Chapter 1 1.

Gwendoline Moore's world collapsed that day. Not because she wasn't ready, but because she never imagined she would be this devastated.

She stood in the living room, wearing a white dress, a simple dress she had deliberately chosen to celebrate their third wedding anniversary.

Ethan didn't come with flowers or gifts that made Gwen fall in love, but instead brought painful news.

Three years of struggle, three years she spent mending Alpha Ethan Black's broken heart. Yet, in front of her, Ethan no longer saw her as his wife or even his mate.

The light of the full moon seeped through the large window, illuminating the cold living room. It was here, right in front of the fireplace that had always warmed them, that Ethan uttered the words that shattered all of Gwendoline's hopes.

"Gwendoline Moore," Ethan's voice was heavy, "I, Alpha Ethan Black, reject you as my mate and the Luna Black Pack. I sever all ties that ever existed between us."

Gwendoline's heart felt as if it had been pierced by a thousand ice daggers. Every word that came out of Ethan's mouth felt like a blow that shattered her soul.

She knew this day would come, ever since Marian, Ethan's true mate, had returned, and the two of them had been meeting often.

However, hearing those words directly, spoken so firmly on their wedding anniversary, made Gwendoline unable to breathe.

Gwendoline's eyes trembled, "Ethan... why? Is it because you want to go back to Marian?"

The question sounded stupid, but she said it anyway. She needed certainty, needed a reason more than just 'destiny.'

Ethan looked at her, his gaze no longer reflecting love, only guilt.

"It's fate, Gwen. Marian is my soulmate. We... we are not the fate decreed by the Moon Goddess."

"Not the destiny that was written?" Gwendoline's voice trembled, full of bitterness. "The three years we spent together, and now the Moon Goddess has created a new bond between us? And you say we are not destiny?" Gwen retorted bitterly.

"Your own father forced me to marry you, after you became depressed because Marian left you! "

"Maybe I am an orphan, who was asked to repay Sabian Black by becoming your wife and part of the Luna pack. I restored you from the darkness that enveloped you. I sacrificed myself for you, rebuilding you piece by piece. After everything we've been through, you just forget it?"

Ethan turned his face away. He couldn't bear to look at Gwendoline. "I'm sorry, but Marian is now pregnant with my child. Meanwhile, in the past three years, we haven't been blessed with a child," he said softly.

The man's words struck Gwen like a bolt of lightning. She never expected Ethan's betrayal to go that far.

"You betrayed me? Even before you rejected me, you were already cheating on me?" Gwen's heart was completely shattered. She felt that all her loyalty meant nothing at all.

"I'm sorry, I was unconscious, I was drunk, but I am the Alpha of the Black Pack, so I have to take responsibility, especially since it's my own flesh and blood."

Gwendoline's anger peaked. She couldn't stay here. She couldn't bear all this pain. Without saying a word, she ran, leaving the living room full of bitter memories.

She ran through the darkness of the night, her destination unclear, as long as it was far away from there. Her body transformed into Dhena, the wolf she possessed.

"Just kill that bitch, Gwen! She's a slut who's standing in your way!"

"No, Dhena! I don't want to stay and become Luna of the Alpha who never loved me, especially since he keeps bringing up the fact that I haven't been able to give him children."

Gwendoline ran into a rarely visited part of the forest, feeling the pain in her heart burning her entire body, and occasionally falling down. But she didn't care, as long as she was far away.

When she reached the riverbank, her tears fell, along with a scream, but it wasn't the voice of someone she knew. Who was it?

But her pain far exceeded the scream she heard. She didn't care, she just wanted to wash away the wounds in her heart.

As she stood by the river, she suddenly heard someone approaching, but when she turned around, the person who was approaching had already covered her mouth with a handkerchief that had a strange smell. Gwendoline struggled, but her strength was weakening. Darkness... Everything was pitch black!

***

Gwendoline woke up with a dizzy head and a body that felt very stiff. She was no longer in the forest, but in a small room with dim lighting.

She was confused and began to panic. Who had brought her here? And why?

She tried to scan the entire room with her eyes, then she tried to communicate with the wolf inside her body.

"Dhena, what happened?"

"This is bad, Gwen. I think someone trapped you. This might be related to the rejection you just experienced."

"You mean this is Ethan's doing?" She wanted to disbelieve it, but the fact was that she was currently in a small, cramped room.

Was she going to be killed? But why? Hadn't she agreed to Ethan's rejection?

Suddenly, a groan was heard from the corner of the room. Gwendoline turned her head, and her eyes widened. There, lying on the floor, was Darren, Ethan's Beta. His body was stiff, his eyes closed.

The woman immediately approached Darren. Perhaps it was because of the effects of Ethan's rejection that she, as Luna of the Black Pack, could no longer feel the Pack link.

"Darren? Darren, wake up!" Gwendoline called out in panic. But Ethan's Beta didn't move.

Gwendoline tried to get closer to him, wanting to know what had happened to Ethan's Beta. When she reached Darren's side, she saw a small bottle lying in Darren's hand.

The word "wolfsbane" was written on the bottle. Her eyes widened. Poison? Had Darren committed suicide, since the bottle was in his own hand?

Gwendoline checked Darren's pulse, but there was none. This meant that the man was dead.

Her heart was pounding. She was in a locked room, next to the body of Beta, who had died from poison. This was a trap. Who did this?

Gwendoline's mind was racing. Why her? Why Darren? Before she could think any further, the door opened. A number of Alpha soldiers entered, led by Ethan. He stepped forward, his face filled with anger.

"Gwen," Ethan's voice trembled with burning rage. "What are you doing?"

Gwendoline shook her head, "I was set up! I don't know how I got here. Someone..."

Ethan wasn't listening. His eyes were fixed on the bottle of wolfsbane in Darren's hand.

"You even had the heart to kill him," he hissed.

"No! It wasn't me!" Gwendoline insisted, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I don't know anything."

Ethan stared at her with eyes full of hatred.

"Darren was my right-hand man! And you killed him! What was going through your head! If you hated me, why did you kill my Beta?"

Gwendoline was shocked. The hatred in Ethan's eyes was so real. The man didn't even trust her anymore. And again, the man didn't believe her.

"I didn't do it, Ethan. I was framed!"