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Losing the Alpha: The Runaway Invisible Luna
NovelShort
Hoàn thành
On the day of my baby’s gender reveal, I saw a live stream from an alpha party. It caught my Alpha husband red-handed, dancing with another she-wolf. He came back to me like nothing had happened. ...
Chương (6)
第1章
On the day of my baby’s gender reveal, I saw a live stream from an alpha party. It caught my Alpha husband red-handed, dancing with another she-wolf.
He came back to me like nothing had happened.
“You’re pregnant, and I am an insatiable alpha. I did it to let off some steam so I won’t tire your pregnant body,” that was his excuse.
But every day with him was torture. The alpha who once promised me the most precious moonstone forgot his vow, and the next thing I knew, his mistress was the one wearing it.
The baby clothes I bought for the child I lost a year ago were given to his mistress—worn by her cat.
But what finally pushed me to seek a divorce and abandon my position as Luna was the way he sighed in disappointment upon hearing our baby’s gender.
A girl.
Not worthy of being an alpha heir.
Then I found his messages with his mistress. She was pregnant too—and hers was a boy.
So I walked away, giving them the chance to be a happy family.
But why did he come chasing after me?
Why was he willing to wage a pack war just to bring me back?
“You’re mine, Stephanie.”
---
Stephanie’s POV
The cake was already melting when I realized he wasn’t coming.
It was supposed to be a celebration. The gender reveal of the Alpha heir. Our child. Yet I was alone.
The guests had long since left. Their whispers, their pitying glances, their forced smiles still lingered in the air like ghosts that refused to disappear. Even the servants had retreated, leaving me in the suffocating quiet of the grand hall.
Midnight had passed. Then one. Then two. Still, I stayed.
Because a small, foolish part of me believed that maybe, just maybe, Alpha Cain would walk through those doors, breathless and apologetic, telling me he had been delayed by something urgent.
That he hadn’t forgotten. That he still cared.
I stared at my phone again, my fingers trembling slightly as I unlocked it. Twenty-three missed calls. Thirty-seven messages. All sent to him. All unanswered.
“Alpha… where are you?” I whispered, though there was no one there to hear me.
My chest tightened. I told myself not to cry. Not again. I had done enough of that already.
Instead, I opened social media. A distraction. Anything to quiet the storm inside my chest.
That was when I saw it.
A live broadcast. The title alone made my stomach drop.
“Exclusive Alpha Party – Live Now.”
My hands moved before my mind could stop them, tapping on the screen. The video loaded. And then I saw him. Alpha Cain.
He stood in the center of a lavish hall, far grander than the one I sat in now. Music pulsed loudly in the background, laughter echoing around him. His arm was wrapped around a woman, his fingers resting possessively on her waist.
She was beautiful. Young. Smiling up at him like he was her entire world.
And he… he was smiling back. Not the polite smile he wore for formal events. Not the distant, cold expression he had given me for months. No. This smile was warm. Intimate. The kind of smile he used to reserve only for me.
My vision blurred.
“No…” The word slipped from my lips, barely audible.
But the video continued mercilessly.
He leaned down, his lips brushing against the woman’s ear as she laughed, pressing herself closer to him. Their bodies moved together to the rhythm of the music, slow and deliberate, as if the rest of the world didn’t exist.
As if I didn’t exist.
My grip on the phone tightened until my knuckles turned white. This wasn’t a rumor. This wasn’t gossip whispered behind my back. This was real.
Broadcasted for the entire pack to see. The Alpha… cheating on his Luna. Again.
The livestream continued, the comments flooding in faster than I could read.
Some mocking me. Some pitying me.
I couldn’t breathe. My chest felt like it was caving in on itself, the weight of it all crushing me from the inside.
So this was why he didn’t come. Not because he was busy. But because he chose to be there. With her.
Tears slid down my cheeks before I could stop them, falling silently onto the screen of my phone.
I didn’t even realize I was crying until my vision became too blurred to see.
“Luna…”
The soft voice startled me. I quickly wiped my face, though it was useless. The tears wouldn’t stop.
I turned to see Elder Elisse standing at the entrance of the hall. Her once sharp and commanding presence had softened, weighed down by something that looked painfully like regret.
“I’m sorry,” she said gently as she walked toward me.
Her eyes flickered briefly to the untouched cake, the empty hall, the decorations that now felt more like a cruel joke than a celebration.
“For my son.”
Her son. Alpha Cain. The man who had just humiliated me in front of the entire pack.
I swallowed hard, forcing a smile that didn’t reach my eyes.
“It’s fine,” I said, though my voice came out hollow.
It wasn’t fine. Nothing about this was fine. But what else was I supposed to say?
Elder Elisse stopped beside me, her gaze lingering on my face as if searching for something. Perhaps she was looking for the strong Luna she had once believed I would be.
Instead, all she found was a broken woman barely holding herself together.
“I didn’t think he would go this far,” she murmured.
Neither did I.
My gaze drifted back to the cake.
A bitter memory surfaced. There was a time when Alpha Cain would never have done this. A time when he looked at me the way he was looking at that woman now.
A time when I was his entire world. I could still remember it so clearly. The way he pursued me relentlessly despite my origins. The way he ignored the whispers, the disapproval, the countless reasons why I wasn’t a suitable Luna for the Foreshadow Pack.
He didn’t care. He chose me anyway.
“I will give you everything,” he had told me once, his forehead pressed against mine, his voice filled with a sincerity that made my heart ache even now. “Even the most precious moonstone in the land of wolves. You deserve nothing less.”
I had believed him. I had believed all of it.
“Stephanie,” Elder Elisse called softly, pulling me back to the present.
I blinked, realizing I had been staring blankly at the cake.
“I…” I hesitated, then let out a shaky breath. “Let’s just… finish this.”
She seemed surprised for a moment, but then nodded.
Together, we stood before the cake. I picked up the knife with trembling hands.
“This was supposed to be our moment,” I whispered.
Then I cut into the cake. The blade slid through the soft layers, revealing the color hidden inside.
Pink. It was pink. A girl.
My lips parted, but no sound came out. A daughter. We were having a daughter.
A small, fragile life that deserved so much more than this.
For a brief moment, something flickered in my chest. Hope. But it was quickly swallowed by the overwhelming pain that followed.
The next morning, I became a story. Not a person. Not a Luna. Just a story.
Everywhere I went, I could feel their eyes on me. Hear their whispers.
“The Luna.”
“The one Alpha keeps cheating on.”
“How pitiful.”
“I heard she cried all night.”
A bitter smile tugged at my lips. They weren’t wrong. I had cried.
“Stephanie.”
I turned to see Elder Elisse approaching me once again. There was something different in her expression this time. Something heavier.
“I’m sorry,” she said again.
I studied her for a moment. The former Luna. A woman who had once held the same position I did now.
Did she feel this way too, once upon a time? Or was this pain uniquely mine?
“I want to leave,” I said quietly.
Her eyes widened.
“Leave… the pack?”
I nodded.
“I can’t stay here anymore.” My voice remained calm, but inside, everything felt like it was falling apart. “I accepted the Luna position because I thought he would love me forever.”
I let out a soft, humorless laugh.
“How foolish of me.”
“Stephanie—”
“For your granddaughter,” I continued, my voice trembling slightly now, “please help me.”
Her gaze softened instantly.
“I’ll go crazy if I stay here any longer,” I admitted. “I don’t want my child to grow up watching this. I don’t want her to think this is what love looks like.”
Silence fell between us. Heavy. Painful.
Elder Elisse closed her eyes briefly, as if gathering her thoughts.
“I don’t know what went wrong,” she whispered.
Neither did I.
That was the cruelest part. There was no clear moment where everything shattered.
No single mistake I could point to and fix. Just a slow, painful unraveling of something that once felt unbreakable.
“I’ll help you,” she said finally.
My breath caught.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
It was the first time in a long while that I felt something close to relief.
But it didn’t last. Because the moment I returned to my room and turned on the television, the world reminded me exactly why I needed to leave.
The news flashed across the screen.
“Alpha Cain caught in another scandal.”
I froze. Images filled the screen. That woman. The same one from the livestream. Laughing. Dancing. Kissing.
My stomach twisted violently. But then the headline changed. And my entire world stopped.
“Alpha Cain gifts the most precious moonstone to his rumored lover.”
My heart skipped. The screen shifted, showing a familiar object. A glowing stone, radiating a soft, ethereal light.
The most precious moonstone in the land of wolves. The one he had once promised me.
My fingers tightened around the edge of the table as a hollow laugh escaped my lips.
“I see…”
My voice sounded distant. Unfamiliar.
“He kept his promise after all.”
Just not to me.
第2章
Stephanie’s POV
I woke up to warmth. For a brief, fragile moment, I thought it was a dream.
A familiar weight rested behind me, an arm draped loosely over my waist, pulling me into a body I knew far too well. The scent of cedarwood and musk wrapped around me, steady and unmistakable. Alpha Cain.
My breath caught, but I didn’t move.
I kept my eyes closed, as if pretending long enough might make everything go back to the way it used to be. Back when waking up beside him meant something. Back when his presence felt like safety instead of suffocation.
“Stephanie… Luna…” His voice was low, still thick with sleep as his lips brushed lightly against my shoulder.
My body stiffened despite myself. He didn’t seem to notice. Or maybe he did, and simply didn’t care.
“I came back late,” he murmured, his hand sliding slightly over my arm in a slow, absentminded gesture. “You were already asleep.”
I said nothing.
“I’m sorry about last night,” he continued, his tone softening as if that alone could undo everything. “I had too much to drink. You know how it gets.”
His fingers traced lazy patterns against my skin, the kind of touch that used to make my heart race. Now, it only made me feel cold.
“You should understand,” he went on, his voice taking on a casual edge that made something twist painfully in my chest. “Men… especially Alphas like me, we have needs.”
I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry.
“And you’re pregnant,” he added, as if that explained everything. “I didn’t want to push you. It wouldn’t be good for your health.”
His arm tightened slightly around me, pulling me closer.
“So I just… let off steam somewhere else.”
There it was. Said so easily. So casually. As if he was doing me a favor. As if I should be grateful.
My fingers curled slightly against the sheets, gripping the fabric just to keep myself grounded.
He always did this. Came back like nothing happened. Spoke like nothing was wrong. Like I was too blind, too naïve to see the truth right in front of me. Like I was a fool.
“Say something,” Alpha Cain murmured, pressing a light kiss against my shoulder.
I forced myself to breathe.
“It’s fine,” I said quietly.
The words tasted like ash in my mouth. But they were expected. They were what he wanted to hear. And just like that, the tension in his body eased.
“That’s my good girl,” he said, satisfaction lacing his voice.
Something inside me cracked.
“By the way,” he added, shifting slightly as his hand rested over my stomach, “what was the result?”
My chest tightened.
“The baby,” he clarified. “What are we having?”
For a moment, I hesitated. Not because I didn’t want to tell him. But because I already knew. I knew what his reaction would be.
Still, I answered.
“A girl.”
The silence that followed was subtle. But I felt it. His hand stilled. His body, once relaxed, became rigid behind me.
“Oh,” he said after a moment.
Just that. Just one word. But it carried more weight than anything else he could have said.
I slowly opened my eyes, staring blankly at the wall in front of me.
“I see.”
His voice had changed. It wasn’t warm anymore. It was distant. As if the child growing inside me had suddenly become less important. Less valuable.
I bit the inside of my cheek, forcing down the wave of emotions threatening to rise.
“She’s healthy,” I added quietly, though I wasn’t sure why I felt the need to justify it.
“Mm.” He hummed in acknowledgment, but there was no real interest in it.
Of course. He wanted a son. An heir. Someone to carry his name, his power, his legacy.
Not a daughter. Not… her.
My hand moved instinctively, resting over my stomach. Protective.
“I’ll have someone prepare your vitamins,” Alpha Cain said after a while, pulling away from me as if nothing significant had just happened. “You need to take better care of yourself.”
“I can do it myself,” I replied softly.
He chuckled.
“You’re too stubborn sometimes.”
Despite that, he stayed, watching as I slowly sat up and reached for the small table beside the bed. The vitamins were already there, neatly arranged, along with a tray of food that had likely been brought in earlier.
I picked up the pills, swallowing them without complaint.
Then I ate. Each bite felt heavy. Like I was forcing myself to perform for him.
Alpha Cain watched the entire time, a faint smile playing on his lips.
“That’s more like it,” he said approvingly. “A woman shouldn’t be so difficult.”
My grip tightened slightly around the spoon.
“Your job right now is simple,” he continued, his tone light but firm. “Get pregnant, stay healthy, and give me many pups. Continue the bloodline.”
The words settled over me like chains. Heavy. Unyielding.
I kept my gaze down, saying nothing. Because what was there to say? That I was more than that? That I wasn’t just a vessel for his heirs?
Those words would mean nothing to him now.
A soft pressure touched my forehead. I froze slightly as Alpha Cain leaned down, pressing a brief kiss there.
“Be good,” he murmured.
The gesture felt… empty. Like a habit rather than something genuine.
Just as he straightened, his phone rang. The sharp sound cut through the room. Alpha Cain glanced at it, his expression flickering with irritation before he picked it up.
“I’m with my Luna,” he said firmly, his voice carrying a hint of authority. “And my child. Don’t disturb me.”
For a moment, something inside me stirred.
A small, foolish hope. But it didn’t last. Because even as he said those words, I could see it.
The impatience. The distraction. The way his attention was already elsewhere.
“Handle it yourself,” he added before ending the call.
He sighed, running a hand through his hair.
“I have things to take care of,” he said shortly.
I nodded. “I understand.”
He paused, studying me for a brief moment. Then, without another word, he turned and left.
Just like that. As if he hadn’t just returned after humiliating me in front of the entire pack. As if nothing had happened.
---
He came back late. Again. The scent of alcohol clung to him as he slipped into bed beside me, his movements slightly unsteady. Without a word, he pulled me into his arms, pressing his face against my neck as if seeking comfort.
Within minutes, his breathing evened out. He was asleep.
I stared at the ceiling, wide awake. The weight of his arm around me felt suffocating.
Time passed slowly.
Until a soft glow caught my attention. His phone. It lit up on the bedside table, the screen illuminating the dark room.
I shouldn’t look. I knew that. Some part of me understood that whatever I saw would only hurt me more. But my body moved before my mind could stop it.
I reached out, my fingers hovering over the device for a brief moment before picking it up.
The screen unlocked easily.
A message. My heart began to pound. And then I read it.
[I’m so happy you came with me to the OB-GYN today.]
My breath hitched.
[Our son is very strong. He was moving so much. I think he already knows how excited his father is.]
The words blurred for a second as my vision wavered. Son.
My hands trembled. There was more. His reply. I forced myself to read it.
[Of course I came. He’s my son.]
A sharp pain shot through my chest.
[Take care of yourself. I’m happy we’re having a boy.]
My grip tightened around the phone.
The next message came almost immediately after.
[Unlike Stephanie. She disappointed me with a girl as the firstborn.]
And then the very latest message, one that was just sent seconds ago, [Alpha, please. Remember your promise. Make him your alpha heir.]
For a moment, I couldn’t feel anything. Then slowly, it all came crashing down at once. My hand moved instinctively to my stomach, cradling it protectively.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, my voice breaking.
Tears slid down my temples, soaking into the pillow beneath me.
“I’m so sorry…”
For bringing you into this. For giving you a father like him. For not being strong enough to leave sooner.
“You won’t grow up like this,” I promised softly. “You won’t have a father who doesn’t see your worth.”
My voice trembled, but the words felt real.
More real than anything else I had said in a long time.
“I won’t let that happen.”
第3章
Stephanie’s POV
The corridors of the packhouse felt colder than usual. Or maybe it was just me.
My steps were slow but steady as I made my way toward Elder Elisse’s chamber, the hem of my dress brushing softly against the polished floor. Every wolf I passed lowered their gaze, some out of respect, others out of discomfort.
Or pity. I could feel it.
It clung to me like a second skin now. The Luna who was no longer truly a Luna. The mate who had been replaced long before she even realized it.
I stopped in front of the heavy wooden doors and took a quiet breath before knocking.
“Come in,” Elder Elisse’s voice called from inside.
I pushed the door open and stepped in.
Her chamber was just as I remembered it. Elegant, composed, filled with a quiet authority that reflected the woman who lived within it. She sat by the window, a cup of tea resting untouched beside her.
Her gaze lifted the moment she saw me.
“Luna,” she said gently.
I didn’t waste time.
“I’ll proceed with it.”
Her brows furrowed slightly. “With what?”
“The divorce,” I answered, my voice calm despite the storm brewing inside me. “And I want to step down from the Luna position as well.”
The words felt heavier spoken aloud.
Elder Elisse studied me carefully, as if searching for hesitation. She wouldn’t find any.
“Are you certain?” she asked after a moment.
I nodded.
“I’ve thought about it enough.” My fingers curled slightly at my sides. “There’s nothing left for me here.”
A flicker of pain crossed her face. Not for her son. But for me.
“What will you do afterward?” she asked softly. “Where will you go?”
I opened my mouth to answer. Then closed it again. Because the truth was…
“I don’t know.”
The admission felt strange.
“I just know I can’t stay here anymore,” I continued quietly. “Not like this.”
Silence settled between us. Elder Elisse sighed softly before standing up. She walked toward a nearby drawer and pulled something out.
A letter. Sealed. She held it out to me.
I hesitated for a moment before taking it.
“What is this?”
“I still have connections,” she said, her tone thoughtful. “With the Direwolf Pack.”
My eyes lifted to hers.
“Their Alpha owes me a favor,” she continued. “If you choose to leave, you may seek refuge there. It will be safer for you… especially when you give birth.”
My fingers tightened around the letter.
“They will protect you,” she added. “And your daughter.”
The word alone steadied something inside me.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
Elder Elisse gave me a small, sad smile. “I only wish things had turned out differently.”
So did I.
When I returned to my room, the silence greeted me like an old friend. It was almost comforting now. Almost.
I placed the sealed letter carefully on the table, my fingers lingering on it for a moment.
Before I could let my thoughts wander further, my phone buzzed. A message. From one of the omega maids.
My brows furrowed slightly as I opened it. A link.
[Luna… you might want to see this.]
A strange feeling settled in my chest. Dread.
I tapped on the link. A livestream opened instantly. The setting was unmistakable. The main building of the Foreshadow Pack’s company.
Our company. Or at least… it used to feel like mine. The platform displayed on the screen.
The one I had spent countless nights working on. Planning. Building. Pouring every bit of creativity and effort I had into it.
And then—
Her. Faye.
She stood at the center of it all, smiling brightly at the camera.
“Thank you so much for all the love and support,” she said sweetly, her voice light and cheerful.
The comments flooded the screen, praising her, admiring her. My stomach twisted.
“I also want to give a special thanks to Alpha Cain,” she continued, her smile widening. “He’s been incredibly generous to me.”
My grip on the phone tightened.
“Yes, it’s true,” she laughed softly. “He personally chose me as the ambassador for this platform.”
Ambassador. For something I helped build.
“And of course,” she added, lifting her hand slightly as if showing something off, “thank you for the moonstone. It’s so beautiful.”
My breath caught. The comments exploded. Excitement. Envy. Praise.
“And he’s helped me so much,” she continued, her tone softening just enough to sound sincere. “Covering my health expenses, making sure I’m taken care of… he even bought me land.”
Each word felt like a blade. Twisting deeper with every sentence.
I stared at the screen, my vision beginning to blur. This was… ridiculous. Unbelievable.
The Alpha of the Foreshadow Pack. My mate. Making his mistress the face of the very platform I helped create.
Giving her everything.
My mind drifted back, unbidden. To the necklace around my neck. My hand lifted instinctively, fingers brushing against it.
A simple piece. Elegant. But nothing extraordinary.
He had given it to me once, long ago. Back when I thought it meant everything. Back when I believed it was the most valuable thing he could offer.
A bitter smile tugged at my lips. How foolish. How incredibly foolish of me.
Because clearly… He was capable of giving so much more.
---
The next morning arrived too quickly. The entire pack was dressed in black. Even the air felt heavier.
Today marked the death anniversary of the child I lost a year ago. My first baby.
The one I never got to hold. The one who never got to take a single breath.
My chest tightened as I stood among the others, my hands resting lightly over my stomach.
One year. And it still hurt like it had just happened yesterday. The memories came uninvited.
“Stay strong, Luna,” someone whispered softly as they passed.
I gave a small nod, though I wasn’t sure if I had any strength left to give.
Then—
A stir.
Murmurs rippled through the crowd. My brows furrowed slightly as I turned. And there he was. Alpha Cain. Walking in as if nothing was out of place.
But he wasn’t alone. Faye walked beside him. Smiling. She was wearing baby blue. The color stood out sharply against the sea of black.
Almost blinding. And in her hand…
Her phone. Still streaming.
The murmurs grew louder. Confusion. Disapproval. Disbelief.
My chest tightened. Something inside me snapped. Before I even realized what I was doing, I stepped forward.
“Stop.”
My voice cut through the air.
Faye paused, startled, her wide eyes turning toward me.
“Luna?” she said, her voice trembling slightly.
I stared at her. At the bright blue dress. At the smile that didn’t belong here.
“Do you have any idea what today is?” I asked, my voice shaking despite my efforts to keep it steady.
She blinked, clearly caught off guard.
“I—I…” Her gaze darted briefly to Alpha Cain before returning to me. “I’m sorry, I don’t—”
“This is the death anniversary of the Alpha heir I lost,” I said, the words spilling out before I could stop them.
A collective gasp moved through the crowd.
Faye’s face paled instantly.
“I didn’t know,” she said quickly, her eyes filling with tears. “I swear, I didn’t know. I just—I wore blue because…”
Her hand moved instinctively to her stomach.
“Because I just found out I’m carrying a baby boy.”
The world seemed to tilt.
“I thought it was something to celebrate,” she continued weakly, her voice breaking. “I didn’t mean any disrespect—”
“Celebrate?” My voice rose, disbelief and anger crashing together inside me. “You come here, dressed like that, on this day, and you call it a celebration?”
“I didn’t—”
“You should have known,” I snapped. “At the very least, you should have had the decency to ask.”
Tears streamed down her face now.
“I’m sorry…”
“That’s enough.”
Cain’s voice cut in sharply. I froze. Slowly, I turned to look at him. His expression was cold.
“Luna,” he said, his tone laced with irritation, “you’re being too harsh.”
For a moment, I thought I had misheard him. Too harsh?
“I didn’t even remember what today was,” he continued casually. “What more her? She’s an outsider.”
A hollow feeling spread through my chest.
“She didn’t know,” he added. “You’re making a scene over nothing.”
Nothing. My fingers trembled.
“This is not nothing,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper now.
But he only frowned.
“You’re being overly sensitive,” he said flatly. “And childish.”
Each word landed like a blow.
“Nonsensical.”
第4章
Stephanie’s POV
The door to my room opened without warning.
I didn’t need to look up to know who it was.
Only one person entered my space like he owned not just the room, but the air I breathed inside it.
Alpha Cain.
I sat quietly by the window, my hands resting on my lap, my thoughts still lingering from everything that had happened earlier. The humiliation. The way he dismissed me in front of everyone. The way he chose her—again.
“Luna.”
His voice was calm. Almost casual. As if yesterday had been nothing more than a minor inconvenience.
I turned my head slightly to face him.
“Yes?”
He walked further into the room, his posture relaxed, his expression unreadable. There was no guilt. No hesitation. Nothing that suggested he had done anything wrong.
“Faye will be staying here for a while,” he said.
The words landed softly, but they echoed loudly in my mind.
“…Here?” I repeated.
“In the packhouse,” he clarified, as if that made it any better. “She’s the ambassador of our company’s platform now. It’s only appropriate that she stays within Foreshadow territory.”
Appropriate. Of course it was.
I stared at him for a moment, searching his face for any sign of awareness.
Any trace of shame. But there was nothing. Not even a flicker.
“You’re fine with that, aren’t you?” he added, tilting his head slightly.
It wasn’t really a question. It never was. I felt something tighten in my chest, but I forced it down.
“I see,” I said quietly. “If that’s your decision.”
His lips curved slightly, a hint of satisfaction in his eyes.
“That’s more like it.”
He stepped closer to me, lifting his hand to cup my cheek. His touch was warm, familiar, and yet it felt so foreign now.
“I prefer it when you’re like this,” he murmured. “Not making unnecessary trouble.”
My body remained still under his touch. I didn’t lean into it. I didn’t pull away either. I simply endured it.
“Be good,” he added softly, brushing his thumb against my skin before letting his hand fall.
Then, just like that, he turned and left. As if nothing about this situation was wrong. As if bringing his mistress into our home was something I should simply accept.
The next morning, I found myself standing in front of a door I hadn’t opened in a long time.
My fingers hovered over the handle.
Hesitating.
This room… It was the one place I avoided the most. And yet, it was also the one place I cherished the most. The nursery.
I took a slow breath before pushing the door open. The familiar scent greeted me first.
My gaze softened as I stepped inside.
My chest tightened. I walked further in, my fingers brushing lightly against the edge of the crib.
“I’m here,” I whispered softly.
A habit. A foolish one, perhaps. But it was the only way I knew how to cope.
Even after a year of my miscarriage, the pain hadn’t faded. If anything, it had only settled deeper into my bones.
I closed my eyes briefly.
“Meow.”
I froze. My brows furrowed slightly.
That wasn’t...
“Meow.”
The sound came again. Louder this time.
My eyes snapped open.
“What…?”
Confusion quickly turned into unease as I moved further into the room.
And then I saw them.
Two cats. Inside the nursery.
My breath caught.
They were small, fluffy… completely out of place. One of them was perched on the crib.
My stomach dropped. There was a mess on the carpet. A foul, unmistakable mess. A poop!
“No…” I whispered, my heart beginning to pound.
I rushed forward, my eyes scanning the room.
Chaos. That was the only way to describe it. The neatly arranged clothes were scattered across the floor.
Some torn. Some crumpled. The crib’s soft lining had been scratched, threads pulled loose.
And the cats… They were wearing—
My vision blurred. Baby clothes. The clothes I had bought. The ones meant for my child.
“No—no, no, no…”
Panic surged through me.
“What is this?!” My voice rose as I turned toward the door. “Who did this?!”
My hands trembled as I pointed toward the mess.
“Who let these cats in here?! There are a lot of rooms in the packhouse! Why here?!”
Footsteps approached quickly, maids rushing in at the sound of my voice.
“Luna, we—”
“Get them out!” I snapped, my voice shaking. “Now!”
Before anyone could move… “Oh!”
A familiar voice cut through the chaos. Faye.
She stepped into the room, her eyes widening slightly as she took in the scene.
She walked closer, completely unfazed.
“They’re mine,” she said, gesturing toward the cats.
The word echoed in my head.
“I’m so sorry, Luna, ” she added quickly, though there was something off about the way she said it. “Alpha Cain told me I could let them stay here.”
I felt my ears ring.
“He said since they’re sensitive,” she continued, her hand resting lightly over her stomach. “They need their own space. And since no one was using this room…”
No one was using this room. My vision darkened slightly.
“This room is not empty,” I said, my voice low but trembling with barely contained anger.
Faye blinked, clearly taken aback.
“I—I didn’t know—”
Her eyes filled with tears almost instantly.
“I’m sorry… I didn’t mean any harm. They’re just animals. They didn’t know—”
“I know! But what about you? You’re their fur parent! You should have known better!” My voice rose. “They destroyed everything in here!”
“I’ll clean it—”
“What’s going on?” Alpha Cain’s voice.
I turned as he stepped into the room, his brows slightly furrowed.
Faye immediately moved toward him.
“I’m sorry, Alpha,” she said, her voice breaking as she clung lightly to his arm. “I didn’t know the room was important. My cats… they didn’t mean it…”
Alpha Cain’s gaze shifted to me. Annoyance flickered in his eyes.
“Stephanie,” he said, his tone sharp, “why are you making a scene?”
I stared at him.
“A scene?” I repeated, disbelief creeping into my voice.
He glanced around the room, taking in the mess.
“It’s just a room,” he said dismissively. “No one’s even using it.”
My hands clenched at my sides.
“This room—” My voice shook. “This room was for our child. The baby I miscarried!”
He didn’t react. Not the way I hoped he would. Not the way I needed him to.
“If you’re upset about the mess,” he continued, as if I hadn’t said anything meaningful at all, “then I’ll have it renovated. Everything can be replaced.”
Replaced. The word hit me harder than anything else.
“No,” I said, my voice trembling. “You can’t replace those.”
His brows furrowed slightly.
“They were the clothes I bought for our baby,” I continued, my chest tightening painfully. “The one I lost… the one we lost.”
“No one is going to use those anyway.”
I stopped breathing.
“The baby’s dead.”
The words were cold. Blunt. Careless.
Something inside me shattered completely. I stared at him, unable to comprehend how he could say that so easily.
So… casually. As if that child meant nothing. As if that loss was insignificant.
He stepped closer, his hand reaching out to rest on my stomach.
“This baby is more important,” he said, his tone softening slightly.
I flinched.
“Don’t worry,” he added. “I’ll buy new clothes. Plenty of them.”
My throat tightened.
“For girls,” he continued. “Let the cats have the old ones.”
I couldn’t speak. Couldn’t move. Couldn’t even think. Because in that moment, I realized something terrifying.
He never mourned that child. Not even once.
And if... If something happened to this baby…
My hand instinctively moved to my stomach. Would he care? Or would he simply move on again?
第5章
Stephanie’s POV
Today was supposed to be mine.
I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the fall of my dress with careful hands. The fabric draped elegantly over my body, soft yet structured, chosen not just for appearance but for presence.
The reflection staring back at me looked composed. But I knew better. Because beneath the surface, everything was already crumbling.
I inhaled slowly, my hand drifting down to rest over my stomach.
“We’re almost there,” I whispered softly. “Just a little longer.”
Today wasn’t just the official launch of the platform. It was supposed to be the day I reclaimed something. My name. My effort.
I turned away from the mirror, reaching for my bag—
And that’s when I saw it. An envelope. Placed neatly on the bed.
My steps slowed as I approached it, a strange heaviness settling in my chest.
I already knew what it was. Still, I picked it up. Opened it. Inside were the papers. The divorce documents. And the formal notice of my resignation as Luna of the Foreshadow Pack.
My fingers traced the edge of the paper, the weight of it grounding me.
This was it. No turning back. No more hesitation.
I slid the documents back into the envelope and placed it carefully inside my bag.
Then I straightened.
“It ends today,” I murmured.
---
The company building stood tall and imposing, its glass exterior reflecting the morning light.
For a moment, I paused at the entrance.
Memories flickered through my mind.
Late nights. Endless discussions. Ideas scribbled across papers. This place… wasn’t just his. It was mine too.
Or at least—It was supposed to be.
I stepped inside. The atmosphere buzzed with excitement, employees moving quickly, preparing for the launch event. Screens displayed the platform’s interface, polished and refined.
My creation. Or what used to feel like it.
I didn’t linger. My steps carried me straight to the top floor. To his office.
I knocked once before opening the door. And there she was. Faye.
Sitting comfortably on the sofa, her phone held up as she smiled brightly at the screen.
“Oh, Luna!” she greeted cheerfully, as if we were friends. “Good morning!”
The word Luna felt almost mocking now.
Her camera tilted slightly, catching me in the frame.
“She’s here too,” she added lightly to her viewers.
Streaming. In his office. Of course she was.
I didn’t respond. My gaze shifted to Alpha Cain, who sat behind his desk, reviewing something casually.
“I need your signature,” I said, walking toward him.
He barely looked up. “What is it?”
“Just some documents,” I replied smoothly, placing the envelope in front of him. “Company-related.”
That wasn’t entirely a lie. In a way… it was.
He hummed in acknowledgment, already reaching for a pen.
“Leave it there.”
He didn’t even ask. Didn’t even check. Didn’t even glance at the contents.
That was how much he trusted me. Or maybe—That was how little he cared.
The pen moved swiftly across the paper. One signature. Then another. Then another.
Just like that. Years of marriage. My title. My place in this pack. Gone.
Signed away in less than a minute.
“There,” he said, sliding the documents back toward me. “Done.”
I picked them up carefully, my hands steady despite everything.
“Thank you.”
He finally looked at me then.
“Stay,” he said. “We’ll have lunch after this.”
Faye perked up at that, her smile widening.
“Yes, let’s eat together!” she chimed in sweetly.
I met his gaze.
For a brief moment, something flickered in his eyes. Expectation. Control.
“I’m not feeling well,” I said calmly.
His brows furrowed slightly.
“Then I’ll have someone bring you medicine.”
“I’ll manage,” I replied.
And before he could say anything else, I turned and walked away.
The hallway felt quieter this time. Or maybe it was just me. I stopped near a large window, the city stretching out below.
Then my hand moved to my stomach again.
“Just a little longer,” I whispered. “I promise… I’ll give you a better life.”
I opened my bag, intending to place the documents securely inside. But my fingers brushed against something else.
The sealed letter. I had almost forgotten. Carefully, I pulled it out. This time, I opened it.
Inside was a recommendation. My name written clearly. Approval for entry into the Direwolf Pack.
A small slip of paper fell from the envelope.
A number. I stared at it for a moment before pulling out my phone.
My fingers hesitated briefly. Then I dialed. The line rang once. Twice.
Then, it connected.
“Who is this?”
The voice was deep.
“My name is Stephanie,” I said quietly.
There was a brief pause.
“I see.”
The tone shifted slightly. Recognition.
“Elder Elisse mentioned you.”
My grip tightened slightly around the phone.
“Yes.”
“Do you need someone to pick you up?” he asked directly. Straightforward.
I glanced at the time.
“Not yet,” I said. “It will be later tonight.”
Another pause.
“After the event,” I added.
“I understand,” he replied. “I’ll make the arrangements.”
Something about his voice felt… steady. Reliable.
“Thank you.”
“We’ll be waiting.”
The line went dead. I lowered the phone slowly.
The event hall was filled to capacity. Lights. Cameras. Energy. Everything felt grand. Important.
I sat in my assigned seat, my hands resting over the speech I had prepared.
Pages filled with words. Ideas. Acknowledgments. Everything I had worked for. Everything I wanted to say.
The MC stepped onto the stage, smiling brightly.
“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us for this monumental launch!”
Applause filled the room. My heart began to beat faster. This was it.
“At this time, we would like to invite the visionary behind the success of this new developed platform…”
I straightened slightly.
“…Alpha Cain!”
The applause grew louder. My chest tightened.
And then—
“And of course, the face of our platform…”
A pause. A smile.
“Faye!”
The world seemed to go silent. I didn’t move. As they walked onto the stage together. As if it had always been meant to be them.
Faye took the microphone first, her smile radiant.
“Thank you so much for this opportunity,” she said, her voice filled with emotion. “I’m truly honored to be the face of such an incredible social media platform.”
She looked at Alpha Cain.
“And I want to thank Alpha Cain for believing in me.”
More applause. Alpha Cain stepped forward, taking the microphone.
“This platform wouldn’t be what it is today without the right exposure,” he said smoothly. “Faye’s contribution to its popularity has been… exceptional.”
The words echoed in my ears. Exceptional.
“The company will cherish her,” he continued, his gaze softening slightly as he looked at her, “for life.”
Something inside me went completely still.
My fingers slowly tightened around the papers in my hand. The speech. My speech. The words I spent nights writing. The ideas I poured my heart into.
All of it… Discarded. Just like that.
I lowered my gaze. The ink blurred slightly.
I didn’t realize I was gripping the pages too tightly until they crumpled in my hands.
Around me, whispers spread. Phones lifted. Cameras turned.
I could feel it. The pity. The judgment. The silent labeling. The cast-away Luna.
I inhaled slowly. Then exhaled.
And for the first time… It didn’t hurt as much as I expected. Because I already knew. This was never mine anymore.
The event ended in celebration. Laughter. Congratulations. Endless praise directed at them.
I remained seated until the crowd began to thin.
And then—
“Stephanie.”
I looked up. Alpha Cain stood in front of me.
“What happened?” I asked quietly. “Why wasn’t I called on stage?”
He frowned slightly, as if the question itself was unnecessary.
“What for?” The words were simple.
“You gave some ideas,” he continued. “But that’s small compared to what Faye and I did in terms of distribution and promotion.”
Small. My chest tightened.
“Don’t worry,” he added, almost dismissively. “Your earnings will still be good.”
A faint smile tugged at his lips.
“After all… you’re still my Luna.”
The words felt like mockery. Like a title stripped of all meaning.
I looked at him. Really looked at him.
And for the first time—I felt nothing at all.
“Congratulations,” I said softly.
Then I stood up. And walked away.
The night air was cool against my skin. The noise from inside faded as I stepped further away from the building.
Each step felt lighter. Freer.
Until… I stopped. Because someone was standing there.
A man. Tall. Broad-shouldered. His presence alone commanded attention. And when my eyes met his… My breath caught. He was… striking.
And yet—
There was something about him that made my wolf stir. Something instinctive. Something undeniable.
He took a step forward. His gaze steady on mine.
“Stephanie,” he said.
My name sounded different coming from him. Like it meant something.
“I’ve been waiting.”
第6章
Stephanie’s POV
The night I left the Foreshadow Pack, I didn’t look back. Not once. Because I knew that if I did, even for a second, I might hesitate.
And hesitation was something I could no longer afford.
The man standing in front of me watched me with a steady, unreadable gaze. There was no impatience in him, no unnecessary words. Just quiet certainty.
“You’re ready?” he asked.
I tightened my hold on my bag, feeling the weight of everything I carried inside it.
“Yes,” I answered.
He nodded once. “Then let’s go.”
There were no dramatic goodbyes. No lingering attachments. Just a single step forward. And then another. Until I was no longer part of the life I once knew.
The car ride was quiet. The city lights gradually faded as we drove further away, replaced by darker roads and the looming presence of the forest.
I sat beside him, my hands resting over my stomach, my thoughts tangled in a way I couldn’t quite sort through.
There was something… Strange. Not uncomfortable. Not threatening. But unfamiliar in a way that felt almost… familiar.
I frowned slightly. That didn’t make sense. Yet the feeling lingered. Like a faint pull. A quiet awareness. As if my wolf was reacting to something my mind couldn’t understand.
I shifted slightly in my seat, trying to ignore it.
This wasn’t the time to dwell on things I couldn’t explain.
“Who are you?” I asked finally, breaking the silence.
He glanced at me briefly before returning his gaze to the road.
“Dominic,” he said. “Alpha of the Direwolf Pack.”
The words settled heavily in the air. Alpha.
I studied him more carefully this time. His presence alone made it believable. There was a quiet authority in the way he carried himself. Not loud. Not overbearing. But undeniably powerful.
“You’re… the Alpha?” I repeated.
He gave a small nod. “Yes.”
That explained a lot. But it also raised more questions.
“How did Elder Elisse know you?” I asked.
His grip on the steering wheel tightened ever so slightly.
“For a long time,” he said, his voice steady, “I owed her my life.”
I blinked.
“She supported me as the alpha of my pack when I inherited my throne too early when I was a child,” he continued. “Back when she was still the Luna of the Foreshadow Pack.”
That caught my attention. I turned slightly toward him.
“What happened?”
A brief pause.
“The pack was attacked,” he said simply.
My chest tightened. “And she… helped you?”
“She did more than that,” he replied. “She protected me. Made sure I survived.”
There was something in his tone. Respect. Gratitude.
“So this…” I hesitated. “Helping me…”
“Is me repaying that debt,” he finished.
I looked down at my hands. For a moment, I didn’t know what to say.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
He didn’t respond immediately. But I saw the slight shift in his expression. Almost… softer.
“You don’t have to thank me yet,” he said. “You haven’t seen where you’re going.”
When we arrived, I understood what he meant.
The Direwolf Pack was… different. That was the first thing I noticed. It wasn’t loud. It wasn’t overly decorated or designed to impress.
There was no unnecessary display of power. And yet—It was powerful. I could feel it in the air. In the ground beneath my feet. In the way the wolves moved around us.
“Welcome,” Alpha Dominic said as he stepped out of the car.
I followed, my eyes taking in everything around me. The buildings were structured with purpose. Clean lines. Solid foundations. Nothing extravagant, but everything… formidable.
“This is the Direwolf Pack,” he continued.
I exhaled slowly.
“I’ve heard of it,” I admitted.
He glanced at me. “Then you know.”
I nodded. Everyone knew. Even if they didn’t talk about it openly.
The Direwolf Pack was one of the strongest packs on the continent. Some even whispered it was the strongest. Rogues avoided their territory. Bandits feared crossing their borders.
And yet, despite all that power… They remained lowkey.
“I didn’t expect it to feel like this,” I said quietly.
“Like what?”
“Calm.”
He looked at me for a moment before speaking.
“Power doesn’t always need to be loud to be real.”
Word of my arrival spread quickly. But unlike the Foreshadow Pack… There were no whispers. No pitying looks. No judgment. Just curiosity. And something else… Respect.
“She’s the one Elder Elisse sent,” I heard someone say.
“That means she’s important.”
“Treat her well.”
It was… strange. I wasn’t used to it.
Alpha Dominic led me through the pack grounds, introducing me to a few key members along the way. They greeted me politely, respectfully, without overstepping.
No one asked unnecessary questions. No one pried. It felt… safe.
“You’ll be staying here,” Dominic said, stopping in front of a modest but well-kept house.
I blinked.
“This is for me?”
“Yes.”
I turned to him. “This is too much—”
“It’s appropriate,” he interrupted calmly. “You’re under my protection.”
The words settled something inside me.
“Thank you,” I said again.
This time, he didn’t deflect it. He simply nodded.
“If you need anything,” he added, “someone will be assigned to assist you.”
“I understand.”
He hesitated for a brief moment before turning to leave.
But then he continued, “Stephanie.”
I looked at him. “Yes?”
His gaze lingered on me for a second longer than necessary. “Rest tonight.”
There was something in his tone. Something… reassuring.
“You’ve been through enough.”
My chest tightened slightly. “…I will.”
And then he was gone.
The house was quiet. I stepped inside slowly, my eyes scanning the space. It wasn’t grand. But it was warm. A place that felt… livable.
I set my bag down and exhaled softly, my shoulders finally relaxing.
For the first time in a long while… I was alone.
My hand moved instinctively to my stomach.
“We made it,” I whispered.
A small, fragile smile touched my lips.
“We’re safe.”
But as the silence settled deeper around me… Another thought crept in. What now?
I walked slowly to the window, staring out at the unfamiliar surroundings. I had left everything behind. My title. My position. My marriage.
Even my name, in a way. I was no longer Luna. No longer tied to Alpha Cain. No longer part of Foreshadow Pack. I was just… Stephanie.
And I was going to be a mother.
My fingers tightened slightly.
“I need to provide for you,” I murmured softly.
Because safety wasn’t enough. Not in the long run. I needed stability. Money. A future. For both of us.
I closed my eyes briefly. Then opened them again.
There was only one thing I truly knew how to do. One thing I was good at. Business.
I had built something once before. I could do it again. But this time—It would be mine.
A different thought surfaced. I looked down at my hands. Slowly clenching.
“Alpha Cain…”
His name felt distant now. But the memory of everything he did…
Still burned.
I wasn’t the same woman he left behind. I wasn’t the Luna who would silently endure everything.
A faint, almost imperceptible smile formed on my lips.
“I’ll make you regret it,” I whispered.