out. "There's my beautiful mate! Took you long enough, sweetheart. Everyone's waiting for the cake. Were the directions not clear enough?" He teased, not taking in the dishevelled state of my appearance or the fact that my smile didn’t reach my eyes. He often failed to see me. I looked up to find my mate looking devastatingly handsome in a white Tom Ford suit, his gray waistcoat accentuating those broad shoulders I used to trace my fingers over. He hadn't dressed like this for me in years. I pushed aside the gnawing doubts starting to fill my heart and embraced the fact that he was trying to make things right. This was not the time to voice my disappointments with his lack of attention or concern. We're here to celebrate our mate bond with the pack. This was also the year that he promised to swear me in as the official Luna, to lead by his side. Three years of proving myself capable despite not having a wolf of my own, and now here we were. My lips began curving into a smile despite myself. Maybe the rogues and the ambush, the ruined dress, the ignored calls—perhaps none of it mattered now that I was home. Liam would keep me safe, and we were going to announce that I was stepping into a role that should have been mine when we first mated. "Liam, I was just—" I was about to explain the rogues, the ambush, the mysterious saviour, but was cut off mid-sentence. "Liam! Is that my cake?" A shrill voice interrupted as Breanne Telder materialized behind Liam, looping her arm through his as though it was where she belonged. She was Liam’s father's Beta’s daughter. Otherwise known as the third wheel in our relationship and the pick me girl that Liam always did. She was also not supposed to be here. She was sent away a while ago, and Liam promised to focus solely on us. "You flew me home just for this birthday surprise? Best Alpha bestie ever!" The cake box slipped from my fingers, landing with a sickening splat on the custom marble flooring beneath me. The same flooring I wanted to either swallow me or Breanna up in this moment. Birthday surprise? What the hell did that mean? Those two words echoed in my skull like gunshots. For weeks, I had known Liam was planning something secretive. The custom-ordered flowers were delivered under the cover of darkness. The expensive Eclipse Stone rough he'd purchased at auction. All those whispered phone calls I had pretended not to hear. It all led to this moment, but it wasn’t the moment I had expected. I had woven every scrap of evidence into fantasies of candlelit vows renewed, of Liam dropping to one knee all over again. Even when he hadn't picked up during my attack from rogues, I had made excuses for him. Now Breanne's smug smile shattered those delusions like a hammer through stained glass. "What the hell were you thinking, Claire?" Stephanie Sterling's razor-sharp heels clicked across the flooring as she advanced. "We've been waiting two hours for that cake! You can’t do one single task; no wonder you will never be Luna material for the Sterling Moon pack." Stephanie was Liam's mother. From the moment I mated into the Alpha family, Stephanie had made no secret of her dislike; she was the reason Liam was convinced to hold off and force me to prove myself as Luna material. Over time, that contempt had only grown bolder, more vicious, no longer even pretending to hide it. Failing to see Liam, their Alpha, standing up for me, much of the pack started to support and see the validity in the points that their retired Luna was making. My hands shook. "This was supposed to be our anniversary party." Liam caught my elbow and steered me out of the room for privacy. "Baby, I'd planned a surprise for you, but Breanne asked for a pack-wide birthday celebration when she returned, so—" "So, instead of standing up for your mate, yet again, you conceded and did what they wanted. It’s fine for me to be let down, but not her? Message received, Liam." I wrenched my arm free, the movement sending fresh pain through my bruised ribs from the attack. I doubled over with a gasp. Before Liam could reach for me, Stephanie's voice sliced through the garden again. "Liam! Stop coddling her and get over here. This is why the wolfless should never hold ranks; they're weak and attention grabbers. Forget the cake, we'll just serve the petit fours instead." "Coming." He hesitated, then pressed a kiss to my temple. "We'll talk later." I remained crouched in the foyer of the packhouse as another wave of pain, this one far deeper than physical, crashed over me. Not a single pack member had asked why I looked like I'd been in a car wreck, why I'd been crying. From the other room where everyone gathered, the opening chords of "Happy Birthday" floated toward me. Each syrupy note felt like another papercut to my heart. It hit me suddenly—I hadn't celebrated a birthday since mating into the Alpha family, not once, though my own fell just days apart from Breanne's. And Liam had known this; he made a joke about the coincidence of his two best gals' being birthday buddies, but mine was always overshadowed. He quickly forgot about mine. I wiped my cheeks, giving myself a self-mocking smile. I should have known better than to hope for something more than what I already received. As the sun dipped low, I rose, my shadow stretching lonely behind me. Without a word, I climbed the stairs and clicked the bedroom door shut of the Alpha suite. Under the bathroom's harsh lighting, I peeled off my ruined dress and threw it in the trash. Steam fogged the mirrors as I scrubbed at skin that still felt dirty from the rogue's hands. I stayed under the scalding water until my fingers pruned. Wrapped in an oversized robe, I sat curled on the window seat watching party lights twinkle below until the last guest departed. At 11:00 PM, the bedroom door finally creaked open. I didn't turn when Liam's familiar cologne filled the room. I heard him hang up his jacket, then felt his whiskey-warm hands on my shoulders. "Happy anniversary, my beautiful, stunning mate." His lips brushed my ear. "Guess what I got you?" I shrugged him off. "I honestly don't care." He knelt before me, producing a velvet box with the flourish of a magician. "I had this carved from that Eclipse Stone rough. It is rumoured to help awaken latent wolfen spirits, strengthen auras and bring new beginnings.” Liam fastened the pendant around my neck. The cold stone settled between my chest like a brand. "Stunning." He kissed the hollow of my throat. "I was thinking that it’s been three years since we mated, and you have done so well proving yourself to me and this pack. I want us to now try for a pup. Bring this pack a new heir.” "Yeah, that’s not happening," I rejected the idea instantly. His chuckle was dark velvet. "You won't have to lift a finger, darling. I'll do all the—" "Liam." I met his gaze for the first time that night. “I want to submit an official request to break our mate bond!” Chapter 2 This Time, His Sweet Talk Won't Work My mind was made up before he finally came to our room. This wasn't like my previous impulsive threats in an attempt to get him to see the mistakes he was continuously making in our bond. This time, I was genuinely determined to leave. Three years of mateship flashed through my mind. I had lost count of how many times Liam had prioritized Breanne over my feelings or dismissed me because his mother said so. Who was his mate, and who was just a friend? I could no longer answer that question, and I was tired of trying to defend us. We weren’t bonded. Not the way the typical Alpha and mate were. It was usual for an Alpha never to leave his Luna’s side. She was his number one priority, even though the pack came second. The Alpha's mate was the heart of the pack and respected as an equal, but I was neither of those things. I haven’t been from the start. Breanne, even though she was briefly sent away, was still respected and noticed more than I could even hope for. If someone kept treating you in ways you disliked, it was because you allowed it. I had let it slide every other time. But today, Liam had crossed my final line. This day was our third anniversary. I didn’t care that he forgot my birthday, dinners, or events we planned together. I did, however, care about this milestone moment. A promise he made was long forgotten. This was that tipping point for my patience. “Really, Claire? You are threatening to reject our mate bond again? Don't say that every time you're upset, sweetheart. I was wrong about today. I'll make it up to you tomorrow." My eyes showed no emotion. “Don't bother. Not everything can be made up, and you can only backburner your mate for so long before she grows tired of being at the bottom of the priorities, Liam.” "Of course, this can be fixed. There's always next year. We will have a pup by then, and you will have long forgotten this little hiccup and tantrum." Liam pushed me down onto the sofa, kissing my face tenderly. With my hands pinned above my head, I wasn’t able to push him off. He expected the topic of having pups would appease me and calm my boiling anger. I had had enough of his nonsense and non-committal ways. I stared blankly at the ceiling as tears unexpectedly rolled down my cheeks. I lay like a dead weight. In the past, whenever we would fight or I would throw a tantrum, as Liam would title it, all he would do was use the mate bond against me. His kisses, his touch, his desires would wear me down, and I would accept his hollowed words of apology and his flashy gifts as though they meant something more than pacifying childish behaviour, in his mind. But this time, even though he held me down and I couldn’t resist, I was also not participating or encouraging him to continue. He was so self-absorbed that he couldn’t even realize that I wasn’t a willing participant. I was motionless, soundless, non-responsive. As Liam kept kissing me, his hands touched every part of my bruised body, utterly unaware of the pain he was inflicting both physically and emotionally. I felt his body suddenly freeze at the sound of a whimpered sob that slipped out of me. He looked out with hooded eyes, which quickly sobered and turned serious when he saw the tears in my eyes. His expression was frozen in panic. "Baby, why are you crying?" He quickly turned on the light. "Wait—you seemed off when you came home. Did something happen?" Finally, he remembered, but the damage between us was already done. My heart twisted, wishing that it didn’t take crying while he wanted sex to cover his mistakes for him to notice something was wrong. At the thought of how much distance was between us, more tears fell. Under the light, Liam finally saw the slight swelling on my face, the scratches on my arms and body, and the deep gash on my right leg with dried blood. His pupils contracted. "What happened?" I could sense his wolf stirring under the surface. It was clear that someone had hurt me, but they were only now realizing it. Just as I opened my mouth, his phone rang. I looked at the screen and rolled my eyes. Of course, it was Breanne. Liam sighed and offered a small apologetic smile before he answered in front of me. "Breanne, what's wrong?" "Liam, I think I ate something bad. My stomach hurts so much. Can you take me to the hospital?" Breanne's sugary voice came through. Liam automatically started to agree. I could see his eyes widen with panic at the thought that she was in pain. But right before he responded, he looked at me and my reddened, tear-filled eyes. "It's late. Claire and I are already in bed. Ask Mom if there's any medicine at home." Stephanie's sharp voice interrupted, "Liam, come now! This isn't ordinary pain. It could be appendicitis! She's pale as a ghost!" Liam's brow furrowed. "Fine. I'm coming." My heart sank like a stone. I shook my head in disbelief and turned away, refusing to meet his eyes. Yet again, I was pushed aside. Liam dressed quickly but hesitated at the door. After a long moment, he took my hand. "You're hurt too. Come with me, we'll get you checked at the hospital." That single word, "too", cut like a knife. I laughed dryly. "No need. Go ahead, play hero for another woman. If your mate's pain is less important than staying and understanding what happened, then your friend who has a stomach ache, don’t bother dragging me around like an accessory with false concern. I'd rather be alone." Liam stiffened. He opened his mouth to speak, but the phone kept ringing insistently. Finally, he sighed and pressed his black card into my hand. "Buy whatever you want. Consider it an apology." The door slammed shut. I weighed the card in my palm and smiled bitterly. Liam only ever had two ways to appease me—sex or money. It used to work. I fooled myself into believing it meant he cared, that he wasn’t good with expressing emotions, but I saw it for what it was now. This time, his sweet talk won't work. I walked to the closet and in the back corner, I pulled out my old suitcase. Inside was the most valuable thing I owned. My freedom. It was an official Rejection agreement signed the night before our mating. Back then, Liam had insisted on accepting our mate bond despite his family's objections. Afraid of being trapped in a toxic pack and mating, I had made him sign this; if I ever wanted to break the bond, he had to agree unconditionally. I thought we’d never need it. Liam had probably forgotten it existed. But I hadn't. During one fight, I had even consulted a lawyer who confirmed its validity. I could file for an official rejection of the bond with just this document and 30 days cooling-off period. Since he had already signed it, there was no need for Liam's consent for me to file it now. The Elders within the Council would perform the rejection ceremony within their own chambers. There was no need for either of us to be present. That was typically why Alphas refrained from preemptively signing these types of contracts. It relinquished control without their knowledge. Now was the time. Chapter 3 The Breaking Point I didn't sleep all night; I couldn’t. Instead, I spent those hours cutting up every photograph of us together. There weren’t many, I realized. My phone was filled with pictures of Liam whenever I could sneak photos when he was distracted or busy. He was honestly an Adonis of a man. But three years together, we had exactly twenty-three pictures of us together as a couple, and only thirteen of those were just Liam and me. The remaining ten were with Breanne. I snuck downstairs before anyone else woke up and went into Liam's office. There on the desk was a picture. It was of him and Breanne, hugging and smiling into the camera. They looked happy. Too happy. My inner bitter bitch was vomiting at the sight. On the other side of the desk was a picture of the three of us. That's right, not me and my mate. It was Breanne pressed against Liam's side, smiling up at him, and I was smiling at the camera on the other side. My arm was linked around his, and he was smiling, but for which female in the picture, your guess was as good as mine. I took the picture out of the frame, and bent it so that I was folded to the back. There, now he had two perfect couple pictures of him and Breanne. I will simply bow out of this weird three-way relationship. By dawn, I had already filed the official rejection agreement papers at the Council's registry office. Then I donated all the designer outfits Liam had bought me to charity. Afterward, I drove out of the pack grounds for a few hours to pawn every piece of jewelry he'd ever given me at the local broker's. I didn’t want it getting back to Liam, or the pack gossip mill to run rampant with their own speculations. Not yet anyway. It was a surprisingly large chunk of money in return, one thing I knew for sure about Liam. When he was grovelling for his indifferences and mistakes, he never cheaped out on the apology jewelry. The broker didn’t have the full amount on hand, so I opted to have it wired, which worked fine for me. I opened a new bank account and provided them with the necessary information. I returned to the packhouse early that afternoon. I had requested that the gardener cut down the Cherry Blossom tree in the pack’s courtyard. He was ordered to burn every branch and leaf until only ashes remained. When I agreed to mate with Liam, I had my reservations because his family didn’t support their Alpha heir accepting the bond to a wolfless orphan with average financial standings. Liam planted the tree as a token of his pledge of devotion to us and our bond. I fell for it, thinking it would make us stronger. But I was wrong. By late afternoon, I had either sold, donated or destroyed every token of Liam and his devotion to me and our bond: everything but the Eclipse stone pendant. Some legends state that the Moon Goddess herself blessed the eclipse stone to strengthen the will of the wolfless. Call me a fool, but it still served as a sliver of proof that at some point, he did care enough to seek out the stone for me. Now that everything was removed, it was time for me to step out and prepare everything for my new life after this month-long cooldown period ended, and I was no longer the unwanted mate of Alpha Liam Sterling. I knew I had to be smart and figure out my path now, as I had no family to turn to once the rejection was completed. When I was seven, my father had disappeared after a mountain climbing accident. It was speculated that rogues were involved, as they were heavy in the area at the time. My mother re-mated not long afterwards, and we became part of the Thorne family. They were the overlords, if you will, of the Crown of Thornes Pack, rivals of The Sterling Moon pack and next door neighbours to the territory. My mother left the Thorne family after accusations and rumours of her infidelity and gambling debts. I didn’t believe it, but it seemed that everyone else did. I had no idea where she even went. She certainly didn’t seek me out after she left that night, abandoning me. The only person who would even be considered family at this point was Lucien Thorne. He was my former stepbrother from my mother's second mating. However, Lucien was notorious for his short temper, and he constantly mistreated me while we lived under the same roof, so I would sooner wind up homeless than seek his help. The heat of Liam’s black card was burning a hole in my pocket, serving as a reminder of his literal words: “Buy whatever you want and consider it as an apology.” Okay! I will. I went to the bank and after the teller spoke with the branch manager to confirm my approval of using the Alpha’s account for a withdrawal, yup, that's right, I held no status, so I wasn’t even recognized with authority over our marital account; I withdrew one million dollars from his account. It was insulting and frustrating to know that Breanne can walk in here and not have as many hoops to jump through to get at my mate’s money. But that’s fine. I have already started to let go of my hold on him emotionally. My head has already done so. As I waited for the teller to return with the funds, my phone rang. Liyah Cruz. She was my closest friend before I accepted the bond with Liam. Liam didn’t like her influence on me, as he put it, so over the years, our friendship became strained. For her to be reaching out and calling me now, it had to be important. "Liyah? What's wrong?" I answered right away. "Oh, thank the Goddess. Claire, the International Equestrian Championships start in a month, but I just got injured during training." Liyah's voice was thick with disappointment. "Claire, you were the most talented rider we knew. I could think of no one else to take over. Could you compete in my place?" The memories came flooding back. Had I not mated with Liam, I might have become as renowned as Liyah in equestrian circles. But Liam had disapproved of me riding; he often called it unladylike. He'd gone as far as going behind my back and selling my beloved white stallion, Mirage, to a good owner, cutting off my last connection to the sport. The silence stretched until Liyah sighed. "I forgot your mate doesn't allow—" "I'll do it," I interrupted. "One month. I'll be ready." Liyah's excited squeal pierced through the receiver. "Really? Oh my Goddess! Everyone always said you shouldn't have given up your talent for mating! You're finally coming back to us!" My hand trembled around the phone. Yes, before mating into the Sterling Moon pack and Alpha family, I had shone so brightly. Before Liam, I used to be many things. I was the university's star student—straight A's in every subject. A gifted painter, champion rider, runway model, master chef, and award-winning debater—there was nothing I couldn't excel at. But three years of mating had eroded it all. I hadn't touched a paintbrush in years. I have forgotten how to walk a runway, and even lost my sharp tongue in arguments—forced to submit to even my mate's family and house staff. Only my cooking skills remained polished because I have cooked for Liam every single day since the beginning of our bond acceptance. Only now did I realize how much of myself I had sacrificed. But it wasn't too late. I could still start over. This was that chance to start taking my life by the reins, so to speak, and returning to the Claire that used to walk proudly with her chin held high. Chapter 4 Meeting on Horseback I met Liyah at the stables we once rode at together. “Thank you, Claire-bear. I can’t believe you are actually here.” Liyah launched herself on top of me, despite her knee brace. I thought I understood what I gave up to be with Liam, my mate, but I didn’t understand a fraction of it. This crazy woman, who used to be my world, wrapped around me. How did I let him separate us? “It’s me who should thank you, Lee-Lee. I’ve missed you. I’m sorry. No more boys between us, I promise.” I sobbed. Liyah looked up, and I saw the understanding in her eyes. We both wiped our faces and laughed at our equally blotchy faces. “Okay, later, we'll discuss everything!” She looked at me with as much conviction as her tiny body could muster. I nodded and smiled. “But now, let me introduce you to Diva, my stallion. Just a warning, he lives up to the name periodically. I think it’s an adorable quirk for him and refuse to break it out of him. You’ll love him!” Liyah leads us to the stables, where we meet the horse. Liyah was right. We matched instantly. It isn’t easy for a shifter to bond with a stallion, but I never had those worries. I was always able to click with any animal, to the point where Liyah's brother spent a year calling me freaking snow white! I hated it, but he wasn’t wrong. I galloped across the equestrian field at dawn, the stallion I rode was kicking up dew as it raced toward the rising sun. Then I saw them. Liam and Breanne shared a white mare, ambling toward my direction. Breanne was dressed in her pristine white riding jodhpurs with the matching show coat, leaned back against Liam's chest. Liam's attire was the stark contrast of black on black. I watched him bend his head low, whispering something in Breanne’s ear, causing a fit of giggles from her. I had waited for him to return all night. When I had reached out and called him to ask if he would be returning that night, I was told, by him, that since Breanna needed an emergency appendectomy, he would not leave her side until she recovered. That was when I cut up our photos, burning them to ashes. As I watch them now, a question came to my mind, causing my brow to arch. When did appendectomy patients start riding horses the next day? My grip tightened on the reins just as Breanne spotted me. “Oh! Liam, how spooky. Doesn’t that woman look just like Claire!”At her teasing words, I watched as Liam's head snapped up. There, I sat astride my stallion, the tailored navy riding jacket accentuating my hourglass figure, my gaze glacial. I knew he felt it. Dismounting, Liam approached until he could only see the sharp angle of my jaw. "Sweetheart, since when do you ride? I thought you quit that. You should've told me you were coming." The memory of his and Breanne’s intimate pose churned my stomach. I pressed a hand to my mouth to keep from being sick at the thought before answering flatly. "Would you have answered if I called?" This acidic tone only emerged when I was furious. Liam's smile turned placating. "My fault—left my phone in the car. It turned out to be a false alarm about Breanne's appendix. Since she's competing in the International Equestrian Championships next month, I was only helping her practice." Breanne urged her mare forward, pouting. "Liam, why must we explain everything to her? Come back, we have more important things to focus on. You haven't finished teaching me." "An International Championship contender needs amateur instruction? How curious. I wonder if anyone else here is getting that kind of coaching? But, Liam, if she requires coaching, I'll do it." As Liam turned, my voice froze him. Liam’s expression initially fell flat at my words, but he quickly brightened at my offer. "Exactly! Breanne, Claire won that championship years ago." 'How touching that he finally remembered I have value,' I thought bitterly. Breanne bit her lip. "But—" After years together, I knew Breanne’s games. She wasn’t as nervous on a horse as she portrayed. It was all an act for Liam. "No buts." I raised my riding crop. "Let's ride." The crop came down on Breanne's mare, which bolted forward with a whinny as Breanne shrieked. Liam paled. "Claire! She wasn't ready—" "Real trainers surprise their students." My amber eyes glinted. “Your coddling would've kept her mediocre forever.” Dust sprayed Liam's face as I galloped after Breanne, leaving him standing there, cheeks burning as if slapped. Good. This was just the beginning of my resistance. Breanne and I raced across the field. Though I was starting late, my black stallion, Diva, was not one to be outshone, and we soon overtook Breanne's white mare. For three years, Breanne had only seen the docile, obedient Claire. This commanding version, I’m sure, was unnerving. I could hear her growling, which, to be honest, was only slowing her own horse down. Her mare would not be able to focus on a race, with its rider losing its hold over herself. It was bound to spook her mare soon, and if she weren’t careful, she would get bucked. But as the saying goes, not my circus, not my monkeys. Diva and I were focused on ourselves. I could sense Breanne's determination to beat me. But, no matter how she pushed her champion mare, I remained ahead. As Diva and I passed her again, I caught a flash of movement from Breanne out of the corner of my eye. She pulled a hairpin out of her pocket and hurled it at Diva. That hairpin had been a gift from her friend at her birthday party, and she had been keeping it close to her chest just now. It was made of silver, and the sharp end drove hard into Diva's rump. Diva was instantly startled. Despite my expert handling and calming charm, which I have often used in the past to soothe a panicked horse, Diva threw me. I felt the gnash from the rock sticking out from the ground, which I hit my head on. The impact sending black spots across my vision—and a cry in absolute agony. My abdominal area pinched and screamed with a sharp and sudden pain like nothing I have ever felt before. There was blood on my hand when I touched it. I needed to get up. I needed to get back and get medical help because I knew Breanne wasn’t going to get me any. As I tried to push myself up off the ground with one hand, while the other was wrapped tightly around my stomach, still crying in sheer pain, a polished boot came forcefully down, cracking the bones in my hand. "Ah—!" The pain forced a gasp through clenched teeth. Chapter 5 The Two-Faced Woman "Claire, weren't you so impressive on horseback just now? How did you end up on the ground so fast?" Breanne crouched down, blinking her wide, innocent-looking eyes as she taunted me, pressing her boot harder against my hand, breaking the bones. She knew I was wolfless, and the pain she was causing; this was why she was doing it. To send me a message. I was hoping someone would come and find us, but the odds of this far from the training grounds were unlikely. "Oh my, I'm so sorry!" Breanne feigned surprise, finally lifting her foot with exaggerated remorse. "I didn't even see your hand there. How careless of me." “It’s to be expected with those massive feet of yours. What is that a size ten in men's?” I watched her eyes flash in anger briefly before she reined it back in. I yanked my hand back, and when Breanne reached out to help me up. I would always refuse her help; it was always a ploy for something worse. When she tried again, I recoiled, pushing myself up to my feet with gritted teeth. "Claire, that must've hurt. With riding skills like yours, how could you possibly think you were qualified to teach me?" Breanne smirked. "Only a fool would believe such a pitiful act, Breanne.” I glared, refusing to back down. "Oh, please. Can't accept that you're just not as good as I am? No wonder Liam doesn't like you much—you're such a sore loser." Breanne let out a mocking laugh. Breanne wasn’t hiding her petty, vindictive behaviour. She wanted me to know her intentions of returning and that she hadn't forgiven me for having her exiled. The reason Breanne was sent away a year ago was that I had walked in on her and Liam in the throes of passion. They were both half-naked and stuck to each other. Liam seemed to snap out of his daze the moment I entered the room and yanked Breanne off him. The thud of her head to the edge of the dresser brought out her wolf, and warriors nearby who heard the yelling managed to catch Breanne just in time before she could attack me. Liam sobered up instantly and demanded answers. Breanne played the confused card. That, like Liam, she had drunk a little too much at the pack celebration. She must have gotten confused about which floor she was on and passed out in mine and his bedroom, thinking it was hers. After all, his scent calms her, so she made sure to add that part—one extra little jab between Liam and me. Liam swore up and down that he was confused and thought it was me under the covers in bed. That, with the amount of wolfwine he had consumed, he didn’t realize it wasn’t me until my scent entered the room, and his wolf halted their action immediately recognizing their error. I moved to a different room, and Liam tried to separate himself from Breanne. Then he learned that Breanne approached me afterward and told me that Liam was aware it was her. After all, why would they confuse their mates? Unfortunately for Breanne, she did it in front of a witness, and they told several others, which led Liam to ask me about it. I confirmed that I knew he was aware that it was Breanne, as she told me so herself, and that I wanted to break the bond if he didn’t send her away as proof of his devotion to the mates' bond. I could see that he didn’t want to, but Liam was also someone who cared too much about image to have the wolfen community know that he lost his true mate over the Beta’s daughter affair scandal. With the third wheel gone, our mate bond had finally stabilized. I had hoped to start trying for a pup on our anniversary after I was announced as the new Luna of the Sterling Moon pack. But now Breanne was back, something of which Liam failed to inform me—especially considering it nearly ended us only a year ago. His lack of consideration over that confused me. Did his wolf also agree with this decision? Surely his wolf would realize better than Liam that this would ultimately bring out the bond to an end. "Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about," I said coolly. "But don't worry. I'll be out of your way soon. Then you two can do whatever you want." I turned away, whistling sharply for my horse. Breanne's face flushed crimson. She grabbed my arm and pressed her fingers deep into the flesh. “What the hell are you implying? What plans could I possibly have?” "You know exactly what I mean. But just a heads-up—mistresses in ranked mate bonds are illegal without Elder consent. And bastard pups tend to be shunned by packs altogether. So think carefully." Breanne's face went scarlet. "You—you're disgusting! How dare you accuse me and Liam of—" The sound of galloping hooves cut her off. Her eyes widened as though she hadn't expected us to be interrupted so soon. I turned to the sound of approaching Hooves, which gave Breanne time to growl her threat before she partially shifted and lunged at me with the intent to maul me where I stood. A chill ran down my spine—only to be overshadowed by the thunderous sound of a horse's disapproving whinny. Next thing I knew, Breanne was whimpering on the ground, crying in sheer agony as a scarred, filthy white stallion trampled her. My breath hitched, my eyes widened in disbelief. I knew this stallion. And then I saw it—the faint brown patch on the stallion's head. My blood turned to ice. No. It can’t be. "Mirage?" My voice cracked. The horse stopped mid-stomp, ears twitching. The sound of my voice stopped the Stallion from continuing its attack on Breanne, who had now reverted to her bruised human state, no longer partially shifted. The Stallion turned and looked at me. "Mirage!" I choked out, rushing forward to grab the reins. "It's really you!" I hadn't summoned my borrowed stallion. I had summoned him. My champion. My partner. My horse that Liam sold from under me, promising he went to a good home. Now, his coat was matted, his skin was patchy with disease, and his body was crisscrossed with whip marks. He was abused. Mirage had once been a regal, snow-white stallion, bought at auction by the Thornes. He had carried me to victory in countless competitions. He wasn't just a horse. He was my family. One of the most precious things I had. It took everything in me to forgive him for going behind my back and forcing me to stop riding by selling Mirage off in the first place, but it helped soothe the pain to know that at least he was being taken care of wherever he was. Liam had promised he'd be cared for. He lied. He looked me in the eye and lied to my face. He gave Mirage to a home that had continuously abused and neglected him. These wounds were a combination of old and recent. This was what Liam considered a good home? Tears burned my eyes as I ran my hands over his ruined coat. My heart was breaking. The abuse Mirage would have been enduring all this time, thinking I abandoned him. "Claire! Breanne!" Liam's voice cut through the air as another set of hooves approached. Chapter 6 The Fall The injuries and now Mirage, I was breaking inside and now outside. Just as my knees gave way, a firm hand caught my arm. "What took you so long out here? Are you all right?" Liam's voice, usually so tender, sounded distant in my ears. Through my tears, I turned to confront him about Mirage's condition, but Breanne's weak whimper cut through the air. "Liam.” She whimpered weakly. “Please, help me,” she pleaded. Liam stiffened as if struck. He released me immediately, like he was catching fire at just the mere touch of me. I staggered from the sudden loss of assistance and contact from my mate, and watched in disbelief as his attention snapped to Breanne's crumpled form on the ground. "Breanne!" His eyes reddened as he gathered her into his arms, cradling her close to her chest, "Oh my Goddess, what happened? How did this—?" I watched as he gently wiped away the tears staining her cheek. His eyes began to mist up. It was as though I were watching a live-action romance. The long-lost lover, dying in her beloved's arms. It would have been touching if it wasn't for the fact that that was my mate, holding another woman so tenderly while I stood five feet from them in significantly more pain. "Claire couldn't handle her horse. When I offered to help her back up, she then turned it around and blamed me! When I tried to explain I wasn’t at fault, she set that wretched beast on me!" Breanne's tears fell like broken pearls. Her voice grew faint as she added dramatically, "Liam, please, I can't feel my legs. What if I never walk again?" Liam's expression darkened as he listened to Breanne’s version of events. He turned to me with a sudden coldness I had never seen before. "Is this true?" He growled in anger, clutching Breanne closer to him protectively. A searing pain tore through my abdomen before I could respond. I cried out at the suddenness of it, and clutched my stomach, gasping through clenched teeth as metallic bile rose in my throat. Liam didn’t even flinch at the sight of my obvious pain before him. "I'm taking Breanne to the hospital," he said coldly. "If you did this, Claire—" He left the threat hanging as he cradled Breanne closer. I have never heard of an Alpha, or any rank member in my school studies or observations, threatening his mates and Luna over just a friend. It was against Wolfen code and ethics, but I suppose that didn’t matter to Liam or the Sterling Moon pack. This was going to become a regular occurrence, I could already sense it. I watched through blurred vision as Breanne gave one last performance. "Liam, I—" Her eyelids fluttered shut with theatrical perfection. "Bree-Bree! Stay with me! Please don’t leave me, baby. I’m here. Don’t you dare leave me!" Liam shouted, already running partially shifted into his wolf to allow himself to cradle her and use his Alpha wolf strength and speed at the same time. Behind him, I collapsed with a thud that echoed across the field. I briefly saw Liam hesitate mid-stride—just for a second. Regardless, he didn’t turn around at the sound of my collapse and shallow, laboured breaths. I watched as they continued to run away with Breanne in their arms, leaving me where I lay. My heart broke, even though I had filed and decided to leave both Liam and this horrible pack; a small part of me still held onto a sliver of hope that Liam would see the path he was taking and how far it was from us. But he didn’t, and that was when everything went dark for me. ***** When I regained consciousness, the sterile glare of surgical lights assaulted my vision. Cold metal instruments clinked nearby as my legs were positioned apart. I tried to speak, but the drugs held me paralyzed. The doctors' voices floated above me like ghosts. I could sense the movements around me, but I was awake, unable to move, feel, or speak. It was a surreal experience, but oddly familiar to my life since I had mated with the Sterling family. Nothing more than an ornament on the wall to all, including my mate. "Such a shame—two months along. Who goes horseback riding when they're pregnant?" "The fall detached the embryo completely. Must have been quite the impact. She is lucky to be alive." "Without a wolf, another hour, and she wouldn’t have been." "That man who brought her in—was that her husband? He was colder than a block of ice, but as Handsome as the Devil himself. Can’t say much about their mateship part, he simply paid the bill and left without a word." "Enough chatter. Let’s finish this up before she hemorrhages." Each medical term floating to my ears—pregnancy, embryo, hemorrhage, dilation and curettage—pierced my drugged haze like silver blades to the heart. The one that stuck out the most was broken. I knew they were talking about my hand, but it was so much deeper than that. I felt broken. I lost my pup. Until recently, I would have loved to have Liam and my first pup. Everything about us seemed happy and together, but now, it seemed symbolic to lose the pups I never knew I had. I was losing a mate I should never have had to fight this hard to keep. Everything was perfect until I saw it was all a smoke screen and not meant to be. Just like this pup. False hope. I struggled against the numbness, but my body refused to obey. Something sharp scraped inside me, painless but violating. The crushing weight of realization dragged me under before I could scream, I was once again enveloped by empty darkness. "Claire ... Claire ..." Time lost all meaning. A distant voice called my name while someone shook my arm. With monumental effort, I forced my eyes open. Once again, the antiseptic glare of hospital lights assaulted my vision—I was in a hospital room.
"""Please, Liam, I just lost our baby. Don't let them take my blood."" My voice was barely a whisper, my body still trembling from the surgery—from the emptiness where our child used to be. But my husband didn't even look at me. His gaze was fixed on the ER doors, where doctors shouted about Breanne's critical blood loss. Breanne Telder. The Beta's daughter. His best friend. The woman he swore was""just like a sister.” The same woman who caused the fall that cost me our pup. ""She's RH-negative and we're out of stock. Find donors—now!"" The surgeon said urgently. ""Take hers."" Liam's arm slid around my waist—not to comfort me, not to hold me—but to push me forward like an offering.""Wolfless born shifters are universal donors. Her blood will save Breanne."" I froze as if struck by lightning, my disbelieving eyes lifting to meet his. Did he and his wolf even realize what they'd done? They didn't have to say the rejection—offering their mate's blood to another woman screamed it loud enough. ""Liam,"" I managed to whisper, ""I just lost our pup—"" ""Spare me the lies. I am done believing you!"" His eyes were cold steel. ""Breanne's life comes first right now."" The words cut deeper than any blade. I straightened, ignoring the spinning in my head, every inch of me trembling but unbroken. ""You've made your choice, Liam. And after today…"" my voice didn't crack this time ""I'll make mine."" The doctor's hand gripped my arm, leading me toward the blood lab. ""I'll donate the blood,"" I didn't fight it. ""But in return, you will agree to end our mate bond.”" ***** Chapter 1 Dropping the Mate I stood at the gate of the Sterling Moon Packhouse, clutching a cake box that had begun to melt in the summer heat. My usually pristine blonde hair was now stuck to my neck and face in damp strands, and my designer dress was now ruined with mud and swamp stains. I hadn't meant to arrive at my third mating anniversary looking like I had been dragged through a hedge backward and then tossed in the swamp lands beyond the pack grounds. But then again, being cornered and ambushed by rogues, conveniently knowing my whereabouts without an escort or protection, wasn't exactly part of my agenda either. A mysterious yet heroic stranger had rescued me and driven me back to the edge of my mate’s pack territory when Liam Sterling, my mate and the pack's Alpha, hadn't answered any of my fifteen frantic calls. I had almost convinced myself he was simply busy orchestrating some grand anniversary surprise. That had to be it. Otherwise, why else would he send me out alone for the cake retrieval and then not bother to answer my calls? I quickened my pace toward the entrance of the packhouse, not wanting to delay the celebration any longer than I already had. I rounded the corner only to stop dead at the sight before me. The entire packhouse had been transformed with floral arches, helium balloons, and an enormous banner. My fingers tightened around the cake box. I had doubts about walking into the grand hall; perhaps I should slip upstairs to change first. Then Liam's familiar voice called out. "There's my beautiful mate! Took you long enough, sweetheart. Everyone's waiting for the cake. Were the directions not clear enough?" He teased, not taking in the dishevelled state of my appearance or the fact that my smile didn’t reach my eyes. He often failed to see me. I looked up to find my mate looking devastatingly handsome in a white Tom Ford suit, his gray waistcoat accentuating those broad shoulders I used to trace my fingers over. He hadn't dressed like this for me in years. I pushed aside the gnawing doubts starting to fill my heart and embraced the fact that he was trying to make things right. This was not the time to voice my disappointments with his lack of attention or concern. We're here to celebrate our mate bond with the pack. This was also the year that he promised to swear me in as the official Luna, to lead by his side. Three years of proving myself capable despite not having a wolf of my own, and now here we were. My lips began curving into a smile despite myself. Maybe the rogues and the ambush, the ruined dress, the ignored calls—perhaps none of it mattered now that I was home. Liam would keep me safe, and we were going to announce that I was stepping into a role that should have been mine when we first mated. "Liam, I was just—" I was about to explain the rogues, the ambush, the mysterious saviour, but was cut off mid-sentence. "Liam! Is that my cake?" A shrill voice interrupted as Breanne Telder materialized behind Liam, looping her arm through his as though it was where she belonged. She was Liam’s father's Beta’s daughter. Otherwise known as the third wheel in our relationship and the pick me girl that Liam always did. She was also not supposed to be here. She was sent away a while ago, and Liam promised to focus solely on us. "You flew me home just for this birthday surprise? Best Alpha bestie ever!" The cake box slipped from my fingers, landing with a sickening splat on the custom marble flooring beneath me. The same flooring I wanted to either swallow me or Breanna up in this moment. Birthday surprise? What the hell did that mean? Those two words echoed in my skull like gunshots. For weeks, I had known Liam was planning something secretive. The custom-ordered flowers were delivered under the cover of darkness. The expensive Eclipse Stone rough he'd purchased at auction. All those whispered phone calls I had pretended not to hear. It all led to this moment, but it wasn’t the moment I had expected. I had woven every scrap of evidence into fantasies of candlelit vows renewed, of Liam dropping to one knee all over again. Even when he hadn't picked up during my attack from rogues, I had made excuses for him. Now Breanne's smug smile shattered those delusions like a hammer through stained glass. "What the hell were you thinking, Claire?" Stephanie Sterling's razor-sharp heels clicked across the flooring as she advanced. "We've been waiting two hours for that cake! You can’t do one single task; no wonder you will never be Luna material for the Sterling Moon pack." Stephanie was Liam's mother. From the moment I mated into the Alpha family, Stephanie had made no secret of her dislike; she was the reason Liam was convinced to hold off and force me to prove myself as Luna material. Over time, that contempt had only grown bolder, more vicious, no longer even pretending to hide it. Failing to see Liam, their Alpha, standing up for me, much of the pack started to support and see the validity in the points that their retired Luna was making. My hands shook. "This was supposed to be our anniversary party." Liam caught my elbow and steered me out of the room for privacy. "Baby, I'd planned a surprise for you, but Breanne asked for a pack-wide birthday celebration when she returned, so—" "So, instead of standing up for your mate, yet again, you conceded and did what they wanted. It’s fine for me to be let down, but not her? Message received, Liam." I wrenched my arm free, the movement sending fresh pain through my bruised ribs from the attack. I doubled over with a gasp. Before Liam could reach for me, Stephanie's voice sliced through the garden again. "Liam! Stop coddling her and get over here. This is why the wolfless should never hold ranks; they're weak and attention grabbers. Forget the cake, we'll just serve the petit fours instead." "Coming." He hesitated, then pressed a kiss to my temple. "We'll talk later." I remained crouched in the foyer of the packhouse as another wave of pain, this one far deeper than physical, crashed over me. Not a single pack member had asked why I looked like I'd been in a car wreck, why I'd been crying. From the other room where everyone gathered, the opening chords of "Happy Birthday" floated toward me. Each syrupy note felt like another papercut to my heart. It hit me suddenly—I hadn't celebrated a birthday since mating into the Alpha family, not once, though my own fell just days apart from Breanne's. And Liam had known this; he made a joke about the coincidence of his two best gals' being birthday buddies, but mine was always overshadowed. He quickly forgot about mine. I wiped my cheeks, giving myself a self-mocking smile. I should have known better than to hope for something more than what I already received. As the sun dipped low, I rose, my shadow stretching lonely behind me. Without a word, I climbed the stairs and clicked the bedroom door shut of the Alpha suite. Under the bathroom's harsh lighting, I peeled off my ruined dress and threw it in the trash. Steam fogged the mirrors as I scrubbed at skin that still felt dirty from the rogue's hands. I stayed under the scalding water until my fingers pruned. Wrapped in an oversized robe, I sat curled on the window seat watching party lights twinkle below until the last guest departed. At 11:00 PM, the bedroom door finally creaked open. I didn't turn when Liam's familiar cologne filled the room. I heard him hang up his jacket, then felt his whiskey-warm hands on my shoulders. "Happy anniversary, my beautiful, stunning mate." His lips brushed my ear. "Guess what I got you?" I shrugged him off. "I honestly don't care." He knelt before me, producing a velvet box with the flourish of a magician. "I had this carved from that Eclipse Stone rough. It is rumoured to help awaken latent wolfen spirits, strengthen auras and bring new beginnings.” Liam fastened the pendant around my neck. The cold stone settled between my chest like a brand. "Stunning." He kissed the hollow of my throat. "I was thinking that it’s been three years since we mated, and you have done so well proving yourself to me and this pack. I want us to now try for a pup. Bring this pack a new heir.” "Yeah, that’s not happening," I rejected the idea instantly. His chuckle was dark velvet. "You won't have to lift a finger, darling. I'll do all the—" "Liam." I met his gaze for the first time that night. “I want to submit an official request to break our mate bond!” Chapter 2 This Time, His Sweet Talk Won't Work My mind was made up before he finally came to our room. This wasn't like my previous impulsive threats in an attempt to get him to see the mistakes he was continuously making in our bond. This time, I was genuinely determined to leave. Three years of mateship flashed through my mind. I had lost count of how many times Liam had prioritized Breanne over my feelings or dismissed me because his mother said so. Who was his mate, and who was just a friend? I could no longer answer that question, and I was tired of trying to defend us. We weren’t bonded. Not the way the typical Alpha and mate were. It was usual for an Alpha never to leave his Luna’s side. She was his number one priority, even though the pack came second. The Alpha's mate was the heart of the pack and respected as an equal, but I was neither of those things. I haven’t been from the start. Breanne, even though she was briefly sent away, was still respected and noticed more than I could even hope for. If someone kept treating you in ways you disliked, it was because you allowed it. I had let it slide every other time. But today, Liam had crossed my final line. This day was our third anniversary. I didn’t care that he forgot my birthday, dinners, or events we planned together. I did, however, care about this milestone moment. A promise he made was long forgotten. This was that tipping point for my patience. “Really, Claire? You are threatening to reject our mate bond again? Don't say that every time you're upset, sweetheart. I was wrong about today. I'll make it up to you tomorrow." My eyes showed no emotion. “Don't bother. Not everything can be made up, and you can only backburner your mate for so long before she grows tired of being at the bottom of the priorities, Liam.” "Of course, this can be fixed. There's always next year. We will have a pup by then, and you will have long forgotten this little hiccup and tantrum." Liam pushed me down onto the sofa, kissing my face tenderly. With my hands pinned above my head, I wasn’t able to push him off. He expected the topic of having pups would appease me and calm my boiling anger. I had had enough of his nonsense and non-committal ways. I stared blankly at the ceiling as tears unexpectedly rolled down my cheeks. I lay like a dead weight. In the past, whenever we would fight or I would throw a tantrum, as Liam would title it, all he would do was use the mate bond against me. His kisses, his touch, his desires would wear me down, and I would accept his hollowed words of apology and his flashy gifts as though they meant something more than pacifying childish behaviour, in his mind. But this time, even though he held me down and I couldn’t resist, I was also not participating or encouraging him to continue. He was so self-absorbed that he couldn’t even realize that I wasn’t a willing participant. I was motionless, soundless, non-responsive. As Liam kept kissing me, his hands touched every part of my bruised body, utterly unaware of the pain he was inflicting both physically and emotionally. I felt his body suddenly freeze at the sound of a whimpered sob that slipped out of me. He looked out with hooded eyes, which quickly sobered and turned serious when he saw the tears in my eyes. His expression was frozen in panic. "Baby, why are you crying?" He quickly turned on the light. "Wait—you seemed off when you came home. Did something happen?" Finally, he remembered, but the damage between us was already done. My heart twisted, wishing that it didn’t take crying while he wanted sex to cover his mistakes for him to notice something was wrong. At the thought of how much distance was between us, more tears fell. Under the light, Liam finally saw the slight swelling on my face, the scratches on my arms and body, and the deep gash on my right leg with dried blood. His pupils contracted. "What happened?" I could sense his wolf stirring under the surface. It was clear that someone had hurt me, but they were only now realizing it. Just as I opened my mouth, his phone rang. I looked at the screen and rolled my eyes. Of course, it was Breanne. Liam sighed and offered a small apologetic smile before he answered in front of me. "Breanne, what's wrong?" "Liam, I think I ate something bad. My stomach hurts so much. Can you take me to the hospital?" Breanne's sugary voice came through. Liam automatically started to agree. I could see his eyes widen with panic at the thought that she was in pain. But right before he responded, he looked at me and my reddened, tear-filled eyes. "It's late. Claire and I are already in bed. Ask Mom if there's any medicine at home." Stephanie's sharp voice interrupted, "Liam, come now! This isn't ordinary pain. It could be appendicitis! She's pale as a ghost!" Liam's brow furrowed. "Fine. I'm coming." My heart sank like a stone. I shook my head in disbelief and turned away, refusing to meet his eyes. Yet again, I was pushed aside. Liam dressed quickly but hesitated at the door. After a long moment, he took my hand. "You're hurt too. Come with me, we'll get you checked at the hospital." That single word, "too", cut like a knife. I laughed dryly. "No need. Go ahead, play hero for another woman. If your mate's pain is less important than staying and understanding what happened, then your friend who has a stomach ache, don’t bother dragging me around like an accessory with false concern. I'd rather be alone." Liam stiffened. He opened his mouth to speak, but the phone kept ringing insistently. Finally, he sighed and pressed his black card into my hand. "Buy whatever you want. Consider it an apology." The door slammed shut. I weighed the card in my palm and smiled bitterly. Liam only ever had two ways to appease me—sex or money. It used to work. I fooled myself into believing it meant he cared, that he wasn’t good with expressing emotions, but I saw it for what it was now. This time, his sweet talk won't work. I walked to the closet and in the back corner, I pulled out my old suitcase. Inside was the most valuable thing I owned. My freedom. It was an official Rejection agreement signed the night before our mating. Back then, Liam had insisted on accepting our mate bond despite his family's objections. Afraid of being trapped in a toxic pack and mating, I had made him sign this; if I ever wanted to break the bond, he had to agree unconditionally. I thought we’d never need it. Liam had probably forgotten it existed. But I hadn't. During one fight, I had even consulted a lawyer who confirmed its validity. I could file for an official rejection of the bond with just this document and 30 days cooling-off period. Since he had already signed it, there was no need for Liam's consent for me to file it now. The Elders within the Council would perform the rejection ceremony within their own chambers. There was no need for either of us to be present. That was typically why Alphas refrained from preemptively signing these types of contracts. It relinquished control without their knowledge. Now was the time. Chapter 3 The Breaking Point I didn't sleep all night; I couldn’t. Instead, I spent those hours cutting up every photograph of us together. There weren’t many, I realized. My phone was filled with pictures of Liam whenever I could sneak photos when he was distracted or busy. He was honestly an Adonis of a man. But three years together, we had exactly twenty-three pictures of us together as a couple, and only thirteen of those were just Liam and me. The remaining ten were with Breanne. I snuck downstairs before anyone else woke up and went into Liam's office. There on the desk was a picture. It was of him and Breanne, hugging and smiling into the camera. They looked happy. Too happy. My inner bitter bitch was vomiting at the sight. On the other side of the desk was a picture of the three of us. That's right, not me and my mate. It was Breanne pressed against Liam's side, smiling up at him, and I was smiling at the camera on the other side. My arm was linked around his, and he was smiling, but for which female in the picture, your guess was as good as mine. I took the picture out of the frame, and bent it so that I was folded to the back. There, now he had two perfect couple pictures of him and Breanne. I will simply bow out of this weird three-way relationship. By dawn, I had already filed the official rejection agreement papers at the Council's registry office. Then I donated all the designer outfits Liam had bought me to charity. Afterward, I drove out of the pack grounds for a few hours to pawn every piece of jewelry he'd ever given me at the local broker's. I didn’t want it getting back to Liam, or the pack gossip mill to run rampant with their own speculations. Not yet anyway. It was a surprisingly large chunk of money in return, one thing I knew for sure about Liam. When he was grovelling for his indifferences and mistakes, he never cheaped out on the apology jewelry. The broker didn’t have the full amount on hand, so I opted to have it wired, which worked fine for me. I opened a new bank account and provided them with the necessary information. I returned to the packhouse early that afternoon. I had requested that the gardener cut down the Cherry Blossom tree in the pack’s courtyard. He was ordered to burn every branch and leaf until only ashes remained. When I agreed to mate with Liam, I had my reservations because his family didn’t support their Alpha heir accepting the bond to a wolfless orphan with average financial standings. Liam planted the tree as a token of his pledge of devotion to us and our bond. I fell for it, thinking it would make us stronger. But I was wrong. By late afternoon, I had either sold, donated or destroyed every token of Liam and his devotion to me and our bond: everything but the Eclipse stone pendant. Some legends state that the Moon Goddess herself blessed the eclipse stone to strengthen the will of the wolfless. Call me a fool, but it still served as a sliver of proof that at some point, he did care enough to seek out the stone for me. Now that everything was removed, it was time for me to step out and prepare everything for my new life after this month-long cooldown period ended, and I was no longer the unwanted mate of Alpha Liam Sterling. I knew I had to be smart and figure out my path now, as I had no family to turn to once the rejection was completed. When I was seven, my father had disappeared after a mountain climbing accident. It was speculated that rogues were involved, as they were heavy in the area at the time. My mother re-mated not long afterwards, and we became part of the Thorne family. They were the overlords, if you will, of the Crown of Thornes Pack, rivals of The Sterling Moon pack and next door neighbours to the territory. My mother left the Thorne family after accusations and rumours of her infidelity and gambling debts. I didn’t believe it, but it seemed that everyone else did. I had no idea where she even went. She certainly didn’t seek me out after she left that night, abandoning me. The only person who would even be considered family at this point was Lucien Thorne. He was my former stepbrother from my mother's second mating. However, Lucien was notorious for his short temper, and he constantly mistreated me while we lived under the same roof, so I would sooner wind up homeless than seek his help. The heat of Liam’s black card was burning a hole in my pocket, serving as a reminder of his literal words: “Buy whatever you want and consider it as an apology.” Okay! I will. I went to the bank and after the teller spoke with the branch manager to confirm my approval of using the Alpha’s account for a withdrawal, yup, that's right, I held no status, so I wasn’t even recognized with authority over our marital account; I withdrew one million dollars from his account. It was insulting and frustrating to know that Breanne can walk in here and not have as many hoops to jump through to get at my mate’s money. But that’s fine. I have already started to let go of my hold on him emotionally. My head has already done so. As I waited for the teller to return with the funds, my phone rang. Liyah Cruz. She was my closest friend before I accepted the bond with Liam. Liam didn’t like her influence on me, as he put it, so over the years, our friendship became strained. For her to be reaching out and calling me now, it had to be important. "Liyah? What's wrong?" I answered right away. "Oh, thank the Goddess. Claire, the International Equestrian Championships start in a month, but I just got injured during training." Liyah's voice was thick with disappointment. "Claire, you were the most talented rider we knew. I could think of no one else to take over. Could you compete in my place?" The memories came flooding back. Had I not mated with Liam, I might have become as renowned as Liyah in equestrian circles. But Liam had disapproved of me riding; he often called it unladylike. He'd gone as far as going behind my back and selling my beloved white stallion, Mirage, to a good owner, cutting off my last connection to the sport. The silence stretched until Liyah sighed. "I forgot your mate doesn't allow—" "I'll do it," I interrupted. "One month. I'll be ready." Liyah's excited squeal pierced through the receiver. "Really? Oh my Goddess! Everyone always said you shouldn't have given up your talent for mating! You're finally coming back to us!" My hand trembled around the phone. Yes, before mating into the Sterling Moon pack and Alpha family, I had shone so brightly. Before Liam, I used to be many things. I was the university's star student—straight A's in every subject. A gifted painter, champion rider, runway model, master chef, and award-winning debater—there was nothing I couldn't excel at. But three years of mating had eroded it all. I hadn't touched a paintbrush in years. I have forgotten how to walk a runway, and even lost my sharp tongue in arguments—forced to submit to even my mate's family and house staff. Only my cooking skills remained polished because I have cooked for Liam every single day since the beginning of our bond acceptance. Only now did I realize how much of myself I had sacrificed. But it wasn't too late. I could still start over. This was that chance to start taking my life by the reins, so to speak, and returning to the Claire that used to walk proudly with her chin held high. Chapter 4 Meeting on Horseback I met Liyah at the stables we once rode at together. “Thank you, Claire-bear. I can’t believe you are actually here.” Liyah launched herself on top of me, despite her knee brace. I thought I understood what I gave up to be with Liam, my mate, but I didn’t understand a fraction of it. This crazy woman, who used to be my world, wrapped around me. How did I let him separate us? “It’s me who should thank you, Lee-Lee. I’ve missed you. I’m sorry. No more boys between us, I promise.” I sobbed. Liyah looked up, and I saw the understanding in her eyes. We both wiped our faces and laughed at our equally blotchy faces. “Okay, later, we'll discuss everything!” She looked at me with as much conviction as her tiny body could muster. I nodded and smiled. “But now, let me introduce you to Diva, my stallion. Just a warning, he lives up to the name periodically. I think it’s an adorable quirk for him and refuse to break it out of him. You’ll love him!” Liyah leads us to the stables, where we meet the horse. Liyah was right. We matched instantly. It isn’t easy for a shifter to bond with a stallion, but I never had those worries. I was always able to click with any animal, to the point where Liyah's brother spent a year calling me freaking snow white! I hated it, but he wasn’t wrong. I galloped across the equestrian field at dawn, the stallion I rode was kicking up dew as it raced toward the rising sun. Then I saw them. Liam and Breanne shared a white mare, ambling toward my direction. Breanne was dressed in her pristine white riding jodhpurs with the matching show coat, leaned back against Liam's chest. Liam's attire was the stark contrast of black on black. I watched him bend his head low, whispering something in Breanne’s ear, causing a fit of giggles from her. I had waited for him to return all night. When I had reached out and called him to ask if he would be returning that night, I was told, by him, that since Breanna needed an emergency appendectomy, he would not leave her side until she recovered. That was when I cut up our photos, burning them to ashes. As I watch them now, a question came to my mind, causing my brow to arch. When did appendectomy patients start riding horses the next day? My grip tightened on the reins just as Breanne spotted me. “Oh! Liam, how spooky. Doesn’t that woman look just like Claire!”At her teasing words, I watched as Liam's head snapped up. There, I sat astride my stallion, the tailored navy riding jacket accentuating my hourglass figure, my gaze glacial. I knew he felt it. Dismounting, Liam approached until he could only see the sharp angle of my jaw. "Sweetheart, since when do you ride? I thought you quit that. You should've told me you were coming." The memory of his and Breanne’s intimate pose churned my stomach. I pressed a hand to my mouth to keep from being sick at the thought before answering flatly. "Would you have answered if I called?" This acidic tone only emerged when I was furious. Liam's smile turned placating. "My fault—left my phone in the car. It turned out to be a false alarm about Breanne's appendix. Since she's competing in the International Equestrian Championships next month, I was only helping her practice." Breanne urged her mare forward, pouting. "Liam, why must we explain everything to her? Come back, we have more important things to focus on. You haven't finished teaching me." "An International Championship contender needs amateur instruction? How curious. I wonder if anyone else here is getting that kind of coaching? But, Liam, if she requires coaching, I'll do it." As Liam turned, my voice froze him. Liam’s expression initially fell flat at my words, but he quickly brightened at my offer. "Exactly! Breanne, Claire won that championship years ago." 'How touching that he finally remembered I have value,' I thought bitterly. Breanne bit her lip. "But—" After years together, I knew Breanne’s games. She wasn’t as nervous on a horse as she portrayed. It was all an act for Liam. "No buts." I raised my riding crop. "Let's ride." The crop came down on Breanne's mare, which bolted forward with a whinny as Breanne shrieked. Liam paled. "Claire! She wasn't ready—" "Real trainers surprise their students." My amber eyes glinted. “Your coddling would've kept her mediocre forever.” Dust sprayed Liam's face as I galloped after Breanne, leaving him standing there, cheeks burning as if slapped. Good. This was just the beginning of my resistance. Breanne and I raced across the field. Though I was starting late, my black stallion, Diva, was not one to be outshone, and we soon overtook Breanne's white mare. For three years, Breanne had only seen the docile, obedient Claire. This commanding version, I’m sure, was unnerving. I could hear her growling, which, to be honest, was only slowing her own horse down. Her mare would not be able to focus on a race, with its rider losing its hold over herself. It was bound to spook her mare soon, and if she weren’t careful, she would get bucked. But as the saying goes, not my circus, not my monkeys. Diva and I were focused on ourselves. I could sense Breanne's determination to beat me. But, no matter how she pushed her champion mare, I remained ahead. As Diva and I passed her again, I caught a flash of movement from Breanne out of the corner of my eye. She pulled a hairpin out of her pocket and hurled it at Diva. That hairpin had been a gift from her friend at her birthday party, and she had been keeping it close to her chest just now. It was made of silver, and the sharp end drove hard into Diva's rump. Diva was instantly startled. Despite my expert handling and calming charm, which I have often used in the past to soothe a panicked horse, Diva threw me. I felt the gnash from the rock sticking out from the ground, which I hit my head on. The impact sending black spots across my vision—and a cry in absolute agony. My abdominal area pinched and screamed with a sharp and sudden pain like nothing I have ever felt before. There was blood on my hand when I touched it. I needed to get up. I needed to get back and get medical help because I knew Breanne wasn’t going to get me any. As I tried to push myself up off the ground with one hand, while the other was wrapped tightly around my stomach, still crying in sheer pain, a polished boot came forcefully down, cracking the bones in my hand. "Ah—!" The pain forced a gasp through clenched teeth. Chapter 5 The Two-Faced Woman "Claire, weren't you so impressive on horseback just now? How did you end up on the ground so fast?" Breanne crouched down, blinking her wide, innocent-looking eyes as she taunted me, pressing her boot harder against my hand, breaking the bones. She knew I was wolfless, and the pain she was causing; this was why she was doing it. To send me a message. I was hoping someone would come and find us, but the odds of this far from the training grounds were unlikely. "Oh my, I'm so sorry!" Breanne feigned surprise, finally lifting her foot with exaggerated remorse. "I didn't even see your hand there. How careless of me." “It’s to be expected with those massive feet of yours. What is that a size ten in men's?” I watched her eyes flash in anger briefly before she reined it back in. I yanked my hand back, and when Breanne reached out to help me up. I would always refuse her help; it was always a ploy for something worse. When she tried again, I recoiled, pushing myself up to my feet with gritted teeth. "Claire, that must've hurt. With riding skills like yours, how could you possibly think you were qualified to teach me?" Breanne smirked. "Only a fool would believe such a pitiful act, Breanne.” I glared, refusing to back down. "Oh, please. Can't accept that you're just not as good as I am? No wonder Liam doesn't like you much—you're such a sore loser." Breanne let out a mocking laugh. Breanne wasn’t hiding her petty, vindictive behaviour. She wanted me to know her intentions of returning and that she hadn't forgiven me for having her exiled. The reason Breanne was sent away a year ago was that I had walked in on her and Liam in the throes of passion. They were both half-naked and stuck to each other. Liam seemed to snap out of his daze the moment I entered the room and yanked Breanne off him. The thud of her head to the edge of the dresser brought out her wolf, and warriors nearby who heard the yelling managed to catch Breanne just in time before she could attack me. Liam sobered up instantly and demanded answers. Breanne played the confused card. That, like Liam, she had drunk a little too much at the pack celebration. She must have gotten confused about which floor she was on and passed out in mine and his bedroom, thinking it was hers. After all, his scent calms her, so she made sure to add that part—one extra little jab between Liam and me. Liam swore up and down that he was confused and thought it was me under the covers in bed. That, with the amount of wolfwine he had consumed, he didn’t realize it wasn’t me until my scent entered the room, and his wolf halted their action immediately recognizing their error. I moved to a different room, and Liam tried to separate himself from Breanne. Then he learned that Breanne approached me afterward and told me that Liam was aware it was her. After all, why would they confuse their mates? Unfortunately for Breanne, she did it in front of a witness, and they told several others, which led Liam to ask me about it. I confirmed that I knew he was aware that it was Breanne, as she told me so herself, and that I wanted to break the bond if he didn’t send her away as proof of his devotion to the mates' bond. I could see that he didn’t want to, but Liam was also someone who cared too much about image to have the wolfen community know that he lost his true mate over the Beta’s daughter affair scandal. With the third wheel gone, our mate bond had finally stabilized. I had hoped to start trying for a pup on our anniversary after I was announced as the new Luna of the Sterling Moon pack. But now Breanne was back, something of which Liam failed to inform me—especially considering it nearly ended us only a year ago. His lack of consideration over that confused me. Did his wolf also agree with this decision? Surely his wolf would realize better than Liam that this would ultimately bring out the bond to an end. "Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about," I said coolly. "But don't worry. I'll be out of your way soon. Then you two can do whatever you want." I turned away, whistling sharply for my horse. Breanne's face flushed crimson. She grabbed my arm and pressed her fingers deep into the flesh. “What the hell are you implying? What plans could I possibly have?” "You know exactly what I mean. But just a heads-up—mistresses in ranked mate bonds are illegal without Elder consent. And bastard pups tend to be shunned by packs altogether. So think carefully." Breanne's face went scarlet. "You—you're disgusting! How dare you accuse me and Liam of—" The sound of galloping hooves cut her off. Her eyes widened as though she hadn't expected us to be interrupted so soon. I turned to the sound of approaching Hooves, which gave Breanne time to growl her threat before she partially shifted and lunged at me with the intent to maul me where I stood. A chill ran down my spine—only to be overshadowed by the thunderous sound of a horse's disapproving whinny. Next thing I knew, Breanne was whimpering on the ground, crying in sheer agony as a scarred, filthy white stallion trampled her. My breath hitched, my eyes widened in disbelief. I knew this stallion. And then I saw it—the faint brown patch on the stallion's head. My blood turned to ice. No. It can’t be. "Mirage?" My voice cracked. The horse stopped mid-stomp, ears twitching. The sound of my voice stopped the Stallion from continuing its attack on Breanne, who had now reverted to her bruised human state, no longer partially shifted. The Stallion turned and looked at me. "Mirage!" I choked out, rushing forward to grab the reins. "It's really you!" I hadn't summoned my borrowed stallion. I had summoned him. My champion. My partner. My horse that Liam sold from under me, promising he went to a good home. Now, his coat was matted, his skin was patchy with disease, and his body was crisscrossed with whip marks. He was abused. Mirage had once been a regal, snow-white stallion, bought at auction by the Thornes. He had carried me to victory in countless competitions. He wasn't just a horse. He was my family. One of the most precious things I had. It took everything in me to forgive him for going behind my back and forcing me to stop riding by selling Mirage off in the first place, but it helped soothe the pain to know that at least he was being taken care of wherever he was. Liam had promised he'd be cared for. He lied. He looked me in the eye and lied to my face. He gave Mirage to a home that had continuously abused and neglected him. These wounds were a combination of old and recent. This was what Liam considered a good home? Tears burned my eyes as I ran my hands over his ruined coat. My heart was breaking. The abuse Mirage would have been enduring all this time, thinking I abandoned him. "Claire! Breanne!" Liam's voice cut through the air as another set of hooves approached. Chapter 6 The Fall The injuries and now Mirage, I was breaking inside and now outside. Just as my knees gave way, a firm hand caught my arm. "What took you so long out here? Are you all right?" Liam's voice, usually so tender, sounded distant in my ears. Through my tears, I turned to confront him about Mirage's condition, but Breanne's weak whimper cut through the air. "Liam.” She whimpered weakly. “Please, help me,” she pleaded. Liam stiffened as if struck. He released me immediately, like he was catching fire at just the mere touch of me. I staggered from the sudden loss of assistance and contact from my mate, and watched in disbelief as his attention snapped to Breanne's crumpled form on the ground. "Breanne!" His eyes reddened as he gathered her into his arms, cradling her close to her chest, "Oh my Goddess, what happened? How did this—?" I watched as he gently wiped away the tears staining her cheek. His eyes began to mist up. It was as though I were watching a live-action romance. The long-lost lover, dying in her beloved's arms. It would have been touching if it wasn't for the fact that that was my mate, holding another woman so tenderly while I stood five feet from them in significantly more pain. "Claire couldn't handle her horse. When I offered to help her back up, she then turned it around and blamed me! When I tried to explain I wasn’t at fault, she set that wretched beast on me!" Breanne's tears fell like broken pearls. Her voice grew faint as she added dramatically, "Liam, please, I can't feel my legs. What if I never walk again?" Liam's expression darkened as he listened to Breanne’s version of events. He turned to me with a sudden coldness I had never seen before. "Is this true?" He growled in anger, clutching Breanne closer to him protectively. A searing pain tore through my abdomen before I could respond. I cried out at the suddenness of it, and clutched my stomach, gasping through clenched teeth as metallic bile rose in my throat. Liam didn’t even flinch at the sight of my obvious pain before him. "I'm taking Breanne to the hospital," he said coldly. "If you did this, Claire—" He left the threat hanging as he cradled Breanne closer. I have never heard of an Alpha, or any rank member in my school studies or observations, threatening his mates and Luna over just a friend. It was against Wolfen code and ethics, but I suppose that didn’t matter to Liam or the Sterling Moon pack. This was going to become a regular occurrence, I could already sense it. I watched through blurred vision as Breanne gave one last performance. "Liam, I—" Her eyelids fluttered shut with theatrical perfection. "Bree-Bree! Stay with me! Please don’t leave me, baby. I’m here. Don’t you dare leave me!" Liam shouted, already running partially shifted into his wolf to allow himself to cradle her and use his Alpha wolf strength and speed at the same time. Behind him, I collapsed with a thud that echoed across the field. I briefly saw Liam hesitate mid-stride—just for a second. Regardless, he didn’t turn around at the sound of my collapse and shallow, laboured breaths. I watched as they continued to run away with Breanne in their arms, leaving me where I lay. My heart broke, even though I had filed and decided to leave both Liam and this horrible pack; a small part of me still held onto a sliver of hope that Liam would see the path he was taking and how far it was from us. But he didn’t, and that was when everything went dark for me. ***** When I regained consciousness, the sterile glare of surgical lights assaulted my vision. Cold metal instruments clinked nearby as my legs were positioned apart. I tried to speak, but the drugs held me paralyzed. The doctors' voices floated above me like ghosts. I could sense the movements around me, but I was awake, unable to move, feel, or speak. It was a surreal experience, but oddly familiar to my life since I had mated with the Sterling family. Nothing more than an ornament on the wall to all, including my mate. "Such a shame—two months along. Who goes horseback riding when they're pregnant?" "The fall detached the embryo completely. Must have been quite the impact. She is lucky to be alive." "Without a wolf, another hour, and she wouldn’t have been." "That man who brought her in—was that her husband? He was colder than a block of ice, but as Handsome as the Devil himself. Can’t say much about their mateship part, he simply paid the bill and left without a word." "Enough chatter. Let’s finish this up before she hemorrhages." Each medical term floating to my ears—pregnancy, embryo, hemorrhage, dilation and curettage—pierced my drugged haze like silver blades to the heart. The one that stuck out the most was broken. I knew they were talking about my hand, but it was so much deeper than that. I felt broken. I lost my pup. Until recently, I would have loved to have Liam and my first pup. Everything about us seemed happy and together, but now, it seemed symbolic to lose the pups I never knew I had. I was losing a mate I should never have had to fight this hard to keep. Everything was perfect until I saw it was all a smoke screen and not meant to be. Just like this pup. False hope. I struggled against the numbness, but my body refused to obey. Something sharp scraped inside me, painless but violating. The crushing weight of realization dragged me under before I could scream, I was once again enveloped by empty darkness. "Claire ... Claire ..." Time lost all meaning. A distant voice called my name while someone shook my arm. With monumental effort, I forced my eyes open. Once again, the antiseptic glare of hospital lights assaulted my vision—I was in a hospital room.
"""Please, Liam, I just lost our baby. Don't let them take my blood."" My voice was barely a whisper, my body still trembling from the surgery—from the emptiness where our child used to be. But my husband didn't even look at me. His gaze was fixed on the ER doors, where doctors shouted about Breanne's critical blood loss. Breanne Telder. The Beta's daughter. His best friend. The woman he swore was""just like a sister.” The same woman who caused the fall that cost me our pup. ""She's RH-negative and we're out of stock. Find donors—now!"" The surgeon said urgently. ""Take hers."" Liam's arm slid around my waist—not to comfort me, not to hold me—but to push me forward like an offering.""Wolfless born shifters are universal donors. Her blood will save Breanne."" I froze as if struck by lightning, my disbelieving eyes lifting to meet his. Did he and his wolf even realize what they'd done? They didn't have to say the rejection—offering their mate's blood to another woman screamed it loud enough. ""Liam,"" I managed to whisper, ""I just lost our pup—"" ""Spare me the lies. I am done believing you!"" His eyes were cold steel. ""Breanne's life comes first right now."" The words cut deeper than any blade. I straightened, ignoring the spinning in my head, every inch of me trembling but unbroken. ""You've made your choice, Liam. And after today…"" my voice didn't crack this time ""I'll make mine."" The doctor's hand gripped my arm, leading me toward the blood lab. ""I'll donate the blood,"" I didn't fight it. ""But in return, you will agree to end our mate bond.”" ***** Chapter 1 Dropping the Mate I stood at the gate of the Sterling Moon Packhouse, clutching a cake box that had begun to melt in the summer heat. My usually pristine blonde hair was now stuck to my neck and face in damp strands, and my designer dress was now ruined with mud and swamp stains. I hadn't meant to arrive at my third mating anniversary looking like I had been dragged through a hedge backward and then tossed in the swamp lands beyond the pack grounds. But then again, being cornered and ambushed by rogues, conveniently knowing my whereabouts without an escort or protection, wasn't exactly part of my agenda either. A mysterious yet heroic stranger had rescued me and driven me back to the edge of my mate’s pack territory when Liam Sterling, my mate and the pack's Alpha, hadn't answered any of my fifteen frantic calls. I had almost convinced myself he was simply busy orchestrating some grand anniversary surprise. That had to be it. Otherwise, why else would he send me out alone for the cake retrieval and then not bother to answer my calls? I quickened my pace toward the entrance of the packhouse, not wanting to delay the celebration any longer than I already had. I rounded the corner only to stop dead at the sight before me. The entire packhouse had been transformed with floral arches, helium balloons, and an enormous banner. My fingers tightened around the cake box. I had doubts about walking into the grand hall; perhaps I should slip upstairs to change first. Then Liam's familiar voice called out. "There's my beautiful mate! Took you long enough, sweetheart. Everyone's waiting for the cake. Were the directions not clear enough?" He teased, not taking in the dishevelled state of my appearance or the fact that my smile didn’t reach my eyes. He often failed to see me. I looked up to find my mate looking devastatingly handsome in a white Tom Ford suit, his gray waistcoat accentuating those broad shoulders I used to trace my fingers over. He hadn't dressed like this for me in years. I pushed aside the gnawing doubts starting to fill my heart and embraced the fact that he was trying to make things right. This was not the time to voice my disappointments with his lack of attention or concern. We're here to celebrate our mate bond with the pack. This was also the year that he promised to swear me in as the official Luna, to lead by his side. Three years of proving myself capable despite not having a wolf of my own, and now here we were. My lips began curving into a smile despite myself. Maybe the rogues and the ambush, the ruined dress, the ignored calls—perhaps none of it mattered now that I was home. Liam would keep me safe, and we were going to announce that I was stepping into a role that should have been mine when we first mated. "Liam, I was just—" I was about to explain the rogues, the ambush, the mysterious saviour, but was cut off mid-sentence. "Liam! Is that my cake?" A shrill voice interrupted as Breanne Telder materialized behind Liam, looping her arm through his as though it was where she belonged. She was Liam’s father's Beta’s daughter. Otherwise known as the third wheel in our relationship and the pick me girl that Liam always did. She was also not supposed to be here. She was sent away a while ago, and Liam promised to focus solely on us. "You flew me home just for this birthday surprise? Best Alpha bestie ever!" The cake box slipped from my fingers, landing with a sickening splat on the custom marble flooring beneath me. The same flooring I wanted to either swallow me or Breanna up in this moment. Birthday surprise? What the hell did that mean? Those two words echoed in my skull like gunshots. For weeks, I had known Liam was planning something secretive. The custom-ordered flowers were delivered under the cover of darkness. The expensive Eclipse Stone rough he'd purchased at auction. All those whispered phone calls I had pretended not to hear. It all led to this moment, but it wasn’t the moment I had expected. I had woven every scrap of evidence into fantasies of candlelit vows renewed, of Liam dropping to one knee all over again. Even when he hadn't picked up during my attack from rogues, I had made excuses for him. Now Breanne's smug smile shattered those delusions like a hammer through stained glass. "What the hell were you thinking, Claire?" Stephanie Sterling's razor-sharp heels clicked across the flooring as she advanced. "We've been waiting two hours for that cake! You can’t do one single task; no wonder you will never be Luna material for the Sterling Moon pack." Stephanie was Liam's mother. From the moment I mated into the Alpha family, Stephanie had made no secret of her dislike; she was the reason Liam was convinced to hold off and force me to prove myself as Luna material. Over time, that contempt had only grown bolder, more vicious, no longer even pretending to hide it. Failing to see Liam, their Alpha, standing up for me, much of the pack started to support and see the validity in the points that their retired Luna was making. My hands shook. "This was supposed to be our anniversary party." Liam caught my elbow and steered me out of the room for privacy. "Baby, I'd planned a surprise for you, but Breanne asked for a pack-wide birthday celebration when she returned, so—" "So, instead of standing up for your mate, yet again, you conceded and did what they wanted. It’s fine for me to be let down, but not her? Message received, Liam." I wrenched my arm free, the movement sending fresh pain through my bruised ribs from the attack. I doubled over with a gasp. Before Liam could reach for me, Stephanie's voice sliced through the garden again. "Liam! Stop coddling her and get over here. This is why the wolfless should never hold ranks; they're weak and attention grabbers. Forget the cake, we'll just serve the petit fours instead." "Coming." He hesitated, then pressed a kiss to my temple. "We'll talk later." I remained crouched in the foyer of the packhouse as another wave of pain, this one far deeper than physical, crashed over me. Not a single pack member had asked why I looked like I'd been in a car wreck, why I'd been crying. From the other room where everyone gathered, the opening chords of "Happy Birthday" floated toward me. Each syrupy note felt like another papercut to my heart. It hit me suddenly—I hadn't celebrated a birthday since mating into the Alpha family, not once, though my own fell just days apart from Breanne's. And Liam had known this; he made a joke about the coincidence of his two best gals' being birthday buddies, but mine was always overshadowed. He quickly forgot about mine. I wiped my cheeks, giving myself a self-mocking smile. I should have known better than to hope for something more than what I already received. As the sun dipped low, I rose, my shadow stretching lonely behind me. Without a word, I climbed the stairs and clicked the bedroom door shut of the Alpha suite. Under the bathroom's harsh lighting, I peeled off my ruined dress and threw it in the trash. Steam fogged the mirrors as I scrubbed at skin that still felt dirty from the rogue's hands. I stayed under the scalding water until my fingers pruned. Wrapped in an oversized robe, I sat curled on the window seat watching party lights twinkle below until the last guest departed. At 11:00 PM, the bedroom door finally creaked open. I didn't turn when Liam's familiar cologne filled the room. I heard him hang up his jacket, then felt his whiskey-warm hands on my shoulders. "Happy anniversary, my beautiful, stunning mate." His lips brushed my ear. "Guess what I got you?" I shrugged him off. "I honestly don't care." He knelt before me, producing a velvet box with the flourish of a magician. "I had this carved from that Eclipse Stone rough. It is rumoured to help awaken latent wolfen spirits, strengthen auras and bring new beginnings.” Liam fastened the pendant around my neck. The cold stone settled between my chest like a brand. "Stunning." He kissed the hollow of my throat. "I was thinking that it’s been three years since we mated, and you have done so well proving yourself to me and this pack. I want us to now try for a pup. Bring this pack a new heir.” "Yeah, that’s not happening," I rejected the idea instantly. His chuckle was dark velvet. "You won't have to lift a finger, darling. I'll do all the—" "Liam." I met his gaze for the first time that night. “I want to submit an official request to break our mate bond!” Chapter 2 This Time, His Sweet Talk Won't Work My mind was made up before he finally came to our room. This wasn't like my previous impulsive threats in an attempt to get him to see the mistakes he was continuously making in our bond. This time, I was genuinely determined to leave. Three years of mateship flashed through my mind. I had lost count of how many times Liam had prioritized Breanne over my feelings or dismissed me because his mother said so. Who was his mate, and who was just a friend? I could no longer answer that question, and I was tired of trying to defend us. We weren’t bonded. Not the way the typical Alpha and mate were. It was usual for an Alpha never to leave his Luna’s side. She was his number one priority, even though the pack came second. The Alpha's mate was the heart of the pack and respected as an equal, but I was neither of those things. I haven’t been from the start. Breanne, even though she was briefly sent away, was still respected and noticed more than I could even hope for. If someone kept treating you in ways you disliked, it was because you allowed it. I had let it slide every other time. But today, Liam had crossed my final line. This day was our third anniversary. I didn’t care that he forgot my birthday, dinners, or events we planned together. I did, however, care about this milestone moment. A promise he made was long forgotten. This was that tipping point for my patience. “Really, Claire? You are threatening to reject our mate bond again? Don't say that every time you're upset, sweetheart. I was wrong about today. I'll make it up to you tomorrow." My eyes showed no emotion. “Don't bother. Not everything can be made up, and you can only backburner your mate for so long before she grows tired of being at the bottom of the priorities, Liam.” "Of course, this can be fixed. There's always next year. We will have a pup by then, and you will have long forgotten this little hiccup and tantrum." Liam pushed me down onto the sofa, kissing my face tenderly. With my hands pinned above my head, I wasn’t able to push him off. He expected the topic of having pups would appease me and calm my boiling anger. I had had enough of his nonsense and non-committal ways. I stared blankly at the ceiling as tears unexpectedly rolled down my cheeks. I lay like a dead weight. In the past, whenever we would fight or I would throw a tantrum, as Liam would title it, all he would do was use the mate bond against me. His kisses, his touch, his desires would wear me down, and I would accept his hollowed words of apology and his flashy gifts as though they meant something more than pacifying childish behaviour, in his mind. But this time, even though he held me down and I couldn’t resist, I was also not participating or encouraging him to continue. He was so self-absorbed that he couldn’t even realize that I wasn’t a willing participant. I was motionless, soundless, non-responsive. As Liam kept kissing me, his hands touched every part of my bruised body, utterly unaware of the pain he was inflicting both physically and emotionally. I felt his body suddenly freeze at the sound of a whimpered sob that slipped out of me. He looked out with hooded eyes, which quickly sobered and turned serious when he saw the tears in my eyes. His expression was frozen in panic. "Baby, why are you crying?" He quickly turned on the light. "Wait—you seemed off when you came home. Did something happen?" Finally, he remembered, but the damage between us was already done. My heart twisted, wishing that it didn’t take crying while he wanted sex to cover his mistakes for him to notice something was wrong. At the thought of how much distance was between us, more tears fell. Under the light, Liam finally saw the slight swelling on my face, the scratches on my arms and body, and the deep gash on my right leg with dried blood. His pupils contracted. "What happened?" I could sense his wolf stirring under the surface. It was clear that someone had hurt me, but they were only now realizing it. Just as I opened my mouth, his phone rang. I looked at the screen and rolled my eyes. Of course, it was Breanne. Liam sighed and offered a small apologetic smile before he answered in front of me. "Breanne, what's wrong?" "Liam, I think I ate something bad. My stomach hurts so much. Can you take me to the hospital?" Breanne's sugary voice came through. Liam automatically started to agree. I could see his eyes widen with panic at the thought that she was in pain. But right before he responded, he looked at me and my reddened, tear-filled eyes. "It's late. Claire and I are already in bed. Ask Mom if there's any medicine at home." Stephanie's sharp voice interrupted, "Liam, come now! This isn't ordinary pain. It could be appendicitis! She's pale as a ghost!" Liam's brow furrowed. "Fine. I'm coming." My heart sank like a stone. I shook my head in disbelief and turned away, refusing to meet his eyes. Yet again, I was pushed aside. Liam dressed quickly but hesitated at the door. After a long moment, he took my hand. "You're hurt too. Come with me, we'll get you checked at the hospital." That single word, "too", cut like a knife. I laughed dryly. "No need. Go ahead, play hero for another woman. If your mate's pain is less important than staying and understanding what happened, then your friend who has a stomach ache, don’t bother dragging me around like an accessory with false concern. I'd rather be alone." Liam stiffened. He opened his mouth to speak, but the phone kept ringing insistently. Finally, he sighed and pressed his black card into my hand. "Buy whatever you want. Consider it an apology." The door slammed shut. I weighed the card in my palm and smiled bitterly. Liam only ever had two ways to appease me—sex or money. It used to work. I fooled myself into believing it meant he cared, that he wasn’t good with expressing emotions, but I saw it for what it was now. This time, his sweet talk won't work. I walked to the closet and in the back corner, I pulled out my old suitcase. Inside was the most valuable thing I owned. My freedom. It was an official Rejection agreement signed the night before our mating. Back then, Liam had insisted on accepting our mate bond despite his family's objections. Afraid of being trapped in a toxic pack and mating, I had made him sign this; if I ever wanted to break the bond, he had to agree unconditionally. I thought we’d never need it. Liam had probably forgotten it existed. But I hadn't. During one fight, I had even consulted a lawyer who confirmed its validity. I could file for an official rejection of the bond with just this document and 30 days cooling-off period. Since he had already signed it, there was no need for Liam's consent for me to file it now. The Elders within the Council would perform the rejection ceremony within their own chambers. There was no need for either of us to be present. That was typically why Alphas refrained from preemptively signing these types of contracts. It relinquished control without their knowledge. Now was the time. Chapter 3 The Breaking Point I didn't sleep all night; I couldn’t. Instead, I spent those hours cutting up every photograph of us together. There weren’t many, I realized. My phone was filled with pictures of Liam whenever I could sneak photos when he was distracted or busy. He was honestly an Adonis of a man. But three years together, we had exactly twenty-three pictures of us together as a couple, and only thirteen of those were just Liam and me. The remaining ten were with Breanne. I snuck downstairs before anyone else woke up and went into Liam's office. There on the desk was a picture. It was of him and Breanne, hugging and smiling into the camera. They looked happy. Too happy. My inner bitter bitch was vomiting at the sight. On the other side of the desk was a picture of the three of us. That's right, not me and my mate. It was Breanne pressed against Liam's side, smiling up at him, and I was smiling at the camera on the other side. My arm was linked around his, and he was smiling, but for which female in the picture, your guess was as good as mine. I took the picture out of the frame, and bent it so that I was folded to the back. There, now he had two perfect couple pictures of him and Breanne. I will simply bow out of this weird three-way relationship. By dawn, I had already filed the official rejection agreement papers at the Council's registry office. Then I donated all the designer outfits Liam had bought me to charity. Afterward, I drove out of the pack grounds for a few hours to pawn every piece of jewelry he'd ever given me at the local broker's. I didn’t want it getting back to Liam, or the pack gossip mill to run rampant with their own speculations. Not yet anyway. It was a surprisingly large chunk of money in return, one thing I knew for sure about Liam. When he was grovelling for his indifferences and mistakes, he never cheaped out on the apology jewelry. The broker didn’t have the full amount on hand, so I opted to have it wired, which worked fine for me. I opened a new bank account and provided them with the necessary information. I returned to the packhouse early that afternoon. I had requested that the gardener cut down the Cherry Blossom tree in the pack’s courtyard. He was ordered to burn every branch and leaf until only ashes remained. When I agreed to mate with Liam, I had my reservations because his family didn’t support their Alpha heir accepting the bond to a wolfless orphan with average financial standings. Liam planted the tree as a token of his pledge of devotion to us and our bond. I fell for it, thinking it would make us stronger. But I was wrong. By late afternoon, I had either sold, donated or destroyed every token of Liam and his devotion to me and our bond: everything but the Eclipse stone pendant. Some legends state that the Moon Goddess herself blessed the eclipse stone to strengthen the will of the wolfless. Call me a fool, but it still served as a sliver of proof that at some point, he did care enough to seek out the stone for me. Now that everything was removed, it was time for me to step out and prepare everything for my new life after this month-long cooldown period ended, and I was no longer the unwanted mate of Alpha Liam Sterling. I knew I had to be smart and figure out my path now, as I had no family to turn to once the rejection was completed. When I was seven, my father had disappeared after a mountain climbing accident. It was speculated that rogues were involved, as they were heavy in the area at the time. My mother re-mated not long afterwards, and we became part of the Thorne family. They were the overlords, if you will, of the Crown of Thornes Pack, rivals of The Sterling Moon pack and next door neighbours to the territory. My mother left the Thorne family after accusations and rumours of her infidelity and gambling debts. I didn’t believe it, but it seemed that everyone else did. I had no idea where she even went. She certainly didn’t seek me out after she left that night, abandoning me. The only person who would even be considered family at this point was Lucien Thorne. He was my former stepbrother from my mother's second mating. However, Lucien was notorious for his short temper, and he constantly mistreated me while we lived under the same roof, so I would sooner wind up homeless than seek his help. The heat of Liam’s black card was burning a hole in my pocket, serving as a reminder of his literal words: “Buy whatever you want and consider it as an apology.” Okay! I will. I went to the bank and after the teller spoke with the branch manager to confirm my approval of using the Alpha’s account for a withdrawal, yup, that's right, I held no status, so I wasn’t even recognized with authority over our marital account; I withdrew one million dollars from his account. It was insulting and frustrating to know that Breanne can walk in here and not have as many hoops to jump through to get at my mate’s money. But that’s fine. I have already started to let go of my hold on him emotionally. My head has already done so. As I waited for the teller to return with the funds, my phone rang. Liyah Cruz. She was my closest friend before I accepted the bond with Liam. Liam didn’t like her influence on me, as he put it, so over the years, our friendship became strained. For her to be reaching out and calling me now, it had to be important. "Liyah? What's wrong?" I answered right away. "Oh, thank the Goddess. Claire, the International Equestrian Championships start in a month, but I just got injured during training." Liyah's voice was thick with disappointment. "Claire, you were the most talented rider we knew. I could think of no one else to take over. Could you compete in my place?" The memories came flooding back. Had I not mated with Liam, I might have become as renowned as Liyah in equestrian circles. But Liam had disapproved of me riding; he often called it unladylike. He'd gone as far as going behind my back and selling my beloved white stallion, Mirage, to a good owner, cutting off my last connection to the sport. The silence stretched until Liyah sighed. "I forgot your mate doesn't allow—" "I'll do it," I interrupted. "One month. I'll be ready." Liyah's excited squeal pierced through the receiver. "Really? Oh my Goddess! Everyone always said you shouldn't have given up your talent for mating! You're finally coming back to us!" My hand trembled around the phone. Yes, before mating into the Sterling Moon pack and Alpha family, I had shone so brightly. Before Liam, I used to be many things. I was the university's star student—straight A's in every subject. A gifted painter, champion rider, runway model, master chef, and award-winning debater—there was nothing I couldn't excel at. But three years of mating had eroded it all. I hadn't touched a paintbrush in years. I have forgotten how to walk a runway, and even lost my sharp tongue in arguments—forced to submit to even my mate's family and house staff. Only my cooking skills remained polished because I have cooked for Liam every single day since the beginning of our bond acceptance. Only now did I realize how much of myself I had sacrificed. But it wasn't too late. I could still start over. This was that chance to start taking my life by the reins, so to speak, and returning to the Claire that used to walk proudly with her chin held high. Chapter 4 Meeting on Horseback I met Liyah at the stables we once rode at together. “Thank you, Claire-bear. I can’t believe you are actually here.” Liyah launched herself on top of me, despite her knee brace. I thought I understood what I gave up to be with Liam, my mate, but I didn’t understand a fraction of it. This crazy woman, who used to be my world, wrapped around me. How did I let him separate us? “It’s me who should thank you, Lee-Lee. I’ve missed you. I’m sorry. No more boys between us, I promise.” I sobbed. Liyah looked up, and I saw the understanding in her eyes. We both wiped our faces and laughed at our equally blotchy faces. “Okay, later, we'll discuss everything!” She looked at me with as much conviction as her tiny body could muster. I nodded and smiled. “But now, let me introduce you to Diva, my stallion. Just a warning, he lives up to the name periodically. I think it’s an adorable quirk for him and refuse to break it out of him. You’ll love him!” Liyah leads us to the stables, where we meet the horse. Liyah was right. We matched instantly. It isn’t easy for a shifter to bond with a stallion, but I never had those worries. I was always able to click with any animal, to the point where Liyah's brother spent a year calling me freaking snow white! I hated it, but he wasn’t wrong. I galloped across the equestrian field at dawn, the stallion I rode was kicking up dew as it raced toward the rising sun. Then I saw them. Liam and Breanne shared a white mare, ambling toward my direction. Breanne was dressed in her pristine white riding jodhpurs with the matching show coat, leaned back against Liam's chest. Liam's attire was the stark contrast of black on black. I watched him bend his head low, whispering something in Breanne’s ear, causing a fit of giggles from her. I had waited for him to return all night. When I had reached out and called him to ask if he would be returning that night, I was told, by him, that since Breanna needed an emergency appendectomy, he would not leave her side until she recovered. That was when I cut up our photos, burning them to ashes. As I watch them now, a question came to my mind, causing my brow to arch. When did appendectomy patients start riding horses the next day? My grip tightened on the reins just as Breanne spotted me. “Oh! Liam, how spooky. Doesn’t that woman look just like Claire!”At her teasing words, I watched as Liam's head snapped up. There, I sat astride my stallion, the tailored navy riding jacket accentuating my hourglass figure, my gaze glacial. I knew he felt it. Dismounting, Liam approached until he could only see the sharp angle of my jaw. "Sweetheart, since when do you ride? I thought you quit that. You should've told me you were coming." The memory of his and Breanne’s intimate pose churned my stomach. I pressed a hand to my mouth to keep from being sick at the thought before answering flatly. "Would you have answered if I called?" This acidic tone only emerged when I was furious. Liam's smile turned placating. "My fault—left my phone in the car. It turned out to be a false alarm about Breanne's appendix. Since she's competing in the International Equestrian Championships next month, I was only helping her practice." Breanne urged her mare forward, pouting. "Liam, why must we explain everything to her? Come back, we have more important things to focus on. You haven't finished teaching me." "An International Championship contender needs amateur instruction? How curious. I wonder if anyone else here is getting that kind of coaching? But, Liam, if she requires coaching, I'll do it." As Liam turned, my voice froze him. Liam’s expression initially fell flat at my words, but he quickly brightened at my offer. "Exactly! Breanne, Claire won that championship years ago." 'How touching that he finally remembered I have value,' I thought bitterly. Breanne bit her lip. "But—" After years together, I knew Breanne’s games. She wasn’t as nervous on a horse as she portrayed. It was all an act for Liam. "No buts." I raised my riding crop. "Let's ride." The crop came down on Breanne's mare, which bolted forward with a whinny as Breanne shrieked. Liam paled. "Claire! She wasn't ready—" "Real trainers surprise their students." My amber eyes glinted. “Your coddling would've kept her mediocre forever.” Dust sprayed Liam's face as I galloped after Breanne, leaving him standing there, cheeks burning as if slapped. Good. This was just the beginning of my resistance. Breanne and I raced across the field. Though I was starting late, my black stallion, Diva, was not one to be outshone, and we soon overtook Breanne's white mare. For three years, Breanne had only seen the docile, obedient Claire. This commanding version, I’m sure, was unnerving. I could hear her growling, which, to be honest, was only slowing her own horse down. Her mare would not be able to focus on a race, with its rider losing its hold over herself. It was bound to spook her mare soon, and if she weren’t careful, she would get bucked. But as the saying goes, not my circus, not my monkeys. Diva and I were focused on ourselves. I could sense Breanne's determination to beat me. But, no matter how she pushed her champion mare, I remained ahead. As Diva and I passed her again, I caught a flash of movement from Breanne out of the corner of my eye. She pulled a hairpin out of her pocket and hurled it at Diva. That hairpin had been a gift from her friend at her birthday party, and she had been keeping it close to her chest just now. It was made of silver, and the sharp end drove hard into Diva's rump. Diva was instantly startled. Despite my expert handling and calming charm, which I have often used in the past to soothe a panicked horse, Diva threw me. I felt the gnash from the rock sticking out from the ground, which I hit my head on. The impact sending black spots across my vision—and a cry in absolute agony. My abdominal area pinched and screamed with a sharp and sudden pain like nothing I have ever felt before. There was blood on my hand when I touched it. I needed to get up. I needed to get back and get medical help because I knew Breanne wasn’t going to get me any. As I tried to push myself up off the ground with one hand, while the other was wrapped tightly around my stomach, still crying in sheer pain, a polished boot came forcefully down, cracking the bones in my hand. "Ah—!" The pain forced a gasp through clenched teeth. Chapter 5 The Two-Faced Woman "Claire, weren't you so impressive on horseback just now? How did you end up on the ground so fast?" Breanne crouched down, blinking her wide, innocent-looking eyes as she taunted me, pressing her boot harder against my hand, breaking the bones. She knew I was wolfless, and the pain she was causing; this was why she was doing it. To send me a message. I was hoping someone would come and find us, but the odds of this far from the training grounds were unlikely. "Oh my, I'm so sorry!" Breanne feigned surprise, finally lifting her foot with exaggerated remorse. "I didn't even see your hand there. How careless of me." “It’s to be expected with those massive feet of yours. What is that a size ten in men's?” I watched her eyes flash in anger briefly before she reined it back in. I yanked my hand back, and when Breanne reached out to help me up. I would always refuse her help; it was always a ploy for something worse. When she tried again, I recoiled, pushing myself up to my feet with gritted teeth. "Claire, that must've hurt. With riding skills like yours, how could you possibly think you were qualified to teach me?" Breanne smirked. "Only a fool would believe such a pitiful act, Breanne.” I glared, refusing to back down. "Oh, please. Can't accept that you're just not as good as I am? No wonder Liam doesn't like you much—you're such a sore loser." Breanne let out a mocking laugh. Breanne wasn’t hiding her petty, vindictive behaviour. She wanted me to know her intentions of returning and that she hadn't forgiven me for having her exiled. The reason Breanne was sent away a year ago was that I had walked in on her and Liam in the throes of passion. They were both half-naked and stuck to each other. Liam seemed to snap out of his daze the moment I entered the room and yanked Breanne off him. The thud of her head to the edge of the dresser brought out her wolf, and warriors nearby who heard the yelling managed to catch Breanne just in time before she could attack me. Liam sobered up instantly and demanded answers. Breanne played the confused card. That, like Liam, she had drunk a little too much at the pack celebration. She must have gotten confused about which floor she was on and passed out in mine and his bedroom, thinking it was hers. After all, his scent calms her, so she made sure to add that part—one extra little jab between Liam and me. Liam swore up and down that he was confused and thought it was me under the covers in bed. That, with the amount of wolfwine he had consumed, he didn’t realize it wasn’t me until my scent entered the room, and his wolf halted their action immediately recognizing their error. I moved to a different room, and Liam tried to separate himself from Breanne. Then he learned that Breanne approached me afterward and told me that Liam was aware it was her. After all, why would they confuse their mates? Unfortunately for Breanne, she did it in front of a witness, and they told several others, which led Liam to ask me about it. I confirmed that I knew he was aware that it was Breanne, as she told me so herself, and that I wanted to break the bond if he didn’t send her away as proof of his devotion to the mates' bond. I could see that he didn’t want to, but Liam was also someone who cared too much about image to have the wolfen community know that he lost his true mate over the Beta’s daughter affair scandal. With the third wheel gone, our mate bond had finally stabilized. I had hoped to start trying for a pup on our anniversary after I was announced as the new Luna of the Sterling Moon pack. But now Breanne was back, something of which Liam failed to inform me—especially considering it nearly ended us only a year ago. His lack of consideration over that confused me. Did his wolf also agree with this decision? Surely his wolf would realize better than Liam that this would ultimately bring out the bond to an end. "Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about," I said coolly. "But don't worry. I'll be out of your way soon. Then you two can do whatever you want." I turned away, whistling sharply for my horse. Breanne's face flushed crimson. She grabbed my arm and pressed her fingers deep into the flesh. “What the hell are you implying? What plans could I possibly have?” "You know exactly what I mean. But just a heads-up—mistresses in ranked mate bonds are illegal without Elder consent. And bastard pups tend to be shunned by packs altogether. So think carefully." Breanne's face went scarlet. "You—you're disgusting! How dare you accuse me and Liam of—" The sound of galloping hooves cut her off. Her eyes widened as though she hadn't expected us to be interrupted so soon. I turned to the sound of approaching Hooves, which gave Breanne time to growl her threat before she partially shifted and lunged at me with the intent to maul me where I stood. A chill ran down my spine—only to be overshadowed by the thunderous sound of a horse's disapproving whinny. Next thing I knew, Breanne was whimpering on the ground, crying in sheer agony as a scarred, filthy white stallion trampled her. My breath hitched, my eyes widened in disbelief. I knew this stallion. And then I saw it—the faint brown patch on the stallion's head. My blood turned to ice. No. It can’t be. "Mirage?" My voice cracked. The horse stopped mid-stomp, ears twitching. The sound of my voice stopped the Stallion from continuing its attack on Breanne, who had now reverted to her bruised human state, no longer partially shifted. The Stallion turned and looked at me. "Mirage!" I choked out, rushing forward to grab the reins. "It's really you!" I hadn't summoned my borrowed stallion. I had summoned him. My champion. My partner. My horse that Liam sold from under me, promising he went to a good home. Now, his coat was matted, his skin was patchy with disease, and his body was crisscrossed with whip marks. He was abused. Mirage had once been a regal, snow-white stallion, bought at auction by the Thornes. He had carried me to victory in countless competitions. He wasn't just a horse. He was my family. One of the most precious things I had. It took everything in me to forgive him for going behind my back and forcing me to stop riding by selling Mirage off in the first place, but it helped soothe the pain to know that at least he was being taken care of wherever he was. Liam had promised he'd be cared for. He lied. He looked me in the eye and lied to my face. He gave Mirage to a home that had continuously abused and neglected him. These wounds were a combination of old and recent. This was what Liam considered a good home? Tears burned my eyes as I ran my hands over his ruined coat. My heart was breaking. The abuse Mirage would have been enduring all this time, thinking I abandoned him. "Claire! Breanne!" Liam's voice cut through the air as another set of hooves approached. Chapter 6 The Fall The injuries and now Mirage, I was breaking inside and now outside. Just as my knees gave way, a firm hand caught my arm. "What took you so long out here? Are you all right?" Liam's voice, usually so tender, sounded distant in my ears. Through my tears, I turned to confront him about Mirage's condition, but Breanne's weak whimper cut through the air. "Liam.” She whimpered weakly. “Please, help me,” she pleaded. Liam stiffened as if struck. He released me immediately, like he was catching fire at just the mere touch of me. I staggered from the sudden loss of assistance and contact from my mate, and watched in disbelief as his attention snapped to Breanne's crumpled form on the ground. "Breanne!" His eyes reddened as he gathered her into his arms, cradling her close to her chest, "Oh my Goddess, what happened? How did this—?" I watched as he gently wiped away the tears staining her cheek. His eyes began to mist up. It was as though I were watching a live-action romance. The long-lost lover, dying in her beloved's arms. It would have been touching if it wasn't for the fact that that was my mate, holding another woman so tenderly while I stood five feet from them in significantly more pain. "Claire couldn't handle her horse. When I offered to help her back up, she then turned it around and blamed me! When I tried to explain I wasn’t at fault, she set that wretched beast on me!" Breanne's tears fell like broken pearls. Her voice grew faint as she added dramatically, "Liam, please, I can't feel my legs. What if I never walk again?" Liam's expression darkened as he listened to Breanne’s version of events. He turned to me with a sudden coldness I had never seen before. "Is this true?" He growled in anger, clutching Breanne closer to him protectively. A searing pain tore through my abdomen before I could respond. I cried out at the suddenness of it, and clutched my stomach, gasping through clenched teeth as metallic bile rose in my throat. Liam didn’t even flinch at the sight of my obvious pain before him. "I'm taking Breanne to the hospital," he said coldly. "If you did this, Claire—" He left the threat hanging as he cradled Breanne closer. I have never heard of an Alpha, or any rank member in my school studies or observations, threatening his mates and Luna over just a friend. It was against Wolfen code and ethics, but I suppose that didn’t matter to Liam or the Sterling Moon pack. This was going to become a regular occurrence, I could already sense it. I watched through blurred vision as Breanne gave one last performance. "Liam, I—" Her eyelids fluttered shut with theatrical perfection. "Bree-Bree! Stay with me! Please don’t leave me, baby. I’m here. Don’t you dare leave me!" Liam shouted, already running partially shifted into his wolf to allow himself to cradle her and use his Alpha wolf strength and speed at the same time. Behind him, I collapsed with a thud that echoed across the field. I briefly saw Liam hesitate mid-stride—just for a second. Regardless, he didn’t turn around at the sound of my collapse and shallow, laboured breaths. I watched as they continued to run away with Breanne in their arms, leaving me where I lay. My heart broke, even though I had filed and decided to leave both Liam and this horrible pack; a small part of me still held onto a sliver of hope that Liam would see the path he was taking and how far it was from us. But he didn’t, and that was when everything went dark for me. ***** When I regained consciousness, the sterile glare of surgical lights assaulted my vision. Cold metal instruments clinked nearby as my legs were positioned apart. I tried to speak, but the drugs held me paralyzed. The doctors' voices floated above me like ghosts. I could sense the movements around me, but I was awake, unable to move, feel, or speak. It was a surreal experience, but oddly familiar to my life since I had mated with the Sterling family. Nothing more than an ornament on the wall to all, including my mate. "Such a shame—two months along. Who goes horseback riding when they're pregnant?" "The fall detached the embryo completely. Must have been quite the impact. She is lucky to be alive." "Without a wolf, another hour, and she wouldn’t have been." "That man who brought her in—was that her husband? He was colder than a block of ice, but as Handsome as the Devil himself. Can’t say much about their mateship part, he simply paid the bill and left without a word." "Enough chatter. Let’s finish this up before she hemorrhages." Each medical term floating to my ears—pregnancy, embryo, hemorrhage, dilation and curettage—pierced my drugged haze like silver blades to the heart. The one that stuck out the most was broken. I knew they were talking about my hand, but it was so much deeper than that. I felt broken. I lost my pup. Until recently, I would have loved to have Liam and my first pup. Everything about us seemed happy and together, but now, it seemed symbolic to lose the pups I never knew I had. I was losing a mate I should never have had to fight this hard to keep. Everything was perfect until I saw it was all a smoke screen and not meant to be. Just like this pup. False hope. I struggled against the numbness, but my body refused to obey. Something sharp scraped inside me, painless but violating. The crushing weight of realization dragged me under before I could scream, I was once again enveloped by empty darkness. "Claire ... Claire ..." Time lost all meaning. A distant voice called my name while someone shook my arm. With monumental effort, I forced my eyes open. Once again, the antiseptic glare of hospital lights assaulted my vision—I was in a hospital room.
"""Please, Liam, I just lost our baby. Don't let them take my blood."" My voice was barely a whisper, my body still trembling from the surgery—from the emptiness where our child used to be. But my husband didn't even look at me. His gaze was fixed on the ER doors, where doctors shouted about Breanne's critical blood loss. Breanne Telder. The Beta's daughter. His best friend. The woman he swore was""just like a sister.” The same woman who caused the fall that cost me our pup. ""She's RH-negative and we're out of stock. Find donors—now!"" The surgeon said urgently. ""Take hers."" Liam's arm slid around my waist—not to comfort me, not to hold me—but to push me forward like an offering.""Wolfless born shifters are universal donors. Her blood will save Breanne."" I froze as if struck by lightning, my disbelieving eyes lifting to meet his. Did he and his wolf even realize what they'd done? They didn't have to say the rejection—offering their mate's blood to another woman screamed it loud enough. ""Liam,"" I managed to whisper, ""I just lost our pup—"" ""Spare me the lies. I am done believing you!"" His eyes were cold steel. ""Breanne's life comes first right now."" The words cut deeper than any blade. I straightened, ignoring the spinning in my head, every inch of me trembling but unbroken. ""You've made your choice, Liam. And after today…"" my voice didn't crack this time ""I'll make mine."" The doctor's hand gripped my arm, leading me toward the blood lab. ""I'll donate the blood,"" I didn't fight it. ""But in return, you will agree to end our mate bond.”" ***** Chapter 1 Dropping the Mate I stood at the gate of the Sterling Moon Packhouse, clutching a cake box that had begun to melt in the summer heat. My usually pristine blonde hair was now stuck to my neck and face in damp strands, and my designer dress was now ruined with mud and swamp stains. I hadn't meant to arrive at my third mating anniversary looking like I had been dragged through a hedge backward and then tossed in the swamp lands beyond the pack grounds. But then again, being cornered and ambushed by rogues, conveniently knowing my whereabouts without an escort or protection, wasn't exactly part of my agenda either. A mysterious yet heroic stranger had rescued me and driven me back to the edge of my mate’s pack territory when Liam Sterling, my mate and the pack's Alpha, hadn't answered any of my fifteen frantic calls. I had almost convinced myself he was simply busy orchestrating some grand anniversary surprise. That had to be it. Otherwise, why else would he send me out alone for the cake retrieval and then not bother to answer my calls? I quickened my pace toward the entrance of the packhouse, not wanting to delay the celebration any longer than I already had. I rounded the corner only to stop dead at the sight before me. The entire packhouse had been transformed with floral arches, helium balloons, and an enormous banner. My fingers tightened around the cake box. I had doubts about walking into the grand hall; perhaps I should slip upstairs to change first. Then Liam's familiar voice called out. "There's my beautiful mate! Took you long enough, sweetheart. Everyone's waiting for the cake. Were the directions not clear enough?" He teased, not taking in the dishevelled state of my appearance or the fact that my smile didn’t reach my eyes. He often failed to see me. I looked up to find my mate looking devastatingly handsome in a white Tom Ford suit, his gray waistcoat accentuating those broad shoulders I used to trace my fingers over. He hadn't dressed like this for me in years. I pushed aside the gnawing doubts starting to fill my heart and embraced the fact that he was trying to make things right. This was not the time to voice my disappointments with his lack of attention or concern. We're here to celebrate our mate bond with the pack. This was also the year that he promised to swear me in as the official Luna, to lead by his side. Three years of proving myself capable despite not having a wolf of my own, and now here we were. My lips began curving into a smile despite myself. Maybe the rogues and the ambush, the ruined dress, the ignored calls—perhaps none of it mattered now that I was home. Liam would keep me safe, and we were going to announce that I was stepping into a role that should have been mine when we first mated. "Liam, I was just—" I was about to explain the rogues, the ambush, the mysterious saviour, but was cut off mid-sentence. "Liam! Is that my cake?" A shrill voice interrupted as Breanne Telder materialized behind Liam, looping her arm through his as though it was where she belonged. She was Liam’s father's Beta’s daughter. Otherwise known as the third wheel in our relationship and the pick me girl that Liam always did. She was also not supposed to be here. She was sent away a while ago, and Liam promised to focus solely on us. "You flew me home just for this birthday surprise? Best Alpha bestie ever!" The cake box slipped from my fingers, landing with a sickening splat on the custom marble flooring beneath me. The same flooring I wanted to either swallow me or Breanna up in this moment. Birthday surprise? What the hell did that mean? Those two words echoed in my skull like gunshots. For weeks, I had known Liam was planning something secretive. The custom-ordered flowers were delivered under the cover of darkness. The expensive Eclipse Stone rough he'd purchased at auction. All those whispered phone calls I had pretended not to hear. It all led to this moment, but it wasn’t the moment I had expected. I had woven every scrap of evidence into fantasies of candlelit vows renewed, of Liam dropping to one knee all over again. Even when he hadn't picked up during my attack from rogues, I had made excuses for him. Now Breanne's smug smile shattered those delusions like a hammer through stained glass. "What the hell were you thinking, Claire?" Stephanie Sterling's razor-sharp heels clicked across the flooring as she advanced. "We've been waiting two hours for that cake! You can’t do one single task; no wonder you will never be Luna material for the Sterling Moon pack." Stephanie was Liam's mother. From the moment I mated into the Alpha family, Stephanie had made no secret of her dislike; she was the reason Liam was convinced to hold off and force me to prove myself as Luna material. Over time, that contempt had only grown bolder, more vicious, no longer even pretending to hide it. Failing to see Liam, their Alpha, standing up for me, much of the pack started to support and see the validity in the points that their retired Luna was making. My hands shook. "This was supposed to be our anniversary party." Liam caught my elbow and steered me out of the room for privacy. "Baby, I'd planned a surprise for you, but Breanne asked for a pack-wide birthday celebration when she returned, so—" "So, instead of standing up for your mate, yet again, you conceded and did what they wanted. It’s fine for me to be let down, but not her? Message received, Liam." I wrenched my arm free, the movement sending fresh pain through my bruised ribs from the attack. I doubled over with a gasp. Before Liam could reach for me, Stephanie's voice sliced through the garden again. "Liam! Stop coddling her and get over here. This is why the wolfless should never hold ranks; they're weak and attention grabbers. Forget the cake, we'll just serve the petit fours instead." "Coming." He hesitated, then pressed a kiss to my temple. "We'll talk later." I remained crouched in the foyer of the packhouse as another wave of pain, this one far deeper than physical, crashed over me. Not a single pack member had asked why I looked like I'd been in a car wreck, why I'd been crying. From the other room where everyone gathered, the opening chords of "Happy Birthday" floated toward me. Each syrupy note felt like another papercut to my heart. It hit me suddenly—I hadn't celebrated a birthday since mating into the Alpha family, not once, though my own fell just days apart from Breanne's. And Liam had known this; he made a joke about the coincidence of his two best gals' being birthday buddies, but mine was always overshadowed. He quickly forgot about mine. I wiped my cheeks, giving myself a self-mocking smile. I should have known better than to hope for something more than what I already received. As the sun dipped low, I rose, my shadow stretching lonely behind me. Without a word, I climbed the stairs and clicked the bedroom door shut of the Alpha suite. Under the bathroom's harsh lighting, I peeled off my ruined dress and threw it in the trash. Steam fogged the mirrors as I scrubbed at skin that still felt dirty from the rogue's hands. I stayed under the scalding water until my fingers pruned. Wrapped in an oversized robe, I sat curled on the window seat watching party lights twinkle below until the last guest departed. At 11:00 PM, the bedroom door finally creaked open. I didn't turn when Liam's familiar cologne filled the room. I heard him hang up his jacket, then felt his whiskey-warm hands on my shoulders. "Happy anniversary, my beautiful, stunning mate." His lips brushed my ear. "Guess what I got you?" I shrugged him off. "I honestly don't care." He knelt before me, producing a velvet box with the flourish of a magician. "I had this carved from that Eclipse Stone rough. It is rumoured to help awaken latent wolfen spirits, strengthen auras and bring new beginnings.” Liam fastened the pendant around my neck. The cold stone settled between my chest like a brand. "Stunning." He kissed the hollow of my throat. "I was thinking that it’s been three years since we mated, and you have done so well proving yourself to me and this pack. I want us to now try for a pup. Bring this pack a new heir.” "Yeah, that’s not happening," I rejected the idea instantly. His chuckle was dark velvet. "You won't have to lift a finger, darling. I'll do all the—" "Liam." I met his gaze for the first time that night. “I want to submit an official request to break our mate bond!” Chapter 2 This Time, His Sweet Talk Won't Work My mind was made up before he finally came to our room. This wasn't like my previous impulsive threats in an attempt to get him to see the mistakes he was continuously making in our bond. This time, I was genuinely determined to leave. Three years of mateship flashed through my mind. I had lost count of how many times Liam had prioritized Breanne over my feelings or dismissed me because his mother said so. Who was his mate, and who was just a friend? I could no longer answer that question, and I was tired of trying to defend us. We weren’t bonded. Not the way the typical Alpha and mate were. It was usual for an Alpha never to leave his Luna’s side. She was his number one priority, even though the pack came second. The Alpha's mate was the heart of the pack and respected as an equal, but I was neither of those things. I haven’t been from the start. Breanne, even though she was briefly sent away, was still respected and noticed more than I could even hope for. If someone kept treating you in ways you disliked, it was because you allowed it. I had let it slide every other time. But today, Liam had crossed my final line. This day was our third anniversary. I didn’t care that he forgot my birthday, dinners, or events we planned together. I did, however, care about this milestone moment. A promise he made was long forgotten. This was that tipping point for my patience. “Really, Claire? You are threatening to reject our mate bond again? Don't say that every time you're upset, sweetheart. I was wrong about today. I'll make it up to you tomorrow." My eyes showed no emotion. “Don't bother. Not everything can be made up, and you can only backburner your mate for so long before she grows tired of being at the bottom of the priorities, Liam.” "Of course, this can be fixed. There's always next year. We will have a pup by then, and you will have long forgotten this little hiccup and tantrum." Liam pushed me down onto the sofa, kissing my face tenderly. With my hands pinned above my head, I wasn’t able to push him off. He expected the topic of having pups would appease me and calm my boiling anger. I had had enough of his nonsense and non-committal ways. I stared blankly at the ceiling as tears unexpectedly rolled down my cheeks. I lay like a dead weight. In the past, whenever we would fight or I would throw a tantrum, as Liam would title it, all he would do was use the mate bond against me. His kisses, his touch, his desires would wear me down, and I would accept his hollowed words of apology and his flashy gifts as though they meant something more than pacifying childish behaviour, in his mind. But this time, even though he held me down and I couldn’t resist, I was also not participating or encouraging him to continue. He was so self-absorbed that he couldn’t even realize that I wasn’t a willing participant. I was motionless, soundless, non-responsive. As Liam kept kissing me, his hands touched every part of my bruised body, utterly unaware of the pain he was inflicting both physically and emotionally. I felt his body suddenly freeze at the sound of a whimpered sob that slipped out of me. He looked out with hooded eyes, which quickly sobered and turned serious when he saw the tears in my eyes. His expression was frozen in panic. "Baby, why are you crying?" He quickly turned on the light. "Wait—you seemed off when you came home. Did something happen?" Finally, he remembered, but the damage between us was already done. My heart twisted, wishing that it didn’t take crying while he wanted sex to cover his mistakes for him to notice something was wrong. At the thought of how much distance was between us, more tears fell. Under the light, Liam finally saw the slight swelling on my face, the scratches on my arms and body, and the deep gash on my right leg with dried blood. His pupils contracted. "What happened?" I could sense his wolf stirring under the surface. It was clear that someone had hurt me, but they were only now realizing it. Just as I opened my mouth, his phone rang. I looked at the screen and rolled my eyes. Of course, it was Breanne. Liam sighed and offered a small apologetic smile before he answered in front of me. "Breanne, what's wrong?" "Liam, I think I ate something bad. My stomach hurts so much. Can you take me to the hospital?" Breanne's sugary voice came through. Liam automatically started to agree. I could see his eyes widen with panic at the thought that she was in pain. But right before he responded, he looked at me and my reddened, tear-filled eyes. "It's late. Claire and I are already in bed. Ask Mom if there's any medicine at home." Stephanie's sharp voice interrupted, "Liam, come now! This isn't ordinary pain. It could be appendicitis! She's pale as a ghost!" Liam's brow furrowed. "Fine. I'm coming." My heart sank like a stone. I shook my head in disbelief and turned away, refusing to meet his eyes. Yet again, I was pushed aside. Liam dressed quickly but hesitated at the door. After a long moment, he took my hand. "You're hurt too. Come with me, we'll get you checked at the hospital." That single word, "too", cut like a knife. I laughed dryly. "No need. Go ahead, play hero for another woman. If your mate's pain is less important than staying and understanding what happened, then your friend who has a stomach ache, don’t bother dragging me around like an accessory with false concern. I'd rather be alone." Liam stiffened. He opened his mouth to speak, but the phone kept ringing insistently. Finally, he sighed and pressed his black card into my hand. "Buy whatever you want. Consider it an apology." The door slammed shut. I weighed the card in my palm and smiled bitterly. Liam only ever had two ways to appease me—sex or money. It used to work. I fooled myself into believing it meant he cared, that he wasn’t good with expressing emotions, but I saw it for what it was now. This time, his sweet talk won't work. I walked to the closet and in the back corner, I pulled out my old suitcase. Inside was the most valuable thing I owned. My freedom. It was an official Rejection agreement signed the night before our mating. Back then, Liam had insisted on accepting our mate bond despite his family's objections. Afraid of being trapped in a toxic pack and mating, I had made him sign this; if I ever wanted to break the bond, he had to agree unconditionally. I thought we’d never need it. Liam had probably forgotten it existed. But I hadn't. During one fight, I had even consulted a lawyer who confirmed its validity. I could file for an official rejection of the bond with just this document and 30 days cooling-off period. Since he had already signed it, there was no need for Liam's consent for me to file it now. The Elders within the Council would perform the rejection ceremony within their own chambers. There was no need for either of us to be present. That was typically why Alphas refrained from preemptively signing these types of contracts. It relinquished control without their knowledge. Now was the time. Chapter 3 The Breaking Point I didn't sleep all night; I couldn’t. Instead, I spent those hours cutting up every photograph of us together. There weren’t many, I realized. My phone was filled with pictures of Liam whenever I could sneak photos when he was distracted or busy. He was honestly an Adonis of a man. But three years together, we had exactly twenty-three pictures of us together as a couple, and only thirteen of those were just Liam and me. The remaining ten were with Breanne. I snuck downstairs before anyone else woke up and went into Liam's office. There on the desk was a picture. It was of him and Breanne, hugging and smiling into the camera. They looked happy. Too happy. My inner bitter bitch was vomiting at the sight. On the other side of the desk was a picture of the three of us. That's right, not me and my mate. It was Breanne pressed against Liam's side, smiling up at him, and I was smiling at the camera on the other side. My arm was linked around his, and he was smiling, but for which female in the picture, your guess was as good as mine. I took the picture out of the frame, and bent it so that I was folded to the back. There, now he had two perfect couple pictures of him and Breanne. I will simply bow out of this weird three-way relationship. By dawn, I had already filed the official rejection agreement papers at the Council's registry office. Then I donated all the designer outfits Liam had bought me to charity. Afterward, I drove out of the pack grounds for a few hours to pawn every piece of jewelry he'd ever given me at the local broker's. I didn’t want it getting back to Liam, or the pack gossip mill to run rampant with their own speculations. Not yet anyway. It was a surprisingly large chunk of money in return, one thing I knew for sure about Liam. When he was grovelling for his indifferences and mistakes, he never cheaped out on the apology jewelry. The broker didn’t have the full amount on hand, so I opted to have it wired, which worked fine for me. I opened a new bank account and provided them with the necessary information. I returned to the packhouse early that afternoon. I had requested that the gardener cut down the Cherry Blossom tree in the pack’s courtyard. He was ordered to burn every branch and leaf until only ashes remained. When I agreed to mate with Liam, I had my reservations because his family didn’t support their Alpha heir accepting the bond to a wolfless orphan with average financial standings. Liam planted the tree as a token of his pledge of devotion to us and our bond. I fell for it, thinking it would make us stronger. But I was wrong. By late afternoon, I had either sold, donated or destroyed every token of Liam and his devotion to me and our bond: everything but the Eclipse stone pendant. Some legends state that the Moon Goddess herself blessed the eclipse stone to strengthen the will of the wolfless. Call me a fool, but it still served as a sliver of proof that at some point, he did care enough to seek out the stone for me. Now that everything was removed, it was time for me to step out and prepare everything for my new life after this month-long cooldown period ended, and I was no longer the unwanted mate of Alpha Liam Sterling. I knew I had to be smart and figure out my path now, as I had no family to turn to once the rejection was completed. When I was seven, my father had disappeared after a mountain climbing accident. It was speculated that rogues were involved, as they were heavy in the area at the time. My mother re-mated not long afterwards, and we became part of the Thorne family. They were the overlords, if you will, of the Crown of Thornes Pack, rivals of The Sterling Moon pack and next door neighbours to the territory. My mother left the Thorne family after accusations and rumours of her infidelity and gambling debts. I didn’t believe it, but it seemed that everyone else did. I had no idea where she even went. She certainly didn’t seek me out after she left that night, abandoning me. The only person who would even be considered family at this point was Lucien Thorne. He was my former stepbrother from my mother's second mating. However, Lucien was notorious for his short temper, and he constantly mistreated me while we lived under the same roof, so I would sooner wind up homeless than seek his help. The heat of Liam’s black card was burning a hole in my pocket, serving as a reminder of his literal words: “Buy whatever you want and consider it as an apology.” Okay! I will. I went to the bank and after the teller spoke with the branch manager to confirm my approval of using the Alpha’s account for a withdrawal, yup, that's right, I held no status, so I wasn’t even recognized with authority over our marital account; I withdrew one million dollars from his account. It was insulting and frustrating to know that Breanne can walk in here and not have as many hoops to jump through to get at my mate’s money. But that’s fine. I have already started to let go of my hold on him emotionally. My head has already done so. As I waited for the teller to return with the funds, my phone rang. Liyah Cruz. She was my closest friend before I accepted the bond with Liam. Liam didn’t like her influence on me, as he put it, so over the years, our friendship became strained. For her to be reaching out and calling me now, it had to be important. "Liyah? What's wrong?" I answered right away. "Oh, thank the Goddess. Claire, the International Equestrian Championships start in a month, but I just got injured during training." Liyah's voice was thick with disappointment. "Claire, you were the most talented rider we knew. I could think of no one else to take over. Could you compete in my place?" The memories came flooding back. Had I not mated with Liam, I might have become as renowned as Liyah in equestrian circles. But Liam had disapproved of me riding; he often called it unladylike. He'd gone as far as going behind my back and selling my beloved white stallion, Mirage, to a good owner, cutting off my last connection to the sport. The silence stretched until Liyah sighed. "I forgot your mate doesn't allow—" "I'll do it," I interrupted. "One month. I'll be ready." Liyah's excited squeal pierced through the receiver. "Really? Oh my Goddess! Everyone always said you shouldn't have given up your talent for mating! You're finally coming back to us!" My hand trembled around the phone. Yes, before mating into the Sterling Moon pack and Alpha family, I had shone so brightly. Before Liam, I used to be many things. I was the university's star student—straight A's in every subject. A gifted painter, champion rider, runway model, master chef, and award-winning debater—there was nothing I couldn't excel at. But three years of mating had eroded it all. I hadn't touched a paintbrush in years. I have forgotten how to walk a runway, and even lost my sharp tongue in arguments—forced to submit to even my mate's family and house staff. Only my cooking skills remained polished because I have cooked for Liam every single day since the beginning of our bond acceptance. Only now did I realize how much of myself I had sacrificed. But it wasn't too late. I could still start over. This was that chance to start taking my life by the reins, so to speak, and returning to the Claire that used to walk proudly with her chin held high. Chapter 4 Meeting on Horseback I met Liyah at the stables we once rode at together. “Thank you, Claire-bear. I can’t believe you are actually here.” Liyah launched herself on top of me, despite her knee brace. I thought I understood what I gave up to be with Liam, my mate, but I didn’t understand a fraction of it. This crazy woman, who used to be my world, wrapped around me. How did I let him separate us? “It’s me who should thank you, Lee-Lee. I’ve missed you. I’m sorry. No more boys between us, I promise.” I sobbed. Liyah looked up, and I saw the understanding in her eyes. We both wiped our faces and laughed at our equally blotchy faces. “Okay, later, we'll discuss everything!” She looked at me with as much conviction as her tiny body could muster. I nodded and smiled. “But now, let me introduce you to Diva, my stallion. Just a warning, he lives up to the name periodically. I think it’s an adorable quirk for him and refuse to break it out of him. You’ll love him!” Liyah leads us to the stables, where we meet the horse. Liyah was right. We matched instantly. It isn’t easy for a shifter to bond with a stallion, but I never had those worries. I was always able to click with any animal, to the point where Liyah's brother spent a year calling me freaking snow white! I hated it, but he wasn’t wrong. I galloped across the equestrian field at dawn, the stallion I rode was kicking up dew as it raced toward the rising sun. Then I saw them. Liam and Breanne shared a white mare, ambling toward my direction. Breanne was dressed in her pristine white riding jodhpurs with the matching show coat, leaned back against Liam's chest. Liam's attire was the stark contrast of black on black. I watched him bend his head low, whispering something in Breanne’s ear, causing a fit of giggles from her. I had waited for him to return all night. When I had reached out and called him to ask if he would be returning that night, I was told, by him, that since Breanna needed an emergency appendectomy, he would not leave her side until she recovered. That was when I cut up our photos, burning them to ashes. As I watch them now, a question came to my mind, causing my brow to arch. When did appendectomy patients start riding horses the next day? My grip tightened on the reins just as Breanne spotted me. “Oh! Liam, how spooky. Doesn’t that woman look just like Claire!”At her teasing words, I watched as Liam's head snapped up. There, I sat astride my stallion, the tailored navy riding jacket accentuating my hourglass figure, my gaze glacial. I knew he felt it. Dismounting, Liam approached until he could only see the sharp angle of my jaw. "Sweetheart, since when do you ride? I thought you quit that. You should've told me you were coming." The memory of his and Breanne’s intimate pose churned my stomach. I pressed a hand to my mouth to keep from being sick at the thought before answering flatly. "Would you have answered if I called?" This acidic tone only emerged when I was furious. Liam's smile turned placating. "My fault—left my phone in the car. It turned out to be a false alarm about Breanne's appendix. Since she's competing in the International Equestrian Championships next month, I was only helping her practice." Breanne urged her mare forward, pouting. "Liam, why must we explain everything to her? Come back, we have more important things to focus on. You haven't finished teaching me." "An International Championship contender needs amateur instruction? How curious. I wonder if anyone else here is getting that kind of coaching? But, Liam, if she requires coaching, I'll do it." As Liam turned, my voice froze him. Liam’s expression initially fell flat at my words, but he quickly brightened at my offer. "Exactly! Breanne, Claire won that championship years ago." 'How touching that he finally remembered I have value,' I thought bitterly. Breanne bit her lip. "But—" After years together, I knew Breanne’s games. She wasn’t as nervous on a horse as she portrayed. It was all an act for Liam. "No buts." I raised my riding crop. "Let's ride." The crop came down on Breanne's mare, which bolted forward with a whinny as Breanne shrieked. Liam paled. "Claire! She wasn't ready—" "Real trainers surprise their students." My amber eyes glinted. “Your coddling would've kept her mediocre forever.” Dust sprayed Liam's face as I galloped after Breanne, leaving him standing there, cheeks burning as if slapped. Good. This was just the beginning of my resistance. Breanne and I raced across the field. Though I was starting late, my black stallion, Diva, was not one to be outshone, and we soon overtook Breanne's white mare. For three years, Breanne had only seen the docile, obedient Claire. This commanding version, I’m sure, was unnerving. I could hear her growling, which, to be honest, was only slowing her own horse down. Her mare would not be able to focus on a race, with its rider losing its hold over herself. It was bound to spook her mare soon, and if she weren’t careful, she would get bucked. But as the saying goes, not my circus, not my monkeys. Diva and I were focused on ourselves. I could sense Breanne's determination to beat me. But, no matter how she pushed her champion mare, I remained ahead. As Diva and I passed her again, I caught a flash of movement from Breanne out of the corner of my eye. She pulled a hairpin out of her pocket and hurled it at Diva. That hairpin had been a gift from her friend at her birthday party, and she had been keeping it close to her chest just now. It was made of silver, and the sharp end drove hard into Diva's rump. Diva was instantly startled. Despite my expert handling and calming charm, which I have often used in the past to soothe a panicked horse, Diva threw me. I felt the gnash from the rock sticking out from the ground, which I hit my head on. The impact sending black spots across my vision—and a cry in absolute agony. My abdominal area pinched and screamed with a sharp and sudden pain like nothing I have ever felt before. There was blood on my hand when I touched it. I needed to get up. I needed to get back and get medical help because I knew Breanne wasn’t going to get me any. As I tried to push myself up off the ground with one hand, while the other was wrapped tightly around my stomach, still crying in sheer pain, a polished boot came forcefully down, cracking the bones in my hand. "Ah—!" The pain forced a gasp through clenched teeth. Chapter 5 The Two-Faced Woman "Claire, weren't you so impressive on horseback just now? How did you end up on the ground so fast?" Breanne crouched down, blinking her wide, innocent-looking eyes as she taunted me, pressing her boot harder against my hand, breaking the bones. She knew I was wolfless, and the pain she was causing; this was why she was doing it. To send me a message. I was hoping someone would come and find us, but the odds of this far from the training grounds were unlikely. "Oh my, I'm so sorry!" Breanne feigned surprise, finally lifting her foot with exaggerated remorse. "I didn't even see your hand there. How careless of me." “It’s to be expected with those massive feet of yours. What is that a size ten in men's?” I watched her eyes flash in anger briefly before she reined it back in. I yanked my hand back, and when Breanne reached out to help me up. I would always refuse her help; it was always a ploy for something worse. When she tried again, I recoiled, pushing myself up to my feet with gritted teeth. "Claire, that must've hurt. With riding skills like yours, how could you possibly think you were qualified to teach me?" Breanne smirked. "Only a fool would believe such a pitiful act, Breanne.” I glared, refusing to back down. "Oh, please. Can't accept that you're just not as good as I am? No wonder Liam doesn't like you much—you're such a sore loser." Breanne let out a mocking laugh. Breanne wasn’t hiding her petty, vindictive behaviour. She wanted me to know her intentions of returning and that she hadn't forgiven me for having her exiled. The reason Breanne was sent away a year ago was that I had walked in on her and Liam in the throes of passion. They were both half-naked and stuck to each other. Liam seemed to snap out of his daze the moment I entered the room and yanked Breanne off him. The thud of her head to the edge of the dresser brought out her wolf, and warriors nearby who heard the yelling managed to catch Breanne just in time before she could attack me. Liam sobered up instantly and demanded answers. Breanne played the confused card. That, like Liam, she had drunk a little too much at the pack celebration. She must have gotten confused about which floor she was on and passed out in mine and his bedroom, thinking it was hers. After all, his scent calms her, so she made sure to add that part—one extra little jab between Liam and me. Liam swore up and down that he was confused and thought it was me under the covers in bed. That, with the amount of wolfwine he had consumed, he didn’t realize it wasn’t me until my scent entered the room, and his wolf halted their action immediately recognizing their error. I moved to a different room, and Liam tried to separate himself from Breanne. Then he learned that Breanne approached me afterward and told me that Liam was aware it was her. After all, why would they confuse their mates? Unfortunately for Breanne, she did it in front of a witness, and they told several others, which led Liam to ask me about it. I confirmed that I knew he was aware that it was Breanne, as she told me so herself, and that I wanted to break the bond if he didn’t send her away as proof of his devotion to the mates' bond. I could see that he didn’t want to, but Liam was also someone who cared too much about image to have the wolfen community know that he lost his true mate over the Beta’s daughter affair scandal. With the third wheel gone, our mate bond had finally stabilized. I had hoped to start trying for a pup on our anniversary after I was announced as the new Luna of the Sterling Moon pack. But now Breanne was back, something of which Liam failed to inform me—especially considering it nearly ended us only a year ago. His lack of consideration over that confused me. Did his wolf also agree with this decision? Surely his wolf would realize better than Liam that this would ultimately bring out the bond to an end. "Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about," I said coolly. "But don't worry. I'll be out of your way soon. Then you two can do whatever you want." I turned away, whistling sharply for my horse. Breanne's face flushed crimson. She grabbed my arm and pressed her fingers deep into the flesh. “What the hell are you implying? What plans could I possibly have?” "You know exactly what I mean. But just a heads-up—mistresses in ranked mate bonds are illegal without Elder consent. And bastard pups tend to be shunned by packs altogether. So think carefully." Breanne's face went scarlet. "You—you're disgusting! How dare you accuse me and Liam of—" The sound of galloping hooves cut her off. Her eyes widened as though she hadn't expected us to be interrupted so soon. I turned to the sound of approaching Hooves, which gave Breanne time to growl her threat before she partially shifted and lunged at me with the intent to maul me where I stood. A chill ran down my spine—only to be overshadowed by the thunderous sound of a horse's disapproving whinny. Next thing I knew, Breanne was whimpering on the ground, crying in sheer agony as a scarred, filthy white stallion trampled her. My breath hitched, my eyes widened in disbelief. I knew this stallion. And then I saw it—the faint brown patch on the stallion's head. My blood turned to ice. No. It can’t be. "Mirage?" My voice cracked. The horse stopped mid-stomp, ears twitching. The sound of my voice stopped the Stallion from continuing its attack on Breanne, who had now reverted to her bruised human state, no longer partially shifted. The Stallion turned and looked at me. "Mirage!" I choked out, rushing forward to grab the reins. "It's really you!" I hadn't summoned my borrowed stallion. I had summoned him. My champion. My partner. My horse that Liam sold from under me, promising he went to a good home. Now, his coat was matted, his skin was patchy with disease, and his body was crisscrossed with whip marks. He was abused. Mirage had once been a regal, snow-white stallion, bought at auction by the Thornes. He had carried me to victory in countless competitions. He wasn't just a horse. He was my family. One of the most precious things I had. It took everything in me to forgive him for going behind my back and forcing me to stop riding by selling Mirage off in the first place, but it helped soothe the pain to know that at least he was being taken care of wherever he was. Liam had promised he'd be cared for. He lied. He looked me in the eye and lied to my face. He gave Mirage to a home that had continuously abused and neglected him. These wounds were a combination of old and recent. This was what Liam considered a good home? Tears burned my eyes as I ran my hands over his ruined coat. My heart was breaking. The abuse Mirage would have been enduring all this time, thinking I abandoned him. "Claire! Breanne!" Liam's voice cut through the air as another set of hooves approached. Chapter 6 The Fall The injuries and now Mirage, I was breaking inside and now outside. Just as my knees gave way, a firm hand caught my arm. "What took you so long out here? Are you all right?" Liam's voice, usually so tender, sounded distant in my ears. Through my tears, I turned to confront him about Mirage's condition, but Breanne's weak whimper cut through the air. "Liam.” She whimpered weakly. “Please, help me,” she pleaded. Liam stiffened as if struck. He released me immediately, like he was catching fire at just the mere touch of me. I staggered from the sudden loss of assistance and contact from my mate, and watched in disbelief as his attention snapped to Breanne's crumpled form on the ground. "Breanne!" His eyes reddened as he gathered her into his arms, cradling her close to her chest, "Oh my Goddess, what happened? How did this—?" I watched as he gently wiped away the tears staining her cheek. His eyes began to mist up. It was as though I were watching a live-action romance. The long-lost lover, dying in her beloved's arms. It would have been touching if it wasn't for the fact that that was my mate, holding another woman so tenderly while I stood five feet from them in significantly more pain. "Claire couldn't handle her horse. When I offered to help her back up, she then turned it around and blamed me! When I tried to explain I wasn’t at fault, she set that wretched beast on me!" Breanne's tears fell like broken pearls. Her voice grew faint as she added dramatically, "Liam, please, I can't feel my legs. What if I never walk again?" Liam's expression darkened as he listened to Breanne’s version of events. He turned to me with a sudden coldness I had never seen before. "Is this true?" He growled in anger, clutching Breanne closer to him protectively. A searing pain tore through my abdomen before I could respond. I cried out at the suddenness of it, and clutched my stomach, gasping through clenched teeth as metallic bile rose in my throat. Liam didn’t even flinch at the sight of my obvious pain before him. "I'm taking Breanne to the hospital," he said coldly. "If you did this, Claire—" He left the threat hanging as he cradled Breanne closer. I have never heard of an Alpha, or any rank member in my school studies or observations, threatening his mates and Luna over just a friend. It was against Wolfen code and ethics, but I suppose that didn’t matter to Liam or the Sterling Moon pack. This was going to become a regular occurrence, I could already sense it. I watched through blurred vision as Breanne gave one last performance. "Liam, I—" Her eyelids fluttered shut with theatrical perfection. "Bree-Bree! Stay with me! Please don’t leave me, baby. I’m here. Don’t you dare leave me!" Liam shouted, already running partially shifted into his wolf to allow himself to cradle her and use his Alpha wolf strength and speed at the same time. Behind him, I collapsed with a thud that echoed across the field. I briefly saw Liam hesitate mid-stride—just for a second. Regardless, he didn’t turn around at the sound of my collapse and shallow, laboured breaths. I watched as they continued to run away with Breanne in their arms, leaving me where I lay. My heart broke, even though I had filed and decided to leave both Liam and this horrible pack; a small part of me still held onto a sliver of hope that Liam would see the path he was taking and how far it was from us. But he didn’t, and that was when everything went dark for me. ***** When I regained consciousness, the sterile glare of surgical lights assaulted my vision. Cold metal instruments clinked nearby as my legs were positioned apart. I tried to speak, but the drugs held me paralyzed. The doctors' voices floated above me like ghosts. I could sense the movements around me, but I was awake, unable to move, feel, or speak. It was a surreal experience, but oddly familiar to my life since I had mated with the Sterling family. Nothing more than an ornament on the wall to all, including my mate. "Such a shame—two months along. Who goes horseback riding when they're pregnant?" "The fall detached the embryo completely. Must have been quite the impact. She is lucky to be alive." "Without a wolf, another hour, and she wouldn’t have been." "That man who brought her in—was that her husband? He was colder than a block of ice, but as Handsome as the Devil himself. Can’t say much about their mateship part, he simply paid the bill and left without a word." "Enough chatter. Let’s finish this up before she hemorrhages." Each medical term floating to my ears—pregnancy, embryo, hemorrhage, dilation and curettage—pierced my drugged haze like silver blades to the heart. The one that stuck out the most was broken. I knew they were talking about my hand, but it was so much deeper than that. I felt broken. I lost my pup. Until recently, I would have loved to have Liam and my first pup. Everything about us seemed happy and together, but now, it seemed symbolic to lose the pups I never knew I had. I was losing a mate I should never have had to fight this hard to keep. Everything was perfect until I saw it was all a smoke screen and not meant to be. Just like this pup. False hope. I struggled against the numbness, but my body refused to obey. Something sharp scraped inside me, painless but violating. The crushing weight of realization dragged me under before I could scream, I was once again enveloped by empty darkness. "Claire ... Claire ..." Time lost all meaning. A distant voice called my name while someone shook my arm. With monumental effort, I forced my eyes open. Once again, the antiseptic glare of hospital lights assaulted my vision—I was in a hospital room.
"""Please, Liam, I just lost our baby. Don't let them take my blood."" My voice was barely a whisper, my body still trembling from the surgery—from the emptiness where our child used to be. But my husband didn't even look at me. His gaze was fixed on the ER doors, where doctors shouted about Breanne's critical blood loss. Breanne Telder. The Beta's daughter. His best friend. The woman he swore was""just like a sister.” The same woman who caused the fall that cost me our pup. ""She's RH-negative and we're out of stock. Find donors—now!"" The surgeon said urgently. ""Take hers."" Liam's arm slid around my waist—not to comfort me, not to hold me—but to push me forward like an offering.""Wolfless born shifters are universal donors. Her blood will save Breanne."" I froze as if struck by lightning, my disbelieving eyes lifting to meet his. Did he and his wolf even realize what they'd done? They didn't have to say the rejection—offering their mate's blood to another woman screamed it loud enough. ""Liam,"" I managed to whisper, ""I just lost our pup—"" ""Spare me the lies. I am done believing you!"" His eyes were cold steel. ""Breanne's life comes first right now."" The words cut deeper than any blade. I straightened, ignoring the spinning in my head, every inch of me trembling but unbroken. ""You've made your choice, Liam. And after today…"" my voice didn't crack this time ""I'll make mine."" The doctor's hand gripped my arm, leading me toward the blood lab. ""I'll donate the blood,"" I didn't fight it. ""But in return, you will agree to end our mate bond.”" ***** Chapter 1 Dropping the Mate I stood at the gate of the Sterling Moon Packhouse, clutching a cake box that had begun to melt in the summer heat. My usually pristine blonde hair was now stuck to my neck and face in damp strands, and my designer dress was now ruined with mud and swamp stains. I hadn't meant to arrive at my third mating anniversary looking like I had been dragged through a hedge backward and then tossed in the swamp lands beyond the pack grounds. But then again, being cornered and ambushed by rogues, conveniently knowing my whereabouts without an escort or protection, wasn't exactly part of my agenda either. A mysterious yet heroic stranger had rescued me and driven me back to the edge of my mate’s pack territory when Liam Sterling, my mate and the pack's Alpha, hadn't answered any of my fifteen frantic calls. I had almost convinced myself he was simply busy orchestrating some grand anniversary surprise. That had to be it. Otherwise, why else would he send me out alone for the cake retrieval and then not bother to answer my calls? I quickened my pace toward the entrance of the packhouse, not wanting to delay the celebration any longer than I already had. I rounded the corner only to stop dead at the sight before me. The entire packhouse had been transformed with floral arches, helium balloons, and an enormous banner. My fingers tightened around the cake box. I had doubts about walking into the grand hall; perhaps I should slip upstairs to change first. Then Liam's familiar voice called out. "There's my beautiful mate! Took you long enough, sweetheart. Everyone's waiting for the cake. Were the directions not clear enough?" He teased, not taking in the dishevelled state of my appearance or the fact that my smile didn’t reach my eyes. He often failed to see me. I looked up to find my mate looking devastatingly handsome in a white Tom Ford suit, his gray waistcoat accentuating those broad shoulders I used to trace my fingers over. He hadn't dressed like this for me in years. I pushed aside the gnawing doubts starting to fill my heart and embraced the fact that he was trying to make things right. This was not the time to voice my disappointments with his lack of attention or concern. We're here to celebrate our mate bond with the pack. This was also the year that he promised to swear me in as the official Luna, to lead by his side. Three years of proving myself capable despite not having a wolf of my own, and now here we were. My lips began curving into a smile despite myself. Maybe the rogues and the ambush, the ruined dress, the ignored calls—perhaps none of it mattered now that I was home. Liam would keep me safe, and we were going to announce that I was stepping into a role that should have been mine when we first mated. "Liam, I was just—" I was about to explain the rogues, the ambush, the mysterious saviour, but was cut off mid-sentence. "Liam! Is that my cake?" A shrill voice interrupted as Breanne Telder materialized behind Liam, looping her arm through his as though it was where she belonged. She was Liam’s father's Beta’s daughter. Otherwise known as the third wheel in our relationship and the pick me girl that Liam always did. She was also not supposed to be here. She was sent away a while ago, and Liam promised to focus solely on us. "You flew me home just for this birthday surprise? Best Alpha bestie ever!" The cake box slipped from my fingers, landing with a sickening splat on the custom marble flooring beneath me. The same flooring I wanted to either swallow me or Breanna up in this moment. Birthday surprise? What the hell did that mean? Those two words echoed in my skull like gunshots. For weeks, I had known Liam was planning something secretive. The custom-ordered flowers were delivered under the cover of darkness. The expensive Eclipse Stone rough he'd purchased at auction. All those whispered phone calls I had pretended not to hear. It all led to this moment, but it wasn’t the moment I had expected. I had woven every scrap of evidence into fantasies of candlelit vows renewed, of Liam dropping to one knee all over again. Even when he hadn't picked up during my attack from rogues, I had made excuses for him. Now Breanne's smug smile shattered those delusions like a hammer through stained glass. "What the hell were you thinking, Claire?" Stephanie Sterling's razor-sharp heels clicked across the flooring as she advanced. "We've been waiting two hours for that cake! You can’t do one single task; no wonder you will never be Luna material for the Sterling Moon pack." Stephanie was Liam's mother. From the moment I mated into the Alpha family, Stephanie had made no secret of her dislike; she was the reason Liam was convinced to hold off and force me to prove myself as Luna material. Over time, that contempt had only grown bolder, more vicious, no longer even pretending to hide it. Failing to see Liam, their Alpha, standing up for me, much of the pack started to support and see the validity in the points that their retired Luna was making. My hands shook. "This was supposed to be our anniversary party." Liam caught my elbow and steered me out of the room for privacy. "Baby, I'd planned a surprise for you, but Breanne asked for a pack-wide birthday celebration when she returned, so—" "So, instead of standing up for your mate, yet again, you conceded and did what they wanted. It’s fine for me to be let down, but not her? Message received, Liam." I wrenched my arm free, the movement sending fresh pain through my bruised ribs from the attack. I doubled over with a gasp. Before Liam could reach for me, Stephanie's voice sliced through the garden again. "Liam! Stop coddling her and get over here. This is why the wolfless should never hold ranks; they're weak and attention grabbers. Forget the cake, we'll just serve the petit fours instead." "Coming." He hesitated, then pressed a kiss to my temple. "We'll talk later." I remained crouched in the foyer of the packhouse as another wave of pain, this one far deeper than physical, crashed over me. Not a single pack member had asked why I looked like I'd been in a car wreck, why I'd been crying. From the other room where everyone gathered, the opening chords of "Happy Birthday" floated toward me. Each syrupy note felt like another papercut to my heart. It hit me suddenly—I hadn't celebrated a birthday since mating into the Alpha family, not once, though my own fell just days apart from Breanne's. And Liam had known this; he made a joke about the coincidence of his two best gals' being birthday buddies, but mine was always overshadowed. He quickly forgot about mine. I wiped my cheeks, giving myself a self-mocking smile. I should have known better than to hope for something more than what I already received. As the sun dipped low, I rose, my shadow stretching lonely behind me. Without a word, I climbed the stairs and clicked the bedroom door shut of the Alpha suite. Under the bathroom's harsh lighting, I peeled off my ruined dress and threw it in the trash. Steam fogged the mirrors as I scrubbed at skin that still felt dirty from the rogue's hands. I stayed under the scalding water until my fingers pruned. Wrapped in an oversized robe, I sat curled on the window seat watching party lights twinkle below until the last guest departed. At 11:00 PM, the bedroom door finally creaked open. I didn't turn when Liam's familiar cologne filled the room. I heard him hang up his jacket, then felt his whiskey-warm hands on my shoulders. "Happy anniversary, my beautiful, stunning mate." His lips brushed my ear. "Guess what I got you?" I shrugged him off. "I honestly don't care." He knelt before me, producing a velvet box with the flourish of a magician. "I had this carved from that Eclipse Stone rough. It is rumoured to help awaken latent wolfen spirits, strengthen auras and bring new beginnings.” Liam fastened the pendant around my neck. The cold stone settled between my chest like a brand. "Stunning." He kissed the hollow of my throat. "I was thinking that it’s been three years since we mated, and you have done so well proving yourself to me and this pack. I want us to now try for a pup. Bring this pack a new heir.” "Yeah, that’s not happening," I rejected the idea instantly. His chuckle was dark velvet. "You won't have to lift a finger, darling. I'll do all the—" "Liam." I met his gaze for the first time that night. “I want to submit an official request to break our mate bond!” Chapter 2 This Time, His Sweet Talk Won't Work My mind was made up before he finally came to our room. This wasn't like my previous impulsive threats in an attempt to get him to see the mistakes he was continuously making in our bond. This time, I was genuinely determined to leave. Three years of mateship flashed through my mind. I had lost count of how many times Liam had prioritized Breanne over my feelings or dismissed me because his mother said so. Who was his mate, and who was just a friend? I could no longer answer that question, and I was tired of trying to defend us. We weren’t bonded. Not the way the typical Alpha and mate were. It was usual for an Alpha never to leave his Luna’s side. She was his number one priority, even though the pack came second. The Alpha's mate was the heart of the pack and respected as an equal, but I was neither of those things. I haven’t been from the start. Breanne, even though she was briefly sent away, was still respected and noticed more than I could even hope for. If someone kept treating you in ways you disliked, it was because you allowed it. I had let it slide every other time. But today, Liam had crossed my final line. This day was our third anniversary. I didn’t care that he forgot my birthday, dinners, or events we planned together. I did, however, care about this milestone moment. A promise he made was long forgotten. This was that tipping point for my patience. “Really, Claire? You are threatening to reject our mate bond again? Don't say that every time you're upset, sweetheart. I was wrong about today. I'll make it up to you tomorrow." My eyes showed no emotion. “Don't bother. Not everything can be made up, and you can only backburner your mate for so long before she grows tired of being at the bottom of the priorities, Liam.” "Of course, this can be fixed. There's always next year. We will have a pup by then, and you will have long forgotten this little hiccup and tantrum." Liam pushed me down onto the sofa, kissing my face tenderly. With my hands pinned above my head, I wasn’t able to push him off. He expected the topic of having pups would appease me and calm my boiling anger. I had had enough of his nonsense and non-committal ways. I stared blankly at the ceiling as tears unexpectedly rolled down my cheeks. I lay like a dead weight. In the past, whenever we would fight or I would throw a tantrum, as Liam would title it, all he would do was use the mate bond against me. His kisses, his touch, his desires would wear me down, and I would accept his hollowed words of apology and his flashy gifts as though they meant something more than pacifying childish behaviour, in his mind. But this time, even though he held me down and I couldn’t resist, I was also not participating or encouraging him to continue. He was so self-absorbed that he couldn’t even realize that I wasn’t a willing participant. I was motionless, soundless, non-responsive. As Liam kept kissing me, his hands touched every part of my bruised body, utterly unaware of the pain he was inflicting both physically and emotionally. I felt his body suddenly freeze at the sound of a whimpered sob that slipped out of me. He looked out with hooded eyes, which quickly sobered and turned serious when he saw the tears in my eyes. His expression was frozen in panic. "Baby, why are you crying?" He quickly turned on the light. "Wait—you seemed off when you came home. Did something happen?" Finally, he remembered, but the damage between us was already done. My heart twisted, wishing that it didn’t take crying while he wanted sex to cover his mistakes for him to notice something was wrong. At the thought of how much distance was between us, more tears fell. Under the light, Liam finally saw the slight swelling on my face, the scratches on my arms and body, and the deep gash on my right leg with dried blood. His pupils contracted. "What happened?" I could sense his wolf stirring under the surface. It was clear that someone had hurt me, but they were only now realizing it. Just as I opened my mouth, his phone rang. I looked at the screen and rolled my eyes. Of course, it was Breanne. Liam sighed and offered a small apologetic smile before he answered in front of me. "Breanne, what's wrong?" "Liam, I think I ate something bad. My stomach hurts so much. Can you take me to the hospital?" Breanne's sugary voice came through. Liam automatically started to agree. I could see his eyes widen with panic at the thought that she was in pain. But right before he responded, he looked at me and my reddened, tear-filled eyes. "It's late. Claire and I are already in bed. Ask Mom if there's any medicine at home." Stephanie's sharp voice interrupted, "Liam, come now! This isn't ordinary pain. It could be appendicitis! She's pale as a ghost!" Liam's brow furrowed. "Fine. I'm coming." My heart sank like a stone. I shook my head in disbelief and turned away, refusing to meet his eyes. Yet again, I was pushed aside. Liam dressed quickly but hesitated at the door. After a long moment, he took my hand. "You're hurt too. Come with me, we'll get you checked at the hospital." That single word, "too", cut like a knife. I laughed dryly. "No need. Go ahead, play hero for another woman. If your mate's pain is less important than staying and understanding what happened, then your friend who has a stomach ache, don’t bother dragging me around like an accessory with false concern. I'd rather be alone." Liam stiffened. He opened his mouth to speak, but the phone kept ringing insistently. Finally, he sighed and pressed his black card into my hand. "Buy whatever you want. Consider it an apology." The door slammed shut. I weighed the card in my palm and smiled bitterly. Liam only ever had two ways to appease me—sex or money. It used to work. I fooled myself into believing it meant he cared, that he wasn’t good with expressing emotions, but I saw it for what it was now. This time, his sweet talk won't work. I walked to the closet and in the back corner, I pulled out my old suitcase. Inside was the most valuable thing I owned. My freedom. It was an official Rejection agreement signed the night before our mating. Back then, Liam had insisted on accepting our mate bond despite his family's objections. Afraid of being trapped in a toxic pack and mating, I had made him sign this; if I ever wanted to break the bond, he had to agree unconditionally. I thought we’d never need it. Liam had probably forgotten it existed. But I hadn't. During one fight, I had even consulted a lawyer who confirmed its validity. I could file for an official rejection of the bond with just this document and 30 days cooling-off period. Since he had already signed it, there was no need for Liam's consent for me to file it now. The Elders within the Council would perform the rejection ceremony within their own chambers. There was no need for either of us to be present. That was typically why Alphas refrained from preemptively signing these types of contracts. It relinquished control without their knowledge. Now was the time. Chapter 3 The Breaking Point I didn't sleep all night; I couldn’t. Instead, I spent those hours cutting up every photograph of us together. There weren’t many, I realized. My phone was filled with pictures of Liam whenever I could sneak photos when he was distracted or busy. He was honestly an Adonis of a man. But three years together, we had exactly twenty-three pictures of us together as a couple, and only thirteen of those were just Liam and me. The remaining ten were with Breanne. I snuck downstairs before anyone else woke up and went into Liam's office. There on the desk was a picture. It was of him and Breanne, hugging and smiling into the camera. They looked happy. Too happy. My inner bitter bitch was vomiting at the sight. On the other side of the desk was a picture of the three of us. That's right, not me and my mate. It was Breanne pressed against Liam's side, smiling up at him, and I was smiling at the camera on the other side. My arm was linked around his, and he was smiling, but for which female in the picture, your guess was as good as mine. I took the picture out of the frame, and bent it so that I was folded to the back. There, now he had two perfect couple pictures of him and Breanne. I will simply bow out of this weird three-way relationship. By dawn, I had already filed the official rejection agreement papers at the Council's registry office. Then I donated all the designer outfits Liam had bought me to charity. Afterward, I drove out of the pack grounds for a few hours to pawn every piece of jewelry he'd ever given me at the local broker's. I didn’t want it getting back to Liam, or the pack gossip mill to run rampant with their own speculations. Not yet anyway. It was a surprisingly large chunk of money in return, one thing I knew for sure about Liam. When he was grovelling for his indifferences and mistakes, he never cheaped out on the apology jewelry. The broker didn’t have the full amount on hand, so I opted to have it wired, which worked fine for me. I opened a new bank account and provided them with the necessary information. I returned to the packhouse early that afternoon. I had requested that the gardener cut down the Cherry Blossom tree in the pack’s courtyard. He was ordered to burn every branch and leaf until only ashes remained. When I agreed to mate with Liam, I had my reservations because his family didn’t support their Alpha heir accepting the bond to a wolfless orphan with average financial standings. Liam planted the tree as a token of his pledge of devotion to us and our bond. I fell for it, thinking it would make us stronger. But I was wrong. By late afternoon, I had either sold, donated or destroyed every token of Liam and his devotion to me and our bond: everything but the Eclipse stone pendant. Some legends state that the Moon Goddess herself blessed the eclipse stone to strengthen the will of the wolfless. Call me a fool, but it still served as a sliver of proof that at some point, he did care enough to seek out the stone for me. Now that everything was removed, it was time for me to step out and prepare everything for my new life after this month-long cooldown period ended, and I was no longer the unwanted mate of Alpha Liam Sterling. I knew I had to be smart and figure out my path now, as I had no family to turn to once the rejection was completed. When I was seven, my father had disappeared after a mountain climbing accident. It was speculated that rogues were involved, as they were heavy in the area at the time. My mother re-mated not long afterwards, and we became part of the Thorne family. They were the overlords, if you will, of the Crown of Thornes Pack, rivals of The Sterling Moon pack and next door neighbours to the territory. My mother left the Thorne family after accusations and rumours of her infidelity and gambling debts. I didn’t believe it, but it seemed that everyone else did. I had no idea where she even went. She certainly didn’t seek me out after she left that night, abandoning me. The only person who would even be considered family at this point was Lucien Thorne. He was my former stepbrother from my mother's second mating. However, Lucien was notorious for his short temper, and he constantly mistreated me while we lived under the same roof, so I would sooner wind up homeless than seek his help. The heat of Liam’s black card was burning a hole in my pocket, serving as a reminder of his literal words: “Buy whatever you want and consider it as an apology.” Okay! I will. I went to the bank and after the teller spoke with the branch manager to confirm my approval of using the Alpha’s account for a withdrawal, yup, that's right, I held no status, so I wasn’t even recognized with authority over our marital account; I withdrew one million dollars from his account. It was insulting and frustrating to know that Breanne can walk in here and not have as many hoops to jump through to get at my mate’s money. But that’s fine. I have already started to let go of my hold on him emotionally. My head has already done so. As I waited for the teller to return with the funds, my phone rang. Liyah Cruz. She was my closest friend before I accepted the bond with Liam. Liam didn’t like her influence on me, as he put it, so over the years, our friendship became strained. For her to be reaching out and calling me now, it had to be important. "Liyah? What's wrong?" I answered right away. "Oh, thank the Goddess. Claire, the International Equestrian Championships start in a month, but I just got injured during training." Liyah's voice was thick with disappointment. "Claire, you were the most talented rider we knew. I could think of no one else to take over. Could you compete in my place?" The memories came flooding back. Had I not mated with Liam, I might have become as renowned as Liyah in equestrian circles. But Liam had disapproved of me riding; he often called it unladylike. He'd gone as far as going behind my back and selling my beloved white stallion, Mirage, to a good owner, cutting off my last connection to the sport. The silence stretched until Liyah sighed. "I forgot your mate doesn't allow—" "I'll do it," I interrupted. "One month. I'll be ready." Liyah's excited squeal pierced through the receiver. "Really? Oh my Goddess! Everyone always said you shouldn't have given up your talent for mating! You're finally coming back to us!" My hand trembled around the phone. Yes, before mating into the Sterling Moon pack and Alpha family, I had shone so brightly. Before Liam, I used to be many things. I was the university's star student—straight A's in every subject. A gifted painter, champion rider, runway model, master chef, and award-winning debater—there was nothing I couldn't excel at. But three years of mating had eroded it all. I hadn't touched a paintbrush in years. I have forgotten how to walk a runway, and even lost my sharp tongue in arguments—forced to submit to even my mate's family and house staff. Only my cooking skills remained polished because I have cooked for Liam every single day since the beginning of our bond acceptance. Only now did I realize how much of myself I had sacrificed. But it wasn't too late. I could still start over. This was that chance to start taking my life by the reins, so to speak, and returning to the Claire that used to walk proudly with her chin held high. Chapter 4 Meeting on Horseback I met Liyah at the stables we once rode at together. “Thank you, Claire-bear. I can’t believe you are actually here.” Liyah launched herself on top of me, despite her knee brace. I thought I understood what I gave up to be with Liam, my mate, but I didn’t understand a fraction of it. This crazy woman, who used to be my world, wrapped around me. How did I let him separate us? “It’s me who should thank you, Lee-Lee. I’ve missed you. I’m sorry. No more boys between us, I promise.” I sobbed. Liyah looked up, and I saw the understanding in her eyes. We both wiped our faces and laughed at our equally blotchy faces. “Okay, later, we'll discuss everything!” She looked at me with as much conviction as her tiny body could muster. I nodded and smiled. “But now, let me introduce you to Diva, my stallion. Just a warning, he lives up to the name periodically. I think it’s an adorable quirk for him and refuse to break it out of him. You’ll love him!” Liyah leads us to the stables, where we meet the horse. Liyah was right. We matched instantly. It isn’t easy for a shifter to bond with a stallion, but I never had those worries. I was always able to click with any animal, to the point where Liyah's brother spent a year calling me freaking snow white! I hated it, but he wasn’t wrong. I galloped across the equestrian field at dawn, the stallion I rode was kicking up dew as it raced toward the rising sun. Then I saw them. Liam and Breanne shared a white mare, ambling toward my direction. Breanne was dressed in her pristine white riding jodhpurs with the matching show coat, leaned back against Liam's chest. Liam's attire was the stark contrast of black on black. I watched him bend his head low, whispering something in Breanne’s ear, causing a fit of giggles from her. I had waited for him to return all night. When I had reached out and called him to ask if he would be returning that night, I was told, by him, that since Breanna needed an emergency appendectomy, he would not leave her side until she recovered. That was when I cut up our photos, burning them to ashes. As I watch them now, a question came to my mind, causing my brow to arch. When did appendectomy patients start riding horses the next day? My grip tightened on the reins just as Breanne spotted me. “Oh! Liam, how spooky. Doesn’t that woman look just like Claire!”At her teasing words, I watched as Liam's head snapped up. There, I sat astride my stallion, the tailored navy riding jacket accentuating my hourglass figure, my gaze glacial. I knew he felt it. Dismounting, Liam approached until he could only see the sharp angle of my jaw. "Sweetheart, since when do you ride? I thought you quit that. You should've told me you were coming." The memory of his and Breanne’s intimate pose churned my stomach. I pressed a hand to my mouth to keep from being sick at the thought before answering flatly. "Would you have answered if I called?" This acidic tone only emerged when I was furious. Liam's smile turned placating. "My fault—left my phone in the car. It turned out to be a false alarm about Breanne's appendix. Since she's competing in the International Equestrian Championships next month, I was only helping her practice." Breanne urged her mare forward, pouting. "Liam, why must we explain everything to her? Come back, we have more important things to focus on. You haven't finished teaching me." "An International Championship contender needs amateur instruction? How curious. I wonder if anyone else here is getting that kind of coaching? But, Liam, if she requires coaching, I'll do it." As Liam turned, my voice froze him. Liam’s expression initially fell flat at my words, but he quickly brightened at my offer. "Exactly! Breanne, Claire won that championship years ago." 'How touching that he finally remembered I have value,' I thought bitterly. Breanne bit her lip. "But—" After years together, I knew Breanne’s games. She wasn’t as nervous on a horse as she portrayed. It was all an act for Liam. "No buts." I raised my riding crop. "Let's ride." The crop came down on Breanne's mare, which bolted forward with a whinny as Breanne shrieked. Liam paled. "Claire! She wasn't ready—" "Real trainers surprise their students." My amber eyes glinted. “Your coddling would've kept her mediocre forever.” Dust sprayed Liam's face as I galloped after Breanne, leaving him standing there, cheeks burning as if slapped. Good. This was just the beginning of my resistance. Breanne and I raced across the field. Though I was starting late, my black stallion, Diva, was not one to be outshone, and we soon overtook Breanne's white mare. For three years, Breanne had only seen the docile, obedient Claire. This commanding version, I’m sure, was unnerving. I could hear her growling, which, to be honest, was only slowing her own horse down. Her mare would not be able to focus on a race, with its rider losing its hold over herself. It was bound to spook her mare soon, and if she weren’t careful, she would get bucked. But as the saying goes, not my circus, not my monkeys. Diva and I were focused on ourselves. I could sense Breanne's determination to beat me. But, no matter how she pushed her champion mare, I remained ahead. As Diva and I passed her again, I caught a flash of movement from Breanne out of the corner of my eye. She pulled a hairpin out of her pocket and hurled it at Diva. That hairpin had been a gift from her friend at her birthday party, and she had been keeping it close to her chest just now. It was made of silver, and the sharp end drove hard into Diva's rump. Diva was instantly startled. Despite my expert handling and calming charm, which I have often used in the past to soothe a panicked horse, Diva threw me. I felt the gnash from the rock sticking out from the ground, which I hit my head on. The impact sending black spots across my vision—and a cry in absolute agony. My abdominal area pinched and screamed with a sharp and sudden pain like nothing I have ever felt before. There was blood on my hand when I touched it. I needed to get up. I needed to get back and get medical help because I knew Breanne wasn’t going to get me any. As I tried to push myself up off the ground with one hand, while the other was wrapped tightly around my stomach, still crying in sheer pain, a polished boot came forcefully down, cracking the bones in my hand. "Ah—!" The pain forced a gasp through clenched teeth. Chapter 5 The Two-Faced Woman "Claire, weren't you so impressive on horseback just now? How did you end up on the ground so fast?" Breanne crouched down, blinking her wide, innocent-looking eyes as she taunted me, pressing her boot harder against my hand, breaking the bones. She knew I was wolfless, and the pain she was causing; this was why she was doing it. To send me a message. I was hoping someone would come and find us, but the odds of this far from the training grounds were unlikely. "Oh my, I'm so sorry!" Breanne feigned surprise, finally lifting her foot with exaggerated remorse. "I didn't even see your hand there. How careless of me." “It’s to be expected with those massive feet of yours. What is that a size ten in men's?” I watched her eyes flash in anger briefly before she reined it back in. I yanked my hand back, and when Breanne reached out to help me up. I would always refuse her help; it was always a ploy for something worse. When she tried again, I recoiled, pushing myself up to my feet with gritted teeth. "Claire, that must've hurt. With riding skills like yours, how could you possibly think you were qualified to teach me?" Breanne smirked. "Only a fool would believe such a pitiful act, Breanne.” I glared, refusing to back down. "Oh, please. Can't accept that you're just not as good as I am? No wonder Liam doesn't like you much—you're such a sore loser." Breanne let out a mocking laugh. Breanne wasn’t hiding her petty, vindictive behaviour. She wanted me to know her intentions of returning and that she hadn't forgiven me for having her exiled. The reason Breanne was sent away a year ago was that I had walked in on her and Liam in the throes of passion. They were both half-naked and stuck to each other. Liam seemed to snap out of his daze the moment I entered the room and yanked Breanne off him. The thud of her head to the edge of the dresser brought out her wolf, and warriors nearby who heard the yelling managed to catch Breanne just in time before she could attack me. Liam sobered up instantly and demanded answers. Breanne played the confused card. That, like Liam, she had drunk a little too much at the pack celebration. She must have gotten confused about which floor she was on and passed out in mine and his bedroom, thinking it was hers. After all, his scent calms her, so she made sure to add that part—one extra little jab between Liam and me. Liam swore up and down that he was confused and thought it was me under the covers in bed. That, with the amount of wolfwine he had consumed, he didn’t realize it wasn’t me until my scent entered the room, and his wolf halted their action immediately recognizing their error. I moved to a different room, and Liam tried to separate himself from Breanne. Then he learned that Breanne approached me afterward and told me that Liam was aware it was her. After all, why would they confuse their mates? Unfortunately for Breanne, she did it in front of a witness, and they told several others, which led Liam to ask me about it. I confirmed that I knew he was aware that it was Breanne, as she told me so herself, and that I wanted to break the bond if he didn’t send her away as proof of his devotion to the mates' bond. I could see that he didn’t want to, but Liam was also someone who cared too much about image to have the wolfen community know that he lost his true mate over the Beta’s daughter affair scandal. With the third wheel gone, our mate bond had finally stabilized. I had hoped to start trying for a pup on our anniversary after I was announced as the new Luna of the Sterling Moon pack. But now Breanne was back, something of which Liam failed to inform me—especially considering it nearly ended us only a year ago. His lack of consideration over that confused me. Did his wolf also agree with this decision? Surely his wolf would realize better than Liam that this would ultimately bring out the bond to an end. "Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about," I said coolly. "But don't worry. I'll be out of your way soon. Then you two can do whatever you want." I turned away, whistling sharply for my horse. Breanne's face flushed crimson. She grabbed my arm and pressed her fingers deep into the flesh. “What the hell are you implying? What plans could I possibly have?” "You know exactly what I mean. But just a heads-up—mistresses in ranked mate bonds are illegal without Elder consent. And bastard pups tend to be shunned by packs altogether. So think carefully." Breanne's face went scarlet. "You—you're disgusting! How dare you accuse me and Liam of—" The sound of galloping hooves cut her off. Her eyes widened as though she hadn't expected us to be interrupted so soon. I turned to the sound of approaching Hooves, which gave Breanne time to growl her threat before she partially shifted and lunged at me with the intent to maul me where I stood. A chill ran down my spine—only to be overshadowed by the thunderous sound of a horse's disapproving whinny. Next thing I knew, Breanne was whimpering on the ground, crying in sheer agony as a scarred, filthy white stallion trampled her. My breath hitched, my eyes widened in disbelief. I knew this stallion. And then I saw it—the faint brown patch on the stallion's head. My blood turned to ice. No. It can’t be. "Mirage?" My voice cracked. The horse stopped mid-stomp, ears twitching. The sound of my voice stopped the Stallion from continuing its attack on Breanne, who had now reverted to her bruised human state, no longer partially shifted. The Stallion turned and looked at me. "Mirage!" I choked out, rushing forward to grab the reins. "It's really you!" I hadn't summoned my borrowed stallion. I had summoned him. My champion. My partner. My horse that Liam sold from under me, promising he went to a good home. Now, his coat was matted, his skin was patchy with disease, and his body was crisscrossed with whip marks. He was abused. Mirage had once been a regal, snow-white stallion, bought at auction by the Thornes. He had carried me to victory in countless competitions. He wasn't just a horse. He was my family. One of the most precious things I had. It took everything in me to forgive him for going behind my back and forcing me to stop riding by selling Mirage off in the first place, but it helped soothe the pain to know that at least he was being taken care of wherever he was. Liam had promised he'd be cared for. He lied. He looked me in the eye and lied to my face. He gave Mirage to a home that had continuously abused and neglected him. These wounds were a combination of old and recent. This was what Liam considered a good home? Tears burned my eyes as I ran my hands over his ruined coat. My heart was breaking. The abuse Mirage would have been enduring all this time, thinking I abandoned him. "Claire! Breanne!" Liam's voice cut through the air as another set of hooves approached. Chapter 6 The Fall The injuries and now Mirage, I was breaking inside and now outside. Just as my knees gave way, a firm hand caught my arm. "What took you so long out here? Are you all right?" Liam's voice, usually so tender, sounded distant in my ears. Through my tears, I turned to confront him about Mirage's condition, but Breanne's weak whimper cut through the air. "Liam.” She whimpered weakly. “Please, help me,” she pleaded. Liam stiffened as if struck. He released me immediately, like he was catching fire at just the mere touch of me. I staggered from the sudden loss of assistance and contact from my mate, and watched in disbelief as his attention snapped to Breanne's crumpled form on the ground. "Breanne!" His eyes reddened as he gathered her into his arms, cradling her close to her chest, "Oh my Goddess, what happened? How did this—?" I watched as he gently wiped away the tears staining her cheek. His eyes began to mist up. It was as though I were watching a live-action romance. The long-lost lover, dying in her beloved's arms. It would have been touching if it wasn't for the fact that that was my mate, holding another woman so tenderly while I stood five feet from them in significantly more pain. "Claire couldn't handle her horse. When I offered to help her back up, she then turned it around and blamed me! When I tried to explain I wasn’t at fault, she set that wretched beast on me!" Breanne's tears fell like broken pearls. Her voice grew faint as she added dramatically, "Liam, please, I can't feel my legs. What if I never walk again?" Liam's expression darkened as he listened to Breanne’s version of events. He turned to me with a sudden coldness I had never seen before. "Is this true?" He growled in anger, clutching Breanne closer to him protectively. A searing pain tore through my abdomen before I could respond. I cried out at the suddenness of it, and clutched my stomach, gasping through clenched teeth as metallic bile rose in my throat. Liam didn’t even flinch at the sight of my obvious pain before him. "I'm taking Breanne to the hospital," he said coldly. "If you did this, Claire—" He left the threat hanging as he cradled Breanne closer. I have never heard of an Alpha, or any rank member in my school studies or observations, threatening his mates and Luna over just a friend. It was against Wolfen code and ethics, but I suppose that didn’t matter to Liam or the Sterling Moon pack. This was going to become a regular occurrence, I could already sense it. I watched through blurred vision as Breanne gave one last performance. "Liam, I—" Her eyelids fluttered shut with theatrical perfection. "Bree-Bree! Stay with me! Please don’t leave me, baby. I’m here. Don’t you dare leave me!" Liam shouted, already running partially shifted into his wolf to allow himself to cradle her and use his Alpha wolf strength and speed at the same time. Behind him, I collapsed with a thud that echoed across the field. I briefly saw Liam hesitate mid-stride—just for a second. Regardless, he didn’t turn around at the sound of my collapse and shallow, laboured breaths. I watched as they continued to run away with Breanne in their arms, leaving me where I lay. My heart broke, even though I had filed and decided to leave both Liam and this horrible pack; a small part of me still held onto a sliver of hope that Liam would see the path he was taking and how far it was from us. But he didn’t, and that was when everything went dark for me. ***** When I regained consciousness, the sterile glare of surgical lights assaulted my vision. Cold metal instruments clinked nearby as my legs were positioned apart. I tried to speak, but the drugs held me paralyzed. The doctors' voices floated above me like ghosts. I could sense the movements around me, but I was awake, unable to move, feel, or speak. It was a surreal experience, but oddly familiar to my life since I had mated with the Sterling family. Nothing more than an ornament on the wall to all, including my mate. "Such a shame—two months along. Who goes horseback riding when they're pregnant?" "The fall detached the embryo completely. Must have been quite the impact. She is lucky to be alive." "Without a wolf, another hour, and she wouldn’t have been." "That man who brought her in—was that her husband? He was colder than a block of ice, but as Handsome as the Devil himself. Can’t say much about their mateship part, he simply paid the bill and left without a word." "Enough chatter. Let’s finish this up before she hemorrhages." Each medical term floating to my ears—pregnancy, embryo, hemorrhage, dilation and curettage—pierced my drugged haze like silver blades to the heart. The one that stuck out the most was broken. I knew they were talking about my hand, but it was so much deeper than that. I felt broken. I lost my pup. Until recently, I would have loved to have Liam and my first pup. Everything about us seemed happy and together, but now, it seemed symbolic to lose the pups I never knew I had. I was losing a mate I should never have had to fight this hard to keep. Everything was perfect until I saw it was all a smoke screen and not meant to be. Just like this pup. False hope. I struggled against the numbness, but my body refused to obey. Something sharp scraped inside me, painless but violating. The crushing weight of realization dragged me under before I could scream, I was once again enveloped by empty darkness. "Claire ... Claire ..." Time lost all meaning. A distant voice called my name while someone shook my arm. With monumental effort, I forced my eyes open. Once again, the antiseptic glare of hospital lights assaulted my vision—I was in a hospital room.
"""Please, Liam, I just lost our baby. Don't let them take my blood."" My voice was barely a whisper, my body still trembling from the surgery—from the emptiness where our child used to be. But my husband didn't even look at me. His gaze was fixed on the ER doors, where doctors shouted about Breanne's critical blood loss. Breanne Telder. The Beta's daughter. His best friend. The woman he swore was""just like a sister.” The same woman who caused the fall that cost me our pup. ""She's RH-negative and we're out of stock. Find donors—now!"" The surgeon said urgently. ""Take hers."" Liam's arm slid around my waist—not to comfort me, not to hold me—but to push me forward like an offering.""Wolfless born shifters are universal donors. Her blood will save Breanne."" I froze as if struck by lightning, my disbelieving eyes lifting to meet his. Did he and his wolf even realize what they'd done? They didn't have to say the rejection—offering their mate's blood to another woman screamed it loud enough. ""Liam,"" I managed to whisper, ""I just lost our pup—"" ""Spare me the lies. I am done believing you!"" His eyes were cold steel. ""Breanne's life comes first right now."" The words cut deeper than any blade. I straightened, ignoring the spinning in my head, every inch of me trembling but unbroken. ""You've made your choice, Liam. And after today…"" my voice didn't crack this time ""I'll make mine."" The doctor's hand gripped my arm, leading me toward the blood lab. ""I'll donate the blood,"" I didn't fight it. ""But in return, you will agree to end our mate bond.”" ***** Chapter 1 Dropping the Mate I stood at the gate of the Sterling Moon Packhouse, clutching a cake box that had begun to melt in the summer heat. My usually pristine blonde hair was now stuck to my neck and face in damp strands, and my designer dress was now ruined with mud and swamp stains. I hadn't meant to arrive at my third mating anniversary looking like I had been dragged through a hedge backward and then tossed in the swamp lands beyond the pack grounds. But then again, being cornered and ambushed by rogues, conveniently knowing my whereabouts without an escort or protection, wasn't exactly part of my agenda either. A mysterious yet heroic stranger had rescued me and driven me back to the edge of my mate’s pack territory when Liam Sterling, my mate and the pack's Alpha, hadn't answered any of my fifteen frantic calls. I had almost convinced myself he was simply busy orchestrating some grand anniversary surprise. That had to be it. Otherwise, why else would he send me out alone for the cake retrieval and then not bother to answer my calls? I quickened my pace toward the entrance of the packhouse, not wanting to delay the celebration any longer than I already had. I rounded the corner only to stop dead at the sight before me. The entire packhouse had been transformed with floral arches, helium balloons, and an enormous banner. My fingers tightened around the cake box. I had doubts about walking into the grand hall; perhaps I should slip upstairs to change first. Then Liam's familiar voice called out. "There's my beautiful mate! Took you long enough, sweetheart. Everyone's waiting for the cake. Were the directions not clear enough?" He teased, not taking in the dishevelled state of my appearance or the fact that my smile didn’t reach my eyes. He often failed to see me. I looked up to find my mate looking devastatingly handsome in a white Tom Ford suit, his gray waistcoat accentuating those broad shoulders I used to trace my fingers over. He hadn't dressed like this for me in years. I pushed aside the gnawing doubts starting to fill my heart and embraced the fact that he was trying to make things right. This was not the time to voice my disappointments with his lack of attention or concern. We're here to celebrate our mate bond with the pack. This was also the year that he promised to swear me in as the official Luna, to lead by his side. Three years of proving myself capable despite not having a wolf of my own, and now here we were. My lips began curving into a smile despite myself. Maybe the rogues and the ambush, the ruined dress, the ignored calls—perhaps none of it mattered now that I was home. Liam would keep me safe, and we were going to announce that I was stepping into a role that should have been mine when we first mated. "Liam, I was just—" I was about to explain the rogues, the ambush, the mysterious saviour, but was cut off mid-sentence. "Liam! Is that my cake?" A shrill voice interrupted as Breanne Telder materialized behind Liam, looping her arm through his as though it was where she belonged. She was Liam’s father's Beta’s daughter. Otherwise known as the third wheel in our relationship and the pick me girl that Liam always did. She was also not supposed to be here. She was sent away a while ago, and Liam promised to focus solely on us. "You flew me home just for this birthday surprise? Best Alpha bestie ever!" The cake box slipped from my fingers, landing with a sickening splat on the custom marble flooring beneath me. The same flooring I wanted to either swallow me or Breanna up in this moment. Birthday surprise? What the hell did that mean? Those two words echoed in my skull like gunshots. For weeks, I had known Liam was planning something secretive. The custom-ordered flowers were delivered under the cover of darkness. The expensive Eclipse Stone rough he'd purchased at auction. All those whispered phone calls I had pretended not to hear. It all led to this moment, but it wasn’t the moment I had expected. I had woven every scrap of evidence into fantasies of candlelit vows renewed, of Liam dropping to one knee all over again. Even when he hadn't picked up during my attack from rogues, I had made excuses for him. Now Breanne's smug smile shattered those delusions like a hammer through stained glass. "What the hell were you thinking, Claire?" Stephanie Sterling's razor-sharp heels clicked across the flooring as she advanced. "We've been waiting two hours for that cake! You can’t do one single task; no wonder you will never be Luna material for the Sterling Moon pack." Stephanie was Liam's mother. From the moment I mated into the Alpha family, Stephanie had made no secret of her dislike; she was the reason Liam was convinced to hold off and force me to prove myself as Luna material. Over time, that contempt had only grown bolder, more vicious, no longer even pretending to hide it. Failing to see Liam, their Alpha, standing up for me, much of the pack started to support and see the validity in the points that their retired Luna was making. My hands shook. "This was supposed to be our anniversary party." Liam caught my elbow and steered me out of the room for privacy. "Baby, I'd planned a surprise for you, but Breanne asked for a pack-wide birthday celebration when she returned, so—" "So, instead of standing up for your mate, yet again, you conceded and did what they wanted. It’s fine for me to be let down, but not her? Message received, Liam." I wrenched my arm free, the movement sending fresh pain through my bruised ribs from the attack. I doubled over with a gasp. Before Liam could reach for me, Stephanie's voice sliced through the garden again. "Liam! Stop coddling her and get over here. This is why the wolfless should never hold ranks; they're weak and attention grabbers. Forget the cake, we'll just serve the petit fours instead." "Coming." He hesitated, then pressed a kiss to my temple. "We'll talk later." I remained crouched in the foyer of the packhouse as another wave of pain, this one far deeper than physical, crashed over me. Not a single pack member had asked why I looked like I'd been in a car wreck, why I'd been crying. From the other room where everyone gathered, the opening chords of "Happy Birthday" floated toward me. Each syrupy note felt like another papercut to my heart. It hit me suddenly—I hadn't celebrated a birthday since mating into the Alpha family, not once, though my own fell just days apart from Breanne's. And Liam had known this; he made a joke about the coincidence of his two best gals' being birthday buddies, but mine was always overshadowed. He quickly forgot about mine. I wiped my cheeks, giving myself a self-mocking smile. I should have known better than to hope for something more than what I already received. As the sun dipped low, I rose, my shadow stretching lonely behind me. Without a word, I climbed the stairs and clicked the bedroom door shut of the Alpha suite. Under the bathroom's harsh lighting, I peeled off my ruined dress and threw it in the trash. Steam fogged the mirrors as I scrubbed at skin that still felt dirty from the rogue's hands. I stayed under the scalding water until my fingers pruned. Wrapped in an oversized robe, I sat curled on the window seat watching party lights twinkle below until the last guest departed. At 11:00 PM, the bedroom door finally creaked open. I didn't turn when Liam's familiar cologne filled the room. I heard him hang up his jacket, then felt his whiskey-warm hands on my shoulders. "Happy anniversary, my beautiful, stunning mate." His lips brushed my ear. "Guess what I got you?" I shrugged him off. "I honestly don't care." He knelt before me, producing a velvet box with the flourish of a magician. "I had this carved from that Eclipse Stone rough. It is rumoured to help awaken latent wolfen spirits, strengthen auras and bring new beginnings.” Liam fastened the pendant around my neck. The cold stone settled between my chest like a brand. "Stunning." He kissed the hollow of my throat. "I was thinking that it’s been three years since we mated, and you have done so well proving yourself to me and this pack. I want us to now try for a pup. Bring this pack a new heir.” "Yeah, that’s not happening," I rejected the idea instantly. His chuckle was dark velvet. "You won't have to lift a finger, darling. I'll do all the—" "Liam." I met his gaze for the first time that night. “I want to submit an official request to break our mate bond!” Chapter 2 This Time, His Sweet Talk Won't Work My mind was made up before he finally came to our room. This wasn't like my previous impulsive threats in an attempt to get him to see the mistakes he was continuously making in our bond. This time, I was genuinely determined to leave. Three years of mateship flashed through my mind. I had lost count of how many times Liam had prioritized Breanne over my feelings or dismissed me because his mother said so. Who was his mate, and who was just a friend? I could no longer answer that question, and I was tired of trying to defend us. We weren’t bonded. Not the way the typical Alpha and mate were. It was usual for an Alpha never to leave his Luna’s side. She was his number one priority, even though the pack came second. The Alpha's mate was the heart of the pack and respected as an equal, but I was neither of those things. I haven’t been from the start. Breanne, even though she was briefly sent away, was still respected and noticed more than I could even hope for. If someone kept treating you in ways you disliked, it was because you allowed it. I had let it slide every other time. But today, Liam had crossed my final line. This day was our third anniversary. I didn’t care that he forgot my birthday, dinners, or events we planned together. I did, however, care about this milestone moment. A promise he made was long forgotten. This was that tipping point for my patience. “Really, Claire? You are threatening to reject our mate bond again? Don't say that every time you're upset, sweetheart. I was wrong about today. I'll make it up to you tomorrow." My eyes showed no emotion. “Don't bother. Not everything can be made up, and you can only backburner your mate for so long before she grows tired of being at the bottom of the priorities, Liam.” "Of course, this can be fixed. There's always next year. We will have a pup by then, and you will have long forgotten this little hiccup and tantrum." Liam pushed me down onto the sofa, kissing my face tenderly. With my hands pinned above my head, I wasn’t able to push him off. He expected the topic of having pups would appease me and calm my boiling anger. I had had enough of his nonsense and non-committal ways. I stared blankly at the ceiling as tears unexpectedly rolled down my cheeks. I lay like a dead weight. In the past, whenever we would fight or I would throw a tantrum, as Liam would title it, all he would do was use the mate bond against me. His kisses, his touch, his desires would wear me down, and I would accept his hollowed words of apology and his flashy gifts as though they meant something more than pacifying childish behaviour, in his mind. But this time, even though he held me down and I couldn’t resist, I was also not participating or encouraging him to continue. He was so self-absorbed that he couldn’t even realize that I wasn’t a willing participant. I was motionless, soundless, non-responsive. As Liam kept kissing me, his hands touched every part of my bruised body, utterly unaware of the pain he was inflicting both physically and emotionally. I felt his body suddenly freeze at the sound of a whimpered sob that slipped out of me. He looked out with hooded eyes, which quickly sobered and turned serious when he saw the tears in my eyes. His expression was frozen in panic. "Baby, why are you crying?" He quickly turned on the light. "Wait—you seemed off when you came home. Did something happen?" Finally, he remembered, but the damage between us was already done. My heart twisted, wishing that it didn’t take crying while he wanted sex to cover his mistakes for him to notice something was wrong. At the thought of how much distance was between us, more tears fell. Under the light, Liam finally saw the slight swelling on my face, the scratches on my arms and body, and the deep gash on my right leg with dried blood. His pupils contracted. "What happened?" I could sense his wolf stirring under the surface. It was clear that someone had hurt me, but they were only now realizing it. Just as I opened my mouth, his phone rang. I looked at the screen and rolled my eyes. Of course, it was Breanne. Liam sighed and offered a small apologetic smile before he answered in front of me. "Breanne, what's wrong?" "Liam, I think I ate something bad. My stomach hurts so much. Can you take me to the hospital?" Breanne's sugary voice came through. Liam automatically started to agree. I could see his eyes widen with panic at the thought that she was in pain. But right before he responded, he looked at me and my reddened, tear-filled eyes. "It's late. Claire and I are already in bed. Ask Mom if there's any medicine at home." Stephanie's sharp voice interrupted, "Liam, come now! This isn't ordinary pain. It could be appendicitis! She's pale as a ghost!" Liam's brow furrowed. "Fine. I'm coming." My heart sank like a stone. I shook my head in disbelief and turned away, refusing to meet his eyes. Yet again, I was pushed aside. Liam dressed quickly but hesitated at the door. After a long moment, he took my hand. "You're hurt too. Come with me, we'll get you checked at the hospital." That single word, "too", cut like a knife. I laughed dryly. "No need. Go ahead, play hero for another woman. If your mate's pain is less important than staying and understanding what happened, then your friend who has a stomach ache, don’t bother dragging me around like an accessory with false concern. I'd rather be alone." Liam stiffened. He opened his mouth to speak, but the phone kept ringing insistently. Finally, he sighed and pressed his black card into my hand. "Buy whatever you want. Consider it an apology." The door slammed shut. I weighed the card in my palm and smiled bitterly. Liam only ever had two ways to appease me—sex or money. It used to work. I fooled myself into believing it meant he cared, that he wasn’t good with expressing emotions, but I saw it for what it was now. This time, his sweet talk won't work. I walked to the closet and in the back corner, I pulled out my old suitcase. Inside was the most valuable thing I owned. My freedom. It was an official Rejection agreement signed the night before our mating. Back then, Liam had insisted on accepting our mate bond despite his family's objections. Afraid of being trapped in a toxic pack and mating, I had made him sign this; if I ever wanted to break the bond, he had to agree unconditionally. I thought we’d never need it. Liam had probably forgotten it existed. But I hadn't. During one fight, I had even consulted a lawyer who confirmed its validity. I could file for an official rejection of the bond with just this document and 30 days cooling-off period. Since he had already signed it, there was no need for Liam's consent for me to file it now. The Elders within the Council would perform the rejection ceremony within their own chambers. There was no need for either of us to be present. That was typically why Alphas refrained from preemptively signing these types of contracts. It relinquished control without their knowledge. Now was the time. Chapter 3 The Breaking Point I didn't sleep all night; I couldn’t. Instead, I spent those hours cutting up every photograph of us together. There weren’t many, I realized. My phone was filled with pictures of Liam whenever I could sneak photos when he was distracted or busy. He was honestly an Adonis of a man. But three years together, we had exactly twenty-three pictures of us together as a couple, and only thirteen of those were just Liam and me. The remaining ten were with Breanne. I snuck downstairs before anyone else woke up and went into Liam's office. There on the desk was a picture. It was of him and Breanne, hugging and smiling into the camera. They looked happy. Too happy. My inner bitter bitch was vomiting at the sight. On the other side of the desk was a picture of the three of us. That's right, not me and my mate. It was Breanne pressed against Liam's side, smiling up at him, and I was smiling at the camera on the other side. My arm was linked around his, and he was smiling, but for which female in the picture, your guess was as good as mine. I took the picture out of the frame, and bent it so that I was folded to the back. There, now he had two perfect couple pictures of him and Breanne. I will simply bow out of this weird three-way relationship. By dawn, I had already filed the official rejection agreement papers at the Council's registry office. Then I donated all the designer outfits Liam had bought me to charity. Afterward, I drove out of the pack grounds for a few hours to pawn every piece of jewelry he'd ever given me at the local broker's. I didn’t want it getting back to Liam, or the pack gossip mill to run rampant with their own speculations. Not yet anyway. It was a surprisingly large chunk of money in return, one thing I knew for sure about Liam. When he was grovelling for his indifferences and mistakes, he never cheaped out on the apology jewelry. The broker didn’t have the full amount on hand, so I opted to have it wired, which worked fine for me. I opened a new bank account and provided them with the necessary information. I returned to the packhouse early that afternoon. I had requested that the gardener cut down the Cherry Blossom tree in the pack’s courtyard. He was ordered to burn every branch and leaf until only ashes remained. When I agreed to mate with Liam, I had my reservations because his family didn’t support their Alpha heir accepting the bond to a wolfless orphan with average financial standings. Liam planted the tree as a token of his pledge of devotion to us and our bond. I fell for it, thinking it would make us stronger. But I was wrong. By late afternoon, I had either sold, donated or destroyed every token of Liam and his devotion to me and our bond: everything but the Eclipse stone pendant. Some legends state that the Moon Goddess herself blessed the eclipse stone to strengthen the will of the wolfless. Call me a fool, but it still served as a sliver of proof that at some point, he did care enough to seek out the stone for me. Now that everything was removed, it was time for me to step out and prepare everything for my new life after this month-long cooldown period ended, and I was no longer the unwanted mate of Alpha Liam Sterling. I knew I had to be smart and figure out my path now, as I had no family to turn to once the rejection was completed. When I was seven, my father had disappeared after a mountain climbing accident. It was speculated that rogues were involved, as they were heavy in the area at the time. My mother re-mated not long afterwards, and we became part of the Thorne family. They were the overlords, if you will, of the Crown of Thornes Pack, rivals of The Sterling Moon pack and next door neighbours to the territory. My mother left the Thorne family after accusations and rumours of her infidelity and gambling debts. I didn’t believe it, but it seemed that everyone else did. I had no idea where she even went. She certainly didn’t seek me out after she left that night, abandoning me. The only person who would even be considered family at this point was Lucien Thorne. He was my former stepbrother from my mother's second mating. However, Lucien was notorious for his short temper, and he constantly mistreated me while we lived under the same roof, so I would sooner wind up homeless than seek his help. The heat of Liam’s black card was burning a hole in my pocket, serving as a reminder of his literal words: “Buy whatever you want and consider it as an apology.” Okay! I will. I went to the bank and after the teller spoke with the branch manager to confirm my approval of using the Alpha’s account for a withdrawal, yup, that's right, I held no status, so I wasn’t even recognized with authority over our marital account; I withdrew one million dollars from his account. It was insulting and frustrating to know that Breanne can walk in here and not have as many hoops to jump through to get at my mate’s money. But that’s fine. I have already started to let go of my hold on him emotionally. My head has already done so. As I waited for the teller to return with the funds, my phone rang. Liyah Cruz. She was my closest friend before I accepted the bond with Liam. Liam didn’t like her influence on me, as he put it, so over the years, our friendship became strained. For her to be reaching out and calling me now, it had to be important. "Liyah? What's wrong?" I answered right away. "Oh, thank the Goddess. Claire, the International Equestrian Championships start in a month, but I just got injured during training." Liyah's voice was thick with disappointment. "Claire, you were the most talented rider we knew. I could think of no one else to take over. Could you compete in my place?" The memories came flooding back. Had I not mated with Liam, I might have become as renowned as Liyah in equestrian circles. But Liam had disapproved of me riding; he often called it unladylike. He'd gone as far as going behind my back and selling my beloved white stallion, Mirage, to a good owner, cutting off my last connection to the sport. The silence stretched until Liyah sighed. "I forgot your mate doesn't allow—" "I'll do it," I interrupted. "One month. I'll be ready." Liyah's excited squeal pierced through the receiver. "Really? Oh my Goddess! Everyone always said you shouldn't have given up your talent for mating! You're finally coming back to us!" My hand trembled around the phone. Yes, before mating into the Sterling Moon pack and Alpha family, I had shone so brightly. Before Liam, I used to be many things. I was the university's star student—straight A's in every subject. A gifted painter, champion rider, runway model, master chef, and award-winning debater—there was nothing I couldn't excel at. But three years of mating had eroded it all. I hadn't touched a paintbrush in years. I have forgotten how to walk a runway, and even lost my sharp tongue in arguments—forced to submit to even my mate's family and house staff. Only my cooking skills remained polished because I have cooked for Liam every single day since the beginning of our bond acceptance. Only now did I realize how much of myself I had sacrificed. But it wasn't too late. I could still start over. This was that chance to start taking my life by the reins, so to speak, and returning to the Claire that used to walk proudly with her chin held high. Chapter 4 Meeting on Horseback I met Liyah at the stables we once rode at together. “Thank you, Claire-bear. I can’t believe you are actually here.” Liyah launched herself on top of me, despite her knee brace. I thought I understood what I gave up to be with Liam, my mate, but I didn’t understand a fraction of it. This crazy woman, who used to be my world, wrapped around me. How did I let him separate us? “It’s me who should thank you, Lee-Lee. I’ve missed you. I’m sorry. No more boys between us, I promise.” I sobbed. Liyah looked up, and I saw the understanding in her eyes. We both wiped our faces and laughed at our equally blotchy faces. “Okay, later, we'll discuss everything!” She looked at me with as much conviction as her tiny body could muster. I nodded and smiled. “But now, let me introduce you to Diva, my stallion. Just a warning, he lives up to the name periodically. I think it’s an adorable quirk for him and refuse to break it out of him. You’ll love him!” Liyah leads us to the stables, where we meet the horse. Liyah was right. We matched instantly. It isn’t easy for a shifter to bond with a stallion, but I never had those worries. I was always able to click with any animal, to the point where Liyah's brother spent a year calling me freaking snow white! I hated it, but he wasn’t wrong. I galloped across the equestrian field at dawn, the stallion I rode was kicking up dew as it raced toward the rising sun. Then I saw them. Liam and Breanne shared a white mare, ambling toward my direction. Breanne was dressed in her pristine white riding jodhpurs with the matching show coat, leaned back against Liam's chest. Liam's attire was the stark contrast of black on black. I watched him bend his head low, whispering something in Breanne’s ear, causing a fit of giggles from her. I had waited for him to return all night. When I had reached out and called him to ask if he would be returning that night, I was told, by him, that since Breanna needed an emergency appendectomy, he would not leave her side until she recovered. That was when I cut up our photos, burning them to ashes. As I watch them now, a question came to my mind, causing my brow to arch. When did appendectomy patients start riding horses the next day? My grip tightened on the reins just as Breanne spotted me. “Oh! Liam, how spooky. Doesn’t that woman look just like Claire!”At her teasing words, I watched as Liam's head snapped up. There, I sat astride my stallion, the tailored navy riding jacket accentuating my hourglass figure, my gaze glacial. I knew he felt it. Dismounting, Liam approached until he could only see the sharp angle of my jaw. "Sweetheart, since when do you ride? I thought you quit that. You should've told me you were coming." The memory of his and Breanne’s intimate pose churned my stomach. I pressed a hand to my mouth to keep from being sick at the thought before answering flatly. "Would you have answered if I called?" This acidic tone only emerged when I was furious. Liam's smile turned placating. "My fault—left my phone in the car. It turned out to be a false alarm about Breanne's appendix. Since she's competing in the International Equestrian Championships next month, I was only helping her practice." Breanne urged her mare forward, pouting. "Liam, why must we explain everything to her? Come back, we have more important things to focus on. You haven't finished teaching me." "An International Championship contender needs amateur instruction? How curious. I wonder if anyone else here is getting that kind of coaching? But, Liam, if she requires coaching, I'll do it." As Liam turned, my voice froze him. Liam’s expression initially fell flat at my words, but he quickly brightened at my offer. "Exactly! Breanne, Claire won that championship years ago." 'How touching that he finally remembered I have value,' I thought bitterly. Breanne bit her lip. "But—" After years together, I knew Breanne’s games. She wasn’t as nervous on a horse as she portrayed. It was all an act for Liam. "No buts." I raised my riding crop. "Let's ride." The crop came down on Breanne's mare, which bolted forward with a whinny as Breanne shrieked. Liam paled. "Claire! She wasn't ready—" "Real trainers surprise their students." My amber eyes glinted. “Your coddling would've kept her mediocre forever.” Dust sprayed Liam's face as I galloped after Breanne, leaving him standing there, cheeks burning as if slapped. Good. This was just the beginning of my resistance. Breanne and I raced across the field. Though I was starting late, my black stallion, Diva, was not one to be outshone, and we soon overtook Breanne's white mare. For three years, Breanne had only seen the docile, obedient Claire. This commanding version, I’m sure, was unnerving. I could hear her growling, which, to be honest, was only slowing her own horse down. Her mare would not be able to focus on a race, with its rider losing its hold over herself. It was bound to spook her mare soon, and if she weren’t careful, she would get bucked. But as the saying goes, not my circus, not my monkeys. Diva and I were focused on ourselves. I could sense Breanne's determination to beat me. But, no matter how she pushed her champion mare, I remained ahead. As Diva and I passed her again, I caught a flash of movement from Breanne out of the corner of my eye. She pulled a hairpin out of her pocket and hurled it at Diva. That hairpin had been a gift from her friend at her birthday party, and she had been keeping it close to her chest just now. It was made of silver, and the sharp end drove hard into Diva's rump. Diva was instantly startled. Despite my expert handling and calming charm, which I have often used in the past to soothe a panicked horse, Diva threw me. I felt the gnash from the rock sticking out from the ground, which I hit my head on. The impact sending black spots across my vision—and a cry in absolute agony. My abdominal area pinched and screamed with a sharp and sudden pain like nothing I have ever felt before. There was blood on my hand when I touched it. I needed to get up. I needed to get back and get medical help because I knew Breanne wasn’t going to get me any. As I tried to push myself up off the ground with one hand, while the other was wrapped tightly around my stomach, still crying in sheer pain, a polished boot came forcefully down, cracking the bones in my hand. "Ah—!" The pain forced a gasp through clenched teeth. Chapter 5 The Two-Faced Woman "Claire, weren't you so impressive on horseback just now? How did you end up on the ground so fast?" Breanne crouched down, blinking her wide, innocent-looking eyes as she taunted me, pressing her boot harder against my hand, breaking the bones. She knew I was wolfless, and the pain she was causing; this was why she was doing it. To send me a message. I was hoping someone would come and find us, but the odds of this far from the training grounds were unlikely. "Oh my, I'm so sorry!" Breanne feigned surprise, finally lifting her foot with exaggerated remorse. "I didn't even see your hand there. How careless of me." “It’s to be expected with those massive feet of yours. What is that a size ten in men's?” I watched her eyes flash in anger briefly before she reined it back in. I yanked my hand back, and when Breanne reached out to help me up. I would always refuse her help; it was always a ploy for something worse. When she tried again, I recoiled, pushing myself up to my feet with gritted teeth. "Claire, that must've hurt. With riding skills like yours, how could you possibly think you were qualified to teach me?" Breanne smirked. "Only a fool would believe such a pitiful act, Breanne.” I glared, refusing to back down. "Oh, please. Can't accept that you're just not as good as I am? No wonder Liam doesn't like you much—you're such a sore loser." Breanne let out a mocking laugh. Breanne wasn’t hiding her petty, vindictive behaviour. She wanted me to know her intentions of returning and that she hadn't forgiven me for having her exiled. The reason Breanne was sent away a year ago was that I had walked in on her and Liam in the throes of passion. They were both half-naked and stuck to each other. Liam seemed to snap out of his daze the moment I entered the room and yanked Breanne off him. The thud of her head to the edge of the dresser brought out her wolf, and warriors nearby who heard the yelling managed to catch Breanne just in time before she could attack me. Liam sobered up instantly and demanded answers. Breanne played the confused card. That, like Liam, she had drunk a little too much at the pack celebration. She must have gotten confused about which floor she was on and passed out in mine and his bedroom, thinking it was hers. After all, his scent calms her, so she made sure to add that part—one extra little jab between Liam and me. Liam swore up and down that he was confused and thought it was me under the covers in bed. That, with the amount of wolfwine he had consumed, he didn’t realize it wasn’t me until my scent entered the room, and his wolf halted their action immediately recognizing their error. I moved to a different room, and Liam tried to separate himself from Breanne. Then he learned that Breanne approached me afterward and told me that Liam was aware it was her. After all, why would they confuse their mates? Unfortunately for Breanne, she did it in front of a witness, and they told several others, which led Liam to ask me about it. I confirmed that I knew he was aware that it was Breanne, as she told me so herself, and that I wanted to break the bond if he didn’t send her away as proof of his devotion to the mates' bond. I could see that he didn’t want to, but Liam was also someone who cared too much about image to have the wolfen community know that he lost his true mate over the Beta’s daughter affair scandal. With the third wheel gone, our mate bond had finally stabilized. I had hoped to start trying for a pup on our anniversary after I was announced as the new Luna of the Sterling Moon pack. But now Breanne was back, something of which Liam failed to inform me—especially considering it nearly ended us only a year ago. His lack of consideration over that confused me. Did his wolf also agree with this decision? Surely his wolf would realize better than Liam that this would ultimately bring out the bond to an end. "Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about," I said coolly. "But don't worry. I'll be out of your way soon. Then you two can do whatever you want." I turned away, whistling sharply for my horse. Breanne's face flushed crimson. She grabbed my arm and pressed her fingers deep into the flesh. “What the hell are you implying? What plans could I possibly have?” "You know exactly what I mean. But just a heads-up—mistresses in ranked mate bonds are illegal without Elder consent. And bastard pups tend to be shunned by packs altogether. So think carefully." Breanne's face went scarlet. "You—you're disgusting! How dare you accuse me and Liam of—" The sound of galloping hooves cut her off. Her eyes widened as though she hadn't expected us to be interrupted so soon. I turned to the sound of approaching Hooves, which gave Breanne time to growl her threat before she partially shifted and lunged at me with the intent to maul me where I stood. A chill ran down my spine—only to be overshadowed by the thunderous sound of a horse's disapproving whinny. Next thing I knew, Breanne was whimpering on the ground, crying in sheer agony as a scarred, filthy white stallion trampled her. My breath hitched, my eyes widened in disbelief. I knew this stallion. And then I saw it—the faint brown patch on the stallion's head. My blood turned to ice. No. It can’t be. "Mirage?" My voice cracked. The horse stopped mid-stomp, ears twitching. The sound of my voice stopped the Stallion from continuing its attack on Breanne, who had now reverted to her bruised human state, no longer partially shifted. The Stallion turned and looked at me. "Mirage!" I choked out, rushing forward to grab the reins. "It's really you!" I hadn't summoned my borrowed stallion. I had summoned him. My champion. My partner. My horse that Liam sold from under me, promising he went to a good home. Now, his coat was matted, his skin was patchy with disease, and his body was crisscrossed with whip marks. He was abused. Mirage had once been a regal, snow-white stallion, bought at auction by the Thornes. He had carried me to victory in countless competitions. He wasn't just a horse. He was my family. One of the most precious things I had. It took everything in me to forgive him for going behind my back and forcing me to stop riding by selling Mirage off in the first place, but it helped soothe the pain to know that at least he was being taken care of wherever he was. Liam had promised he'd be cared for. He lied. He looked me in the eye and lied to my face. He gave Mirage to a home that had continuously abused and neglected him. These wounds were a combination of old and recent. This was what Liam considered a good home? Tears burned my eyes as I ran my hands over his ruined coat. My heart was breaking. The abuse Mirage would have been enduring all this time, thinking I abandoned him. "Claire! Breanne!" Liam's voice cut through the air as another set of hooves approached. Chapter 6 The Fall The injuries and now Mirage, I was breaking inside and now outside. Just as my knees gave way, a firm hand caught my arm. "What took you so long out here? Are you all right?" Liam's voice, usually so tender, sounded distant in my ears. Through my tears, I turned to confront him about Mirage's condition, but Breanne's weak whimper cut through the air. "Liam.” She whimpered weakly. “Please, help me,” she pleaded. Liam stiffened as if struck. He released me immediately, like he was catching fire at just the mere touch of me. I staggered from the sudden loss of assistance and contact from my mate, and watched in disbelief as his attention snapped to Breanne's crumpled form on the ground. "Breanne!" His eyes reddened as he gathered her into his arms, cradling her close to her chest, "Oh my Goddess, what happened? How did this—?" I watched as he gently wiped away the tears staining her cheek. His eyes began to mist up. It was as though I were watching a live-action romance. The long-lost lover, dying in her beloved's arms. It would have been touching if it wasn't for the fact that that was my mate, holding another woman so tenderly while I stood five feet from them in significantly more pain. "Claire couldn't handle her horse. When I offered to help her back up, she then turned it around and blamed me! When I tried to explain I wasn’t at fault, she set that wretched beast on me!" Breanne's tears fell like broken pearls. Her voice grew faint as she added dramatically, "Liam, please, I can't feel my legs. What if I never walk again?" Liam's expression darkened as he listened to Breanne’s version of events. He turned to me with a sudden coldness I had never seen before. "Is this true?" He growled in anger, clutching Breanne closer to him protectively. A searing pain tore through my abdomen before I could respond. I cried out at the suddenness of it, and clutched my stomach, gasping through clenched teeth as metallic bile rose in my throat. Liam didn’t even flinch at the sight of my obvious pain before him. "I'm taking Breanne to the hospital," he said coldly. "If you did this, Claire—" He left the threat hanging as he cradled Breanne closer. I have never heard of an Alpha, or any rank member in my school studies or observations, threatening his mates and Luna over just a friend. It was against Wolfen code and ethics, but I suppose that didn’t matter to Liam or the Sterling Moon pack. This was going to become a regular occurrence, I could already sense it. I watched through blurred vision as Breanne gave one last performance. "Liam, I—" Her eyelids fluttered shut with theatrical perfection. "Bree-Bree! Stay with me! Please don’t leave me, baby. I’m here. Don’t you dare leave me!" Liam shouted, already running partially shifted into his wolf to allow himself to cradle her and use his Alpha wolf strength and speed at the same time. Behind him, I collapsed with a thud that echoed across the field. I briefly saw Liam hesitate mid-stride—just for a second. Regardless, he didn’t turn around at the sound of my collapse and shallow, laboured breaths. I watched as they continued to run away with Breanne in their arms, leaving me where I lay. My heart broke, even though I had filed and decided to leave both Liam and this horrible pack; a small part of me still held onto a sliver of hope that Liam would see the path he was taking and how far it was from us. But he didn’t, and that was when everything went dark for me. ***** When I regained consciousness, the sterile glare of surgical lights assaulted my vision. Cold metal instruments clinked nearby as my legs were positioned apart. I tried to speak, but the drugs held me paralyzed. The doctors' voices floated above me like ghosts. I could sense the movements around me, but I was awake, unable to move, feel, or speak. It was a surreal experience, but oddly familiar to my life since I had mated with the Sterling family. Nothing more than an ornament on the wall to all, including my mate. "Such a shame—two months along. Who goes horseback riding when they're pregnant?" "The fall detached the embryo completely. Must have been quite the impact. She is lucky to be alive." "Without a wolf, another hour, and she wouldn’t have been." "That man who brought her in—was that her husband? He was colder than a block of ice, but as Handsome as the Devil himself. Can’t say much about their mateship part, he simply paid the bill and left without a word." "Enough chatter. Let’s finish this up before she hemorrhages." Each medical term floating to my ears—pregnancy, embryo, hemorrhage, dilation and curettage—pierced my drugged haze like silver blades to the heart. The one that stuck out the most was broken. I knew they were talking about my hand, but it was so much deeper than that. I felt broken. I lost my pup. Until recently, I would have loved to have Liam and my first pup. Everything about us seemed happy and together, but now, it seemed symbolic to lose the pups I never knew I had. I was losing a mate I should never have had to fight this hard to keep. Everything was perfect until I saw it was all a smoke screen and not meant to be. Just like this pup. False hope. I struggled against the numbness, but my body refused to obey. Something sharp scraped inside me, painless but violating. The crushing weight of realization dragged me under before I could scream, I was once again enveloped by empty darkness. "Claire ... Claire ..." Time lost all meaning. A distant voice called my name while someone shook my arm. With monumental effort, I forced my eyes open. Once again, the antiseptic glare of hospital lights assaulted my vision—I was in a hospital room.
"""Please, Liam, I just lost our baby. Don't let them take my blood."" My voice was barely a whisper, my body still trembling from the surgery—from the emptiness where our child used to be. But my husband didn't even look at me. His gaze was fixed on the ER doors, where doctors shouted about Breanne's critical blood loss. Breanne Telder. The Beta's daughter. His best friend. The woman he swore was""just like a sister.” The same woman who caused the fall that cost me our pup. ""She's RH-negative and we're out of stock. Find donors—now!"" The surgeon said urgently. ""Take hers."" Liam's arm slid around my waist—not to comfort me, not to hold me—but to push me forward like an offering.""Wolfless born shifters are universal donors. Her blood will save Breanne."" I froze as if struck by lightning, my disbelieving eyes lifting to meet his. Did he and his wolf even realize what they'd done? They didn't have to say the rejection—offering their mate's blood to another woman screamed it loud enough. ""Liam,"" I managed to whisper, ""I just lost our pup—"" ""Spare me the lies. I am done believing you!"" His eyes were cold steel. ""Breanne's life comes first right now."" The words cut deeper than any blade. I straightened, ignoring the spinning in my head, every inch of me trembling but unbroken. ""You've made your choice, Liam. And after today…"" my voice didn't crack this time ""I'll make mine."" The doctor's hand gripped my arm, leading me toward the blood lab. ""I'll donate the blood,"" I didn't fight it. ""But in return, you will agree to end our mate bond.”" ***** Chapter 1 Dropping the Mate I stood at the gate of the Sterling Moon Packhouse, clutching a cake box that had begun to melt in the summer heat. My usually pristine blonde hair was now stuck to my neck and face in damp strands, and my designer dress was now ruined with mud and swamp stains. I hadn't meant to arrive at my third mating anniversary looking like I had been dragged through a hedge backward and then tossed in the swamp lands beyond the pack grounds. But then again, being cornered and ambushed by rogues, conveniently knowing my whereabouts without an escort or protection, wasn't exactly part of my agenda either. A mysterious yet heroic stranger had rescued me and driven me back to the edge of my mate’s pack territory when Liam Sterling, my mate and the pack's Alpha, hadn't answered any of my fifteen frantic calls. I had almost convinced myself he was simply busy orchestrating some grand anniversary surprise. That had to be it. Otherwise, why else would he send me out alone for the cake retrieval and then not bother to answer my calls? I quickened my pace toward the entrance of the packhouse, not wanting to delay the celebration any longer than I already had. I rounded the corner only to stop dead at the sight before me. The entire packhouse had been transformed with floral arches, helium balloons, and an enormous banner. My fingers tightened around the cake box. I had doubts about walking into the grand hall; perhaps I should slip upstairs to change first. Then Liam's familiar voice called out. "There's my beautiful mate! Took you long enough, sweetheart. Everyone's waiting for the cake. Were the directions not clear enough?" He teased, not taking in the dishevelled state of my appearance or the fact that my smile didn’t reach my eyes. He often failed to see me. I looked up to find my mate looking devastatingly handsome in a white Tom Ford suit, his gray waistcoat accentuating those broad shoulders I used to trace my fingers over. He hadn't dressed like this for me in years. I pushed aside the gnawing doubts starting to fill my heart and embraced the fact that he was trying to make things right. This was not the time to voice my disappointments with his lack of attention or concern. We're here to celebrate our mate bond with the pack. This was also the year that he promised to swear me in as the official Luna, to lead by his side. Three years of proving myself capable despite not having a wolf of my own, and now here we were. My lips began curving into a smile despite myself. Maybe the rogues and the ambush, the ruined dress, the ignored calls—perhaps none of it mattered now that I was home. Liam would keep me safe, and we were going to announce that I was stepping into a role that should have been mine when we first mated. "Liam, I was just—" I was about to explain the rogues, the ambush, the mysterious saviour, but was cut off mid-sentence. "Liam! Is that my cake?" A shrill voice interrupted as Breanne Telder materialized behind Liam, looping her arm through his as though it was where she belonged. She was Liam’s father's Beta’s daughter. Otherwise known as the third wheel in our relationship and the pick me girl that Liam always did. She was also not supposed to be here. She was sent away a while ago, and Liam promised to focus solely on us. "You flew me home just for this birthday surprise? Best Alpha bestie ever!" The cake box slipped from my fingers, landing with a sickening splat on the custom marble flooring beneath me. The same flooring I wanted to either swallow me or Breanna up in this moment. Birthday surprise? What the hell did that mean? Those two words echoed in my skull like gunshots. For weeks, I had known Liam was planning something secretive. The custom-ordered flowers were delivered under the cover of darkness. The expensive Eclipse Stone rough he'd purchased at auction. All those whispered phone calls I had pretended not to hear. It all led to this moment, but it wasn’t the moment I had expected. I had woven every scrap of evidence into fantasies of candlelit vows renewed, of Liam dropping to one knee all over again. Even when he hadn't picked up during my attack from rogues, I had made excuses for him. Now Breanne's smug smile shattered those delusions like a hammer through stained glass. "What the hell were you thinking, Claire?" Stephanie Sterling's razor-sharp heels clicked across the flooring as she advanced. "We've been waiting two hours for that cake! You can’t do one single task; no wonder you will never be Luna material for the Sterling Moon pack." Stephanie was Liam's mother. From the moment I mated into the Alpha family, Stephanie had made no secret of her dislike; she was the reason Liam was convinced to hold off and force me to prove myself as Luna material. Over time, that contempt had only grown bolder, more vicious, no longer even pretending to hide it. Failing to see Liam, their Alpha, standing up for me, much of the pack started to support and see the validity in the points that their retired Luna was making. My hands shook. "This was supposed to be our anniversary party." Liam caught my elbow and steered me out of the room for privacy. "Baby, I'd planned a surprise for you, but Breanne asked for a pack-wide birthday celebration when she returned, so—" "So, instead of standing up for your mate, yet again, you conceded and did what they wanted. It’s fine for me to be let down, but not her? Message received, Liam." I wrenched my arm free, the movement sending fresh pain through my bruised ribs from the attack. I doubled over with a gasp. Before Liam could reach for me, Stephanie's voice sliced through the garden again. "Liam! Stop coddling her and get over here. This is why the wolfless should never hold ranks; they're weak and attention grabbers. Forget the cake, we'll just serve the petit fours instead." "Coming." He hesitated, then pressed a kiss to my temple. "We'll talk later." I remained crouched in the foyer of the packhouse as another wave of pain, this one far deeper than physical, crashed over me. Not a single pack member had asked why I looked like I'd been in a car wreck, why I'd been crying. From the other room where everyone gathered, the opening chords of "Happy Birthday" floated toward me. Each syrupy note felt like another papercut to my heart. It hit me suddenly—I hadn't celebrated a birthday since mating into the Alpha family, not once, though my own fell just days apart from Breanne's. And Liam had known this; he made a joke about the coincidence of his two best gals' being birthday buddies, but mine was always overshadowed. He quickly forgot about mine. I wiped my cheeks, giving myself a self-mocking smile. I should have known better than to hope for something more than what I already received. As the sun dipped low, I rose, my shadow stretching lonely behind me. Without a word, I climbed the stairs and clicked the bedroom door shut of the Alpha suite. Under the bathroom's harsh lighting, I peeled off my ruined dress and threw it in the trash. Steam fogged the mirrors as I scrubbed at skin that still felt dirty from the rogue's hands. I stayed under the scalding water until my fingers pruned. Wrapped in an oversized robe, I sat curled on the window seat watching party lights twinkle below until the last guest departed. At 11:00 PM, the bedroom door finally creaked open. I didn't turn when Liam's familiar cologne filled the room. I heard him hang up his jacket, then felt his whiskey-warm hands on my shoulders. "Happy anniversary, my beautiful, stunning mate." His lips brushed my ear. "Guess what I got you?" I shrugged him off. "I honestly don't care." He knelt before me, producing a velvet box with the flourish of a magician. "I had this carved from that Eclipse Stone rough. It is rumoured to help awaken latent wolfen spirits, strengthen auras and bring new beginnings.” Liam fastened the pendant around my neck. The cold stone settled between my chest like a brand. "Stunning." He kissed the hollow of my throat. "I was thinking that it’s been three years since we mated, and you have done so well proving yourself to me and this pack. I want us to now try for a pup. Bring this pack a new heir.” "Yeah, that’s not happening," I rejected the idea instantly. His chuckle was dark velvet. "You won't have to lift a finger, darling. I'll do all the—" "Liam." I met his gaze for the first time that night. “I want to submit an official request to break our mate bond!” Chapter 2 This Time, His Sweet Talk Won't Work My mind was made up before he finally came to our room. This wasn't like my previous impulsive threats in an attempt to get him to see the mistakes he was continuously making in our bond. This time, I was genuinely determined to leave. Three years of mateship flashed through my mind. I had lost count of how many times Liam had prioritized Breanne over my feelings or dismissed me because his mother said so. Who was his mate, and who was just a friend? I could no longer answer that question, and I was tired of trying to defend us. We weren’t bonded. Not the way the typical Alpha and mate were. It was usual for an Alpha never to leave his Luna’s side. She was his number one priority, even though the pack came second. The Alpha's mate was the heart of the pack and respected as an equal, but I was neither of those things. I haven’t been from the start. Breanne, even though she was briefly sent away, was still respected and noticed more than I could even hope for. If someone kept treating you in ways you disliked, it was because you allowed it. I had let it slide every other time. But today, Liam had crossed my final line. This day was our third anniversary. I didn’t care that he forgot my birthday, dinners, or events we planned together. I did, however, care about this milestone moment. A promise he made was long forgotten. This was that tipping point for my patience. “Really, Claire? You are threatening to reject our mate bond again? Don't say that every time you're upset, sweetheart. I was wrong about today. I'll make it up to you tomorrow." My eyes showed no emotion. “Don't bother. Not everything can be made up, and you can only backburner your mate for so long before she grows tired of being at the bottom of the priorities, Liam.” "Of course, this can be fixed. There's always next year. We will have a pup by then, and you will have long forgotten this little hiccup and tantrum." Liam pushed me down onto the sofa, kissing my face tenderly. With my hands pinned above my head, I wasn’t able to push him off. He expected the topic of having pups would appease me and calm my boiling anger. I had had enough of his nonsense and non-committal ways. I stared blankly at the ceiling as tears unexpectedly rolled down my cheeks. I lay like a dead weight. In the past, whenever we would fight or I would throw a tantrum, as Liam would title it, all he would do was use the mate bond against me. His kisses, his touch, his desires would wear me down, and I would accept his hollowed words of apology and his flashy gifts as though they meant something more than pacifying childish behaviour, in his mind. But this time, even though he held me down and I couldn’t resist, I was also not participating or encouraging him to continue. He was so self-absorbed that he couldn’t even realize that I wasn’t a willing participant. I was motionless, soundless, non-responsive. As Liam kept kissing me, his hands touched every part of my bruised body, utterly unaware of the pain he was inflicting both physically and emotionally. I felt his body suddenly freeze at the sound of a whimpered sob that slipped out of me. He looked out with hooded eyes, which quickly sobered and turned serious when he saw the tears in my eyes. His expression was frozen in panic. "Baby, why are you crying?" He quickly turned on the light. "Wait—you seemed off when you came home. Did something happen?" Finally, he remembered, but the damage between us was already done. My heart twisted, wishing that it didn’t take crying while he wanted sex to cover his mistakes for him to notice something was wrong. At the thought of how much distance was between us, more tears fell. Under the light, Liam finally saw the slight swelling on my face, the scratches on my arms and body, and the deep gash on my right leg with dried blood. His pupils contracted. "What happened?" I could sense his wolf stirring under the surface. It was clear that someone had hurt me, but they were only now realizing it. Just as I opened my mouth, his phone rang. I looked at the screen and rolled my eyes. Of course, it was Breanne. Liam sighed and offered a small apologetic smile before he answered in front of me. "Breanne, what's wrong?" "Liam, I think I ate something bad. My stomach hurts so much. Can you take me to the hospital?" Breanne's sugary voice came through. Liam automatically started to agree. I could see his eyes widen with panic at the thought that she was in pain. But right before he responded, he looked at me and my reddened, tear-filled eyes. "It's late. Claire and I are already in bed. Ask Mom if there's any medicine at home." Stephanie's sharp voice interrupted, "Liam, come now! This isn't ordinary pain. It could be appendicitis! She's pale as a ghost!" Liam's brow furrowed. "Fine. I'm coming." My heart sank like a stone. I shook my head in disbelief and turned away, refusing to meet his eyes. Yet again, I was pushed aside. Liam dressed quickly but hesitated at the door. After a long moment, he took my hand. "You're hurt too. Come with me, we'll get you checked at the hospital." That single word, "too", cut like a knife. I laughed dryly. "No need. Go ahead, play hero for another woman. If your mate's pain is less important than staying and understanding what happened, then your friend who has a stomach ache, don’t bother dragging me around like an accessory with false concern. I'd rather be alone." Liam stiffened. He opened his mouth to speak, but the phone kept ringing insistently. Finally, he sighed and pressed his black card into my hand. "Buy whatever you want. Consider it an apology." The door slammed shut. I weighed the card in my palm and smiled bitterly. Liam only ever had two ways to appease me—sex or money. It used to work. I fooled myself into believing it meant he cared, that he wasn’t good with expressing emotions, but I saw it for what it was now. This time, his sweet talk won't work. I walked to the closet and in the back corner, I pulled out my old suitcase. Inside was the most valuable thing I owned. My freedom. It was an official Rejection agreement signed the night before our mating. Back then, Liam had insisted on accepting our mate bond despite his family's objections. Afraid of being trapped in a toxic pack and mating, I had made him sign this; if I ever wanted to break the bond, he had to agree unconditionally. I thought we’d never need it. Liam had probably forgotten it existed. But I hadn't. During one fight, I had even consulted a lawyer who confirmed its validity. I could file for an official rejection of the bond with just this document and 30 days cooling-off period. Since he had already signed it, there was no need for Liam's consent for me to file it now. The Elders within the Council would perform the rejection ceremony within their own chambers. There was no need for either of us to be present. That was typically why Alphas refrained from preemptively signing these types of contracts. It relinquished control without their knowledge. Now was the time. Chapter 3 The Breaking Point I didn't sleep all night; I couldn’t. Instead, I spent those hours cutting up every photograph of us together. There weren’t many, I realized. My phone was filled with pictures of Liam whenever I could sneak photos when he was distracted or busy. He was honestly an Adonis of a man. But three years together, we had exactly twenty-three pictures of us together as a couple, and only thirteen of those were just Liam and me. The remaining ten were with Breanne. I snuck downstairs before anyone else woke up and went into Liam's office. There on the desk was a picture. It was of him and Breanne, hugging and smiling into the camera. They looked happy. Too happy. My inner bitter bitch was vomiting at the sight. On the other side of the desk was a picture of the three of us. That's right, not me and my mate. It was Breanne pressed against Liam's side, smiling up at him, and I was smiling at the camera on the other side. My arm was linked around his, and he was smiling, but for which female in the picture, your guess was as good as mine. I took the picture out of the frame, and bent it so that I was folded to the back. There, now he had two perfect couple pictures of him and Breanne. I will simply bow out of this weird three-way relationship. By dawn, I had already filed the official rejection agreement papers at the Council's registry office. Then I donated all the designer outfits Liam had bought me to charity. Afterward, I drove out of the pack grounds for a few hours to pawn every piece of jewelry he'd ever given me at the local broker's. I didn’t want it getting back to Liam, or the pack gossip mill to run rampant with their own speculations. Not yet anyway. It was a surprisingly large chunk of money in return, one thing I knew for sure about Liam. When he was grovelling for his indifferences and mistakes, he never cheaped out on the apology jewelry. The broker didn’t have the full amount on hand, so I opted to have it wired, which worked fine for me. I opened a new bank account and provided them with the necessary information. I returned to the packhouse early that afternoon. I had requested that the gardener cut down the Cherry Blossom tree in the pack’s courtyard. He was ordered to burn every branch and leaf until only ashes remained. When I agreed to mate with Liam, I had my reservations because his family didn’t support their Alpha heir accepting the bond to a wolfless orphan with average financial standings. Liam planted the tree as a token of his pledge of devotion to us and our bond. I fell for it, thinking it would make us stronger. But I was wrong. By late afternoon, I had either sold, donated or destroyed every token of Liam and his devotion to me and our bond: everything but the Eclipse stone pendant. Some legends state that the Moon Goddess herself blessed the eclipse stone to strengthen the will of the wolfless. Call me a fool, but it still served as a sliver of proof that at some point, he did care enough to seek out the stone for me. Now that everything was removed, it was time for me to step out and prepare everything for my new life after this month-long cooldown period ended, and I was no longer the unwanted mate of Alpha Liam Sterling. I knew I had to be smart and figure out my path now, as I had no family to turn to once the rejection was completed. When I was seven, my father had disappeared after a mountain climbing accident. It was speculated that rogues were involved, as they were heavy in the area at the time. My mother re-mated not long afterwards, and we became part of the Thorne family. They were the overlords, if you will, of the Crown of Thornes Pack, rivals of The Sterling Moon pack and next door neighbours to the territory. My mother left the Thorne family after accusations and rumours of her infidelity and gambling debts. I didn’t believe it, but it seemed that everyone else did. I had no idea where she even went. She certainly didn’t seek me out after she left that night, abandoning me. The only person who would even be considered family at this point was Lucien Thorne. He was my former stepbrother from my mother's second mating. However, Lucien was notorious for his short temper, and he constantly mistreated me while we lived under the same roof, so I would sooner wind up homeless than seek his help. The heat of Liam’s black card was burning a hole in my pocket, serving as a reminder of his literal words: “Buy whatever you want and consider it as an apology.” Okay! I will. I went to the bank and after the teller spoke with the branch manager to confirm my approval of using the Alpha’s account for a withdrawal, yup, that's right, I held no status, so I wasn’t even recognized with authority over our marital account; I withdrew one million dollars from his account. It was insulting and frustrating to know that Breanne can walk in here and not have as many hoops to jump through to get at my mate’s money. But that’s fine. I have already started to let go of my hold on him emotionally. My head has already done so. As I waited for the teller to return with the funds, my phone rang. Liyah Cruz. She was my closest friend before I accepted the bond with Liam. Liam didn’t like her influence on me, as he put it, so over the years, our friendship became strained. For her to be reaching out and calling me now, it had to be important. "Liyah? What's wrong?" I answered right away. "Oh, thank the Goddess. Claire, the International Equestrian Championships start in a month, but I just got injured during training." Liyah's voice was thick with disappointment. "Claire, you were the most talented rider we knew. I could think of no one else to take over. Could you compete in my place?" The memories came flooding back. Had I not mated with Liam, I might have become as renowned as Liyah in equestrian circles. But Liam had disapproved of me riding; he often called it unladylike. He'd gone as far as going behind my back and selling my beloved white stallion, Mirage, to a good owner, cutting off my last connection to the sport. The silence stretched until Liyah sighed. "I forgot your mate doesn't allow—" "I'll do it," I interrupted. "One month. I'll be ready." Liyah's excited squeal pierced through the receiver. "Really? Oh my Goddess! Everyone always said you shouldn't have given up your talent for mating! You're finally coming back to us!" My hand trembled around the phone. Yes, before mating into the Sterling Moon pack and Alpha family, I had shone so brightly. Before Liam, I used to be many things. I was the university's star student—straight A's in every subject. A gifted painter, champion rider, runway model, master chef, and award-winning debater—there was nothing I couldn't excel at. But three years of mating had eroded it all. I hadn't touched a paintbrush in years. I have forgotten how to walk a runway, and even lost my sharp tongue in arguments—forced to submit to even my mate's family and house staff. Only my cooking skills remained polished because I have cooked for Liam every single day since the beginning of our bond acceptance. Only now did I realize how much of myself I had sacrificed. But it wasn't too late. I could still start over. This was that chance to start taking my life by the reins, so to speak, and returning to the Claire that used to walk proudly with her chin held high. Chapter 4 Meeting on Horseback I met Liyah at the stables we once rode at together. “Thank you, Claire-bear. I can’t believe you are actually here.” Liyah launched herself on top of me, despite her knee brace. I thought I understood what I gave up to be with Liam, my mate, but I didn’t understand a fraction of it. This crazy woman, who used to be my world, wrapped around me. How did I let him separate us? “It’s me who should thank you, Lee-Lee. I’ve missed you. I’m sorry. No more boys between us, I promise.” I sobbed. Liyah looked up, and I saw the understanding in her eyes. We both wiped our faces and laughed at our equally blotchy faces. “Okay, later, we'll discuss everything!” She looked at me with as much conviction as her tiny body could muster. I nodded and smiled. “But now, let me introduce you to Diva, my stallion. Just a warning, he lives up to the name periodically. I think it’s an adorable quirk for him and refuse to break it out of him. You’ll love him!” Liyah leads us to the stables, where we meet the horse. Liyah was right. We matched instantly. It isn’t easy for a shifter to bond with a stallion, but I never had those worries. I was always able to click with any animal, to the point where Liyah's brother spent a year calling me freaking snow white! I hated it, but he wasn’t wrong. I galloped across the equestrian field at dawn, the stallion I rode was kicking up dew as it raced toward the rising sun. Then I saw them. Liam and Breanne shared a white mare, ambling toward my direction. Breanne was dressed in her pristine white riding jodhpurs with the matching show coat, leaned back against Liam's chest. Liam's attire was the stark contrast of black on black. I watched him bend his head low, whispering something in Breanne’s ear, causing a fit of giggles from her. I had waited for him to return all night. When I had reached out and called him to ask if he would be returning that night, I was told, by him, that since Breanna needed an emergency appendectomy, he would not leave her side until she recovered. That was when I cut up our photos, burning them to ashes. As I watch them now, a question came to my mind, causing my brow to arch. When did appendectomy patients start riding horses the next day? My grip tightened on the reins just as Breanne spotted me. “Oh! Liam, how spooky. Doesn’t that woman look just like Claire!”At her teasing words, I watched as Liam's head snapped up. There, I sat astride my stallion, the tailored navy riding jacket accentuating my hourglass figure, my gaze glacial. I knew he felt it. Dismounting, Liam approached until he could only see the sharp angle of my jaw. "Sweetheart, since when do you ride? I thought you quit that. You should've told me you were coming." The memory of his and Breanne’s intimate pose churned my stomach. I pressed a hand to my mouth to keep from being sick at the thought before answering flatly. "Would you have answered if I called?" This acidic tone only emerged when I was furious. Liam's smile turned placating. "My fault—left my phone in the car. It turned out to be a false alarm about Breanne's appendix. Since she's competing in the International Equestrian Championships next month, I was only helping her practice." Breanne urged her mare forward, pouting. "Liam, why must we explain everything to her? Come back, we have more important things to focus on. You haven't finished teaching me." "An International Championship contender needs amateur instruction? How curious. I wonder if anyone else here is getting that kind of coaching? But, Liam, if she requires coaching, I'll do it." As Liam turned, my voice froze him. Liam’s expression initially fell flat at my words, but he quickly brightened at my offer. "Exactly! Breanne, Claire won that championship years ago." 'How touching that he finally remembered I have value,' I thought bitterly. Breanne bit her lip. "But—" After years together, I knew Breanne’s games. She wasn’t as nervous on a horse as she portrayed. It was all an act for Liam. "No buts." I raised my riding crop. "Let's ride." The crop came down on Breanne's mare, which bolted forward with a whinny as Breanne shrieked. Liam paled. "Claire! She wasn't ready—" "Real trainers surprise their students." My amber eyes glinted. “Your coddling would've kept her mediocre forever.” Dust sprayed Liam's face as I galloped after Breanne, leaving him standing there, cheeks burning as if slapped. Good. This was just the beginning of my resistance. Breanne and I raced across the field. Though I was starting late, my black stallion, Diva, was not one to be outshone, and we soon overtook Breanne's white mare. For three years, Breanne had only seen the docile, obedient Claire. This commanding version, I’m sure, was unnerving. I could hear her growling, which, to be honest, was only slowing her own horse down. Her mare would not be able to focus on a race, with its rider losing its hold over herself. It was bound to spook her mare soon, and if she weren’t careful, she would get bucked. But as the saying goes, not my circus, not my monkeys. Diva and I were focused on ourselves. I could sense Breanne's determination to beat me. But, no matter how she pushed her champion mare, I remained ahead. As Diva and I passed her again, I caught a flash of movement from Breanne out of the corner of my eye. She pulled a hairpin out of her pocket and hurled it at Diva. That hairpin had been a gift from her friend at her birthday party, and she had been keeping it close to her chest just now. It was made of silver, and the sharp end drove hard into Diva's rump. Diva was instantly startled. Despite my expert handling and calming charm, which I have often used in the past to soothe a panicked horse, Diva threw me. I felt the gnash from the rock sticking out from the ground, which I hit my head on. The impact sending black spots across my vision—and a cry in absolute agony. My abdominal area pinched and screamed with a sharp and sudden pain like nothing I have ever felt before. There was blood on my hand when I touched it. I needed to get up. I needed to get back and get medical help because I knew Breanne wasn’t going to get me any. As I tried to push myself up off the ground with one hand, while the other was wrapped tightly around my stomach, still crying in sheer pain, a polished boot came forcefully down, cracking the bones in my hand. "Ah—!" The pain forced a gasp through clenched teeth. Chapter 5 The Two-Faced Woman "Claire, weren't you so impressive on horseback just now? How did you end up on the ground so fast?" Breanne crouched down, blinking her wide, innocent-looking eyes as she taunted me, pressing her boot harder against my hand, breaking the bones. She knew I was wolfless, and the pain she was causing; this was why she was doing it. To send me a message. I was hoping someone would come and find us, but the odds of this far from the training grounds were unlikely. "Oh my, I'm so sorry!" Breanne feigned surprise, finally lifting her foot with exaggerated remorse. "I didn't even see your hand there. How careless of me." “It’s to be expected with those massive feet of yours. What is that a size ten in men's?” I watched her eyes flash in anger briefly before she reined it back in. I yanked my hand back, and when Breanne reached out to help me up. I would always refuse her help; it was always a ploy for something worse. When she tried again, I recoiled, pushing myself up to my feet with gritted teeth. "Claire, that must've hurt. With riding skills like yours, how could you possibly think you were qualified to teach me?" Breanne smirked. "Only a fool would believe such a pitiful act, Breanne.” I glared, refusing to back down. "Oh, please. Can't accept that you're just not as good as I am? No wonder Liam doesn't like you much—you're such a sore loser." Breanne let out a mocking laugh. Breanne wasn’t hiding her petty, vindictive behaviour. She wanted me to know her intentions of returning and that she hadn't forgiven me for having her exiled. The reason Breanne was sent away a year ago was that I had walked in on her and Liam in the throes of passion. They were both half-naked and stuck to each other. Liam seemed to snap out of his daze the moment I entered the room and yanked Breanne off him. The thud of her head to the edge of the dresser brought out her wolf, and warriors nearby who heard the yelling managed to catch Breanne just in time before she could attack me. Liam sobered up instantly and demanded answers. Breanne played the confused card. That, like Liam, she had drunk a little too much at the pack celebration. She must have gotten confused about which floor she was on and passed out in mine and his bedroom, thinking it was hers. After all, his scent calms her, so she made sure to add that part—one extra little jab between Liam and me. Liam swore up and down that he was confused and thought it was me under the covers in bed. That, with the amount of wolfwine he had consumed, he didn’t realize it wasn’t me until my scent entered the room, and his wolf halted their action immediately recognizing their error. I moved to a different room, and Liam tried to separate himself from Breanne. Then he learned that Breanne approached me afterward and told me that Liam was aware it was her. After all, why would they confuse their mates? Unfortunately for Breanne, she did it in front of a witness, and they told several others, which led Liam to ask me about it. I confirmed that I knew he was aware that it was Breanne, as she told me so herself, and that I wanted to break the bond if he didn’t send her away as proof of his devotion to the mates' bond. I could see that he didn’t want to, but Liam was also someone who cared too much about image to have the wolfen community know that he lost his true mate over the Beta’s daughter affair scandal. With the third wheel gone, our mate bond had finally stabilized. I had hoped to start trying for a pup on our anniversary after I was announced as the new Luna of the Sterling Moon pack. But now Breanne was back, something of which Liam failed to inform me—especially considering it nearly ended us only a year ago. His lack of consideration over that confused me. Did his wolf also agree with this decision? Surely his wolf would realize better than Liam that this would ultimately bring out the bond to an end. "Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about," I said coolly. "But don't worry. I'll be out of your way soon. Then you two can do whatever you want." I turned away, whistling sharply for my horse. Breanne's face flushed crimson. She grabbed my arm and pressed her fingers deep into the flesh. “What the hell are you implying? What plans could I possibly have?” "You know exactly what I mean. But just a heads-up—mistresses in ranked mate bonds are illegal without Elder consent. And bastard pups tend to be shunned by packs altogether. So think carefully." Breanne's face went scarlet. "You—you're disgusting! How dare you accuse me and Liam of—" The sound of galloping hooves cut her off. Her eyes widened as though she hadn't expected us to be interrupted so soon. I turned to the sound of approaching Hooves, which gave Breanne time to growl her threat before she partially shifted and lunged at me with the intent to maul me where I stood. A chill ran down my spine—only to be overshadowed by the thunderous sound of a horse's disapproving whinny. Next thing I knew, Breanne was whimpering on the ground, crying in sheer agony as a scarred, filthy white stallion trampled her. My breath hitched, my eyes widened in disbelief. I knew this stallion. And then I saw it—the faint brown patch on the stallion's head. My blood turned to ice. No. It can’t be. "Mirage?" My voice cracked. The horse stopped mid-stomp, ears twitching. The sound of my voice stopped the Stallion from continuing its attack on Breanne, who had now reverted to her bruised human state, no longer partially shifted. The Stallion turned and looked at me. "Mirage!" I choked out, rushing forward to grab the reins. "It's really you!" I hadn't summoned my borrowed stallion. I had summoned him. My champion. My partner. My horse that Liam sold from under me, promising he went to a good home. Now, his coat was matted, his skin was patchy with disease, and his body was crisscrossed with whip marks. He was abused. Mirage had once been a regal, snow-white stallion, bought at auction by the Thornes. He had carried me to victory in countless competitions. He wasn't just a horse. He was my family. One of the most precious things I had. It took everything in me to forgive him for going behind my back and forcing me to stop riding by selling Mirage off in the first place, but it helped soothe the pain to know that at least he was being taken care of wherever he was. Liam had promised he'd be cared for. He lied. He looked me in the eye and lied to my face. He gave Mirage to a home that had continuously abused and neglected him. These wounds were a combination of old and recent. This was what Liam considered a good home? Tears burned my eyes as I ran my hands over his ruined coat. My heart was breaking. The abuse Mirage would have been enduring all this time, thinking I abandoned him. "Claire! Breanne!" Liam's voice cut through the air as another set of hooves approached. Chapter 6 The Fall The injuries and now Mirage, I was breaking inside and now outside. Just as my knees gave way, a firm hand caught my arm. "What took you so long out here? Are you all right?" Liam's voice, usually so tender, sounded distant in my ears. Through my tears, I turned to confront him about Mirage's condition, but Breanne's weak whimper cut through the air. "Liam.” She whimpered weakly. “Please, help me,” she pleaded. Liam stiffened as if struck. He released me immediately, like he was catching fire at just the mere touch of me. I staggered from the sudden loss of assistance and contact from my mate, and watched in disbelief as his attention snapped to Breanne's crumpled form on the ground. "Breanne!" His eyes reddened as he gathered her into his arms, cradling her close to her chest, "Oh my Goddess, what happened? How did this—?" I watched as he gently wiped away the tears staining her cheek. His eyes began to mist up. It was as though I were watching a live-action romance. The long-lost lover, dying in her beloved's arms. It would have been touching if it wasn't for the fact that that was my mate, holding another woman so tenderly while I stood five feet from them in significantly more pain. "Claire couldn't handle her horse. When I offered to help her back up, she then turned it around and blamed me! When I tried to explain I wasn’t at fault, she set that wretched beast on me!" Breanne's tears fell like broken pearls. Her voice grew faint as she added dramatically, "Liam, please, I can't feel my legs. What if I never walk again?" Liam's expression darkened as he listened to Breanne’s version of events. He turned to me with a sudden coldness I had never seen before. "Is this true?" He growled in anger, clutching Breanne closer to him protectively. A searing pain tore through my abdomen before I could respond. I cried out at the suddenness of it, and clutched my stomach, gasping through clenched teeth as metallic bile rose in my throat. Liam didn’t even flinch at the sight of my obvious pain before him. "I'm taking Breanne to the hospital," he said coldly. "If you did this, Claire—" He left the threat hanging as he cradled Breanne closer. I have never heard of an Alpha, or any rank member in my school studies or observations, threatening his mates and Luna over just a friend. It was against Wolfen code and ethics, but I suppose that didn’t matter to Liam or the Sterling Moon pack. This was going to become a regular occurrence, I could already sense it. I watched through blurred vision as Breanne gave one last performance. "Liam, I—" Her eyelids fluttered shut with theatrical perfection. "Bree-Bree! Stay with me! Please don’t leave me, baby. I’m here. Don’t you dare leave me!" Liam shouted, already running partially shifted into his wolf to allow himself to cradle her and use his Alpha wolf strength and speed at the same time. Behind him, I collapsed with a thud that echoed across the field. I briefly saw Liam hesitate mid-stride—just for a second. Regardless, he didn’t turn around at the sound of my collapse and shallow, laboured breaths. I watched as they continued to run away with Breanne in their arms, leaving me where I lay. My heart broke, even though I had filed and decided to leave both Liam and this horrible pack; a small part of me still held onto a sliver of hope that Liam would see the path he was taking and how far it was from us. But he didn’t, and that was when everything went dark for me. ***** When I regained consciousness, the sterile glare of surgical lights assaulted my vision. Cold metal instruments clinked nearby as my legs were positioned apart. I tried to speak, but the drugs held me paralyzed. The doctors' voices floated above me like ghosts. I could sense the movements around me, but I was awake, unable to move, feel, or speak. It was a surreal experience, but oddly familiar to my life since I had mated with the Sterling family. Nothing more than an ornament on the wall to all, including my mate. "Such a shame—two months along. Who goes horseback riding when they're pregnant?" "The fall detached the embryo completely. Must have been quite the impact. She is lucky to be alive." "Without a wolf, another hour, and she wouldn’t have been." "That man who brought her in—was that her husband? He was colder than a block of ice, but as Handsome as the Devil himself. Can’t say much about their mateship part, he simply paid the bill and left without a word." "Enough chatter. Let’s finish this up before she hemorrhages." Each medical term floating to my ears—pregnancy, embryo, hemorrhage, dilation and curettage—pierced my drugged haze like silver blades to the heart. The one that stuck out the most was broken. I knew they were talking about my hand, but it was so much deeper than that. I felt broken. I lost my pup. Until recently, I would have loved to have Liam and my first pup. Everything about us seemed happy and together, but now, it seemed symbolic to lose the pups I never knew I had. I was losing a mate I should never have had to fight this hard to keep. Everything was perfect until I saw it was all a smoke screen and not meant to be. Just like this pup. False hope. I struggled against the numbness, but my body refused to obey. Something sharp scraped inside me, painless but violating. The crushing weight of realization dragged me under before I could scream, I was once again enveloped by empty darkness. "Claire ... Claire ..." Time lost all meaning. A distant voice called my name while someone shook my arm. With monumental effort, I forced my eyes open. Once again, the antiseptic glare of hospital lights assaulted my vision—I was in a hospital room.
"""Please, Liam, I just lost our baby. Don't let them take my blood."" My voice was barely a whisper, my body still trembling from the surgery—from the emptiness where our child used to be. But my husband didn't even look at me. His gaze was fixed on the ER doors, where doctors shouted about Breanne's critical blood loss. Breanne Telder. The Beta's daughter. His best friend. The woman he swore was""just like a sister.” The same woman who caused the fall that cost me our pup. ""She's RH-negative and we're out of stock. Find donors—now!"" The surgeon said urgently. ""Take hers."" Liam's arm slid around my waist—not to comfort me, not to hold me—but to push me forward like an offering.""Wolfless born shifters are universal donors. Her blood will save Breanne."" I froze as if struck by lightning, my disbelieving eyes lifting to meet his. Did he and his wolf even realize what they'd done? They didn't have to say the rejection—offering their mate's blood to another woman screamed it loud enough. ""Liam,"" I managed to whisper, ""I just lost our pup—"" ""Spare me the lies. I am done believing you!"" His eyes were cold steel. ""Breanne's life comes first right now."" The words cut deeper than any blade. I straightened, ignoring the spinning in my head, every inch of me trembling but unbroken. ""You've made your choice, Liam. And after today…"" my voice didn't crack this time ""I'll make mine."" The doctor's hand gripped my arm, leading me toward the blood lab. ""I'll donate the blood,"" I didn't fight it. ""But in return, you will agree to end our mate bond.”" ***** Chapter 1 Dropping the Mate I stood at the gate of the Sterling Moon Packhouse, clutching a cake box that had begun to melt in the summer heat. My usually pristine blonde hair was now stuck to my neck and face in damp strands, and my designer dress was now ruined with mud and swamp stains. I hadn't meant to arrive at my third mating anniversary looking like I had been dragged through a hedge backward and then tossed in the swamp lands beyond the pack grounds. But then again, being cornered and ambushed by rogues, conveniently knowing my whereabouts without an escort or protection, wasn't exactly part of my agenda either. A mysterious yet heroic stranger had rescued me and driven me back to the edge of my mate’s pack territory when Liam Sterling, my mate and the pack's Alpha, hadn't answered any of my fifteen frantic calls. I had almost convinced myself he was simply busy orchestrating some grand anniversary surprise. That had to be it. Otherwise, why else would he send me out alone for the cake retrieval and then not bother to answer my calls? I quickened my pace toward the entrance of the packhouse, not wanting to delay the celebration any longer than I already had. I rounded the corner only to stop dead at the sight before me. The entire packhouse had been transformed with floral arches, helium balloons, and an enormous banner. My fingers tightened around the cake box. I had doubts about walking into the grand hall; perhaps I should slip upstairs to change first. Then Liam's familiar voice called out. "There's my beautiful mate! Took you long enough, sweetheart. Everyone's waiting for the cake. Were the directions not clear enough?" He teased, not taking in the dishevelled state of my appearance or the fact that my smile didn’t reach my eyes. He often failed to see me. I looked up to find my mate looking devastatingly handsome in a white Tom Ford suit, his gray waistcoat accentuating those broad shoulders I used to trace my fingers over. He hadn't dressed like this for me in years. I pushed aside the gnawing doubts starting to fill my heart and embraced the fact that he was trying to make things right. This was not the time to voice my disappointments with his lack of attention or concern. We're here to celebrate our mate bond with the pack. This was also the year that he promised to swear me in as the official Luna, to lead by his side. Three years of proving myself capable despite not having a wolf of my own, and now here we were. My lips began curving into a smile despite myself. Maybe the rogues and the ambush, the ruined dress, the ignored calls—perhaps none of it mattered now that I was home. Liam would keep me safe, and we were going to announce that I was stepping into a role that should have been mine when we first mated. "Liam, I was just—" I was about to explain the rogues, the ambush, the mysterious saviour, but was cut off mid-sentence. "Liam! Is that my cake?" A shrill voice interrupted as Breanne Telder materialized behind Liam, looping her arm through his as though it was where she belonged. She was Liam’s father's Beta’s daughter. Otherwise known as the third wheel in our relationship and the pick me girl that Liam always did. She was also not supposed to be here. She was sent away a while ago, and Liam promised to focus solely on us. "You flew me home just for this birthday surprise? Best Alpha bestie ever!" The cake box slipped from my fingers, landing with a sickening splat on the custom marble flooring beneath me. The same flooring I wanted to either swallow me or Breanna up in this moment. Birthday surprise? What the hell did that mean? Those two words echoed in my skull like gunshots. For weeks, I had known Liam was planning something secretive. The custom-ordered flowers were delivered under the cover of darkness. The expensive Eclipse Stone rough he'd purchased at auction. All those whispered phone calls I had pretended not to hear. It all led to this moment, but it wasn’t the moment I had expected. I had woven every scrap of evidence into fantasies of candlelit vows renewed, of Liam dropping to one knee all over again. Even when he hadn't picked up during my attack from rogues, I had made excuses for him. Now Breanne's smug smile shattered those delusions like a hammer through stained glass. "What the hell were you thinking, Claire?" Stephanie Sterling's razor-sharp heels clicked across the flooring as she advanced. "We've been waiting two hours for that cake! You can’t do one single task; no wonder you will never be Luna material for the Sterling Moon pack." Stephanie was Liam's mother. From the moment I mated into the Alpha family, Stephanie had made no secret of her dislike; she was the reason Liam was convinced to hold off and force me to prove myself as Luna material. Over time, that contempt had only grown bolder, more vicious, no longer even pretending to hide it. Failing to see Liam, their Alpha, standing up for me, much of the pack started to support and see the validity in the points that their retired Luna was making. My hands shook. "This was supposed to be our anniversary party." Liam caught my elbow and steered me out of the room for privacy. "Baby, I'd planned a surprise for you, but Breanne asked for a pack-wide birthday celebration when she returned, so—" "So, instead of standing up for your mate, yet again, you conceded and did what they wanted. It’s fine for me to be let down, but not her? Message received, Liam." I wrenched my arm free, the movement sending fresh pain through my bruised ribs from the attack. I doubled over with a gasp. Before Liam could reach for me, Stephanie's voice sliced through the garden again. "Liam! Stop coddling her and get over here. This is why the wolfless should never hold ranks; they're weak and attention grabbers. Forget the cake, we'll just serve the petit fours instead." "Coming." He hesitated, then pressed a kiss to my temple. "We'll talk later." I remained crouched in the foyer of the packhouse as another wave of pain, this one far deeper than physical, crashed over me. Not a single pack member had asked why I looked like I'd been in a car wreck, why I'd been crying. From the other room where everyone gathered, the opening chords of "Happy Birthday" floated toward me. Each syrupy note felt like another papercut to my heart. It hit me suddenly—I hadn't celebrated a birthday since mating into the Alpha family, not once, though my own fell just days apart from Breanne's. And Liam had known this; he made a joke about the coincidence of his two best gals' being birthday buddies, but mine was always overshadowed. He quickly forgot about mine. I wiped my cheeks, giving myself a self-mocking smile. I should have known better than to hope for something more than what I already received. As the sun dipped low, I rose, my shadow stretching lonely behind me. Without a word, I climbed the stairs and clicked the bedroom door shut of the Alpha suite. Under the bathroom's harsh lighting, I peeled off my ruined dress and threw it in the trash. Steam fogged the mirrors as I scrubbed at skin that still felt dirty from the rogue's hands. I stayed under the scalding water until my fingers pruned. Wrapped in an oversized robe, I sat curled on the window seat watching party lights twinkle below until the last guest departed. At 11:00 PM, the bedroom door finally creaked open. I didn't turn when Liam's familiar cologne filled the room. I heard him hang up his jacket, then felt his whiskey-warm hands on my shoulders. "Happy anniversary, my beautiful, stunning mate." His lips brushed my ear. "Guess what I got you?" I shrugged him off. "I honestly don't care." He knelt before me, producing a velvet box with the flourish of a magician. "I had this carved from that Eclipse Stone rough. It is rumoured to help awaken latent wolfen spirits, strengthen auras and bring new beginnings.” Liam fastened the pendant around my neck. The cold stone settled between my chest like a brand. "Stunning." He kissed the hollow of my throat. "I was thinking that it’s been three years since we mated, and you have done so well proving yourself to me and this pack. I want us to now try for a pup. Bring this pack a new heir.” "Yeah, that’s not happening," I rejected the idea instantly. His chuckle was dark velvet. "You won't have to lift a finger, darling. I'll do all the—" "Liam." I met his gaze for the first time that night. “I want to submit an official request to break our mate bond!” Chapter 2 This Time, His Sweet Talk Won't Work My mind was made up before he finally came to our room. This wasn't like my previous impulsive threats in an attempt to get him to see the mistakes he was continuously making in our bond. This time, I was genuinely determined to leave. Three years of mateship flashed through my mind. I had lost count of how many times Liam had prioritized Breanne over my feelings or dismissed me because his mother said so. Who was his mate, and who was just a friend? I could no longer answer that question, and I was tired of trying to defend us. We weren’t bonded. Not the way the typical Alpha and mate were. It was usual for an Alpha never to leave his Luna’s side. She was his number one priority, even though the pack came second. The Alpha's mate was the heart of the pack and respected as an equal, but I was neither of those things. I haven’t been from the start. Breanne, even though she was briefly sent away, was still respected and noticed more than I could even hope for. If someone kept treating you in ways you disliked, it was because you allowed it. I had let it slide every other time. But today, Liam had crossed my final line. This day was our third anniversary. I didn’t care that he forgot my birthday, dinners, or events we planned together. I did, however, care about this milestone moment. A promise he made was long forgotten. This was that tipping point for my patience. “Really, Claire? You are threatening to reject our mate bond again? Don't say that every time you're upset, sweetheart. I was wrong about today. I'll make it up to you tomorrow." My eyes showed no emotion. “Don't bother. Not everything can be made up, and you can only backburner your mate for so long before she grows tired of being at the bottom of the priorities, Liam.” "Of course, this can be fixed. There's always next year. We will have a pup by then, and you will have long forgotten this little hiccup and tantrum." Liam pushed me down onto the sofa, kissing my face tenderly. With my hands pinned above my head, I wasn’t able to push him off. He expected the topic of having pups would appease me and calm my boiling anger. I had had enough of his nonsense and non-committal ways. I stared blankly at the ceiling as tears unexpectedly rolled down my cheeks. I lay like a dead weight. In the past, whenever we would fight or I would throw a tantrum, as Liam would title it, all he would do was use the mate bond against me. His kisses, his touch, his desires would wear me down, and I would accept his hollowed words of apology and his flashy gifts as though they meant something more than pacifying childish behaviour, in his mind. But this time, even though he held me down and I couldn’t resist, I was also not participating or encouraging him to continue. He was so self-absorbed that he couldn’t even realize that I wasn’t a willing participant. I was motionless, soundless, non-responsive. As Liam kept kissing me, his hands touched every part of my bruised body, utterly unaware of the pain he was inflicting both physically and emotionally. I felt his body suddenly freeze at the sound of a whimpered sob that slipped out of me. He looked out with hooded eyes, which quickly sobered and turned serious when he saw the tears in my eyes. His expression was frozen in panic. "Baby, why are you crying?" He quickly turned on the light. "Wait—you seemed off when you came home. Did something happen?" Finally, he remembered, but the damage between us was already done. My heart twisted, wishing that it didn’t take crying while he wanted sex to cover his mistakes for him to notice something was wrong. At the thought of how much distance was between us, more tears fell. Under the light, Liam finally saw the slight swelling on my face, the scratches on my arms and body, and the deep gash on my right leg with dried blood. His pupils contracted. "What happened?" I could sense his wolf stirring under the surface. It was clear that someone had hurt me, but they were only now realizing it. Just as I opened my mouth, his phone rang. I looked at the screen and rolled my eyes. Of course, it was Breanne. Liam sighed and offered a small apologetic smile before he answered in front of me. "Breanne, what's wrong?" "Liam, I think I ate something bad. My stomach hurts so much. Can you take me to the hospital?" Breanne's sugary voice came through. Liam automatically started to agree. I could see his eyes widen with panic at the thought that she was in pain. But right before he responded, he looked at me and my reddened, tear-filled eyes. "It's late. Claire and I are already in bed. Ask Mom if there's any medicine at home." Stephanie's sharp voice interrupted, "Liam, come now! This isn't ordinary pain. It could be appendicitis! She's pale as a ghost!" Liam's brow furrowed. "Fine. I'm coming." My heart sank like a stone. I shook my head in disbelief and turned away, refusing to meet his eyes. Yet again, I was pushed aside. Liam dressed quickly but hesitated at the door. After a long moment, he took my hand. "You're hurt too. Come with me, we'll get you checked at the hospital." That single word, "too", cut like a knife. I laughed dryly. "No need. Go ahead, play hero for another woman. If your mate's pain is less important than staying and understanding what happened, then your friend who has a stomach ache, don’t bother dragging me around like an accessory with false concern. I'd rather be alone." Liam stiffened. He opened his mouth to speak, but the phone kept ringing insistently. Finally, he sighed and pressed his black card into my hand. "Buy whatever you want. Consider it an apology." The door slammed shut. I weighed the card in my palm and smiled bitterly. Liam only ever had two ways to appease me—sex or money. It used to work. I fooled myself into believing it meant he cared, that he wasn’t good with expressing emotions, but I saw it for what it was now. This time, his sweet talk won't work. I walked to the closet and in the back corner, I pulled out my old suitcase. Inside was the most valuable thing I owned. My freedom. It was an official Rejection agreement signed the night before our mating. Back then, Liam had insisted on accepting our mate bond despite his family's objections. Afraid of being trapped in a toxic pack and mating, I had made him sign this; if I ever wanted to break the bond, he had to agree unconditionally. I thought we’d never need it. Liam had probably forgotten it existed. But I hadn't. During one fight, I had even consulted a lawyer who confirmed its validity. I could file for an official rejection of the bond with just this document and 30 days cooling-off period. Since he had already signed it, there was no need for Liam's consent for me to file it now. The Elders within the Council would perform the rejection ceremony within their own chambers. There was no need for either of us to be present. That was typically why Alphas refrained from preemptively signing these types of contracts. It relinquished control without their knowledge. Now was the time. Chapter 3 The Breaking Point I didn't sleep all night; I couldn’t. Instead, I spent those hours cutting up every photograph of us together. There weren’t many, I realized. My phone was filled with pictures of Liam whenever I could sneak photos when he was distracted or busy. He was honestly an Adonis of a man. But three years together, we had exactly twenty-three pictures of us together as a couple, and only thirteen of those were just Liam and me. The remaining ten were with Breanne. I snuck downstairs before anyone else woke up and went into Liam's office. There on the desk was a picture. It was of him and Breanne, hugging and smiling into the camera. They looked happy. Too happy. My inner bitter bitch was vomiting at the sight. On the other side of the desk was a picture of the three of us. That's right, not me and my mate. It was Breanne pressed against Liam's side, smiling up at him, and I was smiling at the camera on the other side. My arm was linked around his, and he was smiling, but for which female in the picture, your guess was as good as mine. I took the picture out of the frame, and bent it so that I was folded to the back. There, now he had two perfect couple pictures of him and Breanne. I will simply bow out of this weird three-way relationship. By dawn, I had already filed the official rejection agreement papers at the Council's registry office. Then I donated all the designer outfits Liam had bought me to charity. Afterward, I drove out of the pack grounds for a few hours to pawn every piece of jewelry he'd ever given me at the local broker's. I didn’t want it getting back to Liam, or the pack gossip mill to run rampant with their own speculations. Not yet anyway. It was a surprisingly large chunk of money in return, one thing I knew for sure about Liam. When he was grovelling for his indifferences and mistakes, he never cheaped out on the apology jewelry. The broker didn’t have the full amount on hand, so I opted to have it wired, which worked fine for me. I opened a new bank account and provided them with the necessary information. I returned to the packhouse early that afternoon. I had requested that the gardener cut down the Cherry Blossom tree in the pack’s courtyard. He was ordered to burn every branch and leaf until only ashes remained. When I agreed to mate with Liam, I had my reservations because his family didn’t support their Alpha heir accepting the bond to a wolfless orphan with average financial standings. Liam planted the tree as a token of his pledge of devotion to us and our bond. I fell for it, thinking it would make us stronger. But I was wrong. By late afternoon, I had either sold, donated or destroyed every token of Liam and his devotion to me and our bond: everything but the Eclipse stone pendant. Some legends state that the Moon Goddess herself blessed the eclipse stone to strengthen the will of the wolfless. Call me a fool, but it still served as a sliver of proof that at some point, he did care enough to seek out the stone for me. Now that everything was removed, it was time for me to step out and prepare everything for my new life after this month-long cooldown period ended, and I was no longer the unwanted mate of Alpha Liam Sterling. I knew I had to be smart and figure out my path now, as I had no family to turn to once the rejection was completed. When I was seven, my father had disappeared after a mountain climbing accident. It was speculated that rogues were involved, as they were heavy in the area at the time. My mother re-mated not long afterwards, and we became part of the Thorne family. They were the overlords, if you will, of the Crown of Thornes Pack, rivals of The Sterling Moon pack and next door neighbours to the territory. My mother left the Thorne family after accusations and rumours of her infidelity and gambling debts. I didn’t believe it, but it seemed that everyone else did. I had no idea where she even went. She certainly didn’t seek me out after she left that night, abandoning me. The only person who would even be considered family at this point was Lucien Thorne. He was my former stepbrother from my mother's second mating. However, Lucien was notorious for his short temper, and he constantly mistreated me while we lived under the same roof, so I would sooner wind up homeless than seek his help. The heat of Liam’s black card was burning a hole in my pocket, serving as a reminder of his literal words: “Buy whatever you want and consider it as an apology.” Okay! I will. I went to the bank and after the teller spoke with the branch manager to confirm my approval of using the Alpha’s account for a withdrawal, yup, that's right, I held no status, so I wasn’t even recognized with authority over our marital account; I withdrew one million dollars from his account. It was insulting and frustrating to know that Breanne can walk in here and not have as many hoops to jump through to get at my mate’s money. But that’s fine. I have already started to let go of my hold on him emotionally. My head has already done so. As I waited for the teller to return with the funds, my phone rang. Liyah Cruz. She was my closest friend before I accepted the bond with Liam. Liam didn’t like her influence on me, as he put it, so over the years, our friendship became strained. For her to be reaching out and calling me now, it had to be important. "Liyah? What's wrong?" I answered right away. "Oh, thank the Goddess. Claire, the International Equestrian Championships start in a month, but I just got injured during training." Liyah's voice was thick with disappointment. "Claire, you were the most talented rider we knew. I could think of no one else to take over. Could you compete in my place?" The memories came flooding back. Had I not mated with Liam, I might have become as renowned as Liyah in equestrian circles. But Liam had disapproved of me riding; he often called it unladylike. He'd gone as far as going behind my back and selling my beloved white stallion, Mirage, to a good owner, cutting off my last connection to the sport. The silence stretched until Liyah sighed. "I forgot your mate doesn't allow—" "I'll do it," I interrupted. "One month. I'll be ready." Liyah's excited squeal pierced through the receiver. "Really? Oh my Goddess! Everyone always said you shouldn't have given up your talent for mating! You're finally coming back to us!" My hand trembled around the phone. Yes, before mating into the Sterling Moon pack and Alpha family, I had shone so brightly. Before Liam, I used to be many things. I was the university's star student—straight A's in every subject. A gifted painter, champion rider, runway model, master chef, and award-winning debater—there was nothing I couldn't excel at. But three years of mating had eroded it all. I hadn't touched a paintbrush in years. I have forgotten how to walk a runway, and even lost my sharp tongue in arguments—forced to submit to even my mate's family and house staff. Only my cooking skills remained polished because I have cooked for Liam every single day since the beginning of our bond acceptance. Only now did I realize how much of myself I had sacrificed. But it wasn't too late. I could still start over. This was that chance to start taking my life by the reins, so to speak, and returning to the Claire that used to walk proudly with her chin held high. Chapter 4 Meeting on Horseback I met Liyah at the stables we once rode at together. “Thank you, Claire-bear. I can’t believe you are actually here.” Liyah launched herself on top of me, despite her knee brace. I thought I understood what I gave up to be with Liam, my mate, but I didn’t understand a fraction of it. This crazy woman, who used to be my world, wrapped around me. How did I let him separate us? “It’s me who should thank you, Lee-Lee. I’ve missed you. I’m sorry. No more boys between us, I promise.” I sobbed. Liyah looked up, and I saw the understanding in her eyes. We both wiped our faces and laughed at our equally blotchy faces. “Okay, later, we'll discuss everything!” She looked at me with as much conviction as her tiny body could muster. I nodded and smiled. “But now, let me introduce you to Diva, my stallion. Just a warning, he lives up to the name periodically. I think it’s an adorable quirk for him and refuse to break it out of him. You’ll love him!” Liyah leads us to the stables, where we meet the horse. Liyah was right. We matched instantly. It isn’t easy for a shifter to bond with a stallion, but I never had those worries. I was always able to click with any animal, to the point where Liyah's brother spent a year calling me freaking snow white! I hated it, but he wasn’t wrong. I galloped across the equestrian field at dawn, the stallion I rode was kicking up dew as it raced toward the rising sun. Then I saw them. Liam and Breanne shared a white mare, ambling toward my direction. Breanne was dressed in her pristine white riding jodhpurs with the matching show coat, leaned back against Liam's chest. Liam's attire was the stark contrast of black on black. I watched him bend his head low, whispering something in Breanne’s ear, causing a fit of giggles from her. I had waited for him to return all night. When I had reached out and called him to ask if he would be returning that night, I was told, by him, that since Breanna needed an emergency appendectomy, he would not leave her side until she recovered. That was when I cut up our photos, burning them to ashes. As I watch them now, a question came to my mind, causing my brow to arch. When did appendectomy patients start riding horses the next day? My grip tightened on the reins just as Breanne spotted me. “Oh! Liam, how spooky. Doesn’t that woman look just like Claire!”At her teasing words, I watched as Liam's head snapped up. There, I sat astride my stallion, the tailored navy riding jacket accentuating my hourglass figure, my gaze glacial. I knew he felt it. Dismounting, Liam approached until he could only see the sharp angle of my jaw. "Sweetheart, since when do you ride? I thought you quit that. You should've told me you were coming." The memory of his and Breanne’s intimate pose churned my stomach. I pressed a hand to my mouth to keep from being sick at the thought before answering flatly. "Would you have answered if I called?" This acidic tone only emerged when I was furious. Liam's smile turned placating. "My fault—left my phone in the car. It turned out to be a false alarm about Breanne's appendix. Since she's competing in the International Equestrian Championships next month, I was only helping her practice." Breanne urged her mare forward, pouting. "Liam, why must we explain everything to her? Come back, we have more important things to focus on. You haven't finished teaching me." "An International Championship contender needs amateur instruction? How curious. I wonder if anyone else here is getting that kind of coaching? But, Liam, if she requires coaching, I'll do it." As Liam turned, my voice froze him. Liam’s expression initially fell flat at my words, but he quickly brightened at my offer. "Exactly! Breanne, Claire won that championship years ago." 'How touching that he finally remembered I have value,' I thought bitterly. Breanne bit her lip. "But—" After years together, I knew Breanne’s games. She wasn’t as nervous on a horse as she portrayed. It was all an act for Liam. "No buts." I raised my riding crop. "Let's ride." The crop came down on Breanne's mare, which bolted forward with a whinny as Breanne shrieked. Liam paled. "Claire! She wasn't ready—" "Real trainers surprise their students." My amber eyes glinted. “Your coddling would've kept her mediocre forever.” Dust sprayed Liam's face as I galloped after Breanne, leaving him standing there, cheeks burning as if slapped. Good. This was just the beginning of my resistance. Breanne and I raced across the field. Though I was starting late, my black stallion, Diva, was not one to be outshone, and we soon overtook Breanne's white mare. For three years, Breanne had only seen the docile, obedient Claire. This commanding version, I’m sure, was unnerving. I could hear her growling, which, to be honest, was only slowing her own horse down. Her mare would not be able to focus on a race, with its rider losing its hold over herself. It was bound to spook her mare soon, and if she weren’t careful, she would get bucked. But as the saying goes, not my circus, not my monkeys. Diva and I were focused on ourselves. I could sense Breanne's determination to beat me. But, no matter how she pushed her champion mare, I remained ahead. As Diva and I passed her again, I caught a flash of movement from Breanne out of the corner of my eye. She pulled a hairpin out of her pocket and hurled it at Diva. That hairpin had been a gift from her friend at her birthday party, and she had been keeping it close to her chest just now. It was made of silver, and the sharp end drove hard into Diva's rump. Diva was instantly startled. Despite my expert handling and calming charm, which I have often used in the past to soothe a panicked horse, Diva threw me. I felt the gnash from the rock sticking out from the ground, which I hit my head on. The impact sending black spots across my vision—and a cry in absolute agony. My abdominal area pinched and screamed with a sharp and sudden pain like nothing I have ever felt before. There was blood on my hand when I touched it. I needed to get up. I needed to get back and get medical help because I knew Breanne wasn’t going to get me any. As I tried to push myself up off the ground with one hand, while the other was wrapped tightly around my stomach, still crying in sheer pain, a polished boot came forcefully down, cracking the bones in my hand. "Ah—!" The pain forced a gasp through clenched teeth. Chapter 5 The Two-Faced Woman "Claire, weren't you so impressive on horseback just now? How did you end up on the ground so fast?" Breanne crouched down, blinking her wide, innocent-looking eyes as she taunted me, pressing her boot harder against my hand, breaking the bones. She knew I was wolfless, and the pain she was causing; this was why she was doing it. To send me a message. I was hoping someone would come and find us, but the odds of this far from the training grounds were unlikely. "Oh my, I'm so sorry!" Breanne feigned surprise, finally lifting her foot with exaggerated remorse. "I didn't even see your hand there. How careless of me." “It’s to be expected with those massive feet of yours. What is that a size ten in men's?” I watched her eyes flash in anger briefly before she reined it back in. I yanked my hand back, and when Breanne reached out to help me up. I would always refuse her help; it was always a ploy for something worse. When she tried again, I recoiled, pushing myself up to my feet with gritted teeth. "Claire, that must've hurt. With riding skills like yours, how could you possibly think you were qualified to teach me?" Breanne smirked. "Only a fool would believe such a pitiful act, Breanne.” I glared, refusing to back down. "Oh, please. Can't accept that you're just not as good as I am? No wonder Liam doesn't like you much—you're such a sore loser." Breanne let out a mocking laugh. Breanne wasn’t hiding her petty, vindictive behaviour. She wanted me to know her intentions of returning and that she hadn't forgiven me for having her exiled. The reason Breanne was sent away a year ago was that I had walked in on her and Liam in the throes of passion. They were both half-naked and stuck to each other. Liam seemed to snap out of his daze the moment I entered the room and yanked Breanne off him. The thud of her head to the edge of the dresser brought out her wolf, and warriors nearby who heard the yelling managed to catch Breanne just in time before she could attack me. Liam sobered up instantly and demanded answers. Breanne played the confused card. That, like Liam, she had drunk a little too much at the pack celebration. She must have gotten confused about which floor she was on and passed out in mine and his bedroom, thinking it was hers. After all, his scent calms her, so she made sure to add that part—one extra little jab between Liam and me. Liam swore up and down that he was confused and thought it was me under the covers in bed. That, with the amount of wolfwine he had consumed, he didn’t realize it wasn’t me until my scent entered the room, and his wolf halted their action immediately recognizing their error. I moved to a different room, and Liam tried to separate himself from Breanne. Then he learned that Breanne approached me afterward and told me that Liam was aware it was her. After all, why would they confuse their mates? Unfortunately for Breanne, she did it in front of a witness, and they told several others, which led Liam to ask me about it. I confirmed that I knew he was aware that it was Breanne, as she told me so herself, and that I wanted to break the bond if he didn’t send her away as proof of his devotion to the mates' bond. I could see that he didn’t want to, but Liam was also someone who cared too much about image to have the wolfen community know that he lost his true mate over the Beta’s daughter affair scandal. With the third wheel gone, our mate bond had finally stabilized. I had hoped to start trying for a pup on our anniversary after I was announced as the new Luna of the Sterling Moon pack. But now Breanne was back, something of which Liam failed to inform me—especially considering it nearly ended us only a year ago. His lack of consideration over that confused me. Did his wolf also agree with this decision? Surely his wolf would realize better than Liam that this would ultimately bring out the bond to an end. "Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about," I said coolly. "But don't worry. I'll be out of your way soon. Then you two can do whatever you want." I turned away, whistling sharply for my horse. Breanne's face flushed crimson. She grabbed my arm and pressed her fingers deep into the flesh. “What the hell are you implying? What plans could I possibly have?” "You know exactly what I mean. But just a heads-up—mistresses in ranked mate bonds are illegal without Elder consent. And bastard pups tend to be shunned by packs altogether. So think carefully." Breanne's face went scarlet. "You—you're disgusting! How dare you accuse me and Liam of—" The sound of galloping hooves cut her off. Her eyes widened as though she hadn't expected us to be interrupted so soon. I turned to the sound of approaching Hooves, which gave Breanne time to growl her threat before she partially shifted and lunged at me with the intent to maul me where I stood. A chill ran down my spine—only to be overshadowed by the thunderous sound of a horse's disapproving whinny. Next thing I knew, Breanne was whimpering on the ground, crying in sheer agony as a scarred, filthy white stallion trampled her. My breath hitched, my eyes widened in disbelief. I knew this stallion. And then I saw it—the faint brown patch on the stallion's head. My blood turned to ice. No. It can’t be. "Mirage?" My voice cracked. The horse stopped mid-stomp, ears twitching. The sound of my voice stopped the Stallion from continuing its attack on Breanne, who had now reverted to her bruised human state, no longer partially shifted. The Stallion turned and looked at me. "Mirage!" I choked out, rushing forward to grab the reins. "It's really you!" I hadn't summoned my borrowed stallion. I had summoned him. My champion. My partner. My horse that Liam sold from under me, promising he went to a good home. Now, his coat was matted, his skin was patchy with disease, and his body was crisscrossed with whip marks. He was abused. Mirage had once been a regal, snow-white stallion, bought at auction by the Thornes. He had carried me to victory in countless competitions. He wasn't just a horse. He was my family. One of the most precious things I had. It took everything in me to forgive him for going behind my back and forcing me to stop riding by selling Mirage off in the first place, but it helped soothe the pain to know that at least he was being taken care of wherever he was. Liam had promised he'd be cared for. He lied. He looked me in the eye and lied to my face. He gave Mirage to a home that had continuously abused and neglected him. These wounds were a combination of old and recent. This was what Liam considered a good home? Tears burned my eyes as I ran my hands over his ruined coat. My heart was breaking. The abuse Mirage would have been enduring all this time, thinking I abandoned him. "Claire! Breanne!" Liam's voice cut through the air as another set of hooves approached. Chapter 6 The Fall The injuries and now Mirage, I was breaking inside and now outside. Just as my knees gave way, a firm hand caught my arm. "What took you so long out here? Are you all right?" Liam's voice, usually so tender, sounded distant in my ears. Through my tears, I turned to confront him about Mirage's condition, but Breanne's weak whimper cut through the air. "Liam.” She whimpered weakly. “Please, help me,” she pleaded. Liam stiffened as if struck. He released me immediately, like he was catching fire at just the mere touch of me. I staggered from the sudden loss of assistance and contact from my mate, and watched in disbelief as his attention snapped to Breanne's crumpled form on the ground. "Breanne!" His eyes reddened as he gathered her into his arms, cradling her close to her chest, "Oh my Goddess, what happened? How did this—?" I watched as he gently wiped away the tears staining her cheek. His eyes began to mist up. It was as though I were watching a live-action romance. The long-lost lover, dying in her beloved's arms. It would have been touching if it wasn't for the fact that that was my mate, holding another woman so tenderly while I stood five feet from them in significantly more pain. "Claire couldn't handle her horse. When I offered to help her back up, she then turned it around and blamed me! When I tried to explain I wasn’t at fault, she set that wretched beast on me!" Breanne's tears fell like broken pearls. Her voice grew faint as she added dramatically, "Liam, please, I can't feel my legs. What if I never walk again?" Liam's expression darkened as he listened to Breanne’s version of events. He turned to me with a sudden coldness I had never seen before. "Is this true?" He growled in anger, clutching Breanne closer to him protectively. A searing pain tore through my abdomen before I could respond. I cried out at the suddenness of it, and clutched my stomach, gasping through clenched teeth as metallic bile rose in my throat. Liam didn’t even flinch at the sight of my obvious pain before him. "I'm taking Breanne to the hospital," he said coldly. "If you did this, Claire—" He left the threat hanging as he cradled Breanne closer. I have never heard of an Alpha, or any rank member in my school studies or observations, threatening his mates and Luna over just a friend. It was against Wolfen code and ethics, but I suppose that didn’t matter to Liam or the Sterling Moon pack. This was going to become a regular occurrence, I could already sense it. I watched through blurred vision as Breanne gave one last performance. "Liam, I—" Her eyelids fluttered shut with theatrical perfection. "Bree-Bree! Stay with me! Please don’t leave me, baby. I’m here. Don’t you dare leave me!" Liam shouted, already running partially shifted into his wolf to allow himself to cradle her and use his Alpha wolf strength and speed at the same time. Behind him, I collapsed with a thud that echoed across the field. I briefly saw Liam hesitate mid-stride—just for a second. Regardless, he didn’t turn around at the sound of my collapse and shallow, laboured breaths. I watched as they continued to run away with Breanne in their arms, leaving me where I lay. My heart broke, even though I had filed and decided to leave both Liam and this horrible pack; a small part of me still held onto a sliver of hope that Liam would see the path he was taking and how far it was from us. But he didn’t, and that was when everything went dark for me. ***** When I regained consciousness, the sterile glare of surgical lights assaulted my vision. Cold metal instruments clinked nearby as my legs were positioned apart. I tried to speak, but the drugs held me paralyzed. The doctors' voices floated above me like ghosts. I could sense the movements around me, but I was awake, unable to move, feel, or speak. It was a surreal experience, but oddly familiar to my life since I had mated with the Sterling family. Nothing more than an ornament on the wall to all, including my mate. "Such a shame—two months along. Who goes horseback riding when they're pregnant?" "The fall detached the embryo completely. Must have been quite the impact. She is lucky to be alive." "Without a wolf, another hour, and she wouldn’t have been." "That man who brought her in—was that her husband? He was colder than a block of ice, but as Handsome as the Devil himself. Can’t say much about their mateship part, he simply paid the bill and left without a word." "Enough chatter. Let’s finish this up before she hemorrhages." Each medical term floating to my ears—pregnancy, embryo, hemorrhage, dilation and curettage—pierced my drugged haze like silver blades to the heart. The one that stuck out the most was broken. I knew they were talking about my hand, but it was so much deeper than that. I felt broken. I lost my pup. Until recently, I would have loved to have Liam and my first pup. Everything about us seemed happy and together, but now, it seemed symbolic to lose the pups I never knew I had. I was losing a mate I should never have had to fight this hard to keep. Everything was perfect until I saw it was all a smoke screen and not meant to be. Just like this pup. False hope. I struggled against the numbness, but my body refused to obey. Something sharp scraped inside me, painless but violating. The crushing weight of realization dragged me under before I could scream, I was once again enveloped by empty darkness. "Claire ... Claire ..." Time lost all meaning. A distant voice called my name while someone shook my arm. With monumental effort, I forced my eyes open. Once again, the antiseptic glare of hospital lights assaulted my vision—I was in a hospital room.
I have been to three different doctors in two years with the same hoarse voice and the same lump in my throat that won't go away, and every time I leave with a prescription that helps a little, and every morning I wake up and it is still there. "Helps a little." I want to sit with that phrase for a moment because I think it is the most quietly devastating phrase in the entire vocabulary of chronic illness. Not "doesn't help at all." That would be easier, actually. That would be a clean answer. "This medication does nothing, try something different." Clear. Actionable. "Helps a little" means you stay. You continue. You give it more time. You tell yourself that partial improvement is still improvement and that patience is part of the process and that the next appointment will show more progress than the last one. "Helps a little" keeps you in the same place for two years while every prescription you leave with does exactly what the last one did: takes the edge off, quiets it slightly, makes it manageable, and then hands you back to the same morning you've been waking up to since this started. The same thickness. The same lump, sitting in the same spot in your throat. The same hoarse, strange, not-quite-your-voice voice that needs twenty minutes of tea and clearing and careful coaxing before it's willing to behave. Every morning. For two years. My name is Patricia. I'm 57, I live outside of Phoenix, I work in corporate training, and the lump in my throat has been present at every meeting I have run, every presentation I have delivered, and every phone call I have made or taken since the autumn before last. Not as a distraction. As a constant. Something I have learned to manage around so automatically that I sometimes forget, for a few hours, that managing it is something I am always doing. Until a meeting goes quiet and I need to speak into that quiet and the voice that comes out is not quite the voice I'd like it to be and I watch someone's expression shift just slightly and I remember. I always remember. Let me tell you about the three doctors, because the three doctors are important to understanding what took me so long to find the actual answer. Doctor one was my GP. She is thorough and kind and she took the symptoms seriously, which I want to be clear about because what I am about to describe is not about doctors being careless. It is about a gap in a standard explanation that I suspect is very common. She diagnosed reflux, specifically Laryngopharyngeal Reflux, the kind that reaches the throat and larynx directly rather than manifesting as classic heartburn. She prescribed a proton pump inhibitor, gave me the dietary modification list, told me to stop eating before bed, and said to give it six weeks. Six weeks later the voice was slightly better. The lump was slightly less insistent. I told her and she said that was a good sign, to continue. I continued. For four more months. The slight improvement did not become more improvement. The slight improvement was the ceiling. Doctor two was a gastroenterologist she referred me to when the ceiling became apparent. He ran a full workup. Scope, pH monitoring, the comprehensive evaluation. He confirmed the LPR diagnosis, increased the medication dose, added a second drug to take at night, and refined the dietary restrictions. He was specific about timing. Nothing to eat within four hours of bedtime. No lying down for three hours after eating. He said the more scrupulously I followed the protocol the better the outcomes would be. I followed the protocol scrupulously. I am the kind of person who follows protocols scrupulously. I kept a food journal for three months. I set phone alarms for medication times. I ate dinner at 5:30 PM every night for the better part of six months, which if you have a life and a family and a job that keeps you in meetings until 6:00 PM requires a particular kind of logistical creativity I will not detail here but trust me it was considerable. The lump was perhaps forty percent better. The voice was somewhat more reliable in the mornings. Somewhat. It still needed retrieval. The forty percent that remained was still there every single morning, still the first thing I felt before I was fully conscious, still the opening note of every day. Doctor three was an ENT the gastroenterologist referred me to when the forty-percent improvement stopped improving. She scoped me, saw the residual inflammation, agreed with everything the previous two doctors had said, and suggested I might benefit from a longer course of treatment. She said laryngeal inflammation could be slow to fully resolve. She said to be patient. I had been patient for twenty-two months. I left that appointment with a slight adjustment to my medication and the words "be patient" and I sat in my car in the parking structure for a few minutes doing the thing I do when I need to think clearly, which is sit very still and look at what is actually in front of me rather than what I have been assuming is in front of me. What was actually in front of me was this: three doctors had looked at my case and given me the same category of answer. Manage the acid. Adjust the chemistry. The acid is the problem, address the acid. And the acid interventions had helped. They had genuinely helped. I was not dismissing them. But they had helped a little, and then they had stopped helping more, and the question I had not yet asked with sufficient directness was: why. Why does the medication reduce acid and the lump persist. Why does the dietary restriction reduce triggers and the morning voice persist. What is the thing that the acid management is addressing that is separate from the thing the morning symptoms are telling me about. I started looking for that distinction specifically. Not for new medications or new dietary approaches. For the explanation of the gap between the intervention and the outcome. I found it three weeks later in a research paper that I read on a Sunday afternoon with a level of attention I usually reserve for contracts. The paper was examining LPR treatment outcomes and comparing different intervention approaches. The findings were consistent across multiple studies the paper referenced, and the core explanation they converged on was this: LPR involves two distinct mechanisms. The first is chemical. How much acid the stomach produces. How acidic it is. How readily the triggers in your diet cause it to increase. Medication and dietary change address this mechanism. They address it effectively. When the research showed that patients on medication and dietary modification experienced partial improvement, the partial was not because the interventions were weak. It was because the interventions were only addressing one of the two mechanisms. The second mechanism is physical. And it operates entirely at night. When you lie flat, the Lower Esophageal Sphincter, the valve between the stomach and the esophagus, loses the gravitational advantage it has when you are upright. Gravity, when you are standing or sitting, helps keep stomach contents where they belong. When you are horizontal, that assistance is gone. The valve is working alone, without gravity's help, against whatever pressure the stomach is generating. Even a medicated stomach. Even a dietary-restricted stomach producing less acid than it otherwise would. The valve is still compromised. The acid, however reduced, still travels upward. It moves through the esophagus. It reaches the larynx. The larynx, the paper explained, is the most vulnerable structure in this entire pathway. The esophagus, which is regularly exposed to acid in reflux patients, develops at least a minimal degree of adaptive response over time. The larynx has almost none. The laryngeal tissue has essentially no protective mucus lining against acid exposure. Brief, repeated contact with small amounts of acid, even medication-reduced acid, causes significant inflammation of the vocal cord tissue and the surrounding structures. That inflammation is the lump. That inflammation is the hoarse, unfamiliar morning voice. That inflammation does not resolve overnight because it is being created overnight, continuously, during every hour the body lies flat. My medications were reducing the acid volume. My food restrictions were reducing the triggers that caused the stomach to produce excess acid. But every night I was lying horizontal, and every night whatever acid remained had a clear, direct, gravity-assisted path to the most vulnerable tissue in my throat. Eight hours of exposure. While I slept. While I was doing everything else correctly. The morning lump was not the residue of a bad day of eating. It was not a sign that the medication needed adjusting. It was the accumulated result of eight hours of lying flat. The paper was unambiguous about what addressed this mechanism: positional therapy. Full upper-body elevation at thirty degrees, sustained throughout the night. Not a slightly raised pillow. Not the head-of-bed blocks I had eventually tried after reading about them online, which changed my angle by perhaps four or five degrees, not thirty. Full torso elevation. Rigid. Consistent. Held from sleep to alarm. At thirty degrees, gravity becomes an ally instead of the problem. Stomach contents cannot travel upward against a genuine incline. The acid stays where it belongs. The larynx is not exposed during the night. The inflammation has a chance to actually resolve because it is no longer being continuously renewed. I sat with that for a while. Then I went looking for a way to actually achieve it. I was skeptical of wedge pillows before I started looking closely, and I think that skepticism is almost universal among people who have been around the reflux forums long enough. The reviews all said the same thing. Hard. Hot. And the complaint that ended every otherwise-positive review in a single sentence: slid off it by midnight. The sliding was the problem that mattered. Partial-night elevation is partial-night protection. If the acid reaches the larynx for the second half of the night, the inflammation continues building, and you wake up with the same lump you've been waking up with, just perhaps slightly smaller. I had been getting partial results for twenty-two months. I was not interested in a partial solution with a different mechanism. I searched specifically for wedge pillows that solved the sliding. Not the most comfortable ones. Not the most aesthetic ones. The ones where people in the reviews described actually staying elevated all night. That is a smaller result set than you might expect because most people who slide off a wedge pillow don't understand that the sliding is the reason the pillow isn't working. They just return it and write a review that says it didn't help. That specific search led me to the Healpurea 2.0. I read the product page carefully. Not quickly. A few things were different from everything else in the category. The foam specification mattered. High-density viscoelastic memory foam. Not the poly-foam that compresses under sustained body weight within weeks until the incline it provides is negligible. This was the material used in medical-grade positioning equipment precisely because it maintains its structural geometry under pressure over time. The angle it creates when you first lie down is the angle it still creates in the seventh hour of sleep. That distinction is not decorative. The cover surface was the detail that explained the sliding problem in terms I found immediately logical. Every other wedge pillow I researched used smooth fabric. Bamboo. Cooling microfiber. Soft. And smooth fabric on a slope under a sleeping body, with gravity applying continuous downward force over six to eight hours, is a mechanism for arriving flat by midnight. It is not elevation. It is delayed flatness. The Healpurea 2.0 uses a honeycomb-textured knit. The texture creates friction distributed across the surface. Grip points that resist the downward pull without being rough against skin or fabric. This was the engineering answer to the problem that every other product in the category had been ignoring. They had been solving for comfort. This one had solved for staying in place. The bolster was what made it viable for me specifically. A detachable half-moon piece that positions at the top of the wedge to support the cervical spine. I sleep on my side. Standard wedge pillows are architecturally hostile to side sleeping because when you turn onto your side on a flat inclined surface, the shoulder rises with nowhere to go and jams into the neck. Twenty minutes into that and the shoulder pain is competing seriously with the reflux for your attention. The bolster creates a gap at the top of the incline. The neck rests in it. The shoulder drops into the space below. The spine stays aligned. Side sleeping on an incline stops being a theoretical possibility and becomes an actual one. It was $109. I had spent considerably more than that on the previous twenty-two months of appointments and prescriptions and dietary substitutes. I ordered it the same evening. It arrived on a Wednesday. I set it up before bed, positioned the bolster for side sleeping, and lay down into the incline. More pronounced than I expected. Real elevation. Not symbolic. Like reclining in a chair rather than lying flat. I was aware of it the way you are aware of something genuinely new. I fell asleep. My alarm went off at 6:15 AM. I lay still for a moment. The habit of twenty-two months: inventory before motion. Waiting for the lump to announce itself. Waiting for the hoarse, thick, this-is-going-to-take-a-while quality of the morning. It was there. Less. Not gone. Not that first morning, and I want to be honest about that because I think honesty matters more than a dramatic first-night story. But less. The lump was present the way a sound is present when you have turned the volume down far enough that you have to actually concentrate to locate it. The morning voice was rough at the edges, the way any voice is at 6:15 AM, but it was mine. It did not require retrieval. It did not require twenty minutes of tea and careful coaxing. It was just there, mine, when I needed it. I said good morning to my husband. He said good morning back, and then looked at me, and said: "You sound different." Not better, specifically. Just different. He had gotten so accustomed to the morning version of my voice that mine was the unfamiliar one. End of week two: the forty-percent improvement that had been my ceiling for eighteen months was no longer the ceiling. The lump on most mornings was a trace. Brief. Gone by the time I finished my first cup of coffee without any particular effort on my part. End of week four: I ran a full-day corporate training session. Eight hours. I spoke for most of it. The voice held throughout. Reliably. Without the management, without the lozenges in my pocket as backup, without the low background calculation about how much throat I had left before I'd need to excuse myself and clear it privately. I went back to my gastroenterologist at week eight. I told him what I'd done and what had changed. I described the research, the positional therapy evidence, the thirty-degree recommendation, the specific mechanism by which lying flat was undoing every other intervention I was making. He was quiet for a moment. Then he said the research was solid and that he should have been more explicit about positional therapy from the beginning of my treatment. He said most of his LPR patients had never heard of it as a primary intervention. He said he was going to change that. Twenty-two months. Three doctors. Two medications. Scrupulous dietary restriction. And the piece that resolved the lump and returned the voice was a structural incline that kept my torso at thirty degrees while I slept, so that for the first time in two years my larynx was not spending the night being quietly, continuously inflamed. The objection I know you have. You move in your sleep. You'll slide off or end up flat regardless. I move in my sleep. I have always moved in my sleep. I wake up in the morning still elevated, still on the wedge, the same place I was when I fell asleep. The honeycomb surface holds. That surprised me enough that I checked the first few mornings with a kind of suspicious attention, expecting to find I'd ended up flat and just hadn't noticed. I hadn't. The texture does what it is designed to do. The product is the Healpurea 2.0 Sleep Pillow. Link below, or search for it by name. No affiliation, no incentive, nothing to gain from this except the possibility that someone reads it before spending two years in the same "helps a little" loop I was in. Three doctors. All of them saw the acid. None of them mentioned the angle. The angle was the thing. And the morning after I changed it, I woke up and the lump was already smaller. By the end of the first month, it was nearly gone. It has not come back.
"""Please, Liam, I just lost our baby. Don't let them take my blood."" My voice was barely a whisper, my body still trembling from the surgery—from the emptiness where our child used to be. But my husband didn't even look at me. His gaze was fixed on the ER doors, where doctors shouted about Breanne's critical blood loss. Breanne Telder. The Beta's daughter. His best friend. The woman he swore was""just like a sister.” The same woman who caused the fall that cost me our pup. ""She's RH-negative and we're out of stock. Find donors—now!"" The surgeon said urgently. ""Take hers."" Liam's arm slid around my waist—not to comfort me, not to hold me—but to push me forward like an offering.""Wolfless born shifters are universal donors. Her blood will save Breanne."" I froze as if struck by lightning, my disbelieving eyes lifting to meet his. Did he and his wolf even realize what they'd done? They didn't have to say the rejection—offering their mate's blood to another woman screamed it loud enough. ""Liam,"" I managed to whisper, ""I just lost our pup—"" ""Spare me the lies. I am done believing you!"" His eyes were cold steel. ""Breanne's life comes first right now."" The words cut deeper than any blade. I straightened, ignoring the spinning in my head, every inch of me trembling but unbroken. ""You've made your choice, Liam. And after today…"" my voice didn't crack this time ""I'll make mine."" The doctor's hand gripped my arm, leading me toward the blood lab. ""I'll donate the blood,"" I didn't fight it. ""But in return, you will agree to end our mate bond.”" ***** Chapter 1 Dropping the Mate I stood at the gate of the Sterling Moon Packhouse, clutching a cake box that had begun to melt in the summer heat. My usually pristine blonde hair was now stuck to my neck and face in damp strands, and my designer dress was now ruined with mud and swamp stains. I hadn't meant to arrive at my third mating anniversary looking like I had been dragged through a hedge backward and then tossed in the swamp lands beyond the pack grounds. But then again, being cornered and ambushed by rogues, conveniently knowing my whereabouts without an escort or protection, wasn't exactly part of my agenda either. A mysterious yet heroic stranger had rescued me and driven me back to the edge of my mate’s pack territory when Liam Sterling, my mate and the pack's Alpha, hadn't answered any of my fifteen frantic calls. I had almost convinced myself he was simply busy orchestrating some grand anniversary surprise. That had to be it. Otherwise, why else would he send me out alone for the cake retrieval and then not bother to answer my calls? I quickened my pace toward the entrance of the packhouse, not wanting to delay the celebration any longer than I already had. I rounded the corner only to stop dead at the sight before me. The entire packhouse had been transformed with floral arches, helium balloons, and an enormous banner. My fingers tightened around the cake box. I had doubts about walking into the grand hall; perhaps I should slip upstairs to change first. Then Liam's familiar voice called out. "There's my beautiful mate! Took you long enough, sweetheart. Everyone's waiting for the cake. Were the directions not clear enough?" He teased, not taking in the dishevelled state of my appearance or the fact that my smile didn’t reach my eyes. He often failed to see me. I looked up to find my mate looking devastatingly handsome in a white Tom Ford suit, his gray waistcoat accentuating those broad shoulders I used to trace my fingers over. He hadn't dressed like this for me in years. I pushed aside the gnawing doubts starting to fill my heart and embraced the fact that he was trying to make things right. This was not the time to voice my disappointments with his lack of attention or concern. We're here to celebrate our mate bond with the pack. This was also the year that he promised to swear me in as the official Luna, to lead by his side. Three years of proving myself capable despite not having a wolf of my own, and now here we were. My lips began curving into a smile despite myself. Maybe the rogues and the ambush, the ruined dress, the ignored calls—perhaps none of it mattered now that I was home. Liam would keep me safe, and we were going to announce that I was stepping into a role that should have been mine when we first mated. "Liam, I was just—" I was about to explain the rogues, the ambush, the mysterious saviour, but was cut off mid-sentence. "Liam! Is that my cake?" A shrill voice interrupted as Breanne Telder materialized behind Liam, looping her arm through his as though it was where she belonged. She was Liam’s father's Beta’s daughter. Otherwise known as the third wheel in our relationship and the pick me girl that Liam always did. She was also not supposed to be here. She was sent away a while ago, and Liam promised to focus solely on us. "You flew me home just for this birthday surprise? Best Alpha bestie ever!" The cake box slipped from my fingers, landing with a sickening splat on the custom marble flooring beneath me. The same flooring I wanted to either swallow me or Breanna up in this moment. Birthday surprise? What the hell did that mean? Those two words echoed in my skull like gunshots. For weeks, I had known Liam was planning something secretive. The custom-ordered flowers were delivered under the cover of darkness. The expensive Eclipse Stone rough he'd purchased at auction. All those whispered phone calls I had pretended not to hear. It all led to this moment, but it wasn’t the moment I had expected. I had woven every scrap of evidence into fantasies of candlelit vows renewed, of Liam dropping to one knee all over again. Even when he hadn't picked up during my attack from rogues, I had made excuses for him. Now Breanne's smug smile shattered those delusions like a hammer through stained glass. "What the hell were you thinking, Claire?" Stephanie Sterling's razor-sharp heels clicked across the flooring as she advanced. "We've been waiting two hours for that cake! You can’t do one single task; no wonder you will never be Luna material for the Sterling Moon pack." Stephanie was Liam's mother. From the moment I mated into the Alpha family, Stephanie had made no secret of her dislike; she was the reason Liam was convinced to hold off and force me to prove myself as Luna material. Over time, that contempt had only grown bolder, more vicious, no longer even pretending to hide it. Failing to see Liam, their Alpha, standing up for me, much of the pack started to support and see the validity in the points that their retired Luna was making. My hands shook. "This was supposed to be our anniversary party." Liam caught my elbow and steered me out of the room for privacy. "Baby, I'd planned a surprise for you, but Breanne asked for a pack-wide birthday celebration when she returned, so—" "So, instead of standing up for your mate, yet again, you conceded and did what they wanted. It’s fine for me to be let down, but not her? Message received, Liam." I wrenched my arm free, the movement sending fresh pain through my bruised ribs from the attack. I doubled over with a gasp. Before Liam could reach for me, Stephanie's voice sliced through the garden again. "Liam! Stop coddling her and get over here. This is why the wolfless should never hold ranks; they're weak and attention grabbers. Forget the cake, we'll just serve the petit fours instead." "Coming." He hesitated, then pressed a kiss to my temple. "We'll talk later." I remained crouched in the foyer of the packhouse as another wave of pain, this one far deeper than physical, crashed over me. Not a single pack member had asked why I looked like I'd been in a car wreck, why I'd been crying. From the other room where everyone gathered, the opening chords of "Happy Birthday" floated toward me. Each syrupy note felt like another papercut to my heart. It hit me suddenly—I hadn't celebrated a birthday since mating into the Alpha family, not once, though my own fell just days apart from Breanne's. And Liam had known this; he made a joke about the coincidence of his two best gals' being birthday buddies, but mine was always overshadowed. He quickly forgot about mine. I wiped my cheeks, giving myself a self-mocking smile. I should have known better than to hope for something more than what I already received. As the sun dipped low, I rose, my shadow stretching lonely behind me. Without a word, I climbed the stairs and clicked the bedroom door shut of the Alpha suite. Under the bathroom's harsh lighting, I peeled off my ruined dress and threw it in the trash. Steam fogged the mirrors as I scrubbed at skin that still felt dirty from the rogue's hands. I stayed under the scalding water until my fingers pruned. Wrapped in an oversized robe, I sat curled on the window seat watching party lights twinkle below until the last guest departed. At 11:00 PM, the bedroom door finally creaked open. I didn't turn when Liam's familiar cologne filled the room. I heard him hang up his jacket, then felt his whiskey-warm hands on my shoulders. "Happy anniversary, my beautiful, stunning mate." His lips brushed my ear. "Guess what I got you?" I shrugged him off. "I honestly don't care." He knelt before me, producing a velvet box with the flourish of a magician. "I had this carved from that Eclipse Stone rough. It is rumoured to help awaken latent wolfen spirits, strengthen auras and bring new beginnings.” Liam fastened the pendant around my neck. The cold stone settled between my chest like a brand. "Stunning." He kissed the hollow of my throat. "I was thinking that it’s been three years since we mated, and you have done so well proving yourself to me and this pack. I want us to now try for a pup. Bring this pack a new heir.” "Yeah, that’s not happening," I rejected the idea instantly. His chuckle was dark velvet. "You won't have to lift a finger, darling. I'll do all the—" "Liam." I met his gaze for the first time that night. “I want to submit an official request to break our mate bond!” Chapter 2 This Time, His Sweet Talk Won't Work My mind was made up before he finally came to our room. This wasn't like my previous impulsive threats in an attempt to get him to see the mistakes he was continuously making in our bond. This time, I was genuinely determined to leave. Three years of mateship flashed through my mind. I had lost count of how many times Liam had prioritized Breanne over my feelings or dismissed me because his mother said so. Who was his mate, and who was just a friend? I could no longer answer that question, and I was tired of trying to defend us. We weren’t bonded. Not the way the typical Alpha and mate were. It was usual for an Alpha never to leave his Luna’s side. She was his number one priority, even though the pack came second. The Alpha's mate was the heart of the pack and respected as an equal, but I was neither of those things. I haven’t been from the start. Breanne, even though she was briefly sent away, was still respected and noticed more than I could even hope for. If someone kept treating you in ways you disliked, it was because you allowed it. I had let it slide every other time. But today, Liam had crossed my final line. This day was our third anniversary. I didn’t care that he forgot my birthday, dinners, or events we planned together. I did, however, care about this milestone moment. A promise he made was long forgotten. This was that tipping point for my patience. “Really, Claire? You are threatening to reject our mate bond again? Don't say that every time you're upset, sweetheart. I was wrong about today. I'll make it up to you tomorrow." My eyes showed no emotion. “Don't bother. Not everything can be made up, and you can only backburner your mate for so long before she grows tired of being at the bottom of the priorities, Liam.” "Of course, this can be fixed. There's always next year. We will have a pup by then, and you will have long forgotten this little hiccup and tantrum." Liam pushed me down onto the sofa, kissing my face tenderly. With my hands pinned above my head, I wasn’t able to push him off. He expected the topic of having pups would appease me and calm my boiling anger. I had had enough of his nonsense and non-committal ways. I stared blankly at the ceiling as tears unexpectedly rolled down my cheeks. I lay like a dead weight. In the past, whenever we would fight or I would throw a tantrum, as Liam would title it, all he would do was use the mate bond against me. His kisses, his touch, his desires would wear me down, and I would accept his hollowed words of apology and his flashy gifts as though they meant something more than pacifying childish behaviour, in his mind. But this time, even though he held me down and I couldn’t resist, I was also not participating or encouraging him to continue. He was so self-absorbed that he couldn’t even realize that I wasn’t a willing participant. I was motionless, soundless, non-responsive. As Liam kept kissing me, his hands touched every part of my bruised body, utterly unaware of the pain he was inflicting both physically and emotionally. I felt his body suddenly freeze at the sound of a whimpered sob that slipped out of me. He looked out with hooded eyes, which quickly sobered and turned serious when he saw the tears in my eyes. His expression was frozen in panic. "Baby, why are you crying?" He quickly turned on the light. "Wait—you seemed off when you came home. Did something happen?" Finally, he remembered, but the damage between us was already done. My heart twisted, wishing that it didn’t take crying while he wanted sex to cover his mistakes for him to notice something was wrong. At the thought of how much distance was between us, more tears fell. Under the light, Liam finally saw the slight swelling on my face, the scratches on my arms and body, and the deep gash on my right leg with dried blood. His pupils contracted. "What happened?" I could sense his wolf stirring under the surface. It was clear that someone had hurt me, but they were only now realizing it. Just as I opened my mouth, his phone rang. I looked at the screen and rolled my eyes. Of course, it was Breanne. Liam sighed and offered a small apologetic smile before he answered in front of me. "Breanne, what's wrong?" "Liam, I think I ate something bad. My stomach hurts so much. Can you take me to the hospital?" Breanne's sugary voice came through. Liam automatically started to agree. I could see his eyes widen with panic at the thought that she was in pain. But right before he responded, he looked at me and my reddened, tear-filled eyes. "It's late. Claire and I are already in bed. Ask Mom if there's any medicine at home." Stephanie's sharp voice interrupted, "Liam, come now! This isn't ordinary pain. It could be appendicitis! She's pale as a ghost!" Liam's brow furrowed. "Fine. I'm coming." My heart sank like a stone. I shook my head in disbelief and turned away, refusing to meet his eyes. Yet again, I was pushed aside. Liam dressed quickly but hesitated at the door. After a long moment, he took my hand. "You're hurt too. Come with me, we'll get you checked at the hospital." That single word, "too", cut like a knife. I laughed dryly. "No need. Go ahead, play hero for another woman. If your mate's pain is less important than staying and understanding what happened, then your friend who has a stomach ache, don’t bother dragging me around like an accessory with false concern. I'd rather be alone." Liam stiffened. He opened his mouth to speak, but the phone kept ringing insistently. Finally, he sighed and pressed his black card into my hand. "Buy whatever you want. Consider it an apology." The door slammed shut. I weighed the card in my palm and smiled bitterly. Liam only ever had two ways to appease me—sex or money. It used to work. I fooled myself into believing it meant he cared, that he wasn’t good with expressing emotions, but I saw it for what it was now. This time, his sweet talk won't work. I walked to the closet and in the back corner, I pulled out my old suitcase. Inside was the most valuable thing I owned. My freedom. It was an official Rejection agreement signed the night before our mating. Back then, Liam had insisted on accepting our mate bond despite his family's objections. Afraid of being trapped in a toxic pack and mating, I had made him sign this; if I ever wanted to break the bond, he had to agree unconditionally. I thought we’d never need it. Liam had probably forgotten it existed. But I hadn't. During one fight, I had even consulted a lawyer who confirmed its validity. I could file for an official rejection of the bond with just this document and 30 days cooling-off period. Since he had already signed it, there was no need for Liam's consent for me to file it now. The Elders within the Council would perform the rejection ceremony within their own chambers. There was no need for either of us to be present. That was typically why Alphas refrained from preemptively signing these types of contracts. It relinquished control without their knowledge. Now was the time. Chapter 3 The Breaking Point I didn't sleep all night; I couldn’t. Instead, I spent those hours cutting up every photograph of us together. There weren’t many, I realized. My phone was filled with pictures of Liam whenever I could sneak photos when he was distracted or busy. He was honestly an Adonis of a man. But three years together, we had exactly twenty-three pictures of us together as a couple, and only thirteen of those were just Liam and me. The remaining ten were with Breanne. I snuck downstairs before anyone else woke up and went into Liam's office. There on the desk was a picture. It was of him and Breanne, hugging and smiling into the camera. They looked happy. Too happy. My inner bitter bitch was vomiting at the sight. On the other side of the desk was a picture of the three of us. That's right, not me and my mate. It was Breanne pressed against Liam's side, smiling up at him, and I was smiling at the camera on the other side. My arm was linked around his, and he was smiling, but for which female in the picture, your guess was as good as mine. I took the picture out of the frame, and bent it so that I was folded to the back. There, now he had two perfect couple pictures of him and Breanne. I will simply bow out of this weird three-way relationship. By dawn, I had already filed the official rejection agreement papers at the Council's registry office. Then I donated all the designer outfits Liam had bought me to charity. Afterward, I drove out of the pack grounds for a few hours to pawn every piece of jewelry he'd ever given me at the local broker's. I didn’t want it getting back to Liam, or the pack gossip mill to run rampant with their own speculations. Not yet anyway. It was a surprisingly large chunk of money in return, one thing I knew for sure about Liam. When he was grovelling for his indifferences and mistakes, he never cheaped out on the apology jewelry. The broker didn’t have the full amount on hand, so I opted to have it wired, which worked fine for me. I opened a new bank account and provided them with the necessary information. I returned to the packhouse early that afternoon. I had requested that the gardener cut down the Cherry Blossom tree in the pack’s courtyard. He was ordered to burn every branch and leaf until only ashes remained. When I agreed to mate with Liam, I had my reservations because his family didn’t support their Alpha heir accepting the bond to a wolfless orphan with average financial standings. Liam planted the tree as a token of his pledge of devotion to us and our bond. I fell for it, thinking it would make us stronger. But I was wrong. By late afternoon, I had either sold, donated or destroyed every token of Liam and his devotion to me and our bond: everything but the Eclipse stone pendant. Some legends state that the Moon Goddess herself blessed the eclipse stone to strengthen the will of the wolfless. Call me a fool, but it still served as a sliver of proof that at some point, he did care enough to seek out the stone for me. Now that everything was removed, it was time for me to step out and prepare everything for my new life after this month-long cooldown period ended, and I was no longer the unwanted mate of Alpha Liam Sterling. I knew I had to be smart and figure out my path now, as I had no family to turn to once the rejection was completed. When I was seven, my father had disappeared after a mountain climbing accident. It was speculated that rogues were involved, as they were heavy in the area at the time. My mother re-mated not long afterwards, and we became part of the Thorne family. They were the overlords, if you will, of the Crown of Thornes Pack, rivals of The Sterling Moon pack and next door neighbours to the territory. My mother left the Thorne family after accusations and rumours of her infidelity and gambling debts. I didn’t believe it, but it seemed that everyone else did. I had no idea where she even went. She certainly didn’t seek me out after she left that night, abandoning me. The only person who would even be considered family at this point was Lucien Thorne. He was my former stepbrother from my mother's second mating. However, Lucien was notorious for his short temper, and he constantly mistreated me while we lived under the same roof, so I would sooner wind up homeless than seek his help. The heat of Liam’s black card was burning a hole in my pocket, serving as a reminder of his literal words: “Buy whatever you want and consider it as an apology.” Okay! I will. I went to the bank and after the teller spoke with the branch manager to confirm my approval of using the Alpha’s account for a withdrawal, yup, that's right, I held no status, so I wasn’t even recognized with authority over our marital account; I withdrew one million dollars from his account. It was insulting and frustrating to know that Breanne can walk in here and not have as many hoops to jump through to get at my mate’s money. But that’s fine. I have already started to let go of my hold on him emotionally. My head has already done so. As I waited for the teller to return with the funds, my phone rang. Liyah Cruz. She was my closest friend before I accepted the bond with Liam. Liam didn’t like her influence on me, as he put it, so over the years, our friendship became strained. For her to be reaching out and calling me now, it had to be important. "Liyah? What's wrong?" I answered right away. "Oh, thank the Goddess. Claire, the International Equestrian Championships start in a month, but I just got injured during training." Liyah's voice was thick with disappointment. "Claire, you were the most talented rider we knew. I could think of no one else to take over. Could you compete in my place?" The memories came flooding back. Had I not mated with Liam, I might have become as renowned as Liyah in equestrian circles. But Liam had disapproved of me riding; he often called it unladylike. He'd gone as far as going behind my back and selling my beloved white stallion, Mirage, to a good owner, cutting off my last connection to the sport. The silence stretched until Liyah sighed. "I forgot your mate doesn't allow—" "I'll do it," I interrupted. "One month. I'll be ready." Liyah's excited squeal pierced through the receiver. "Really? Oh my Goddess! Everyone always said you shouldn't have given up your talent for mating! You're finally coming back to us!" My hand trembled around the phone. Yes, before mating into the Sterling Moon pack and Alpha family, I had shone so brightly. Before Liam, I used to be many things. I was the university's star student—straight A's in every subject. A gifted painter, champion rider, runway model, master chef, and award-winning debater—there was nothing I couldn't excel at. But three years of mating had eroded it all. I hadn't touched a paintbrush in years. I have forgotten how to walk a runway, and even lost my sharp tongue in arguments—forced to submit to even my mate's family and house staff. Only my cooking skills remained polished because I have cooked for Liam every single day since the beginning of our bond acceptance. Only now did I realize how much of myself I had sacrificed. But it wasn't too late. I could still start over. This was that chance to start taking my life by the reins, so to speak, and returning to the Claire that used to walk proudly with her chin held high. Chapter 4 Meeting on Horseback I met Liyah at the stables we once rode at together. “Thank you, Claire-bear. I can’t believe you are actually here.” Liyah launched herself on top of me, despite her knee brace. I thought I understood what I gave up to be with Liam, my mate, but I didn’t understand a fraction of it. This crazy woman, who used to be my world, wrapped around me. How did I let him separate us? “It’s me who should thank you, Lee-Lee. I’ve missed you. I’m sorry. No more boys between us, I promise.” I sobbed. Liyah looked up, and I saw the understanding in her eyes. We both wiped our faces and laughed at our equally blotchy faces. “Okay, later, we'll discuss everything!” She looked at me with as much conviction as her tiny body could muster. I nodded and smiled. “But now, let me introduce you to Diva, my stallion. Just a warning, he lives up to the name periodically. I think it’s an adorable quirk for him and refuse to break it out of him. You’ll love him!” Liyah leads us to the stables, where we meet the horse. Liyah was right. We matched instantly. It isn’t easy for a shifter to bond with a stallion, but I never had those worries. I was always able to click with any animal, to the point where Liyah's brother spent a year calling me freaking snow white! I hated it, but he wasn’t wrong. I galloped across the equestrian field at dawn, the stallion I rode was kicking up dew as it raced toward the rising sun. Then I saw them. Liam and Breanne shared a white mare, ambling toward my direction. Breanne was dressed in her pristine white riding jodhpurs with the matching show coat, leaned back against Liam's chest. Liam's attire was the stark contrast of black on black. I watched him bend his head low, whispering something in Breanne’s ear, causing a fit of giggles from her. I had waited for him to return all night. When I had reached out and called him to ask if he would be returning that night, I was told, by him, that since Breanna needed an emergency appendectomy, he would not leave her side until she recovered. That was when I cut up our photos, burning them to ashes. As I watch them now, a question came to my mind, causing my brow to arch. When did appendectomy patients start riding horses the next day? My grip tightened on the reins just as Breanne spotted me. “Oh! Liam, how spooky. Doesn’t that woman look just like Claire!”At her teasing words, I watched as Liam's head snapped up. There, I sat astride my stallion, the tailored navy riding jacket accentuating my hourglass figure, my gaze glacial. I knew he felt it. Dismounting, Liam approached until he could only see the sharp angle of my jaw. "Sweetheart, since when do you ride? I thought you quit that. You should've told me you were coming." The memory of his and Breanne’s intimate pose churned my stomach. I pressed a hand to my mouth to keep from being sick at the thought before answering flatly. "Would you have answered if I called?" This acidic tone only emerged when I was furious. Liam's smile turned placating. "My fault—left my phone in the car. It turned out to be a false alarm about Breanne's appendix. Since she's competing in the International Equestrian Championships next month, I was only helping her practice." Breanne urged her mare forward, pouting. "Liam, why must we explain everything to her? Come back, we have more important things to focus on. You haven't finished teaching me." "An International Championship contender needs amateur instruction? How curious. I wonder if anyone else here is getting that kind of coaching? But, Liam, if she requires coaching, I'll do it." As Liam turned, my voice froze him. Liam’s expression initially fell flat at my words, but he quickly brightened at my offer. "Exactly! Breanne, Claire won that championship years ago." 'How touching that he finally remembered I have value,' I thought bitterly. Breanne bit her lip. "But—" After years together, I knew Breanne’s games. She wasn’t as nervous on a horse as she portrayed. It was all an act for Liam. "No buts." I raised my riding crop. "Let's ride." The crop came down on Breanne's mare, which bolted forward with a whinny as Breanne shrieked. Liam paled. "Claire! She wasn't ready—" "Real trainers surprise their students." My amber eyes glinted. “Your coddling would've kept her mediocre forever.” Dust sprayed Liam's face as I galloped after Breanne, leaving him standing there, cheeks burning as if slapped. Good. This was just the beginning of my resistance. Breanne and I raced across the field. Though I was starting late, my black stallion, Diva, was not one to be outshone, and we soon overtook Breanne's white mare. For three years, Breanne had only seen the docile, obedient Claire. This commanding version, I’m sure, was unnerving. I could hear her growling, which, to be honest, was only slowing her own horse down. Her mare would not be able to focus on a race, with its rider losing its hold over herself. It was bound to spook her mare soon, and if she weren’t careful, she would get bucked. But as the saying goes, not my circus, not my monkeys. Diva and I were focused on ourselves. I could sense Breanne's determination to beat me. But, no matter how she pushed her champion mare, I remained ahead. As Diva and I passed her again, I caught a flash of movement from Breanne out of the corner of my eye. She pulled a hairpin out of her pocket and hurled it at Diva. That hairpin had been a gift from her friend at her birthday party, and she had been keeping it close to her chest just now. It was made of silver, and the sharp end drove hard into Diva's rump. Diva was instantly startled. Despite my expert handling and calming charm, which I have often used in the past to soothe a panicked horse, Diva threw me. I felt the gnash from the rock sticking out from the ground, which I hit my head on. The impact sending black spots across my vision—and a cry in absolute agony. My abdominal area pinched and screamed with a sharp and sudden pain like nothing I have ever felt before. There was blood on my hand when I touched it. I needed to get up. I needed to get back and get medical help because I knew Breanne wasn’t going to get me any. As I tried to push myself up off the ground with one hand, while the other was wrapped tightly around my stomach, still crying in sheer pain, a polished boot came forcefully down, cracking the bones in my hand. "Ah—!" The pain forced a gasp through clenched teeth. Chapter 5 The Two-Faced Woman "Claire, weren't you so impressive on horseback just now? How did you end up on the ground so fast?" Breanne crouched down, blinking her wide, innocent-looking eyes as she taunted me, pressing her boot harder against my hand, breaking the bones. She knew I was wolfless, and the pain she was causing; this was why she was doing it. To send me a message. I was hoping someone would come and find us, but the odds of this far from the training grounds were unlikely. "Oh my, I'm so sorry!" Breanne feigned surprise, finally lifting her foot with exaggerated remorse. "I didn't even see your hand there. How careless of me." “It’s to be expected with those massive feet of yours. What is that a size ten in men's?” I watched her eyes flash in anger briefly before she reined it back in. I yanked my hand back, and when Breanne reached out to help me up. I would always refuse her help; it was always a ploy for something worse. When she tried again, I recoiled, pushing myself up to my feet with gritted teeth. "Claire, that must've hurt. With riding skills like yours, how could you possibly think you were qualified to teach me?" Breanne smirked. "Only a fool would believe such a pitiful act, Breanne.” I glared, refusing to back down. "Oh, please. Can't accept that you're just not as good as I am? No wonder Liam doesn't like you much—you're such a sore loser." Breanne let out a mocking laugh. Breanne wasn’t hiding her petty, vindictive behaviour. She wanted me to know her intentions of returning and that she hadn't forgiven me for having her exiled. The reason Breanne was sent away a year ago was that I had walked in on her and Liam in the throes of passion. They were both half-naked and stuck to each other. Liam seemed to snap out of his daze the moment I entered the room and yanked Breanne off him. The thud of her head to the edge of the dresser brought out her wolf, and warriors nearby who heard the yelling managed to catch Breanne just in time before she could attack me. Liam sobered up instantly and demanded answers. Breanne played the confused card. That, like Liam, she had drunk a little too much at the pack celebration. She must have gotten confused about which floor she was on and passed out in mine and his bedroom, thinking it was hers. After all, his scent calms her, so she made sure to add that part—one extra little jab between Liam and me. Liam swore up and down that he was confused and thought it was me under the covers in bed. That, with the amount of wolfwine he had consumed, he didn’t realize it wasn’t me until my scent entered the room, and his wolf halted their action immediately recognizing their error. I moved to a different room, and Liam tried to separate himself from Breanne. Then he learned that Breanne approached me afterward and told me that Liam was aware it was her. After all, why would they confuse their mates? Unfortunately for Breanne, she did it in front of a witness, and they told several others, which led Liam to ask me about it. I confirmed that I knew he was aware that it was Breanne, as she told me so herself, and that I wanted to break the bond if he didn’t send her away as proof of his devotion to the mates' bond. I could see that he didn’t want to, but Liam was also someone who cared too much about image to have the wolfen community know that he lost his true mate over the Beta’s daughter affair scandal. With the third wheel gone, our mate bond had finally stabilized. I had hoped to start trying for a pup on our anniversary after I was announced as the new Luna of the Sterling Moon pack. But now Breanne was back, something of which Liam failed to inform me—especially considering it nearly ended us only a year ago. His lack of consideration over that confused me. Did his wolf also agree with this decision? Surely his wolf would realize better than Liam that this would ultimately bring out the bond to an end. "Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about," I said coolly. "But don't worry. I'll be out of your way soon. Then you two can do whatever you want." I turned away, whistling sharply for my horse. Breanne's face flushed crimson. She grabbed my arm and pressed her fingers deep into the flesh. “What the hell are you implying? What plans could I possibly have?” "You know exactly what I mean. But just a heads-up—mistresses in ranked mate bonds are illegal without Elder consent. And bastard pups tend to be shunned by packs altogether. So think carefully." Breanne's face went scarlet. "You—you're disgusting! How dare you accuse me and Liam of—" The sound of galloping hooves cut her off. Her eyes widened as though she hadn't expected us to be interrupted so soon. I turned to the sound of approaching Hooves, which gave Breanne time to growl her threat before she partially shifted and lunged at me with the intent to maul me where I stood. A chill ran down my spine—only to be overshadowed by the thunderous sound of a horse's disapproving whinny. Next thing I knew, Breanne was whimpering on the ground, crying in sheer agony as a scarred, filthy white stallion trampled her. My breath hitched, my eyes widened in disbelief. I knew this stallion. And then I saw it—the faint brown patch on the stallion's head. My blood turned to ice. No. It can’t be. "Mirage?" My voice cracked. The horse stopped mid-stomp, ears twitching. The sound of my voice stopped the Stallion from continuing its attack on Breanne, who had now reverted to her bruised human state, no longer partially shifted. The Stallion turned and looked at me. "Mirage!" I choked out, rushing forward to grab the reins. "It's really you!" I hadn't summoned my borrowed stallion. I had summoned him. My champion. My partner. My horse that Liam sold from under me, promising he went to a good home. Now, his coat was matted, his skin was patchy with disease, and his body was crisscrossed with whip marks. He was abused. Mirage had once been a regal, snow-white stallion, bought at auction by the Thornes. He had carried me to victory in countless competitions. He wasn't just a horse. He was my family. One of the most precious things I had. It took everything in me to forgive him for going behind my back and forcing me to stop riding by selling Mirage off in the first place, but it helped soothe the pain to know that at least he was being taken care of wherever he was. Liam had promised he'd be cared for. He lied. He looked me in the eye and lied to my face. He gave Mirage to a home that had continuously abused and neglected him. These wounds were a combination of old and recent. This was what Liam considered a good home? Tears burned my eyes as I ran my hands over his ruined coat. My heart was breaking. The abuse Mirage would have been enduring all this time, thinking I abandoned him. "Claire! Breanne!" Liam's voice cut through the air as another set of hooves approached. Chapter 6 The Fall The injuries and now Mirage, I was breaking inside and now outside. Just as my knees gave way, a firm hand caught my arm. "What took you so long out here? Are you all right?" Liam's voice, usually so tender, sounded distant in my ears. Through my tears, I turned to confront him about Mirage's condition, but Breanne's weak whimper cut through the air. "Liam.” She whimpered weakly. “Please, help me,” she pleaded. Liam stiffened as if struck. He released me immediately, like he was catching fire at just the mere touch of me. I staggered from the sudden loss of assistance and contact from my mate, and watched in disbelief as his attention snapped to Breanne's crumpled form on the ground. "Breanne!" His eyes reddened as he gathered her into his arms, cradling her close to her chest, "Oh my Goddess, what happened? How did this—?" I watched as he gently wiped away the tears staining her cheek. His eyes began to mist up. It was as though I were watching a live-action romance. The long-lost lover, dying in her beloved's arms. It would have been touching if it wasn't for the fact that that was my mate, holding another woman so tenderly while I stood five feet from them in significantly more pain. "Claire couldn't handle her horse. When I offered to help her back up, she then turned it around and blamed me! When I tried to explain I wasn’t at fault, she set that wretched beast on me!" Breanne's tears fell like broken pearls. Her voice grew faint as she added dramatically, "Liam, please, I can't feel my legs. What if I never walk again?" Liam's expression darkened as he listened to Breanne’s version of events. He turned to me with a sudden coldness I had never seen before. "Is this true?" He growled in anger, clutching Breanne closer to him protectively. A searing pain tore through my abdomen before I could respond. I cried out at the suddenness of it, and clutched my stomach, gasping through clenched teeth as metallic bile rose in my throat. Liam didn’t even flinch at the sight of my obvious pain before him. "I'm taking Breanne to the hospital," he said coldly. "If you did this, Claire—" He left the threat hanging as he cradled Breanne closer. I have never heard of an Alpha, or any rank member in my school studies or observations, threatening his mates and Luna over just a friend. It was against Wolfen code and ethics, but I suppose that didn’t matter to Liam or the Sterling Moon pack. This was going to become a regular occurrence, I could already sense it. I watched through blurred vision as Breanne gave one last performance. "Liam, I—" Her eyelids fluttered shut with theatrical perfection. "Bree-Bree! Stay with me! Please don’t leave me, baby. I’m here. Don’t you dare leave me!" Liam shouted, already running partially shifted into his wolf to allow himself to cradle her and use his Alpha wolf strength and speed at the same time. Behind him, I collapsed with a thud that echoed across the field. I briefly saw Liam hesitate mid-stride—just for a second. Regardless, he didn’t turn around at the sound of my collapse and shallow, laboured breaths. I watched as they continued to run away with Breanne in their arms, leaving me where I lay. My heart broke, even though I had filed and decided to leave both Liam and this horrible pack; a small part of me still held onto a sliver of hope that Liam would see the path he was taking and how far it was from us. But he didn’t, and that was when everything went dark for me. ***** When I regained consciousness, the sterile glare of surgical lights assaulted my vision. Cold metal instruments clinked nearby as my legs were positioned apart. I tried to speak, but the drugs held me paralyzed. The doctors' voices floated above me like ghosts. I could sense the movements around me, but I was awake, unable to move, feel, or speak. It was a surreal experience, but oddly familiar to my life since I had mated with the Sterling family. Nothing more than an ornament on the wall to all, including my mate. "Such a shame—two months along. Who goes horseback riding when they're pregnant?" "The fall detached the embryo completely. Must have been quite the impact. She is lucky to be alive." "Without a wolf, another hour, and she wouldn’t have been." "That man who brought her in—was that her husband? He was colder than a block of ice, but as Handsome as the Devil himself. Can’t say much about their mateship part, he simply paid the bill and left without a word." "Enough chatter. Let’s finish this up before she hemorrhages." Each medical term floating to my ears—pregnancy, embryo, hemorrhage, dilation and curettage—pierced my drugged haze like silver blades to the heart. The one that stuck out the most was broken. I knew they were talking about my hand, but it was so much deeper than that. I felt broken. I lost my pup. Until recently, I would have loved to have Liam and my first pup. Everything about us seemed happy and together, but now, it seemed symbolic to lose the pups I never knew I had. I was losing a mate I should never have had to fight this hard to keep. Everything was perfect until I saw it was all a smoke screen and not meant to be. Just like this pup. False hope. I struggled against the numbness, but my body refused to obey. Something sharp scraped inside me, painless but violating. The crushing weight of realization dragged me under before I could scream, I was once again enveloped by empty darkness. "Claire ... Claire ..." Time lost all meaning. A distant voice called my name while someone shook my arm. With monumental effort, I forced my eyes open. Once again, the antiseptic glare of hospital lights assaulted my vision—I was in a hospital room.
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I have been to three different doctors in two years with the same hoarse voice and the same lump in my throat that won't go away, and every time I leave with a prescription that helps a little, and every morning I wake up and it is still there. "Helps a little." I want to sit with that phrase for a moment because I think it is the most quietly devastating phrase in the entire vocabulary of chronic illness. Not "doesn't help at all." That would be easier, actually. That would be a clean answer. "This medication does nothing, try something different." Clear. Actionable. "Helps a little" means you stay. You continue. You give it more time. You tell yourself that partial improvement is still improvement and that patience is part of the process and that the next appointment will show more progress than the last one. "Helps a little" keeps you in the same place for two years while every prescription you leave with does exactly what the last one did: takes the edge off, quiets it slightly, makes it manageable, and then hands you back to the same morning you've been waking up to since this started. The same thickness. The same lump, sitting in the same spot in your throat. The same hoarse, strange, not-quite-your-voice voice that needs twenty minutes of tea and clearing and careful coaxing before it's willing to behave. Every morning. For two years. My name is Patricia. I'm 57, I live outside of Phoenix, I work in corporate training, and the lump in my throat has been present at every meeting I have run, every presentation I have delivered, and every phone call I have made or taken since the autumn before last. Not as a distraction. As a constant. Something I have learned to manage around so automatically that I sometimes forget, for a few hours, that managing it is something I am always doing. Until a meeting goes quiet and I need to speak into that quiet and the voice that comes out is not quite the voice I'd like it to be and I watch someone's expression shift just slightly and I remember. I always remember. Let me tell you about the three doctors, because the three doctors are important to understanding what took me so long to find the actual answer. Doctor one was my GP. She is thorough and kind and she took the symptoms seriously, which I want to be clear about because what I am about to describe is not about doctors being careless. It is about a gap in a standard explanation that I suspect is very common. She diagnosed reflux, specifically Laryngopharyngeal Reflux, the kind that reaches the throat and larynx directly rather than manifesting as classic heartburn. She prescribed a proton pump inhibitor, gave me the dietary modification list, told me to stop eating before bed, and said to give it six weeks. Six weeks later the voice was slightly better. The lump was slightly less insistent. I told her and she said that was a good sign, to continue. I continued. For four more months. The slight improvement did not become more improvement. The slight improvement was the ceiling. Doctor two was a gastroenterologist she referred me to when the ceiling became apparent. He ran a full workup. Scope, pH monitoring, the comprehensive evaluation. He confirmed the LPR diagnosis, increased the medication dose, added a second drug to take at night, and refined the dietary restrictions. He was specific about timing. Nothing to eat within four hours of bedtime. No lying down for three hours after eating. He said the more scrupulously I followed the protocol the better the outcomes would be. I followed the protocol scrupulously. I am the kind of person who follows protocols scrupulously. I kept a food journal for three months. I set phone alarms for medication times. I ate dinner at 5:30 PM every night for the better part of six months, which if you have a life and a family and a job that keeps you in meetings until 6:00 PM requires a particular kind of logistical creativity I will not detail here but trust me it was considerable. The lump was perhaps forty percent better. The voice was somewhat more reliable in the mornings. Somewhat. It still needed retrieval. The forty percent that remained was still there every single morning, still the first thing I felt before I was fully conscious, still the opening note of every day. Doctor three was an ENT the gastroenterologist referred me to when the forty-percent improvement stopped improving. She scoped me, saw the residual inflammation, agreed with everything the previous two doctors had said, and suggested I might benefit from a longer course of treatment. She said laryngeal inflammation could be slow to fully resolve. She said to be patient. I had been patient for twenty-two months. I left that appointment with a slight adjustment to my medication and the words "be patient" and I sat in my car in the parking structure for a few minutes doing the thing I do when I need to think clearly, which is sit very still and look at what is actually in front of me rather than what I have been assuming is in front of me. What was actually in front of me was this: three doctors had looked at my case and given me the same category of answer. Manage the acid. Adjust the chemistry. The acid is the problem, address the acid. And the acid interventions had helped. They had genuinely helped. I was not dismissing them. But they had helped a little, and then they had stopped helping more, and the question I had not yet asked with sufficient directness was: why. Why does the medication reduce acid and the lump persist. Why does the dietary restriction reduce triggers and the morning voice persist. What is the thing that the acid management is addressing that is separate from the thing the morning symptoms are telling me about. I started looking for that distinction specifically. Not for new medications or new dietary approaches. For the explanation of the gap between the intervention and the outcome. I found it three weeks later in a research paper that I read on a Sunday afternoon with a level of attention I usually reserve for contracts. The paper was examining LPR treatment outcomes and comparing different intervention approaches. The findings were consistent across multiple studies the paper referenced, and the core explanation they converged on was this: LPR involves two distinct mechanisms. The first is chemical. How much acid the stomach produces. How acidic it is. How readily the triggers in your diet cause it to increase. Medication and dietary change address this mechanism. They address it effectively. When the research showed that patients on medication and dietary modification experienced partial improvement, the partial was not because the interventions were weak. It was because the interventions were only addressing one of the two mechanisms. The second mechanism is physical. And it operates entirely at night. When you lie flat, the Lower Esophageal Sphincter, the valve between the stomach and the esophagus, loses the gravitational advantage it has when you are upright. Gravity, when you are standing or sitting, helps keep stomach contents where they belong. When you are horizontal, that assistance is gone. The valve is working alone, without gravity's help, against whatever pressure the stomach is generating. Even a medicated stomach. Even a dietary-restricted stomach producing less acid than it otherwise would. The valve is still compromised. The acid, however reduced, still travels upward. It moves through the esophagus. It reaches the larynx. The larynx, the paper explained, is the most vulnerable structure in this entire pathway. The esophagus, which is regularly exposed to acid in reflux patients, develops at least a minimal degree of adaptive response over time. The larynx has almost none. The laryngeal tissue has essentially no protective mucus lining against acid exposure. Brief, repeated contact with small amounts of acid, even medication-reduced acid, causes significant inflammation of the vocal cord tissue and the surrounding structures. That inflammation is the lump. That inflammation is the hoarse, unfamiliar morning voice. That inflammation does not resolve overnight because it is being created overnight, continuously, during every hour the body lies flat. My medications were reducing the acid volume. My food restrictions were reducing the triggers that caused the stomach to produce excess acid. But every night I was lying horizontal, and every night whatever acid remained had a clear, direct, gravity-assisted path to the most vulnerable tissue in my throat. Eight hours of exposure. While I slept. While I was doing everything else correctly. The morning lump was not the residue of a bad day of eating. It was not a sign that the medication needed adjusting. It was the accumulated result of eight hours of lying flat. The paper was unambiguous about what addressed this mechanism: positional therapy. Full upper-body elevation at thirty degrees, sustained throughout the night. Not a slightly raised pillow. Not the head-of-bed blocks I had eventually tried after reading about them online, which changed my angle by perhaps four or five degrees, not thirty. Full torso elevation. Rigid. Consistent. Held from sleep to alarm. At thirty degrees, gravity becomes an ally instead of the problem. Stomach contents cannot travel upward against a genuine incline. The acid stays where it belongs. The larynx is not exposed during the night. The inflammation has a chance to actually resolve because it is no longer being continuously renewed. I sat with that for a while. Then I went looking for a way to actually achieve it. I was skeptical of wedge pillows before I started looking closely, and I think that skepticism is almost universal among people who have been around the reflux forums long enough. The reviews all said the same thing. Hard. Hot. And the complaint that ended every otherwise-positive review in a single sentence: slid off it by midnight. The sliding was the problem that mattered. Partial-night elevation is partial-night protection. If the acid reaches the larynx for the second half of the night, the inflammation continues building, and you wake up with the same lump you've been waking up with, just perhaps slightly smaller. I had been getting partial results for twenty-two months. I was not interested in a partial solution with a different mechanism. I searched specifically for wedge pillows that solved the sliding. Not the most comfortable ones. Not the most aesthetic ones. The ones where people in the reviews described actually staying elevated all night. That is a smaller result set than you might expect because most people who slide off a wedge pillow don't understand that the sliding is the reason the pillow isn't working. They just return it and write a review that says it didn't help. That specific search led me to the Healpurea 2.0. I read the product page carefully. Not quickly. A few things were different from everything else in the category. The foam specification mattered. High-density viscoelastic memory foam. Not the poly-foam that compresses under sustained body weight within weeks until the incline it provides is negligible. This was the material used in medical-grade positioning equipment precisely because it maintains its structural geometry under pressure over time. The angle it creates when you first lie down is the angle it still creates in the seventh hour of sleep. That distinction is not decorative. The cover surface was the detail that explained the sliding problem in terms I found immediately logical. Every other wedge pillow I researched used smooth fabric. Bamboo. Cooling microfiber. Soft. And smooth fabric on a slope under a sleeping body, with gravity applying continuous downward force over six to eight hours, is a mechanism for arriving flat by midnight. It is not elevation. It is delayed flatness. The Healpurea 2.0 uses a honeycomb-textured knit. The texture creates friction distributed across the surface. Grip points that resist the downward pull without being rough against skin or fabric. This was the engineering answer to the problem that every other product in the category had been ignoring. They had been solving for comfort. This one had solved for staying in place. The bolster was what made it viable for me specifically. A detachable half-moon piece that positions at the top of the wedge to support the cervical spine. I sleep on my side. Standard wedge pillows are architecturally hostile to side sleeping because when you turn onto your side on a flat inclined surface, the shoulder rises with nowhere to go and jams into the neck. Twenty minutes into that and the shoulder pain is competing seriously with the reflux for your attention. The bolster creates a gap at the top of the incline. The neck rests in it. The shoulder drops into the space below. The spine stays aligned. Side sleeping on an incline stops being a theoretical possibility and becomes an actual one. It was $109. I had spent considerably more than that on the previous twenty-two months of appointments and prescriptions and dietary substitutes. I ordered it the same evening. It arrived on a Wednesday. I set it up before bed, positioned the bolster for side sleeping, and lay down into the incline. More pronounced than I expected. Real elevation. Not symbolic. Like reclining in a chair rather than lying flat. I was aware of it the way you are aware of something genuinely new. I fell asleep. My alarm went off at 6:15 AM. I lay still for a moment. The habit of twenty-two months: inventory before motion. Waiting for the lump to announce itself. Waiting for the hoarse, thick, this-is-going-to-take-a-while quality of the morning. It was there. Less. Not gone. Not that first morning, and I want to be honest about that because I think honesty matters more than a dramatic first-night story. But less. The lump was present the way a sound is present when you have turned the volume down far enough that you have to actually concentrate to locate it. The morning voice was rough at the edges, the way any voice is at 6:15 AM, but it was mine. It did not require retrieval. It did not require twenty minutes of tea and careful coaxing. It was just there, mine, when I needed it. I said good morning to my husband. He said good morning back, and then looked at me, and said: "You sound different." Not better, specifically. Just different. He had gotten so accustomed to the morning version of my voice that mine was the unfamiliar one. End of week two: the forty-percent improvement that had been my ceiling for eighteen months was no longer the ceiling. The lump on most mornings was a trace. Brief. Gone by the time I finished my first cup of coffee without any particular effort on my part. End of week four: I ran a full-day corporate training session. Eight hours. I spoke for most of it. The voice held throughout. Reliably. Without the management, without the lozenges in my pocket as backup, without the low background calculation about how much throat I had left before I'd need to excuse myself and clear it privately. I went back to my gastroenterologist at week eight. I told him what I'd done and what had changed. I described the research, the positional therapy evidence, the thirty-degree recommendation, the specific mechanism by which lying flat was undoing every other intervention I was making. He was quiet for a moment. Then he said the research was solid and that he should have been more explicit about positional therapy from the beginning of my treatment. He said most of his LPR patients had never heard of it as a primary intervention. He said he was going to change that. Twenty-two months. Three doctors. Two medications. Scrupulous dietary restriction. And the piece that resolved the lump and returned the voice was a structural incline that kept my torso at thirty degrees while I slept, so that for the first time in two years my larynx was not spending the night being quietly, continuously inflamed. The objection I know you have. You move in your sleep. You'll slide off or end up flat regardless. I move in my sleep. I have always moved in my sleep. I wake up in the morning still elevated, still on the wedge, the same place I was when I fell asleep. The honeycomb surface holds. That surprised me enough that I checked the first few mornings with a kind of suspicious attention, expecting to find I'd ended up flat and just hadn't noticed. I hadn't. The texture does what it is designed to do. The product is the Healpurea 2.0 Sleep Pillow. Link below, or search for it by name. No affiliation, no incentive, nothing to gain from this except the possibility that someone reads it before spending two years in the same "helps a little" loop I was in. Three doctors. All of them saw the acid. None of them mentioned the angle. The angle was the thing. And the morning after I changed it, I woke up and the lump was already smaller. By the end of the first month, it was nearly gone. It has not come back.
Baby Supply Assistance Programs 2026 – Eligibility & Application
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🤔 Haben Sie genug vom „Zitterhand-Syndrom“ – diesem nervenaufreibenden Kampf, ein mikroskopisch feines Vorfach durch ein winziges Hakenöhr zu fädeln, während man mitten in einem kalten Bach steht? 🎣 Oder frustriert Sie die „vergeudete Angelzeit“ – wenn Sie 10 Minuten damit verbringen, an einem Knoten herumzufummeln, während ringsum die Forellen steigen? 🌊 ✨ Lernen Sie den „Magnetic Fly Threader“ kennen – das unverzichtbare „Angler-Essential“ für das Jahr 2026! 🥇 🔗 Magnetische „Auto-Aim“-Führungsnut: Lassen Sie Ihren Haken einfach in die Nut gleiten – der Magnet positioniert das Hakenöhr automatisch perfekt. Führen Sie Ihre Schnur einfach an der Führungsschiene entlang und treffen Sie jedes Mal ins Schwarze – selbst bei schlechten Lichtverhältnissen! ✅ „Pro-Loop“-Knotenhilfe: Ob Clinch-Knoten, Orvis-Knoten oder Chirurgenknoten – dank der integrierten Haken und Spannstege binden Sie sekundenschnell Knoten von professioneller Festigkeit. Und das selbst mit klammen Fingern oder beim Tragen von Handschuhen. ☁ „Federleichtes“ Design mit Trageband: Befestigen Sie das Tool einfach an Ihrer Angelweste, einem Retraktor oder der Hutkrempe – so haben Sie es immer genau dort griffbereit, wo Sie es brauchen. 💯 „Universal-Eye“-Kompatibilität: Entwickelt für die vielfältigen Anforderungen moderner Angler. Von winzigen Mücken-Haken der Größe #22 bis hin zu robusten Salzwasserhaken – die V-förmige Führung nimmt nahezu jede Öhrgröße auf, ohne zu verklemmen oder den Haken zu zerkratzen. 📌 „High-Vis“-Finish für beste Sichtbarkeit: Sollte Ihnen das Tool einmal ins hohe Gras oder ins Wasser fallen, sorgt die leuchtstarke „Safe-Find“-Farbe dafür, dass Sie Ihren unverzichtbaren Helfer nicht an die Elemente verlieren.
🚗🛞 Got a nail in your tire? Don't want to call a tow truck or wait for roadside assistance? This tire repair bolt kit lets you fix it yourself anytime 👇 https://rivoneed.com/products/mending-nail ✨ 60-Piece Tire Repair Bolt Plug Set | Self-Service Vacuum Rubber Nail Kit 🔩 Quick puncture repair Screw directly into the hole without removing the tire—done in minutes 💨 Vacuum-Sealed Design Effectively prevents air leaks for a stronger repair 🚙 Universal Fit for Multiple Vehicles Suitable for cars / motorcycles / trucks / tractors 🛠 Simple & User-Friendly | Even Beginners Can Use It No special tools needed—complete repairs right on the roadside 📦 60-Piece Large Capacity Kit Ample spares for households and fleets 🎯 Emergency & Daily Essential Travel with peace of mind—never let minor punctures delay your journey 👉 Solve minor tire issues yourself! #TireRepair #CarEmergencyTools #VacuumRubberSpikes #SelfRepair #CarAccessories #SafeTravel
🚗🛞 Got a nail in your tire? Don't want to call a tow truck or wait for roadside assistance? This tire repair bolt kit lets you fix it yourself anytime 👇 https://rivoneed.com/products/mending-nail ✨ 60-Piece Tire Repair Bolt Plug Set | Self-Service Vacuum Rubber Nail Kit 🔩 Quick puncture repair Screw directly into the hole without removing the tire—done in minutes 💨 Vacuum-Sealed Design Effectively prevents air leaks for a stronger repair 🚙 Universal Fit for Multiple Vehicles Suitable for cars / motorcycles / trucks / tractors 🛠 Simple & User-Friendly | Even Beginners Can Use It No special tools needed—complete repairs right on the roadside 📦 60-Piece Large Capacity Kit Ample spares for households and fleets 🎯 Emergency & Daily Essential Travel with peace of mind—never let minor punctures delay your journey 👉 Solve minor tire issues yourself! #TireRepair #CarEmergencyTools #VacuumRubberSpikes #SelfRepair #CarAccessories #SafeTravel
🚗🛞 Got a nail in your tire? Don't want to call a tow truck or wait for roadside assistance? This tire repair bolt kit lets you fix it yourself anytime 👇 https://rivoneed.com/products/mending-nail ✨ 60-Piece Tire Repair Bolt Plug Set | Self-Service Vacuum Rubber Nail Kit 🔩 Quick puncture repair Screw directly into the hole without removing the tire—done in minutes 💨 Vacuum-Sealed Design Effectively prevents air leaks for a stronger repair 🚙 Universal Fit for Multiple Vehicles Suitable for cars / motorcycles / trucks / tractors 🛠 Simple & User-Friendly | Even Beginners Can Use It No special tools needed—complete repairs right on the roadside 📦 60-Piece Large Capacity Kit Ample spares for households and fleets 🎯 Emergency & Daily Essential Travel with peace of mind—never let minor punctures delay your journey 👉 Solve minor tire issues yourself! #TireRepair #CarEmergencyTools #VacuumRubberSpikes #SelfRepair #CarAccessories #SafeTravel
More Than Medicine. It’s Universal Love. Like the vibrant patterns of this traditional kebaya, our community is a rich tapestry of stories, wisdom, and resilience. 🌸 I believe that true healing begins with honoring our roots. My work isn't just about assistance; it’s about Universal Love and the belief that every individual deserves to be seen and respected, regardless of their background. Follow me for: - Insightful stories of community care. - Reflections on traditional wisdom in a modern world. - A front-row seat to the heart of Singapore’s philanthropic spirit. Click "Like" to join our journey of compassion! ❤️🇸🇬
Fees, funded hours, tax free | Fees, funded hours, tax free | Fees, funded hours, tax free | Fees, funded hours, tax free | Fees, funded hours, tax free
🚗🛞 Got a nail in your tire? Don't want to call a tow truck or wait for roadside assistance? This tire repair bolt kit lets you fix it yourself anytime 👇 https://rivoneed.com/products/mending-nail ✨ 60-Piece Tire Repair Bolt Plug Set | Self-Service Vacuum Rubber Nail Kit 🔩 Quick puncture repair Screw directly into the hole without removing the tire—done in minutes 💨 Vacuum-Sealed Design Effectively prevents air leaks for a stronger repair 🚙 Universal Fit for Multiple Vehicles Suitable for cars / motorcycles / trucks / tractors 🛠 Simple & User-Friendly | Even Beginners Can Use It No special tools needed—complete repairs right on the roadside 📦 60-Piece Large Capacity Kit Ample spares for households and fleets 🎯 Emergency & Daily Essential Travel with peace of mind—never let minor punctures delay your journey 👉 Solve minor tire issues yourself! #TireRepair #CarEmergencyTools #VacuumRubberSpikes #SelfRepair #CarAccessories #SafeTravel
🔧 Multi-functional Bathroom Tool｜One Tool, Multiple Uses—Precise Installation Without Assistance ✨ Dual-Mode Measurement System Built-in high-definition spirit level + millimetre-grade ruler Simultaneously completes level calibration and pipe spacing measurement 🌿 Universal Anti-Slip Clamp Self-adjusting serrated clamp adapts to all nut types Securely locks PPR/copper/stainless steel pipes 🎯 Effortless Operation in Confined Spaces #RenovationEssential #ToolMaster #PrecisionInstallation 👇 Get yours now and let this professional tool become your home's invisible renovation assistant! https://shimmer07.com/products/bathroom-tool
🔧 Multi-functional Bathroom Tool｜One Tool, Multiple Uses—Precise Installation Without Assistance ✨ Dual-Mode Measurement System Built-in high-definition spirit level + millimetre-grade ruler Simultaneously completes level calibration and pipe spacing measurement 🌿 Universal Anti-Slip Clamp Self-adjusting serrated clamp adapts to all nut types Securely locks PPR/copper/stainless steel pipes 🎯 Effortless Operation in Confined Spaces #RenovationEssential #ToolMaster #PrecisionInstallation 👇 Get yours now and let this professional tool become your home's invisible renovation assistant! https://shimmer07.com/products/bathroom-tool