Chapter 1

Quinn''s heart ached as she stood breathless behind the massive oak tree at the pack''s edge. She''d known for a while now—after three years of what she thought was endless love between her and her mate, their bond was finally dying.

Things weren''t like before. There was this wall between them now. He only talked to her when he absolutely had to, and those passionate nights they used to share? Gone. He barely touched her anymore, and now she knew exactly why...

It was because of that sweet, innocent omega he was standing with right now—the redhead Quinn had always called her sister. Their affair was obvious as hell, but Quinn had been playing blind. She''d seen the way they looked at each other, those desperate glances, those shy little smiles. She''d caught it all, especially from Delilah, but she''d chosen to trust her mate.

Worst mistake of her life. Trusting him only made his betrayal cut deeper.

Quinn wiped away the tears as they started falling. She never thought he could do something like this to her. Sure, he was an alpha, but he''d always been gentle with her. He used to treasure her.

Back when they first discovered they were mates, he''d swept her off her feet with sweet words and tender touches—his hands on her shoulders, her waist—until he''d completely captured her heart. It felt like a fairy tale. She''d found her prince, and she was his princess. But now it seemed like the glass slipper didn''t fit anymore.

Damn it! Quinn''s hand pressed harder against her chest as the pain hit her again. She shouldn''t have done this—shouldn''t have masked her scent and followed him.

If she hadn''t, she wouldn''t be feeling this crushing betrayal right now. She''d still be in bed, pretending to trust him, desperately trying to hold onto a bond that was obviously falling apart.

Pathetic, she knew, but she loved him too much to just walk away, even after finding out why he''d been so distant. It was shameless, but she''d try. She''d try to fix what was broken between them, make it strong again.

She''d get him to love her again. They were mated for a reason, and she wasn''t going to lose him to someone who''d eventually find their own mate. She loved Delilah, but her sister would be better off waiting for her true mate.

Quinn turned and walked away from the scene. She headed back to their house—the one Jeo had built for them. He''d been so happy back then, so sure he''d love her forever.

*"This is the spot, Quinn. We''ll build a house here—a beautiful house. One so perfect that our kids will still want to live here long after we''re old and gone."*

Quinn had been happy too, excited even. She''d helped him build it, the whole pack had pitched in. Now, three years later, this house that was once filled with love felt empty and suffocating.

She climbed the porch steps, pushed open the door, and went straight to their bedroom, collapsing onto the cold sheets. His scent was everywhere—mint and cinnamon.

It used to calm her. Now it made her anxious.

Quinn grabbed his pillow, hugging it to her chest as fresh tears blurred her vision. She shouldn''t be crying. She was a beta—she was stronger than this.

Everything would be fine. He''d probably realize soon that what they had was stronger than lust. He''d come back to her. She just had to trust him and wait.

Hours passed before the bedroom door finally opened and Jeo''s scent—short for Jeovanni—filled the room.

Quinn closed her eyes, pretending to sleep as he walked into the dark room. He was done having his fun, and now he was back to a place he probably didn''t even want to be.

She heard him sigh, then tensed when he brushed her fiery red hair from her face, his soft lips—the same ones that had kissed her sister''s forehead—barely grazing hers. "I love you, Quinn, but I''m sorry..."

He pulled the covers up, tucking her in before lying down beside her. Quinn''s heart raced when his arms wrapped around her, and tears slipped down her cheeks.

If he loved her, then why was he doing this?

Why was he sorry?

She heard him sigh again, the sound filled with torment.

If he truly loved her—if he really loved her—he wouldn''t be sneaking around with her sister.

"Quinn, I..."

Quinn''s hand clenched the sheets as his head nestled against her back. "I think I..." He shook his head, going quiet for a moment. "No, it''s not just a thought. It''s something I know. I''m sure about my feelings."

His words were whispered in the darkness, and each one taunted Quinn in the most horrible way possible. Her mate was telling her he loved someone else, wasn''t he? She wanted to turn around, to ask him why, but the answer would only hurt her more.

She''d thought this was forever. She''d thought they were perfect together, thought they understood each other completely. But she didn''t understand this.

This was a side of him she''d never seen—a side she never wanted to see. She wanted the past back, those days when he''d actually pout if she took too long to say "I love you" back. Those days when he''d literally beg her to kiss him before he left. Those long, relaxing conversations they used to have. She wanted it all back. She couldn''t just let all that love go to someone else.

Jeovanni was hers. They were fated—the Moon Goddess had bound them together, and even though that bond was slowly dying...

Quinn held back a sob that was climbing up her throat. It was almost suffocating to cry silently, but she didn''t want him to hear how pathetic she was.

She was supposed to be strong. She was Luna for a reason—this pack couldn''t survive without her. She''d given so much of her life to it, and even more to Jeo.

If she''d known it would turn out like this, she wouldn''t have given him everything—her whole heart. She would''ve held something back, so her chest wouldn''t feel this empty now.

She regretted it all. But she couldn''t regret him. She couldn''t wish they''d never happened, because he was still the best thing that had ever happened to her.

Wiping her face against the pillow, she listened as his breathing turned into soft snores. Lucky him—he could actually sleep.

This was all so painful, but she''d survive it.

Turning to face him, she traced her finger along his beautiful face. It was okay. He said he loved her, didn''t he?

---

Quinn woke up to someone shaking her shoulder, her eyes squinting open. She didn''t know when she''d fallen asleep, but the sun was up now.

She turned toward Jeo, who was standing over her. "Wake up, Quinn. It''s today."

Quinn rubbed her face as she sat up. Her sore eyes took in his face, remembering the whispered words from last night, and they filled with tears. "Where were you last night? When I woke up, you weren''t here."

She already knew the answer. She wasn''t even sure why she was asking. Maybe she was hoping he''d tell the truth and then beg for forgiveness—and she''d foolishly forgive him, just to get back what they used to have.

"I was just... I was..." He trailed off.

*Tell the truth, Jeo. Tell me the truth,* Quinn begged silently.

"I was... I was at the borders. The patrol team needed backup."

Quinn''s heart shattered again, her teary eyes looking away from him. Liar. He was so cruel.

Even drowning in despair, she was still drawn to him. Those lips that had been on her sister—Quinn wanted to press hers against them.

"Is that the truth?"

He nodded, giving her that distant smile. "Yeah. Anyway, it''s today. Don''t you remember? You need to get ready."

"What''s today?"

"The contract. I want an alliance with the Wounded Moon Pack—it''s the strongest pack out there, maybe the strongest of all. I need peace between our packs."

"The Wounded Moon Pack? Isn''t that the Alpha King''s pack?"

"Yes. I''m sending you with a few pack members. They''ll bring weapons and gifts to earn his trust. It''ll take about two days to get there and two days back, so you''ll be gone for four days."

Quinn nodded. "Are we leaving now or later?"

"Now. And I''m not coming."

"You''re not? This is important. Wouldn''t it be better for the Alpha to go?"

It would be disrespectful to only send the Luna. The man they were meeting was powerful—he''d fought his way from the bottom to become as legendary as he was now. To become Alpha King, he''d had to challenge and defeat the previous king in battle.

He was the only alpha with the guts to even suggest such a fight. And Jeo didn''t want to meet him? Why?

"I have things to handle here. I can''t make it."

His words were cold and final, his expression blank. Those eyes Quinn was desperately trying to read wouldn''t meet hers—she couldn''t get through to him. "Okay. I''ll get ready and go."

"Good." And with that, he walked out, leaving her alone with a completely shattered heart.