Chapter 1 Chapter 1 Betrayed

Moira's POV

By the time I step onto the foggy tarmac of the northern territory and walk down the stairs of the plane, every muscle inside me is already tense.

I turn on my phone and dozens of messages flood in-birthday wishes from packmates, distant cousins, and a few old friends. But from my mate, Jude, heir to the Northern Alpha? Not a single word.

What was I even expecting? Our marriage was a sham from the start. If I hadn't had that one-night stand with Jude-if I hadn't ended up pregnant with Mireille-he would have gotten rid of me without a second thought.

He hasn't hit me in the last seven years. He simply ignores me, as if I'm nothing more than a shadow in his house.

The familiar sting of disappointment rises in my chest. I swallow it down and step into the wide, candlelit hall of the Winters estate; it's already past midnight.

Mrs. Leah, our loyal housekeeper, an Omega who practically raised me, hurries over to greet me, surprise flickering across her face. "Luna Moira, what are you doing here? It's so late."

I force a tired smile. Only a handful of people even know I'm Luna; Leah is one of them. "Where's Jude? Where's Mireille?"

"Alpha Jude still hasn't come back. Mireille should be asleep in her room."

I nod, hand her my luggage, and go upstairs. The light in Mireille's room is still on. She's still not asleep this late? I frown and push the door open.

I see her sitting at her desk, golden hair spilling over her shoulders, completely absorbed in stringing polished stones and shells together-is she making a birthday gift for me?

"Mireille?" My voice comes out softer than I expected at the thought.

She turns around, blue eyes brimming with anger. "Mom! What are you doing here?" A bead rolls to a stop at my feet as she jumps up, scowling. "You scared me! You should be more polite-next time knock before you come in!"

I stare at my own hand, frozen halfway to her. I had meant to pull her into a hug. I haven't seen her in two months; I just wanted to tell her how much I missed her. But Mireille is busy scrambling to pick up her beads.

I swallow my hurt and help her re-string them. Her expression finally softens, but she still wants me gone. "Mom, I'm not finished yet! It has to be perfect."

"Why are you still making a necklace this late?" I ask, trying to sound casual.

She holds up a shimmering bead, pride glowing on her face. "This is for Aunt Bella. Her birthday is coming up. Dad says she should get the very best, and I think so too."

"Oh no! Aunt Bella's birthday is in just a few days! Mom, you can't forget! She's your sister!" She widens her little eyes at me.

Step-sister. The very daughter of the stepmother who ruined my mother.

I shouldn't burden Mireille with such heavy things. But what hurts even more is that my own daughter has forgotten my birthday, yet remembers the birthday of my enemy's daughter.

I swallow hard and watch Mireille's slender fingers fumble with the string. "Mireille. do you remember what day it is today?" My voice is barely a whisper. ".Do you remember your mom's birthday?"

"Huh? Oh, Mom. You're distracting me!" She frowns, but her eyes never leave her work.

"Staying up late is bad for you." I stop her at once and, ignoring her protests, switch off the light. I hear her mutter, "I hate you."

I close the door quickly, lean back against the wood and force myself to breathe, not letting the tears fall.

Those words cut into me like knives. I brace a hand on the wall to steady myself.

I raised Mireille from the day she was born, taught her our wolf history, wiped away her tears on stormy nights. But over the last two years Jude has been spending more and more time with her, and Mireille has grown more and more attached to him. Two months ago, when Jude came to the Netherlands to expand the market, she insisted on going with him no matter what I said.

Of course I didn't want her to go. I wanted my little pup to stay by my side, but I couldn't bear to see Mireille cry, so I gave in.

I never imagined that. after just two months away from me, Mireille would be standing with Jude to shut me out completely.

What on earth happened between us?

I think of Mrs. Leah.

Downstairs, Mrs. Leah is waiting for me in the dim corridor. "Luna, I called Alpha Jude. He says he's busy tonight; we don't need to wait for him."

"Of course." I answer, pretending to be calm. With Jude not coming home, I don't even have to think to know he's at my stepsister Bella's house right now.

Humiliation seeps into my heart, impossible to ignore. I touch my neck; there's nothing there. Jude never marked me.

He's made it clear to the whole pack that I'm nothing but a breeding tool, not his Luna. An Alpha's mark is different from other wolves'-if he had marked me, everyone would know I'm the pack's Luna.

But seven years have passed, and I am still only the mother of Jude's daughter.

I dial Jude immediately. He doesn't pick up. A few minutes later, a text comes through.

Jude: [What is it?]

Short. To the point. Just like the cold way he's treated me for the past seven years.

Me: [Do you have time for lunch? Bring Mireille. The three of us can eat together.]

I tell myself this will be the last time.

Jude: [Tell me where. If I'm free, I'll come.]

Unexpectedly, Jude agrees in the end.

Me: [Okay.]

After that, Jude doesn't send another message.

Again, not a single word about my birthday. Not a trace of warmth. Just like Mireille.

I close my eyes, trying to push down the searing pain in my chest. I thought I was prepared for this, but it still hurts. I return to my bedroom and take out the divorce papers I drafted long ago.

I don't know why Jude has never been the one to ask for a divorce. Maybe he thinks Mireille needs me. But she doesn't, not anymore. I feel useless to everyone.

As the daughter of an Alpha, I'm an Omega; my wolf is weak. I grew up in Bella's shadow-she's a pureblood Alpha wolf. It feels like from the moment it was clear I barely had a wolf at all, my fate was sealed: I was meant to be someone else's shadow.

But in truth, I've never stopped working on myself. I just don't want to prove anything to people who don't care anymore. The fact that my wolf is weak doesn't mean I'm not clever. Seven years ago, I let that go.

Now it's time to correct that mistake. I immediately call one of my friends, and a man's deep voice answers.

"Moira? Are you serious? You're really coming back to the team? That's incredible-you're going to lead us back to the top."

I hang up. Tomorrow morning, I'll give Jude the divorce papers.

But when I wake up and go looking for Mireille, Mrs. Leah tells me she's already gone-and that Jude took her. Mrs. Leah looks at me awkwardly.

I give her a small smile, but the pain inside deepens. Jude doesn't even want to waste a second on seeing me. We're headed to the same place, and he still doesn't want to be with me.

I can't afford to have any expectations of them anymore. I take a cab to the restaurant, but when I walk toward the table I reserved, I spot Jude and Bella, and Mireille with them, all laughing together.

Then my phone buzzes. A text from Jude.

[Lunch is canceled. I don't have time.]

I tremble all over. I came all the way to the Netherlands just to spend my birthday with them, and still they treat me this cruelly-including my own daughter. Even on my birthday, they choose to humiliate me.

Bella lifts her head and spots me. The look in her eyes seems to say, See? You're just as worthless as your mother. Now everything that was yours is mine.

Anger burns through my veins. I want to march over and reject him to his face, lay everything out in the open, but for my daughter's sake this has to be handled quietly.

I go back to the estate and numbly pack away the gifts I brought-little trinkets and treats I picked out and made with my own hands. Now they're nothing but unnecessary clutter.

I slip the divorce papers into an envelope, then drag my suitcase downstairs. It's time to end this.

I hand the envelope to Mrs. Leah. "Give this to Jude. Tell him I'm leaving." My voice is steady, carrying a quiet authority I've always had but rarely used.

She draws in a sharp breath. I don't explain. I just walk away.