I Was the Starter Mate

Everyone in Moonveil Pack knew our Alpha, Eric, worshiped his Mate.

When he loved, he went feral.

To keep me—an infertile she-wolf—on the Luna throne, he once painted the Elder Council in blood. Stood in front of the whole pack and swore he hated pups. Said he'd end his own bloodline before he let me hurt.

Yeah. That was his version of forever.

Until my body changed.

Then one day he walked into our territory holding a young she-wolf's hand—Velda—and built her a little love nest right next to our home.

I asked for an explanation.

"My pack needs an heir. You can't give me one."

Velda smiled all sweet.

The second he looked away, she flipped me off.

"Zara, you're fat as a pig. What makes you think you can compete with me?"

I looked at her young, perfect face and finally got it.

Those vows? Not love.

Just lust in a crown.

I didn't cry. Didn't cause a scene. I called the witch through mind link.

"Do it. Forcefully sever my mate bond with him."

If he hated this body so much, then the thousandfold pain I'd held back for five years?

Yeah.

It was time to give it back.

"Zara, the silver poisoning in your body has already spread to your organs. If you don't do the purification, you've got less than a month. Are you sure you're refusing treatment?"

"I'm sure."

I stepped out of the healing lodge. A sharp burn ripped through my chest.

I'd thought it was an old battle wound flaring up. Didn't realize it was silver poison—crafted to wipe out wolves like us.

I made it back to the house, barely steady on my feet.

My eyes landed on the old photo frame on the table.

In it, Eric was still a teenage wolf, staring at me like I was his whole damn world.

Even now, I remember that day.

Up in the frozen north, two rogue pups curled together just to survive the cold.

He shoved the last piece of venison into my hands and grinned. "Zara, when I'm Alpha, you'll never go hungry again. I'll make sure you've always got meat."

I teased him. "What if I get fat?"

He ruffled my hair, smiling like it was obvious. "Even if you turn into a pig, I'd still want you. You'll always be my Mate."

That promise used to make me dizzy.

We grew up as rogues, claimed each other as mates on the northern ice fields.

To help him build a pack, I forced myself to get stronger.

We fought for scraps beside corpses. Ripped out rival wolves' throats without blinking.

I stood by him while he built Moonveil from nothing—until it became the territory we rule now.

Later, he put the crown on my head—his Luna. The whole pack looked up to me.

I liked human fashion. Every new luxury drop showed up at our door the second it launched.

I loved to roam. He'd ditch pack business just