💍 Jewelry & Watches ads that are running right now

Tired of brands charging $40+ just for the bracelet? We’ll give you one for FREE when you grab any 10 charms (they’re 50% off right now). ✨ Mix gold + silver for a stacked look 💎 Premium stainless steel, water-resistant, built to last Customize it. Swap charms anytime. Make it yours. ⏰ Sale ends tonight — don’t miss out.

With only three months left before the divorce, she was dr**ged and ended up spending a reckless night with the husband she had never met in three years of marriage. She fled in panic, but he found the family locket she left behind—and began searching everywhere for her. ===== Juliana Stevens woke up and discovered she had spent the night with a man. Silence filled the room. The air still carried traces of what had happened the night before. Her eyes landed on a business card lying on the floor. It had fallen from the man's suit jacket. The moment she read the words on it, her breathing stopped, and her thoughts froze. The card bore the name: Adrian Spencer, CEO of Spencer Group. He was known as the richest man in Eleyton, the city they were currently in, and one of the most influential business tycoons in their state, Arcridge. What stunned her the most was that this man was actually her husband, the one she had been married to for three years without ever meeting. Their first encounter had happened under these circumstances. Adrian remained asleep. The face before her was nothing like the ugly man people often described. His features were striking. He had a straight nose and well-shaped lips. Everything about his appearance seemed almost too perfect to be real. People also claimed he was ruthless. Yet as he lay there, he looked refined and distinguished instead. It appeared that those stories weren't true after all. Juliana tightened her grip on the blanket. Anxiety and confusion made her heart race. Their marriage had been forced by their families. Even their marriage registration had been handled by Adrian's grandfather, Hugh Spencer. That was why she didn't know what her husband looked like until now. In another three months, the agreement that bound them together would come to an end. She had been counting down the days until she could finally be free. During the past three years, Adrian had never shown up, which made her believe he disliked this marriage just as much as she did. The memory of the previous night made her let out a frustrated gr**n. Why did this have to happen when there were only three months left before their divorce? Now, she could only hope that Adrian hadn't seen her face last night. A storm of emotions swept through her. Juliana jumped out of bed, gathered her clothes from the floor, and got dressed as quickly as she could before rushing out of the room. Keeping her head lowered, she rushed out of the hotel when her phone suddenly rang. It was her best friend, Maia Palmer. "Anna, weren't we supposed to have a meeting at the studio this morning? Why haven't you arrived yet?" From her father, Juliana inherited both a sharp business mind and a gift for design. She skipped several grades, earned her master's degree ahead of schedule, and received multiple international awards for jewelry design. To the public, she was known as the vice president of Stevens Group. However, she also had another identity that very few people knew about. She was the founder and owner of one of the industry's leading jewelry design studios. Over the last two years, the studio had grown into a globally recognized name. Today, she was expected to lead a meeting for the launch of a new product line. Right now, however, she had no interest in dealing with work. Reaching the roadside, Juliana flagged down a taxi. "Maia," she said as she climbed into the car, "I'm not feeling very well today. Let's move the meeting to tomorrow." After ending the call, she turned to the driver and said, "Garden Apartments, please." During the ride, Juliana tried to piece together everything that had happened the previous night. It was the annual gala of Stevens Group, and she'd lost her bearings completely after only two glasses of w**e. She remembered wanting to return to her hotel room and rest, but her dizziness became so severe that she couldn't even find her way back. Then she ran into Adrian in the hallway. Somehow, she ended up following him into a room. Normally, she could handle al**hol very well. A few drinks were not enough to affect her. Then another memory surfaced. The previous night, her half-sister, Janessa Stevens, had accidentally spilled her drink and brought her a replacement. Could the second drink be sp**ed? While she was still thinking about it, a call from her uncle, Louis Stevens, came through. As soon as she answered, his furious voice blasted through the phone. "Juliana, come home this instant!" ... Back in the hotel room, the man who had been fast asleep began to wake. His eyes opened little by little before he pushed himself upright. The blanket slipped down, revealing the firm lines of his body and his defined a*s. A sharp look entered Adrian's eyes as he surveyed the room in silence. He stepped out of bed, picked up a bath towel from the floor, and secured it around his waist. Disorder filled the room, and the woman was nowhere to be seen. His face immediately turned grim. At that moment, a knock sounded at the door. "Come in," he said. The door swung open, and his assistant, Rylan Jenkins, entered the room. "Mr. Spencer," he greeted respectfully. Without delay, Adrian asked, "Did you see a woman leave this room?" Rylan shook his head. "No, Sir." The look on Adrian's face became even colder. He walked across the room and noticed a pendant lying on the floor. Its workmanship was exquisite. Some characters had been engraved on the back, but years of wear had made them impossible to read. She must have forgotten it here. Adrian frowned, closing his fingers around the pendant. The events of the previous night surfaced in his mind. During a business dinner, he had unknowingly drunk a glass of w**e that had been tampered with. After realizing something was wrong, he returned to his hotel room and intended to wait until the effects passed. Before he could get inside, however, he crossed paths with a woman in the hallway. The instant they made contact, a powerful urge rose within him and overwhelmed his self-control. He never even had the chance to see her face clearly before the two of them ended up inside the room he had reserved. Given the situation-a dr**ged man and a woman in the same room-everything that followed seemed unavoidable. Adrian's thoughts drifted back to the woman's uncertainty and vulnerability from the previous night. No matter what, she had helped him during a moment when he couldn't control himself. He needed to find her and make it right. Adrian placed the pendant in Rylan's hand and spoke in a cold tone. "Find out who that woman is." Chapter 2 Harm From Her Own Family As soon as Juliana walked through the front door to the Stevens estate, a harsh male voice exploded through the room. At the same time, a glass was hurled straight toward her head. "Where have you been? Janessa said you didn't come home all night. Have you forgotten that you're a married woman?" Juliana quickly moved aside. The glass brushed against her cheek before it smashed against the pillar behind her with a sharp crash. Louis sat in the middle of the couch in the living room. Anger covered his face. Beside him sat his wife, Sharon Stevens, and their daughter, Janessa. The sight of the family of three made Juliana let out a mocking laugh. When she was still a child, her father lost his life in a plane crash. Not long after his death, her mother, Sharon, married Louis, her father's younger brother. Together, they took control of her father's company and later welcomed a daughter named Janessa. From then on, Juliana never truly felt like she belonged in that house. "Juliana, we tried calling you all night, but we couldn't get through. We were worried sick about you." Wearing a white dress, Janessa rose from her seat and linked her arm through Juliana's. Then her eyes landed on Juliana's neck. Suddenly, she pulled open Juliana's collar and let out a startled scream. "Oh my God, Juliana! Did you spend the night with a man?" Both Louis and Sharon immediately came over. The moment they noticed the ma**s on Juliana's neck, their expressions turned grim. Anger filled Sharon's face as she lifted her hand and sl**ped Juliana. "Juliana, is this what I taught you? Have you learned nothing except how to f**l around with men?" Pain spread across Juliana's cheek, and a trace of bl**d appeared at the corner of her mouth. She slowly turned her face back toward Sharon. Her eyes were cold. "Mother, are you judging me before asking what actually happened?" A trace of hesitation appeared on Sharon's face when she saw the pain in Juliana's eyes. Louis struck the table with his palm and shouted, "If the Spencer family hears about this scandal, our entire family will be finished. You shameless woman, how could you betray your husband?" Juliana met his anger with a cold laugh. "When Hugh came looking for a bride for his grandson, the person he chose was Janessa. You're the one who forced me to marry in her place. If this family goes down because of it, I don't care." "You..." Louis choked on his words. Her response left him speechless, and his face turned red with fury. Sharon looked at Juliana with disapproval. "Juliana, don't speak to your uncle that way." Ignoring Sharon completely, Juliana shifted her attention to Janessa. "You switched my drink last night. You're the one who set me up." Janessa lifted her head and blinked innocently. "What are you talking about? Why would I do that to you? What would I possibly gain from setting you up?" Juliana narrowed her eyes while she looked straight at Janessa. If the man from last night hadn't been Adrian, everything would have ended for her once the Spencers learned the truth. Janessa had never gotten along with her. She knew Janessa would have been more than happy to watch her fall apart. By then, Louis had already told a servant to bring him a whip. Putting on the air of the family head, he snapped, "Juliana, I'll make sure you learn your lesson today. After this, you'll know better than to bring trouble to this family again." From the side, Janessa watched with cruel delight. Her eyes showed nothing but contempt for Juliana. Louis lifted the whip. But before it could strike, Juliana reached out and caught it. Then she yanked it out of his hand and swung it straight back at Janessa. Janessa failed to move away in time, and a bl**dy mark appeared on her arm at once. She screamed, "Juliana, have you lost your mind?" Shock froze Louis for a moment. Then he pointed at Juliana and shouted in fury, "How dare you touch Janessa!" Juliana faced them with cold eyes. "You'd better keep your precious daughter in line. If she tries to play tricks on me again, I won't let her off this easily." After saying that, she threw the whip aside. She brushed off her hands as though she had touched something filthy, then turned and marched out of the house. Behind her, their angry shouts and curses followed, but she didn't look back. Once she returned to her own apartment, Juliana felt drained in both body and mind. Everything that had happened the previous night was still stuck in her thoughts, bothering her until she couldn't settle down. While changing her clothes, she realized the pendant she always wore was gone. She wondered where it could have dropped. She searched every corner of the apartment, but she still couldn't find it. Then a scene from last night suddenly came back to her, and she went still. The pendant must have fallen off inside the hotel room. Without hesitating, Juliana grabbed a coat and hurried out of the apartment. That pendant had been left to her by her father, and it meant everything to her. No matter what, she had to recover it. Soon, Juliana arrived back at the hotel. When she noticed that the room door was slightly open, she assumed Adrian had already checked out. The moment she walked into the room again, her eyes landed on the large bed that was still in disarray. Heat instantly rose to her cheeks. Memories from the previous night remained clear in her mind. Forcing those thoughts aside, Juliana started looking around the room for her pendant. Even after searching every corner of the room, she still came up empty-handed. Had Adrian picked it up? If he used that pendant to figure out that she was the woman from the previous night, she might not be able to divorce him smoothly in three months. She made up her mind that she couldn't allow him to learn who she was. Just then, a series of steady footsteps sounded from outside the room and drew closer to the door. Chapter 3 A Dangerous Reunion Juliana's breathing stalled. Her heart pounded wildly against her ch**t as she held her breath. A single thought crossed her mind-had Adrian returned? She quickly moved to a nearby table and acted as though she was a hotel housekeeper cleaning the room. A tall man entered the room with a subordinate following behind him. The man's presence filled the room with authority. After giving Juliana a measured look, he asked, "Are you here to clean the room?" Juliana silently drew in a breath. Forcing herself to remain composed, she turned toward him and nodded. A black dress shirt covered Adrian's broad frame, hinting at the firm mu**les beneath it. Every line of his handsome face appeared sharp and defined. There was a natural authority about him that was impossible to ignore. When his eyes settled on her, they were cold and piercing. Juliana's hands tightened into fists. On the surface, she appeared calm, but countless thoughts were racing through her mind. Would he recognize her? What should she do if he did? To her surprise, Adrian only spared her a brief glance before shifting his attention elsewhere and heading toward the couch. A small sigh escaped Juliana's lips. At least he hadn't recognized her as the woman from the previous night. Taking a seat on the couch, Adrian tossed a project proposal toward his subordinate and said coldly, "Do it again. If I see another mistake like this, you're fired." "Yes, Sir." Sweat broke out across the subordinate's forehead. His hands trembled as he accepted the proposal before quickly leaving the room. Watching from beside the table, Juliana couldn't help thinking that Adrian's temper was terrible. At that moment, Adrian spoke again. "Bring me a glass of water." The subordinate was already gone. That meant he was talking to her. Juliana walked over to the minibar and poured a glass of water. Suddenly, a thought entered her mind. What if Adrian had already found the pendant she lost? Hope flickered in her eyes. Holding the glass, she turned around and headed toward him. As soon as she got close enough, she pretended to lose her footing and spilled the entire glass of water onto him. The front of Adrian's shirt was drenched in an instant. Irritation immediately appeared on his stern face. Just as his anger was about to surface, she hurried toward him and began brushing at his shirt in a panic. "Sir, I'm so sorry! Are you okay?" While pretending to wipe away the water, Juliana quickly searched him for any sign of her pendant. The moment her fingertips brushed against the firm mu**les of his ab**men, a powerful hand suddenly locked around her wrist. Without warning, Adrian pulled her toward him. Juliana wasn't prepared for it. She slammed straight into his ch**t. Before she could react, his large hand wrapped around her throat. A dangerous look flashed across Adrian's eyes. "You snuck into my room," he said in a cold voice. "What exactly are you looking for?" Juliana tried to break free, but his grip around her neck held her firmly in place. His strength was overwhelming, and she could barely breathe. Only after her face turned red from lack of air did Adrian finally release her and shove her away. Juliana staggered backward and crashed onto the floor. A low gr**n escaped her lips. As he listened to her struggling to catch her breath, Adrian studied her more carefully. It suddenly struck him that her breathing sounded remarkably similar to the woman's from the previous night. Back then, the room had been dark. All he remembered was a slender body, and br**thless sounds that lingered in his memory. Rubbing her sore neck, Juliana slowly pushed herself off the floor. "You've got the wrong idea," she remarked. "I just came here to clean the room." Just as Adrian was about to say something, another knock sounded at the door. His assistant, Rylan, stuck his head inside. "Mr. Spencer," he said respectfully, "the person you asked me to bring is here." Adrian briefly looked at Juliana before signaling for them to come in. Rylan stepped into the room, and a young woman in a white dress followed behind him. Standing quietly to one side, Juliana studied the newcomer. She caught the woman's shy looks toward Adrian. She also noticed the ma**s on the woman's neck that were impossible to miss. Everything about the woman suggested she had recently been in**mate with someone. People often said Adrian had no interest in women. Now, it seemed those stories were completely untrue. A man with his status and influence would never be short of women wanting to be around him. For some reason, that realization eased Juliana's worries. If he already had plenty of women in his life, there was no reason for him to dwell on what had happened between them last night. After the woman entered, the look Adrian directed at Juliana became even colder. Despite all the rumors surrounding him, women constantly tried to use him as a stepping stone. In his eyes, Juliana was no different from the rest. Turning to Rylan, Adrian instructed, "Throw her out." Before Rylan even had a chance to react, Juliana had already started moving toward the door. "There's no need for that," she replied. "I know the way out." Without waiting for another word, she turned around and quickly left the room. Since the pendant wasn't on Adrian, she needed to figure out where else she might have lost it. Believing he was a womanizer, Juliana became even more determined to end their marriage as soon as possible. Chapter 4 The Wrong Girl Adrian leaned back into the couch and brought a ci**rette to his lips. Sm**e drifted upward, softening his features and making his already striking face seem distant. Across from him, the woman kept glancing over with unease. His silence pressed on her, leaving her too intimidated to speak. After a short pause, Adrian lifted his eyes and studied her closely. "Tell me your name." "Lydia Scott," she answered. She remained standing, lowering her gaze as she looked at him. A faint blush spread across her face. Adrian's attention shifted when he noticed the m**k just beneath her collar. "Why did you leave so early this morning?" he asked. Lydia quickly went over everything in her mind. She had been at the hotel with a client the night before and left early this morning. Later, Rylan found her and showed her a pendant, asking if it belonged to her. It looked valuable, so she claimed it was hers. After confirming the timeline, he brought her here. By now, she was nearly certain they had mistaken her for someone else. But the man in front of her was wealthy and attractive, and she didn't want to let that slip away. Lydia looked up, her voice soft and vulnerable. "It was my first time. I got scared, so I left." Adrian watched her in silence. Something about her didn't match the woman from last night, yet he couldn't explain it. After a while, he said, "Miss Scott, I'll take responsibility for what happened. Tell me what you want." A spark of excitement appeared in Lydia's eyes. "I want to stay by your side," she said in a quiet voice. Adrian's expression tightened slightly. The woman who had left without a word had caught his interest, but the one standing in front of him now only made him feel indifferent. He looked at her and said flatly, "I'll arrange a place for you. You'll be compensated well, and everything will be taken care of." "Thank you, Sir." Thrilled, Lydia nodded obediently. Once Lydia left, Adrian pressed his ci**rette into the ashtray and looked toward Rylan. Understanding the signal, Rylan began speaking. "The hallway cameras were under maintenance last night, so we have no footage. I checked the front desk records. Her check-in and check-out times match perfectly. I also looked into her background. She's a dance major at a university and comes from an average family." He took out the pendant and placed it on the table. "Should I return this to her?" Adrian's eyes lingered on the pendant. They had found the woman, yet something still felt off. After a long moment, he finally spoke. "I'll keep it for now. Give her whatever she asks for." Meanwhile, Juliana stepped out of the hotel when Louis called. She ignored it several times before finally picking up. "What do you want?" Louis sounded serious now, without the earlier anger. "The preliminary designs for the Willow Villa project are ready. I heard Hugh hasn't been well. You should take the files and visit him." Juliana let out a short laugh. "You don't actually care about me visiting him. This is about the project, isn't it?" Back when she married Adrian three years ago, Louis took that chance to approach Hugh and secure an investment from Spencer Group into Stevens Group. Many of Stevens Group's projects depended on that funding to keep going. This year, they entered the real estate market, and Hugh entrusted them with the Willow Villa project, putting in three hundred million dollars. It gave the company a major advantage. "Stop making this difficult, Juliana," Louis said over the phone. "This project affects Stevens Group's future. You need to go to the Spencer estate immediately." He ended the call right after. Juliana thought it over. This could work in her favor. She could use this visit to bring up a divorce with Hugh. Once she made up her mind, she went to the Stevens Group headquarters, picked up the design drafts, and then headed straight to the Spencer estate. Since Hugh fell ill, he rarely left the house, and this would be her first visit there. "Anna." Juliana had just arrived at the gate when someone called out to her. She paused and turned toward the voice. Nathaniel Quinn approached her, dressed in a white suit, a polite smile on his face. "I thought I was mistaken. I didn't expect it to be you. What are you doing here?" Juliana felt a hint of surprise. Nathaniel was the successor of Quinn Group. The Quinn and Stevens families had worked together before, so they were on friendly terms. His mother also happened to be Hugh's goddaughter. Her marriage to Adrian wasn't public, so the Quinn family had no idea. Juliana offered him a polite smile. "I'm here to see Hugh about work." Nathaniel's eyes shifted to the folder in her hands. He was aware of the collaboration between Spencer Group and Stevens Group. "I was at Stevens Group's annual party last night. I tried to find you, but you weren't there. Where did you go?" He fixed his eyes on her, waiting for an answer. Juliana's expression remained calm. "I wasn't feeling well, so I left early to rest." He pressed on. "Where did you go after that? Who were you with?" Juliana frowned slightly. "Why are you asking me that?" For a brief moment, unease flickered across Nathaniel's face before he covered it with a smile. "It's nothing. I was just curious." Just then, the sound of cars approaching reached them. Chapter 5 Stay Over A convoy of black luxury cars rushed forward, carrying a clear sense of authority. Standing in the middle of the road, Juliana barely had time to react before Nathaniel pulled her aside. His hand caught her at the waist to steady her. "Watch out," he cautioned. The cars passed them and lined up in front of the villa ahead. At the same time, the household staff hurried out, their expressions filled with respect. A bodyguard stepped out first and opened the rear door of the center car. A sleek black leather shoe stepped onto the pavement, and a tall figure rose from the car behind it. It was Adrian. When Juliana saw him, surprise flickered in her eyes. In the next moment, Adrian's cold gaze shifted toward them. His eyes landed on Nathaniel's hand, which still rested at her waist. A faint crease formed between Adrian's brows. It was her again. It seemed she wasn't focused on just one man. In his eyes, she would chase anything tied to money and status. Juliana silently cursed her timing. Of all days to run into him, it had to be today. She had thought he rarely visited his grandfather. Without hesitation, she pushed Nathaniel's hand away and stepped back. By then, the staff had already gathered around Adrian and greeted, "Welcome back, Mr. Spencer." Nathaniel stepped forward as well and greeted him. "It's been a while, Adrian." Adrian's expression remained unreadable as he looked at Juliana, though his words were directed at Nathaniel. "Did you bring her here?" Nathaniel glanced back at Juliana and smiled. "No. She's here to..." Adrian didn't wait for him to finish. He turned and walked straight into the villa. The grey-haired butler and the rest of the staff followed behind him. Left standing there, Nathaniel turned to Juliana and said, "That's Hugh's grandson. He just got back from abroad." Juliana nodded slightly and lowered her gaze, hiding the emotions in her eyes. Not long after, Nathaniel received a call and had to leave, so Juliana entered the villa alone. Inside the villa, Adrian was nowhere to be seen. The butler approached her. "Ms. Stevens, we've been expecting you. Mr. Spencer is waiting in the study." "I understand." Juliana nodded and followed the butler upstairs. A strong scent of herbal medicine filled the study. Resting on a lounge chair, a man in his sixties lay back with a thin blanket over him. His figure looked gaunt, and his face carried a pale, sickly tone, yet there was still an air of authority about him. Juliana stepped closer and placed the folder onto the coffee table. "Mr. Spencer, I've brought the preliminary designs for the Willow Villa project." Hearing her voice, Hugh slowly opened his eyes. A trace of warmth appeared in his otherwise imposing gaze. "So you've come, Juliana." "How have you been feeling lately?" Juliana asked politely. He straightened slightly in his chair and smiled. "Did Louis send you here?" Juliana lowered her eyes and remained silent. He noticed her reaction but didn't press further. Instead, he let out a quiet chuckle. "We haven't met often these past three years, but I've been paying attention to you. You've done well." Raising her head, Juliana met his eyes and said, "You gave me your word. After three years, you'd allow me to divorce." A sharp look flickered in Hugh's eyes. "That time hasn't come yet, has it? What I said still holds." At his response, Juliana felt a quiet sense of relief. Hugh picked up the folder and skimmed through it. "I'll review this and give you an answer tomorrow. Stay here tonight. Adrian just returned, so you can use this chance to meet him." Juliana's heart sank at the suggestion. She had no desire to see Adrian at all. She said quickly, "I think it's better to take things slowly. We barely know each other." Hugh didn't push her on that, but he didn't let her leave either. "It's late, and traveling alone isn't safe. Stay here tonight. We can discuss the meeting another time." Juliana was about to refuse again when Hugh suddenly began coughing violently. The butler rushed in at once with medicine and water. Hugh glanced at him. Understanding the signal, the butler turned to Juliana. "Please stay for the night, Ms. Stevens." Seeing how weak Hugh looked, Juliana couldn't bring herself to refuse. Not long after, a maid guided her to a room. The space was large and quiet. She stepped inside, but the sound of running water reached her ears from the bathroom. Confusion crossed Juliana's mind. It sounded like someone was already inside. The bathroom door suddenly slid open. A tall figure stepped out. She didn't have time to get out of the way and bumped into the man's ch**t. Adrian had just come out of the shower. He wasn't wearing anything. For a moment, he froze, clearly not expecting anyone to walk into his room. The instant Juliana looked up, she froze. Adrian stood there, fresh from the shower, completely unclothed. A sharp g**p escaped her as heat rushed to her face. Without thinking, she turned and rushed toward the door. She barely managed to crack it open before his arm shot out and slammed it shut again. The clean scent of his body wash reached her as his firm frame pressed against her back. "You still want to pretend this wasn't intentional? Now you've taken it a step further and walked straight into my room." Juliana's heartbeat pounded wildly. Every muscle in her body tensed. ...... What happens next? Available chapters here are limited, click the button below to install the App and enjoy more exciting chapters (Automatically jump to this novel when you open the app) &4&

💍 Necklaces Earrings Total This little case fixes all of Dedicated spots for rings, earrings, necklaces, bracelets — everything has its own Soft cotton inside so nothing gets Leather outside so it actually looks Zipper keeps everything ✈️ Toss it in your purse, suitcase, or Finally feel like someone who has their life Click to stop the jewelry 🧳✨ #TravelJewelryCase #NoMoreTangledNecklaces #PortableOrganizer

Keep your drive cool and comfortable! 🚗☀️ Our Magnetic Car Side Window Sunshade instantly snaps into place to block harsh UV rays and blinding heat. Perfect for daily commutes or road trips, it doubles as a privacy protector for your family. 🛡️ Best of all? It’s completely reusable, washable, and fits most cars & SUVs perfectly. Upgrade your driving experience and protect your interior today! ✨

“Smile for the crowd, Ophelia,” he whispered, “You’re my Luna, remember?” Everyone thought our wedding would be the fairytale ending. But behind the vows, there were lies, betrayal, and another woman wearing my dream gown as a ‘bridesmaid.’ I learned too late that my Alpha’s love had always been a performance—one meant to make his first love shine. Now I’m walking down the aisle not as a bride, but as a ghost of the woman I used to be. Because by tomorrow morning, they’ll all realize... The Luna they tried to destroy has already disappeared. Just because I refused to let my Alpha mate’s first love be my bridesmaid at my bonding ceremony, that night, I was drgged and placed unc0nscious, half-n@ked, on a pool table. His friends laughed, measuring my 1egs with cue sticks, some even pouring cold liquor over my body. “One sh0t in!” Someone whistled. “With a beauty as company, my skills are improving!” My mate’s first love, Daphne, held up a phone, maliciously laughing in my ear. “A subst1tute is just a subst1tute. Like now, you're lying there, letting them do as they please—this is your true role!” My Alpha mate, Asher, thought that under the influence of the drg, I wouldn’t remember anything. He spent the whole night humiliating me, all to please his first love. What he didn’t know was that I had a natural resistance to ether-based drgs. When I woke up, I wiped away my tears and scheduled a surgery to get rid of the child. Back then, on the pool table, I gr0aned in pain, and Daphne playfully pouted, “I just wanna live the dream of walking the red carpet with Asher. How dare you, a subst1tute mate, say no!” Asher pulled her closer and rolled his eyes, casually saying, “She made Daphne unhappy, so of course, I had to punish her.” His friends laughed uproariously. “Don’t worry, we’ll make Ophelia beg for mercy! We’re all curious how Asher tames her to be so obedient.” Asher answered lazily, “I bought some toys to spice things up. She thought I cared for her, so she gladly accepted.” “True Alpha, staying so loyal to your true love! But… aren’t you worried Ophelia will find out about you severing the mate bond?” Asher smirked, clearing the last ball with a swift strike. “She dares? She’s just an orphan Omega who signed a bond-sealing deal with me and got pregn@nt. Now, she’s playing around like this. Who else would want her?” “To be honest, a pregn@nt Omega she-wolf smells bad. Every night, I almost puke.” “I disciplined her to make clear that being my Luna doesn’t give her the right to trample Daphne.” Somebody asked, “Alpha, those packages you had delivered to Ophelia... you specifically told the shop not to ship them anonymously, right? That’s why she lost her sh0t at the Top Warrior title. That was for Daphne too, wasn’t it?” Asher ran his hand over Daphne’s waist, smiling faintly. “Although the spot was already decided, if I didn’t ruin her reputation, how could I ensure Daphne wouldn’t be gossiped about after she was granted the top warrior?” Daphne looked embarrassed. “She said I demonstrated the move wrong. That embarrassed me. Asher was just giving her a little lesson!” My heart clenched. A scene in my memory suddenly struck me—dozens of transparent packages had piled up at the pack training ground entrance, and the pack members’ eyes were full of disgust. I felt heartbroken as I watched my beloved students drop my training classes. But I never expected this was all part of his scheme. The laughter continued in the pool hall as my heart sank. Asher seemed to remember something. He pulled a stack of photos from his pocket, and scattered them across my b0dy. “Callen, post these photos in the parent group. I want Ophelia to resign and go home, completely out of Daphne’s way.” “Wow, these were taken in the training field, full-body sh0ts, no face blurred!” “If those parents see this, they’ll go ballistic!” The laughter and shrieks grew louder and louder, and my tears fell without stop. Asher wasn’t like this before. Two years ago, his mother, our pack’s Luna, asked me to assist him before she fell into a coma from a car accident. I gave up my chance to become an Alpha king’s warrior, training our pack’s underage werewolves day and night, hoping they could become excellent warriors too. Asher was kind to me as well, always handing me electrolyte drinks before training. It wasn’t until the night we signed the bond-sealing deal that I learned Asher wasn’t just good in bed, his desires were just as strong. He bought plenty of toys and liked taking me to the training field after school and mak1ng 1ove there. I thought the wilderness excited him, but the real reason was to slander me in favor of Daphne… “Alpha, if Ophelia apologizes to Daphne tonight, should I still post them?” Asher didn’t hesitate. “Of course. You don’t know how upset Daphne was when she got kicked out of the bridesmaid group. She saved my mom from the accident, and I can’t let her be upset!” Daphne lowered her eyes, a faint, forced smile on her lips. Callen’s expression hardened, and he s1ammed the cue stick on the table. “B, how dare you bully the Alpha’s precious! You deserve to suffer!” Pain sh0t through me, and I passed out. The next morning, I woke up in my bed, my pajamas intact. Asher had already gone to the pack meeting. On the nightstand, as it had been for three unbroken years, sat a warm cup of electrolyte water. I hid under the covers and cried, then shakily called Mia, the pack member in charge of the ceremony. “Keep what Daphne ordered, and cancel my segment.” Mia paused for a moment. “Are you sure, Ophelia?” No wonder she was surprised. The bridesmaid dress Daphne ordered was larger than mine, decorated with rhinestones. The so-called bridesmaid even insisted on a 14-carat Oppenheimer pink diamond. At first, I didn’t know who she was. I asked Asher’s friends and learned she was his childhood sweetheart and first love. When I rushed to the pack’s planning room, I coincidentally walked in on Daphne proposing a “memorial for the first love” during the ceremony. Mia looked at me with hesitation. “Asher said our memories are too precious to not share at the ceremony. He’ll regret it for life if we don’t.” Daphne intentionally emphasized “for life,” ‘accidentally’ slipping a faded photograph from her bag. In the photo, young Asher was kissing the top of her head. While in these three years, he rarely kissed me. I stared at it, my chest tight, and gritted my teeth. “This isn’t appropriate. There’s no need for Daphne to be a bridesmaid.” Daphne didn’t get angry; instead, she smiled. “No worries, there will always be ‘surprises’ at the bonding ceremony, right?” As I left the planning room, my hands shook. That night, Asher comforted me, “You are right, the ceremony should go as you wish.” But when he thought I was asleep, he lowered his voice and made a call. “Go along with her. I’ll make her regret it. Daphne, don’t cry.” I froze. But if Asher liked Daphne so much, why did he keep saying that he loved me? That he only wanted to mark me and seal the mate bond with me for life? I suddenly recalled a conversation at a pack gathering when Gamma Leo had been drvnk. “Ophelia? If not for her assistance in securing Asher’s Alpha position, an Omega like her would never be a warrior trainer in our pack.” “Exactly, if Luna Isla hadn’t stopped Daphne from becoming our Luna, Ophelia wouldn’t have had a chance.” My heart twisted, aching so badly I could barely breathe. No wonder I was always the one handling the daily training, and Asher and Daphne were sent to visit with other packs. The public lessons I spent nights preparing were given to Daphne to showcase, becoming her capital for fame. I fled home and dialed a number. “Is the Lycan joint training program still looking for warriors? Tristan, I want to sign up.” Tristan’s voice sounded surprised. “Ophelia, you were always the best warrior in training camp. We’ve been hoping to recruit you!” After paused, his tone turning cautious. “But this program is in the Lycan region of Europe, requiring at least six months of residency. Are you sure about this?” I clenched the phone tightly, glancing at the bonding ceremony invitation Asher had casually thrown on the coffee table—Daphne’s name had been added back to the bridesmaid list. The scums who had humiliated me were also in the groomsmen group. The embossed letters burned into my eyes. “I’ve made up my mind. The sooner, the better.” After hanging up, I began packing my bags. When my collection of silk scarves spilled out, I realized, they were just the matching items Asher bought for Daphne’s bags. I snorted, throwing them all into the trash. When Asher returned home, he saw me curled up on the couch and frowned slightly. “What are you doing here? Are you feeling sick?” The sting on my body reminded me that what happened in the pool hall wasn’t a dream. I lowered my head, exhausted. “Asher, cancel all the orders online. I don’t want them anymore.” Asher paused, then realized, looking at the trash can filled with the little gifts he bought for me. “Honey, didn’t you say you liked how thoughtful I am?” His voice was soft, placating. I finally lifted my gaze to look at him. “I didn’t sleep well last night. My whole body hurts. Do you know why?” With three years of relationship, our mate bond, and the little life inside me, I’m giving him one last chance. Asher’s eyes flickered, and then he cooed, “Maybe it’s just pregn@ncy fatigue, honey. I’ll have the pack doctor come check on you.” I laughed hysterically, smashing the anniversary couple clay sculpture he made with my hands. Asher stared at a broken piece for a long time before hesitantly speaking, “Is it the pregn@ncy... making you feel this way?” I shook my head and slid the bond-breaking deal into a pile of training plans, pushing them toward him. He signed without looking, then gently massaged my head with his thumb. “Would you like me to run you a warm bath to relax?” A wave of nausea rose in my st0mach. It was those very hands, the ones that spread my indecent photos in the pool hall. It was that very mouth that spat out mean words and called me a used Omega. “I agreed to let Daphne be the bridesmaid.” When Asher heard this, he froze. “Why the sudden change of heart?” “I thought about it. Maybe I was too petty.” I forced a smile. “Besides, she’s your mom’s savior. I shouldn’t be so selfish.” Mentioning Luna Isla, Asher hesitated no more, holding me tightly and saying, “Ophelia, you’re so considerate! If Daphne hadn’t walked ten kilometers to get help for my mom, she might have been gone, instead of being in a vegetative state now…” I furrowed my brow, silent. After the accident, Luna Isla had been in a coma, and the details of that day were still unclear. “Don’t worry. I’ll take time off to be with you for the birth, take care of you and the pup.” Just then, Asher’s phone buzzed twice. He let go of me and quickly walked to the balcony. On the balcony’s monitor, Asher whispered, “Daphne, I told you I’d make your wish come true. No need to post those photos now.” A syrupy voice came from the speaker. “I don’t think so, Asher. You promised to make me the only excellent warrior trainer. Besides, if those photos go out, Ophelia will quit and stay in the pack house, focusing on you and the pup. It’s better for your little family, and it makes me feel better, isn’t it?” After a long pause, Asher sighed and agreed, “Okay.” Two minutes later, my phone rang like a death knell. I flinched, and the phone, along with my heart, dropped to the floor. [Daphne: Ophelia, what’s going on? Why did you take those disgusting photos?] [Hayden’s father: This is sick! How could someone like this teach our kids? How could she be our future Luna?!] [Mira’s mother: I’m going to Alpha tomorrow! Such unscrupulous trainer needs to be thrown out of the pack!] My teaching career, my reputation, was destroyed in minutes. When Asher returned to the living room, he glanced at the group chat and sighed. “Ophelia, I believe you. Tomorrow happens to be Daphne’s award ceremony. I’ll go with you to explain, okay?” I kept explaining, but the insults kept growing. A wave of exhaustion overtook me. “I don’t want to go.” Asher was surprised by my refusal, looking at me in disbelief. Then his gaze shifted to the mate ring on the coffee table, and he smiled knowingly. “You don’t have to worry about our bonding ceremony. The invitations have been sent, and it will be held as planned the day after tomorrow.” “You’re the Luna. If you don’t show up, the pack will talk. What will they think of Daphne? She’ll face suspicion because of you.” The next day, Asher dragged me to Daphne’s ceremony. As soon as we entered the pack hall, whispers filled the air. “There she is, sh@meless!” Asher’s friends ogled me, their eyes lingering on my waist and hips. My face flushed as I tried to turn and flee. “Ophelia, pregn@nt ones have bigger 1ust, I hear! If Alpha’s too busy, come find me, I’ll make sure you enjoy it.” “Ophelia, those photos were so creative. Teaching with a pup? You should be teaching performance art!” Asher seemed to ignore it all, staying silent. Daphne linked her arm through Asher’s, deliberately raising her voice. “I’m so glad Ophelia could come! I was worried that after those photos, she’d be too embarrassed to show up.” Gamma Leo immediately jumped in, “Hey, Ophelia, why bother wearing clothes when going out? That’s way too formal! It’s not like we haven’t seen it!” Laughter erupted around the room. Suddenly, a sharp female voice cu//t through, “It’s her! This sh@meless b seduced my son!” Before I could react, the she-wolf s1apped a diary page across my face. [The teacher let me touch her while giving private lessons... I couldn’t sleep at night.] Daphne gasped and covered her mouth. “Oh my goddess! Isn’t this Finn’s handwriting? He’s Ophelia’s student!” The she-wolf grabbed my hair and y@nked me toward her. “My son is only 16! You’re so desperate?” I trembled, staring at Asher, “It wasn’t me!” He knew I would never give private lessons to kids. All he had to do was speak up... But he glanced away, not even attempting to defend me. My heart died in silence. Daphne looked at Callen, who nodded slightly. In the banquet hall, a distorted m0an suddenly blasted out! My voice was processed by AI, twisted into an obscene mess, mixed with Asher’s friends’ whistles. I rushed toward the speakers as Asher stood up and walked toward me. “I don’t believe Ophelia would do something so indecent!” Just as Daphne shouted, she suddenly staggered back as if something had shocked her. “Ophelia, why did you push me?” Without hesitation, Asher turned and caught Daphne. When he looked back at me, all the guilt had disappeared from his eyes. “Daphne’s award ceremony has been ruined by the disgusting things you’ve done!” “Do you know she has heart problems? When she wakes up, you should apologize to her immediately!” Asher picked up Daphne and, before leaving, gritted his teeth at Callen, “Handle this.” Callen grinned, blocking my path and making a gesture to the female parent. My hair was y@nked painfully, and tears flowed uncontrollably. As they dragged me away, the bvttons on my clothes popped off. “The Alpha said to give Ophelia some dignity.” Callen fiddled with his lighter, the flame licking at my skirt. “Dignity… for a public shaming.” “I heard she even ordered sx toys for the pack’s training field. She doesn’t deserve to be a teacher, nor a future Luna!” Asher’s friends egged him on, “Str1p it off and let us see. She’s played around so many times, why pretend to be a v1rg//n?” I was violently touched and rubbed by the thugs, claws digging into my f1esh. I struggled with all my might when someone pushed me hard from behind, and my abd0men s1ammed into a metal flower stand. The sharp pain spread through my body, and warm liquid began to trail down my th1gh. “Asher!” I instinctively called out, but despair filled me when I realized he was already gone. “She’s b1eeding!” Amidst the screams, my c0nsciousness began to blur. When I woke up, the nurse told me the pup was gone. I felt a wave of sorrow. The surgery was scheduled for today. It seemed the pup also refused to be born into such a tragic family. My phone buzzed with dozens of messages from Asher. [Ophelia, where are you? I heard you made a fuss and broke a cup. You’re carrying a child, you should control your emotions! Daphne’s not feeling well, and I need to take care of her. The bonding ceremony will go on as planned. You should come to the venue.] The last message was half an hour ago. [How dare you not answer my calls? Know your place. You should be grateful I’m willing to hold a bonding ceremony for you, so stop acting up!] I deleted all the messages and called Tristan. “Tristan, I’ll be on time for the flight tomorrow.” On the day of the bonding ceremony, Daphne walked around in her rhinestone-encrusted bridesmaid dress, acting like the hostess. Asher kept glancing at his watch, his face growing darker. Guests began to whisper, wondering where his future mate was. His friends exchanged knowing glances. “Alpha, after the ceremony, can we have some fun? Ophelia in a mate dress would be great.” Asher’s face darkened. He roared, “Enough! After today, she’s my mate, your Luna. Don’t bring up the past.” Seeing some guests starting to leave, Daphne’s eyes gleamed with excitement. “Asher, Ophelia’s late. She clearly doesn’t want to be your Luna. Why not let me take her place as your mate?” She quickly walked toward the Luna’s waiting room. Asher opened his mouth to stop her but was interrupted by the sudden ring of his phone. It was the pack doctor calling. After picking up the phone, Asher eagerly asked, “What? My mother woke up? After three years in a coma?”

Celeste helped me decorate the altar where Callum was supposed to mark me. Half an hour later, I learned she’d already had his mouth, his scent, his nights, his promises. I got the Wolf Moon fantasy. She got the Alpha in bed. So at their ceremony, I took the mic and asked: “Does my mate treat you gently there too?” 1 **Aveline’s POV** Eight years into our long-distance mate bond, Alpha Callum Blackthorne and I finally made a vow. This year, beneath the Wolf Moon, we would complete our Mate Ceremony. I flew overnight from Moonveil Pack to Stormhaven Pack, ready to build our marking altar with my own hands. Silver moonvine curled around the arch. The camera was ready. The full moon would rise tomorrow. I had planned to stand before him and say: Callum, I want to be your Luna. I want you to mark me. I want to give you every year I have left. Then my phone vibrated. Callum’s message appeared. [I’ve been with your best friend, Celeste Vayne, for eight years.] My whole body went cold. Another message followed. [Every time you fly here to see me, I spend the night with her first to calm her wolf.] My wolf, Lyra, let out a broken whimper inside me. Celeste stood only a few steps away, wrapping moonvine around the altar. Half an hour ago, she had smiled and wished me joy as Stormhaven Pack’s Luna. My best friend. My phone buzzed again. [Celeste said you want me to mark you under the Wolf Moon.] [I bought a ring. I was going to propose to her tomorrow, under the Blue Moon.] [If you can’t handle it, we can break things off.] [Or we can keep hooking up. Your choice.] I nearly doubled over. Celeste walked toward me, gentle and smiling. “Aveline, when your ceremony is done, I’ll stand beside you. I want to watch you become the happiest Luna.” I ripped my hand from hers. Her face flashed with shock. “Aveline?” Before I could answer, Callum’s voice sounded behind me. “Ave.” I turned. He stood there in a black suit, Celeste’s scent clinging thick to his skin. “I fell irreversibly in love with Celeste first.” He didn’t come to me. He stepped in front of her. Shielded her. “Take your anger out on me if you must,” he said. “But leave Celeste out of it. She has suffered enough.” I stared at him. Eight years. I had crossed half the country again and again for this mate bond. I had waited, believed, loved. He had gone to my best friend’s bed before every visit. And now he said she suffered? I grabbed the camera tripod and hurled it at him. It struck his forehead. The wound sealed fast, but the red trail stayed on his face. I destroyed the altar I had built for us. “How could you?” I screamed. “How could you do this to me?” Our friends rushed in. “Aveline, enough!” “He’s Stormhaven Pack’s Alpha!” “Everyone knew about Callum and Celeste. We hid it because you couldn’t handle the truth.” “They’ve loved each other in secret for eight years. Let them be happy.” My raised hand froze. Everyone knew. Only I was the fool. Thunder cracked overhead. Clouds swallowed the Full Moon. Rain poured down. The crowd ran for shelter. I stayed in the storm. Callum took off his jacket and held it over Celeste’s head. She curled into his arms and glanced back at me. No guilt. Only victory. Then pain tore through my lower body. Rain mixed with the warm stain spreading down my dress. I stared at it numbly. This was supposed to be my second surprise. Half a month ago, I had learned I was carrying Callum’s pup. 2 **Aveline’s POV** I woke inside Stormhaven Pack’s infirmary. Rain beat against the windows. The Blue Moon was hidden behind black clouds. My hand moved to my stomach. A dull ache answered me. Outside the door, Celeste sobbed. “Callum, go back to Aveline. She’s carrying your pup. The healer said this may be her only chance to carry one to full term.” My breath stopped. My only chance. Callum’s voice followed, tight with resentment. “Celeste, you stayed hidden with me for eight years because of her. You suffered without a title. Are you really willing to step back now?” “Her happiness matters,” he said. “But what about yours? Don’t push me back to a woman I don’t love.” The door slammed open. Callum stood there, cold and sharp. “Aveline, I will never mark you in this lifetime.” A bank card flew onto my hospital gown. “There’s fifty grand on it. The PIN is Celeste’s birthday. I saved it to take her on a trip after our ceremony.” He looked straight at me. “Give up all claim to the pup. Take 500k. Consider it a settlement for the years you wasted coming here.” My fingers shook around the card. While I planned our ceremony, he planned her proposal. “Get out,” I shouted. “You can’t buy my pup with her birthday.” Callum only scoffed. “Celeste and I love each other honestly. What’s wrong with that? You were the one clinging to a bond that ended long ago.” His words struck the deepest wound inside me. Eight years ago, after learning I had grown up orphaned, Callum bought me a moonstone necklace with almost all his Alpha allowance. “Ave,” he had whispered then, “I’ll cherish you. Protect you. Give you a real home.” That man was gone. This one only looked at me like I was an obstacle. “I’m giving you twenty-four hours,” he said. “Take the 500k and leave Stormhaven Pack, or I’ll have you removed.” He left. I sat alone, staring at the card in my palm. Celeste’s birthday. That was the passcode to the price of my heartbreak. I booked the earliest flight back to Moonveil Pack. Then another message arrived. [Celeste isn’t just my lover.] [She saved my life during the earthquake eight years ago.] [I can’t betray her.] [So I have to betray you.] I stared at those words until my vision blurred. Because the one who pulled Callum from the rubble eight years ago was me. 3 **Aveline’s POV** I was the one who saved Callum during the earthquake. I dug him out with my bare hands, shifting broken concrete and twisted steel until my palms split open and my fingers went numb. I dragged his unconscious body free, took him to South Harbor Medical Center, then collapsed. When I woke, I never told him. I didn’t want his love to come from debt. I told only Celeste. Back then, she was my closest friend. I never imagined she would steal the truth and use it to steal my mate. The next morning, I went straight to the airport. I had barely taken my boarding pass when Callum grabbed my wrist. “Aveline, Celeste got into a crash.” His eyes burned red. “Are you happy now?” I froze. “She was driving here to stop you. She said she would give me back. This is your fault.” He dragged me from the airport to the Stormhaven infirmary. The moment we entered, he shoved me toward a healer assistant. “You and Celeste both carry Golden Line compatibility. Draw from her. Save Celeste.” I stumbled back. “My body is already fragile. This could risk the pup.” I looked at him, shaking. “Callum. This is your pup too.” The healer hesitated. Callum didn’t. “It’s just an unborn pup. If it’s lost, it’s lost.” He said it like our child meant nothing. “If you want another one someday, I can make you godmother to mine and Celeste’s.” Lyra roared inside me. The healer assistant raised her hands. “Alpha, this violates pack medical code. We cannot draw from an unwilling she-wolf carrying a fragile pup.” Callum’s face hardened. “I’ll take responsibility. Celeste comes first.” My strength drained fast. My sight blurred. Callum stood beside me, voice softening just slightly. “Ave, you’re the only match. Celeste is your best friend. You wouldn’t watch her fade, would you?” Silent tears slid down my face. I had always given Celeste everything. At the Moonveil orphanage, I split my food with her. When a couple wanted to adopt me, I gave her the chance instead. I thought she was my family. Now I was being forced to sacrifice my pup for hers. Pain ripped through me. The healer assistant panicked. “Alpha Callum, we have to stop. She’ll lose the pup if we continue.” I reached for Callum’s suit, begging without words. He looked away. “Keep going,” he said. “Celeste’s life matters more.” Yesterday, I dreamed of becoming his Luna. Now I was losing everything. My mate. My best friend. And my only pup. 4 **Aveline’s POV** After hours of emergency treatment, the healer stepped out with a covered tray in her hands. She couldn’t meet my eyes. “I’m sorry, Miss Wren. Your pup is gone.” The world went silent. I cried until my eyes burned and my throat broke. Not long after, Callum entered, supporting Celeste. She looked pale and delicate, her voice trembling with fake gratitude. “Thank you for saving my life, Aveline.” She held my hand. “I can’t keep running from happiness. I’m going to marry Callum. Please forgive me. Come be my bridesmaid. Stand beside us and bless us, okay?” I stared at her soft face. Her happiness mattered. Mine could be destroyed. I didn’t scream. I only asked, “Celeste, do you remember what you promised me before you climbed into his bed?” Her face drained. “You swore you’d protect Callum for me,” I said. “You said if any she-wolf tried to steal him, you’d defend me first. What about yourself?” “Aveline, enough,” Callum said coldly. Then he stepped in front of her again. “I forced Celeste into everything. I pressured her first. She tried to push me away, but I wouldn’t let her go.” He took every stain onto himself, desperate to keep her pure. Eight years of my love became a joke. I looked at them both. “If you two truly love each other, I’ll attend your Mate Ceremony.” Celeste stared at me. Callum frowned. I smiled. “After all, you were once the two most important people in my life.” Three days later, Stormhaven Pack’s Alpha Hall was filled with silver moonvine and cheering guests. They called Callum and Celeste star-crossed lovers. They said she was the only woman worthy of the Luna crown. I stood in the crowd, listening to my own humiliation dressed up as romance. Celeste pulled me onto the stage and placed a microphone in my hand. “Aveline, you’re my best friend. Say a blessing for us.” She wanted my blessing to wash away her betrayal. I smiled. The hall went silent. I looked straight at her. “My best friend,” I said softly, “does my mate treat you gently in bed?” Chaos exploded. Celeste went pale. Callum shoved me hard. I hit the edge of the platform, palms scraping against stone. “Aveline Wren,” he snarled. “What is wrong with you?” I pushed myself up. Callum grabbed my gown and dragged me toward the entrance. “If I had known Celeste was the one who saved me,” he said, “I never would’ve gotten together with you.” Just before he threw me out, I laughed. “Callum.” He froze. I opened my palm. A thick scar ran from my wrist toward my knuckles, pale and permanent beneath the moonlight. “The woman who saved you wasn’t Celeste.” His pupils widened. I looked straight at him. “During that earthquake eight years ago, I was the one who dug you out with my bare hands.” 5 **Aveline’s POV** All color drained from Callum’s face. He stared at the scar across my palm as if seeing it for the first time. Wolves healed fast, but this mark had never faded. The steel had dragged dirt and rust deep into the wound. Even pack healers couldn’t erase it. “That can’t be right,” Callum whispered. He turned to Celeste. “You told me you pulled me out.” Panic flashed in her eyes, then vanished beneath tears. “Aveline,” she said, wounded and shaking, “I know you’re hurt because Callum left you. But you can’t lie like this.” She clung to Callum. “I was the one who saved him. I swear it. Don’t blame her, Callum. She’s only trying to split us apart because she’s in pain.” Callum’s doubt hardened back into anger. “Aveline. When did you become this cruel?” Alpha pressure rolled from him, forcing guests to lower their heads. “You spent eight years ignoring every sign I had chosen my true mate. Your obsession with this dead long-distance bond only proves you never understood real mate devotion.” The words tore through me. Once, he had been warm. He had promised to be my home. He had called me every day while we lived apart, sending photos from patrol, council meetings, training grounds. I had believed distance could not break love. Before flying here, I had even quit my job at Moonveil Pack, ready to stay in Stormhaven as his Luna. Now I understood. He had betrayed me for eight years, and all our friends had helped hide it. Around me, the whispers began. “She’s lying.” “No wonder Alpha Callum chose Celeste.” “A low-born orphan thought she could steal the Luna crown?” They looked at me like I was the villain in Callum and Celeste’s love story. I took a deep breath and stood straight. “I have proof,” I said. “I can show everyone right now that I was the one who saved him.” 6 Callum froze. Before he could speak, Celeste tugged his sleeve. “Callum, don’t listen to her. I was the one who saved you. I’d never lie about something this important.” The guests joined her. “Don’t let her ruin the ceremony.” “She’s bitter.” “Where are the guards?” Callum’s jaw tightened. “Shut the doors. Take her outside.” The Alpha Hall doors began to close. I shoved my hand into the narrowing gap and forced them back open, ignoring the pain in my fingers. Everyone stared at me like I was throwing a tantrum. But Celeste knew the truth. That was why panic kept flashing across her face. Eight years ago, after the earthquake, I had heard faint cries beneath collapsed concrete. I dropped to my knees and dug through stone and steel with my bare hands until I found a wounded teenage boy. That boy was Callum. Later, when he pursued me, I learned his name. I never told him I had saved him. I didn’t want gratitude. I only told Celeste. Now she clung to him, terrified the truth would come out. “Callum,” I said. I pulled a folded stack of papers from my bag and held them up. “This is my proof.” Every eye in the hall turned to me. Celeste went white. “These are my old medical records from South Harbor Medical Center. They show exactly what happened that day.” I read aloud. “Multiple wounds across both hands. Deep penetrating injury through the palm. Severe soft tissue damage.” I lifted my scarred hand. “This came from pulling you out of the rubble.” The hall fell silent. Callum stared at the documents, then at my palm. His face emptied of color. The truth was finally in front of him. Not as a memory. Not as a rumor. As proof he could no longer ignore. Celeste whispered, “Callum…” But this time, even her tears couldn’t save her.

“Smile for the crowd, Ophelia,” he whispered, “You’re my Luna, remember?” Everyone thought our wedding would be the fairytale ending. But behind the vows, there were lies, betrayal, and another woman wearing my dream gown as a ‘bridesmaid.’ I learned too late that my Alpha’s love had always been a performance—one meant to make his first love shine. Now I’m walking down the aisle not as a bride, but as a ghost of the woman I used to be. Because by tomorrow morning, they’ll all realize... The Luna they tried to destroy has already disappeared. Just because I refused to let my Alpha mate’s first love be my bridesmaid at my bonding ceremony, that night, I was drgged and placed unc0nscious, half-n@ked, on a pool table. His friends laughed, measuring my 1egs with cue sticks, some even pouring cold liquor over my body. “One sh0t in!” Someone whistled. “With a beauty as company, my skills are improving!” My mate’s first love, Daphne, held up a phone, maliciously laughing in my ear. “A subst1tute is just a subst1tute. Like now, you're lying there, letting them do as they please—this is your true role!” My Alpha mate, Asher, thought that under the influence of the drg, I wouldn’t remember anything. He spent the whole night humiliating me, all to please his first love. What he didn’t know was that I had a natural resistance to ether-based drgs. When I woke up, I wiped away my tears and scheduled a surgery to get rid of the child. Back then, on the pool table, I gr0aned in pain, and Daphne playfully pouted, “I just wanna live the dream of walking the red carpet with Asher. How dare you, a subst1tute mate, say no!” Asher pulled her closer and rolled his eyes, casually saying, “She made Daphne unhappy, so of course, I had to punish her.” His friends laughed uproariously. “Don’t worry, we’ll make Ophelia beg for mercy! We’re all curious how Asher tames her to be so obedient.” Asher answered lazily, “I bought some toys to spice things up. She thought I cared for her, so she gladly accepted.” “True Alpha, staying so loyal to your true love! But… aren’t you worried Ophelia will find out about you severing the mate bond?” Asher smirked, clearing the last ball with a swift strike. “She dares? She’s just an orphan Omega who signed a bond-sealing deal with me and got pregn@nt. Now, she’s playing around like this. Who else would want her?” “To be honest, a pregn@nt Omega she-wolf smells bad. Every night, I almost puke.” “I disciplined her to make clear that being my Luna doesn’t give her the right to trample Daphne.” Somebody asked, “Alpha, those packages you had delivered to Ophelia... you specifically told the shop not to ship them anonymously, right? That’s why she lost her sh0t at the Top Warrior title. That was for Daphne too, wasn’t it?” Asher ran his hand over Daphne’s waist, smiling faintly. “Although the spot was already decided, if I didn’t ruin her reputation, how could I ensure Daphne wouldn’t be gossiped about after she was granted the top warrior?” Daphne looked embarrassed. “She said I demonstrated the move wrong. That embarrassed me. Asher was just giving her a little lesson!” My heart clenched. A scene in my memory suddenly struck me—dozens of transparent packages had piled up at the pack training ground entrance, and the pack members’ eyes were full of disgust. I felt heartbroken as I watched my beloved students drop my training classes. But I never expected this was all part of his scheme. The laughter continued in the pool hall as my heart sank. Asher seemed to remember something. He pulled a stack of photos from his pocket, and scattered them across my b0dy. “Callen, post these photos in the parent group. I want Ophelia to resign and go home, completely out of Daphne’s way.” “Wow, these were taken in the training field, full-body sh0ts, no face blurred!” “If those parents see this, they’ll go ballistic!” The laughter and shrieks grew louder and louder, and my tears fell without stop. Asher wasn’t like this before. Two years ago, his mother, our pack’s Luna, asked me to assist him before she fell into a coma from a car accident. I gave up my chance to become an Alpha king’s warrior, training our pack’s underage werewolves day and night, hoping they could become excellent warriors too. Asher was kind to me as well, always handing me electrolyte drinks before training. It wasn’t until the night we signed the bond-sealing deal that I learned Asher wasn’t just good in bed, his desires were just as strong. He bought plenty of toys and liked taking me to the training field after school and mak1ng 1ove there. I thought the wilderness excited him, but the real reason was to slander me in favor of Daphne… “Alpha, if Ophelia apologizes to Daphne tonight, should I still post them?” Asher didn’t hesitate. “Of course. You don’t know how upset Daphne was when she got kicked out of the bridesmaid group. She saved my mom from the accident, and I can’t let her be upset!” Daphne lowered her eyes, a faint, forced smile on her lips. Callen’s expression hardened, and he s1ammed the cue stick on the table. “B, how dare you bully the Alpha’s precious! You deserve to suffer!” Pain sh0t through me, and I passed out. The next morning, I woke up in my bed, my pajamas intact. Asher had already gone to the pack meeting. On the nightstand, as it had been for three unbroken years, sat a warm cup of electrolyte water. I hid under the covers and cried, then shakily called Mia, the pack member in charge of the ceremony. “Keep what Daphne ordered, and cancel my segment.” Mia paused for a moment. “Are you sure, Ophelia?” No wonder she was surprised. The bridesmaid dress Daphne ordered was larger than mine, decorated with rhinestones. The so-called bridesmaid even insisted on a 14-carat Oppenheimer pink diamond. At first, I didn’t know who she was. I asked Asher’s friends and learned she was his childhood sweetheart and first love. When I rushed to the pack’s planning room, I coincidentally walked in on Daphne proposing a “memorial for the first love” during the ceremony. Mia looked at me with hesitation. “Asher said our memories are too precious to not share at the ceremony. He’ll regret it for life if we don’t.” Daphne intentionally emphasized “for life,” ‘accidentally’ slipping a faded photograph from her bag. In the photo, young Asher was kissing the top of her head. While in these three years, he rarely kissed me. I stared at it, my chest tight, and gritted my teeth. “This isn’t appropriate. There’s no need for Daphne to be a bridesmaid.” Daphne didn’t get angry; instead, she smiled. “No worries, there will always be ‘surprises’ at the bonding ceremony, right?” As I left the planning room, my hands shook. That night, Asher comforted me, “You are right, the ceremony should go as you wish.” But when he thought I was asleep, he lowered his voice and made a call. “Go along with her. I’ll make her regret it. Daphne, don’t cry.” I froze. But if Asher liked Daphne so much, why did he keep saying that he loved me? That he only wanted to mark me and seal the mate bond with me for life? I suddenly recalled a conversation at a pack gathering when Gamma Leo had been drvnk. “Ophelia? If not for her assistance in securing Asher’s Alpha position, an Omega like her would never be a warrior trainer in our pack.” “Exactly, if Luna Isla hadn’t stopped Daphne from becoming our Luna, Ophelia wouldn’t have had a chance.” My heart twisted, aching so badly I could barely breathe. No wonder I was always the one handling the daily training, and Asher and Daphne were sent to visit with other packs. The public lessons I spent nights preparing were given to Daphne to showcase, becoming her capital for fame. I fled home and dialed a number. “Is the Lycan joint training program still looking for warriors? Tristan, I want to sign up.” Tristan’s voice sounded surprised. “Ophelia, you were always the best warrior in training camp. We’ve been hoping to recruit you!” After paused, his tone turning cautious. “But this program is in the Lycan region of Europe, requiring at least six months of residency. Are you sure about this?” I clenched the phone tightly, glancing at the bonding ceremony invitation Asher had casually thrown on the coffee table—Daphne’s name had been added back to the bridesmaid list. The scums who had humiliated me were also in the groomsmen group. The embossed letters burned into my eyes. “I’ve made up my mind. The sooner, the better.” After hanging up, I began packing my bags. When my collection of silk scarves spilled out, I realized, they were just the matching items Asher bought for Daphne’s bags. I snorted, throwing them all into the trash. When Asher returned home, he saw me curled up on the couch and frowned slightly. “What are you doing here? Are you feeling sick?” The sting on my body reminded me that what happened in the pool hall wasn’t a dream. I lowered my head, exhausted. “Asher, cancel all the orders online. I don’t want them anymore.” Asher paused, then realized, looking at the trash can filled with the little gifts he bought for me. “Honey, didn’t you say you liked how thoughtful I am?” His voice was soft, placating. I finally lifted my gaze to look at him. “I didn’t sleep well last night. My whole body hurts. Do you know why?” With three years of relationship, our mate bond, and the little life inside me, I’m giving him one last chance. Asher’s eyes flickered, and then he cooed, “Maybe it’s just pregn@ncy fatigue, honey. I’ll have the pack doctor come check on you.” I laughed hysterically, smashing the anniversary couple clay sculpture he made with my hands. Asher stared at a broken piece for a long time before hesitantly speaking, “Is it the pregn@ncy... making you feel this way?” I shook my head and slid the bond-breaking deal into a pile of training plans, pushing them toward him. He signed without looking, then gently massaged my head with his thumb. “Would you like me to run you a warm bath to relax?” A wave of nausea rose in my st0mach. It was those very hands, the ones that spread my indecent photos in the pool hall. It was that very mouth that spat out mean words and called me a used Omega. “I agreed to let Daphne be the bridesmaid.” When Asher heard this, he froze. “Why the sudden change of heart?” “I thought about it. Maybe I was too petty.” I forced a smile. “Besides, she’s your mom’s savior. I shouldn’t be so selfish.” Mentioning Luna Isla, Asher hesitated no more, holding me tightly and saying, “Ophelia, you’re so considerate! If Daphne hadn’t walked ten kilometers to get help for my mom, she might have been gone, instead of being in a vegetative state now…” I furrowed my brow, silent. After the accident, Luna Isla had been in a coma, and the details of that day were still unclear. “Don’t worry. I’ll take time off to be with you for the birth, take care of you and the pup.” Just then, Asher’s phone buzzed twice. He let go of me and quickly walked to the balcony. On the balcony’s monitor, Asher whispered, “Daphne, I told you I’d make your wish come true. No need to post those photos now.” A syrupy voice came from the speaker. “I don’t think so, Asher. You promised to make me the only excellent warrior trainer. Besides, if those photos go out, Ophelia will quit and stay in the pack house, focusing on you and the pup. It’s better for your little family, and it makes me feel better, isn’t it?” After a long pause, Asher sighed and agreed, “Okay.” Two minutes later, my phone rang like a death knell. I flinched, and the phone, along with my heart, dropped to the floor. [Daphne: Ophelia, what’s going on? Why did you take those disgusting photos?] [Hayden’s father: This is sick! How could someone like this teach our kids? How could she be our future Luna?!] [Mira’s mother: I’m going to Alpha tomorrow! Such unscrupulous trainer needs to be thrown out of the pack!] My teaching career, my reputation, was destroyed in minutes. When Asher returned to the living room, he glanced at the group chat and sighed. “Ophelia, I believe you. Tomorrow happens to be Daphne’s award ceremony. I’ll go with you to explain, okay?” I kept explaining, but the insults kept growing. A wave of exhaustion overtook me. “I don’t want to go.” Asher was surprised by my refusal, looking at me in disbelief. Then his gaze shifted to the mate ring on the coffee table, and he smiled knowingly. “You don’t have to worry about our bonding ceremony. The invitations have been sent, and it will be held as planned the day after tomorrow.” “You’re the Luna. If you don’t show up, the pack will talk. What will they think of Daphne? She’ll face suspicion because of you.” The next day, Asher dragged me to Daphne’s ceremony. As soon as we entered the pack hall, whispers filled the air. “There she is, sh@meless!” Asher’s friends ogled me, their eyes lingering on my waist and hips. My face flushed as I tried to turn and flee. “Ophelia, pregn@nt ones have bigger 1ust, I hear! If Alpha’s too busy, come find me, I’ll make sure you enjoy it.” “Ophelia, those photos were so creative. Teaching with a pup? You should be teaching performance art!” Asher seemed to ignore it all, staying silent. Daphne linked her arm through Asher’s, deliberately raising her voice. “I’m so glad Ophelia could come! I was worried that after those photos, she’d be too embarrassed to show up.” Gamma Leo immediately jumped in, “Hey, Ophelia, why bother wearing clothes when going out? That’s way too formal! It’s not like we haven’t seen it!” Laughter erupted around the room. Suddenly, a sharp female voice cu//t through, “It’s her! This sh@meless b seduced my son!” Before I could react, the she-wolf s1apped a diary page across my face. [The teacher let me touch her while giving private lessons... I couldn’t sleep at night.] Daphne gasped and covered her mouth. “Oh my goddess! Isn’t this Finn’s handwriting? He’s Ophelia’s student!” The she-wolf grabbed my hair and y@nked me toward her. “My son is only 16! You’re so desperate?” I trembled, staring at Asher, “It wasn’t me!” He knew I would never give private lessons to kids. All he had to do was speak up... But he glanced away, not even attempting to defend me. My heart died in silence. Daphne looked at Callen, who nodded slightly. In the banquet hall, a distorted m0an suddenly blasted out! My voice was processed by AI, twisted into an obscene mess, mixed with Asher’s friends’ whistles. I rushed toward the speakers as Asher stood up and walked toward me. “I don’t believe Ophelia would do something so indecent!” Just as Daphne shouted, she suddenly staggered back as if something had shocked her. “Ophelia, why did you push me?” Without hesitation, Asher turned and caught Daphne. When he looked back at me, all the guilt had disappeared from his eyes. “Daphne’s award ceremony has been ruined by the disgusting things you’ve done!” “Do you know she has heart problems? When she wakes up, you should apologize to her immediately!” Asher picked up Daphne and, before leaving, gritted his teeth at Callen, “Handle this.” Callen grinned, blocking my path and making a gesture to the female parent. My hair was y@nked painfully, and tears flowed uncontrollably. As they dragged me away, the bvttons on my clothes popped off. “The Alpha said to give Ophelia some dignity.” Callen fiddled with his lighter, the flame licking at my skirt. “Dignity… for a public shaming.” “I heard she even ordered sx toys for the pack’s training field. She doesn’t deserve to be a teacher, nor a future Luna!” Asher’s friends egged him on, “Str1p it off and let us see. She’s played around so many times, why pretend to be a v1rg//n?” I was violently touched and rubbed by the thugs, claws digging into my f1esh. I struggled with all my might when someone pushed me hard from behind, and my abd0men s1ammed into a metal flower stand. The sharp pain spread through my body, and warm liquid began to trail down my th1gh. “Asher!” I instinctively called out, but despair filled me when I realized he was already gone. “She’s b1eeding!” Amidst the screams, my c0nsciousness began to blur. When I woke up, the nurse told me the pup was gone. I felt a wave of sorrow. The surgery was scheduled for today. It seemed the pup also refused to be born into such a tragic family. My phone buzzed with dozens of messages from Asher. [Ophelia, where are you? I heard you made a fuss and broke a cup. You’re carrying a child, you should control your emotions! Daphne’s not feeling well, and I need to take care of her. The bonding ceremony will go on as planned. You should come to the venue.] The last message was half an hour ago. [How dare you not answer my calls? Know your place. You should be grateful I’m willing to hold a bonding ceremony for you, so stop acting up!] I deleted all the messages and called Tristan. “Tristan, I’ll be on time for the flight tomorrow.” On the day of the bonding ceremony, Daphne walked around in her rhinestone-encrusted bridesmaid dress, acting like the hostess. Asher kept glancing at his watch, his face growing darker. Guests began to whisper, wondering where his future mate was. His friends exchanged knowing glances. “Alpha, after the ceremony, can we have some fun? Ophelia in a mate dress would be great.” Asher’s face darkened. He roared, “Enough! After today, she’s my mate, your Luna. Don’t bring up the past.” Seeing some guests starting to leave, Daphne’s eyes gleamed with excitement. “Asher, Ophelia’s late. She clearly doesn’t want to be your Luna. Why not let me take her place as your mate?” She quickly walked toward the Luna’s waiting room. Asher opened his mouth to stop her but was interrupted by the sudden ring of his phone. It was the pack doctor calling. After picking up the phone, Asher eagerly asked, “What? My mother woke up? After three years in a coma?”

“Smile for the crowd, Ophelia,” he whispered, “You’re my Luna, remember?” Everyone thought our wedding would be the fairytale ending. But behind the vows, there were lies, betrayal, and another woman wearing my dream gown as a ‘bridesmaid.’ I learned too late that my Alpha’s love had always been a performance—one meant to make his first love shine. Now I’m walking down the aisle not as a bride, but as a ghost of the woman I used to be. Because by tomorrow morning, they’ll all realize... The Luna they tried to destroy has already disappeared. Just because I refused to let my Alpha mate’s first love be my bridesmaid at my bonding ceremony, that night, I was drgged and placed unc0nscious, half-n@ked, on a pool table. His friends laughed, measuring my 1egs with cue sticks, some even pouring cold liquor over my body. “One sh0t in!” Someone whistled. “With a beauty as company, my skills are improving!” My mate’s first love, Daphne, held up a phone, maliciously laughing in my ear. “A subst1tute is just a subst1tute. Like now, you're lying there, letting them do as they please—this is your true role!” My Alpha mate, Asher, thought that under the influence of the drg, I wouldn’t remember anything. He spent the whole night humiliating me, all to please his first love. What he didn’t know was that I had a natural resistance to ether-based drgs. When I woke up, I wiped away my tears and scheduled a surgery to get rid of the child. Back then, on the pool table, I gr0aned in pain, and Daphne playfully pouted, “I just wanna live the dream of walking the red carpet with Asher. How dare you, a subst1tute mate, say no!” Asher pulled her closer and rolled his eyes, casually saying, “She made Daphne unhappy, so of course, I had to punish her.” His friends laughed uproariously. “Don’t worry, we’ll make Ophelia beg for mercy! We’re all curious how Asher tames her to be so obedient.” Asher answered lazily, “I bought some toys to spice things up. She thought I cared for her, so she gladly accepted.” “True Alpha, staying so loyal to your true love! But… aren’t you worried Ophelia will find out about you severing the mate bond?” Asher smirked, clearing the last ball with a swift strike. “She dares? She’s just an orphan Omega who signed a bond-sealing deal with me and got pregn@nt. Now, she’s playing around like this. Who else would want her?” “To be honest, a pregn@nt Omega she-wolf smells bad. Every night, I almost puke.” “I disciplined her to make clear that being my Luna doesn’t give her the right to trample Daphne.” Somebody asked, “Alpha, those packages you had delivered to Ophelia... you specifically told the shop not to ship them anonymously, right? That’s why she lost her sh0t at the Top Warrior title. That was for Daphne too, wasn’t it?” Asher ran his hand over Daphne’s waist, smiling faintly. “Although the spot was already decided, if I didn’t ruin her reputation, how could I ensure Daphne wouldn’t be gossiped about after she was granted the top warrior?” Daphne looked embarrassed. “She said I demonstrated the move wrong. That embarrassed me. Asher was just giving her a little lesson!” My heart clenched. A scene in my memory suddenly struck me—dozens of transparent packages had piled up at the pack training ground entrance, and the pack members’ eyes were full of disgust. I felt heartbroken as I watched my beloved students drop my training classes. But I never expected this was all part of his scheme. The laughter continued in the pool hall as my heart sank. Asher seemed to remember something. He pulled a stack of photos from his pocket, and scattered them across my b0dy. “Callen, post these photos in the parent group. I want Ophelia to resign and go home, completely out of Daphne’s way.” “Wow, these were taken in the training field, full-body sh0ts, no face blurred!” “If those parents see this, they’ll go ballistic!” The laughter and shrieks grew louder and louder, and my tears fell without stop. Asher wasn’t like this before. Two years ago, his mother, our pack’s Luna, asked me to assist him before she fell into a coma from a car accident. I gave up my chance to become an Alpha king’s warrior, training our pack’s underage werewolves day and night, hoping they could become excellent warriors too. Asher was kind to me as well, always handing me electrolyte drinks before training. It wasn’t until the night we signed the bond-sealing deal that I learned Asher wasn’t just good in bed, his desires were just as strong. He bought plenty of toys and liked taking me to the training field after school and mak1ng 1ove there. I thought the wilderness excited him, but the real reason was to slander me in favor of Daphne… “Alpha, if Ophelia apologizes to Daphne tonight, should I still post them?” Asher didn’t hesitate. “Of course. You don’t know how upset Daphne was when she got kicked out of the bridesmaid group. She saved my mom from the accident, and I can’t let her be upset!” Daphne lowered her eyes, a faint, forced smile on her lips. Callen’s expression hardened, and he s1ammed the cue stick on the table. “B, how dare you bully the Alpha’s precious! You deserve to suffer!” Pain sh0t through me, and I passed out. The next morning, I woke up in my bed, my pajamas intact. Asher had already gone to the pack meeting. On the nightstand, as it had been for three unbroken years, sat a warm cup of electrolyte water. I hid under the covers and cried, then shakily called Mia, the pack member in charge of the ceremony. “Keep what Daphne ordered, and cancel my segment.” Mia paused for a moment. “Are you sure, Ophelia?” No wonder she was surprised. The bridesmaid dress Daphne ordered was larger than mine, decorated with rhinestones. The so-called bridesmaid even insisted on a 14-carat Oppenheimer pink diamond. At first, I didn’t know who she was. I asked Asher’s friends and learned she was his childhood sweetheart and first love. When I rushed to the pack’s planning room, I coincidentally walked in on Daphne proposing a “memorial for the first love” during the ceremony. Mia looked at me with hesitation. “Asher said our memories are too precious to not share at the ceremony. He’ll regret it for life if we don’t.” Daphne intentionally emphasized “for life,” ‘accidentally’ slipping a faded photograph from her bag. In the photo, young Asher was kissing the top of her head. While in these three years, he rarely kissed me. I stared at it, my chest tight, and gritted my teeth. “This isn’t appropriate. There’s no need for Daphne to be a bridesmaid.” Daphne didn’t get angry; instead, she smiled. “No worries, there will always be ‘surprises’ at the bonding ceremony, right?” As I left the planning room, my hands shook. That night, Asher comforted me, “You are right, the ceremony should go as you wish.” But when he thought I was asleep, he lowered his voice and made a call. “Go along with her. I’ll make her regret it. Daphne, don’t cry.” I froze. But if Asher liked Daphne so much, why did he keep saying that he loved me? That he only wanted to mark me and seal the mate bond with me for life? I suddenly recalled a conversation at a pack gathering when Gamma Leo had been drvnk. “Ophelia? If not for her assistance in securing Asher’s Alpha position, an Omega like her would never be a warrior trainer in our pack.” “Exactly, if Luna Isla hadn’t stopped Daphne from becoming our Luna, Ophelia wouldn’t have had a chance.” My heart twisted, aching so badly I could barely breathe. No wonder I was always the one handling the daily training, and Asher and Daphne were sent to visit with other packs. The public lessons I spent nights preparing were given to Daphne to showcase, becoming her capital for fame. I fled home and dialed a number. “Is the Lycan joint training program still looking for warriors? Tristan, I want to sign up.” Tristan’s voice sounded surprised. “Ophelia, you were always the best warrior in training camp. We’ve been hoping to recruit you!” After paused, his tone turning cautious. “But this program is in the Lycan region of Europe, requiring at least six months of residency. Are you sure about this?” I clenched the phone tightly, glancing at the bonding ceremony invitation Asher had casually thrown on the coffee table—Daphne’s name had been added back to the bridesmaid list. The scums who had humiliated me were also in the groomsmen group. The embossed letters burned into my eyes. “I’ve made up my mind. The sooner, the better.” After hanging up, I began packing my bags. When my collection of silk scarves spilled out, I realized, they were just the matching items Asher bought for Daphne’s bags. I snorted, throwing them all into the trash. When Asher returned home, he saw me curled up on the couch and frowned slightly. “What are you doing here? Are you feeling sick?” The sting on my body reminded me that what happened in the pool hall wasn’t a dream. I lowered my head, exhausted. “Asher, cancel all the orders online. I don’t want them anymore.” Asher paused, then realized, looking at the trash can filled with the little gifts he bought for me. “Honey, didn’t you say you liked how thoughtful I am?” His voice was soft, placating. I finally lifted my gaze to look at him. “I didn’t sleep well last night. My whole body hurts. Do you know why?” With three years of relationship, our mate bond, and the little life inside me, I’m giving him one last chance. Asher’s eyes flickered, and then he cooed, “Maybe it’s just pregn@ncy fatigue, honey. I’ll have the pack doctor come check on you.” I laughed hysterically, smashing the anniversary couple clay sculpture he made with my hands. Asher stared at a broken piece for a long time before hesitantly speaking, “Is it the pregn@ncy... making you feel this way?” I shook my head and slid the bond-breaking deal into a pile of training plans, pushing them toward him. He signed without looking, then gently massaged my head with his thumb. “Would you like me to run you a warm bath to relax?” A wave of nausea rose in my st0mach. It was those very hands, the ones that spread my indecent photos in the pool hall. It was that very mouth that spat out mean words and called me a used Omega. “I agreed to let Daphne be the bridesmaid.” When Asher heard this, he froze. “Why the sudden change of heart?” “I thought about it. Maybe I was too petty.” I forced a smile. “Besides, she’s your mom’s savior. I shouldn’t be so selfish.” Mentioning Luna Isla, Asher hesitated no more, holding me tightly and saying, “Ophelia, you’re so considerate! If Daphne hadn’t walked ten kilometers to get help for my mom, she might have been gone, instead of being in a vegetative state now…” I furrowed my brow, silent. After the accident, Luna Isla had been in a coma, and the details of that day were still unclear. “Don’t worry. I’ll take time off to be with you for the birth, take care of you and the pup.” Just then, Asher’s phone buzzed twice. He let go of me and quickly walked to the balcony. On the balcony’s monitor, Asher whispered, “Daphne, I told you I’d make your wish come true. No need to post those photos now.” A syrupy voice came from the speaker. “I don’t think so, Asher. You promised to make me the only excellent warrior trainer. Besides, if those photos go out, Ophelia will quit and stay in the pack house, focusing on you and the pup. It’s better for your little family, and it makes me feel better, isn’t it?” After a long pause, Asher sighed and agreed, “Okay.” Two minutes later, my phone rang like a death knell. I flinched, and the phone, along with my heart, dropped to the floor. [Daphne: Ophelia, what’s going on? Why did you take those disgusting photos?] [Hayden’s father: This is sick! How could someone like this teach our kids? How could she be our future Luna?!] [Mira’s mother: I’m going to Alpha tomorrow! Such unscrupulous trainer needs to be thrown out of the pack!] My teaching career, my reputation, was destroyed in minutes. When Asher returned to the living room, he glanced at the group chat and sighed. “Ophelia, I believe you. Tomorrow happens to be Daphne’s award ceremony. I’ll go with you to explain, okay?” I kept explaining, but the insults kept growing. A wave of exhaustion overtook me. “I don’t want to go.” Asher was surprised by my refusal, looking at me in disbelief. Then his gaze shifted to the mate ring on the coffee table, and he smiled knowingly. “You don’t have to worry about our bonding ceremony. The invitations have been sent, and it will be held as planned the day after tomorrow.” “You’re the Luna. If you don’t show up, the pack will talk. What will they think of Daphne? She’ll face suspicion because of you.” The next day, Asher dragged me to Daphne’s ceremony. As soon as we entered the pack hall, whispers filled the air. “There she is, sh@meless!” Asher’s friends ogled me, their eyes lingering on my waist and hips. My face flushed as I tried to turn and flee. “Ophelia, pregn@nt ones have bigger 1ust, I hear! If Alpha’s too busy, come find me, I’ll make sure you enjoy it.” “Ophelia, those photos were so creative. Teaching with a pup? You should be teaching performance art!” Asher seemed to ignore it all, staying silent. Daphne linked her arm through Asher’s, deliberately raising her voice. “I’m so glad Ophelia could come! I was worried that after those photos, she’d be too embarrassed to show up.” Gamma Leo immediately jumped in, “Hey, Ophelia, why bother wearing clothes when going out? That’s way too formal! It’s not like we haven’t seen it!” Laughter erupted around the room. Suddenly, a sharp female voice cu//t through, “It’s her! This sh@meless b seduced my son!” Before I could react, the she-wolf s1apped a diary page across my face. [The teacher let me touch her while giving private lessons... I couldn’t sleep at night.] Daphne gasped and covered her mouth. “Oh my goddess! Isn’t this Finn’s handwriting? He’s Ophelia’s student!” The she-wolf grabbed my hair and y@nked me toward her. “My son is only 16! You’re so desperate?” I trembled, staring at Asher, “It wasn’t me!” He knew I would never give private lessons to kids. All he had to do was speak up... But he glanced away, not even attempting to defend me. My heart died in silence. Daphne looked at Callen, who nodded slightly. In the banquet hall, a distorted m0an suddenly blasted out! My voice was processed by AI, twisted into an obscene mess, mixed with Asher’s friends’ whistles. I rushed toward the speakers as Asher stood up and walked toward me. “I don’t believe Ophelia would do something so indecent!” Just as Daphne shouted, she suddenly staggered back as if something had shocked her. “Ophelia, why did you push me?” Without hesitation, Asher turned and caught Daphne. When he looked back at me, all the guilt had disappeared from his eyes. “Daphne’s award ceremony has been ruined by the disgusting things you’ve done!” “Do you know she has heart problems? When she wakes up, you should apologize to her immediately!” Asher picked up Daphne and, before leaving, gritted his teeth at Callen, “Handle this.” Callen grinned, blocking my path and making a gesture to the female parent. My hair was y@nked painfully, and tears flowed uncontrollably. As they dragged me away, the bvttons on my clothes popped off. “The Alpha said to give Ophelia some dignity.” Callen fiddled with his lighter, the flame licking at my skirt. “Dignity… for a public shaming.” “I heard she even ordered sx toys for the pack’s training field. She doesn’t deserve to be a teacher, nor a future Luna!” Asher’s friends egged him on, “Str1p it off and let us see. She’s played around so many times, why pretend to be a v1rg//n?” I was violently touched and rubbed by the thugs, claws digging into my f1esh. I struggled with all my might when someone pushed me hard from behind, and my abd0men s1ammed into a metal flower stand. The sharp pain spread through my body, and warm liquid began to trail down my th1gh. “Asher!” I instinctively called out, but despair filled me when I realized he was already gone. “She’s b1eeding!” Amidst the screams, my c0nsciousness began to blur. When I woke up, the nurse told me the pup was gone. I felt a wave of sorrow. The surgery was scheduled for today. It seemed the pup also refused to be born into such a tragic family. My phone buzzed with dozens of messages from Asher. [Ophelia, where are you? I heard you made a fuss and broke a cup. You’re carrying a child, you should control your emotions! Daphne’s not feeling well, and I need to take care of her. The bonding ceremony will go on as planned. You should come to the venue.] The last message was half an hour ago. [How dare you not answer my calls? Know your place. You should be grateful I’m willing to hold a bonding ceremony for you, so stop acting up!] I deleted all the messages and called Tristan. “Tristan, I’ll be on time for the flight tomorrow.” On the day of the bonding ceremony, Daphne walked around in her rhinestone-encrusted bridesmaid dress, acting like the hostess. Asher kept glancing at his watch, his face growing darker. Guests began to whisper, wondering where his future mate was. His friends exchanged knowing glances. “Alpha, after the ceremony, can we have some fun? Ophelia in a mate dress would be great.” Asher’s face darkened. He roared, “Enough! After today, she’s my mate, your Luna. Don’t bring up the past.” Seeing some guests starting to leave, Daphne’s eyes gleamed with excitement. “Asher, Ophelia’s late. She clearly doesn’t want to be your Luna. Why not let me take her place as your mate?” She quickly walked toward the Luna’s waiting room. Asher opened his mouth to stop her but was interrupted by the sudden ring of his phone. It was the pack doctor calling. After picking up the phone, Asher eagerly asked, “What? My mother woke up? After three years in a coma?”

If you’re a diamond painter, you already know the struggle with those tiny squares of wax… 😅 This wax refill pen makes the whole process easier (and prettier)! 🎨 Available in gorgeous colors