Chapter 1

My husband had taken a mistress, and not just any mistress, Rin Lake, the she-wolf, was his true mate in every way that mattered. He'd given her a proper wedding, complete with the sacred blood oath and the howling ceremony under the full moon. The pack had welcomed her as their new Luna, and I, Elara Miller, the human mate, was cast aside like yesterday' prey.​ I was the official luna, the mate of Kael Wood, the youngest Alpha Prime in the history of our pack. But in the eyes of our community, Rin was the one who held his heart. They called me cold - blooded, a schemer who'd used dark magic to trick Kael into marrying me. Even the pack healer shook his head when he examined me. “Your heart is filled with too many shadows, Luna. It will be your undoing.”​ Little did they know, I'd embraced those shadows. ​ The day of his second wedding dawned bright and clear, a perfect day for a mating ceremony. The Wood Pack mansion was eerily silent. Every servant, every guard, had been summoned to the Alpha for the celebration. Kael had made sure I was left alone, isolated in the empty halls.​ As I sat by the window, the sound of a hunting horn pierced the air. It was the traditional call of the Alpha' wedding procession. I rose from my chair and made my way to my dressing room. I chose a simple, white gown. As I stepped outside, I tossed a bag of silver coins to the musicians. Their eyes widened in shock - no Luna had ever given them such a generous tip, especially not on the day of her mate' second wedding.​ I made my way to the ancient stone wall. As the Alpha' mate, I had the right to pass through the gates. The guards eyed me warily, but they didn't stop me. At the top of the wall, I looked out over the estate. I could see the bonfires, hear the music, and smell the sweet scent of the mating ceremony.​ With a final, bitter smile, I stepped off the edge. The wind rushed past me. I hit the ground with a sickening thud. I could feel my bones breaking. But I didn't make a sound. When the guards finally reached Kael, he was in the middle of the mating dance, his arms wrapped around Rin. His eyes were wild with passion, his body humming with the energy of the ceremony. But when he heard my name, his expression darkened.​ “Not now,” he growled.​ The lead guard stepped forward, his voice trembling. “Alpha, it' urgent. The luna... she'...”​ “I don't care what tricks she' playing. I won't let her ruin this day.”​ “Please, Alpha,” the guard pleaded. “She' dead. She jumped from the Wall.”​ “Fine. Send someone to clean up the mess. And make sure she' buried far from the pack grounds.” With that, he turned his back on the guard and pulled Rin closer, resuming the dance as if nothing had happened.​