Estelle’s POV

“That mating mark on your neck. It hasn’t been activated.”

“What?” I asked, pausing. “That can’t be right.”

I had saved a wandering doctor just now when he got lost along the borders of the Moonveil Pack. He had sprained his ankle and was severely dehydrated, and I brought him back to our home to catch a breath.

“Just look at the color,” Oliver said. “It’s red and raw. The wound will not heal until you have physically mated with the wolf who marked you.”

My heart skipped a beat. All of a sudden, I felt hollow and lost. There was a persistent ringing in my ears.

“Are you alright, Miss?” Oliver asked. “You look pale.”

“I-I... How could I not be?” I asked. “I’ve been with my mate for years! We aren’t fated mates, but I thought...”

I thought we were at least chosen mates.

Asher Daniels and I had been mated and married for three years. Ever since I had shown up at the borders of the Moonveil Pack when I was just seven years old, I had been living with his family. I had a crush on him for years, and when he proposed to me three years ago, I said yes immediately.

I had never doubted his love for me. He was sweet and caring and provided me with everything. He didn’t even care that I was an orphan or wolfless, while he was the Alpha’s heir, soon to become the next Alpha of the Moonveil Pack.

“There’s another thing,” the doctor said. “You said your name was Estelle?”

Before I could say anything, he handed me an old, wrinkled photo. It was a photo of himself back in his youth, standing next to a man. Even just one look had my breath catching in my throat. The resemblance was unmistakable.

“If you don’t mind me asking, do you know your parents?” Oliver asked.

I numbly shook my head. “No, I’m an orphan.”

“If you don’t mind, I would like to test a strand of your hair,” he said excitedly. “I think you may be the daughter of James Harper.”

My eyes widened at that name. James Harper. He was the Alpha of the Blackmoon Pack, one of the strongest, wealthiest packs across the continent, before his death two weeks ago.

“You’re aware that he has passed, yes?” the doctor continued. “Before his death, James listed his only daughter as his heir. Until she eventually finds her true mate, at least.”

I stood frozen, speechless. I could only nod stiffly.

The man clapped once in delight.

“I’ll need to test your DNA to be sure, but it’s highly likely to be a match.” He then paused and looked pointedly at my neck. “Maybe you would like to speak with your mate first. This concerns both of your futures as the Alpha and Luna of the Blackmoon Pack.”

My head felt ready to burst.

“Yes, I’ll need to check something first,” I said.

Oliver happily gave me his number and said he would call about the test results the moment he returned to the Blackmoon Pack. With enough rest, his ankle had healed, thanks to a werewolf’s quick recovery. I watched as he disappeared past the border.

Asher’s face flashed through my mind. I left home immediately and rushed to his office at the pack house.

My heart hammered against my ribs. I needed answers from Asher. I needed the truth.

But as I approached his office door, voices drifted out.

“When will you announce to the pack that we’re mated?” It was a woman’s voice, sultry and impatient.

I froze. That voice belonged to Hazel Banner.

Hazel was the daughter of the current Beta, the second-in-command to Asher’s father. She was a few years older than Asher and me, but had been a close friend of ours for years.

I could still recall the time she stayed over when she found out her fated mate had passed away. She sought comfort in Asher’s arms. At that time, we weren’t officially together yet. I thought Asher was just being kind back then to offer comfort to a friend.

“Soon,” Asher’s familiar tone responded. “Once I officially take over as Alpha of the Moonveil Pack, I promise.”

“I’m tired of waiting, Asher,” she whined. “Why should I watch her play Luna while I hide in the shadows?”

“I know, baby,” Asher’s voice was as sweet as I remembered. He spoke in the exact same way he always used with me. “Just a little longer. Once I become the Alpha, no one can stop us from being together. We will get rid of Estelle, and it will just be the three of us.”

The words hit me like physical blows. My breathing became shallow. Every conversation, every tender moment, every promise Asher had made—all lies.

I stumbled backward, my vision blurring. Before I knew it, I had run out of the pack house, panting.

My phone rang just then. Oliver’s number flashed on the screen.

“The DNA is a match,” his voice came through clearly. “You’re definitely James Harper’s daughter. Will you be bringing your mate when you come to claim your inheritance, or your children? The inheritance process will be a little different if so—”

“I don’t have a mate,” I said quietly, touching the dormant mark. “Or children. I’ll be coming alone.”

I had no clue who actually marked me since Asher didn’t. That was a question I didn’t want answered for now. My stomach rolled in disgust at the thought. It could be anyone.

“I see. I’ll prepare the necessary documents.”

I ended the call just as footsteps approached from behind.

“Estelle!”

Asher’s panicked voice made me turn. His face was flushed, his eyes wide with worry.

“I smelled your scent near the office. You weren’t... You didn’t go inside, did you?”

I forced my expression to remain neutral. “I just got here. Why?”

Relief flooded his features. “Good. Perfect timing, actually. We need to have dinner at the pack house tonight. There’s an important guest.”

He took my hand, and I had to fight not to recoil from his touch. “Come on, let’s go in.”

The pack house’s massive dining room buzzed with activity. But what caught my attention was the sound of genuine laughter.

Finn’s laughter.

In three years of raising him, I’d rarely heard him sound so happy.

“Hazel, tell me another story!” Finn’s excited voice called out.

I rounded the corner and saw them together. Hazel knelt beside Finn, her blonde hair catching the light as she smiled warmly at him. The boy’s face was lit up with pure joy.

A joy he’d never shown me.

Memories crashed over me like a tidal wave. When Asher first brought Finn home, I’d been devastated by my supposed infertility.

His parents had been rushing us to produce an heir, especially since Asher was going to be the next Alpha of the pack. However, the pack doctors had told me I was too weak, too sickly to ever conceive. That was when Asher brought Finn home.

“His parents recently died,” Asher had said. “He’s an orphan now, Estelle. We can give him a home.”

I’d thought Asher was being kind. He was giving us both a second chance.

But looking at the three of them now, the resemblance was impossible to ignore. Finn had Hazel’s blonde hair and her green eyes. Even their mannerisms matched.

How had I been so blind?

I remembered Finn’s tantrums, his tears, his desperate cries for his “real mother”. I’d assumed he was too young to understand death. I’d pitied him, comforted him, while all along...

His real mother was alive. Standing right there.

Everything became clear now. Asher’s father had banned Asher from making Hazel his Luna, and I’d been the convenient nanny. I raised their son, took everyone’s abuse, while they lived their secret life happily together.

“Estelle!” Asher called out, startling me from my thoughts. “Come meet our guest.”

I walked over mechanically. Hazel stood gracefully, extending her hand.

“Hello, Luna Estelle. Thank you for having me.”

The word ‘Luna’ from her lips felt like mockery. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

“There’s no need for that,” I said. “I’m not Luna yet.”

Hazel’s lips twisted slightly.

“Hazel will be taking over as my Beta temporarily,” Asher explained. “Until I find someone more permanent. She’ll need to stay here in the pack house to manage pack business.”