Selene's POV
Seven months pregnant, I drove to the Highland Retreat Center to book my postpartum recovery suite—a place where new mothers in our pack could safely transform during full moons while caring for newborns.
While completing the paperwork, the receptionist typed my information into her computer, then froze. Her eyes darted between me and the screen.
"Mrs. Ravengrim," she said, her voice dropping to a whisper, "our database shows your mate registered with us just six months ago."
"But he listed someone else as his mate—"
I felt my claws instinctively extend beneath my fingernails. "That's impossible," I said, pulling out my phone. "Look, here's our mating ceremony from last winter solstice."
The receptionist's expression softened with unmistakable pity. She turned her monitor toward me.
"Mr. Lycandros completed the blood moon bonding ritual five years ago. Their pack already has one cub, with another on the way."
"Here's their official pack registry. And photos from their last full moon stay."
The picture showed Ronan cradling a toddler with the same amber eyes as his, standing protectively beside a dark-haired woman I'd never seen before.
The way he nuzzled her neck—the traditional gesture of a protective alpha—was unmistakable.
The pack registry bore his unique scent marker—impossible to fake.
If they were true mates under pack law… what did that make me and my unborn cub?
"Mr. Lycandros's mate is our premium pack member," the receptionist growled, her nostrils flaring as she scented me. "The audacity of some females, trying to cause trouble with false claims!"
"Get out! We don't provide sanctuary to pregnant she-wolves who disrespect pack bonds."
Before I could explain myself, she practically shoved me out the door. By the time I regained my composure, the Highland Retreat Center had already sealed its silver-reinforced doors behind me.
Standing in the parking lot under the waxing moon, I replayed what I'd just seen. The face on that pack registry was unmistakably Ronan's—his scent mark, his lineage information—but the female beside him was a complete stranger to me.
Why would Ronan hide his mated status from me?
My inner wolf snarled with building rage as I immediately called him, desperate for answers. But the call wouldn't connect. After sending countless messages with no response, I remembered he was across territory lines on a business venture.
His company was expanding into other pack territories in preparation for joining the Continental Alpha Council. Ronan had traveled abroad to secure a crucial alliance that could elevate our entire pack's standing.
Unable to reach him, I had to swallow my emotions for now and wait for his explanation. But if what I saw was true, he would face my claws when the next moon rose.
Just then, Ronan finally returned my call with a video:
"Selene, moon of my life, I was in negotiations with the Eastern packs and couldn't check my phone."
The screen showed his familiar face. Ronan sat in his office wearing a tailored suit that concealed his powerful build, several goblets of untouched ceremonial tea still steaming beside him—likely just finished with treaty discussions.
The dark circles under his amber eyes immediately tugged at my heart. I almost asked how he was doing, but the memory of what I'd just discovered yanked me back to reality.
"Ronan," I demanded, "are you hiding something from me? Have you blood-bonded with another female?"
The wolf on screen went from smiling to ash-pale in an instant. His eyes flashed their natural gold as his control slipped:
"Selene, by the sacred moon, no! I swear I haven't! You're my only mate!"
"There's never been anyone else who bears my mark!"
Worried I'd misunderstood, he frantically panned the camera around his entire office, proving there wasn't a single trace of another female's scent markers.
"Who's been feeding you these lies?!" he growled, his voice dropping an octave.
"Is it the rival pack spreading rumors? When I return to our territory, they'll answer to my teeth!"
"Selene, you have to believe me—our bond is eternal. You're the only one I've ever chosen."
Seeing him so distressed, with his wolf so close to the surface, helped calm my suspicions. Ronan and I met at Moon Haven University. He'd recognized me as his potential mate at first sight, watching over me for two years before finally performing the courtship ritual.
That night, he'd appeared before me with an offering of freshly hunted deer, his Alpha lineage obvious in his powerful stance despite his nervousness. Though born to a prestigious bloodline with naturally commanding presence, he was incredibly gentle and unsure around me.
The contrast between powerful Alpha and devoted suitor intrigued me. After running with him for six moons, my wolf gradually accepted his, and we formed a connection.
After graduation, he started his own business venture to give our future cubs a better life. In just two years, he'd guided the company to stability, never once complaining about the challenges of building a legacy.
When he achieved success, he transferred all territorial rights to my name as a mating gift. I still remember his proposal under the full moon, how reverently he vowed:
"I recognize only you as my mate in this lifetime. My strength, my resources, my territory—all yours."
"If I ever betray you, may the moon curse me to run alone forever, stripped of pack and pride."
He offered me his entire legacy as proof of his devotion. In that moment, I knew he was the Alpha my wolf could trust with our future lineage.
After our mating ceremony, he continued honoring me as Luna, handling all pack matters with my counsel. All neighboring packs knew Ronan was devoted to me, never missing our evening runs together regardless of business demands.
How could someone who shared his soul with me have marked another female?
My wolf's suspicions began to quiet:
"Fine, I'll trust you this time. But if I discover you've created a secret pack elsewhere, neither moon nor mountain will hide you from me."
After his repeated vows by the ancient pack codes, I ended the call, somewhat appeased.
Hanging up, I felt my hackles lower slightly. Just as I was about to search for another maternity center, my beta called. The pack member in charge of our company's new product launch had been attacked crossing rival territory on the way to the office.
Now the company was in chaos, with no clear chain of command. My beta couldn't reach Ronan and called me for leadership.
This launch was a crucial alliance opportunity for our pack's future security—we couldn't afford appearing weak.
After a moment's consideration, I felt my protective instincts rise. Despite my condition, I decided to head to the office myself to handle the crisis. My unborn cub would understand—a Luna's duty to the pack comes first.
Selene's POV
Two hours later, I arrived at the corporate den right on schedule, my pregnancy barely hindering my movements despite being in my third trimester.
Representatives from the Northern Crescent Pack, Silver Ridge Alliance, and even the distant Blackwood Territories had sent their messengers to witness our announcement. My beta practically whimpered with relief when he caught my scent at the door.
"Thank the moon you're here, Luna," he whispered, using my formal pack title.
I instructed him to visit our injured packmate at the hospital—ensuring they received proper care was our priority. A good Alpha pair always puts the pack's wellbeing first.
After he left, I composed myself, tilting my chin up in a display of confidence that belied my inner turmoil. As I strode into the conference hall, I felt my unborn cub stir protectively.
Several executives from our finance division caught my scent and instantly huddled together, their body language betraying their discomfort. I offered a diplomatic smile, baring just enough teeth to remind them of my rank, but strangely, they backed away as if I were an omega rather than their Luna.
Pushing aside their bizarre behavior, I was about to announce the start of the presentation when a sudden shift in the room's energy made my wolf instincts flare. A female had risen from the audience, her scent carrying unmistakable aggression.
She held up an ancient wolf-hide scroll, the blood runes clearly visible even from where I stood.
"You claim to be the Alpha's mate," she challenged loudly, her voice carrying the harmonics of someone used to pack authority. "So what exactly does that make me?"
I fought to maintain my composure—this was the same female from the Highland Center who supposedly shared a Bloodmoon Pact with Ronan. What right did she have to attend a Lycandros Pack business gathering?
Though I'd never caught her scent before, I noticed with growing fury that she wore ceremonial jewelry that matched my own traditional style. Most infuriating was the hand-crafted moonstone amulet around her neck—the one Ronan had commissioned from the elder craftswolf as my mating gift.
My canines lengthened involuntarily.
"Where are the pack sentinels?" I demanded, fighting to keep my voice from becoming a growl. "Who permitted an outsider to enter our territory?"
The announcement gathering suddenly filled with the scent of excitement and aggression as spectators sensed the brewing conflict. The Wolfgram feed displayed on the wall screens exploded with howls:
[MoonHowler99: Everyone knows Vivian is the legitimate Luna of the Lycandros Pack! Her bloodline is impeccable! Can't believe some random female is trying to challenge her position!]
[SilverCoat45: So when Vivian posted an hour ago about confronting a territory intruder, she meant business! The Lycandros Alpha pair doesn't mess around!]
The woman—Vivian—tilted her head in that uniquely wolfish gesture of contempt. She unrolled the ancient hide, revealing dried blood marks that formed a binding seal.
"I've been blood-bound to my mate for five years of the moon," she announced, her words carrying the formal cadence of pack law. "Our blood mingles on this sacred pelt, blessed under the Bloodmoon. I would scent a rival on him instantly."
Her Wolfgram followers attacked like omega wolves seeking favor, their howls designed to wound:
[NightRunner: Some unclaimed female got herself pupped and thinks she can challenge for Alpha Luna status! Moon goddess save us from these desperate omegas!]
[TimberBackAlpha: You claim to be Lycandros's mate—where's YOUR blood seal to prove it? Show us the bone tablet or wolf-hide!]
[MoonStalker67: Look at her—clearly not even from a registered bloodline. As if an Alpha of the Lycandros caliber would dilute his lineage with her!]
The absurdity nearly pulled a bitter laugh from my throat. Ronan and I had performed the sacred blood ritual under the full moon with the pack elders as witnesses. We had mingled our blood on an ancient carved bone tablet. The cub I carried was a legitimate heir to the Lycandros lineage.
"Stop spreading falsehoods before the next moon," I warned, letting just enough of my wolf surface to make my eyes flash. "Ronan Lycandros and I completed the Bloodmoon ritual. This company is territory we built together."
I opened my phone gallery to find images of our ceremony, but couldn't locate them anywhere. Then the memory hit me—during our first blood moon together, in a moment of passion after our bonding, we had buried our bone tablet deep in our territory as was ancient tradition, signifying that our bond was now part of the very land we ruled.
We were in the process of requesting a formal record from the Council Elders so our cub could be registered in the pack bloodline archives.
As my explanation faltered, Vivian's lips pulled back in a predatory smile, revealing teeth just slightly too sharp for mixed company.
"I knew she couldn't produce proof," she announced to the room, her voice dripping with triumph. "Because I am Ronan Lycandros's true Luna, recognized by moon law and pack council, bound by blood that still stains this sacred hide."
Selene's POV
The Wolfgram feeds exploded with collective outrage against me.
[SilverFang23: We've all followed Vivian's account for years. Alpha Lycandros adores her. Why would he notice this pathetic outsider?]
I stood bewildered. Ronan's schedule was always packed with pack business—every free moment he had was spent by my side. How could he possibly be with Vivian, let alone run a couple's account on Wolfgram?
Facing Vivian's mocking expression, I snarled my accusation:
"Your Bloodmoon Pact is forged. Falsifying sacred blood bonds is punishable by exile from all territories."
Vivian, seeing my stubborn defiance, pulled out a stack of photographs and threw them at my face.
They showed Ronan and her growing up together—childhood playmates running through the same forests, clear evidence of a lifelong bond.
The conference room doors swung open as a young boy entered confidently. His features were strikingly similar to Ronan's, down to the way he carried himself with natural authority.
"Mother, who's causing trouble in Father's territory?" he asked, moving through the space with complete familiarity, showing no hesitation.
Instantly, the Wolfgram howls intensified:
[MoonRunner442: The cub looks EXACTLY like Lycandros! The proof couldn't be clearer! This intruder needs to stop trying to destroy a pack family.]
Vivian lifted her chin with pride, her gaze cutting through me like I was nothing but carrion.
"Stop dreaming," she said coldly. "I am Ronan Lycandros's true mate."
"Face reality—not every stray can become Luna of a prime territory."
How was this possible? How could this child look so much like Ronan?
Though terror clawed at my insides, I remembered how tenderly Ronan had always treated me. My thoughts became a chaotic blur.
I frantically called Ronan at least a dozen times, but each call went unanswered.
"Have you lost your mind?" I texted him. "You're letting someone humiliate your mate in public. Do you have a death wish?"
"Come clear this up immediately, or you'll face my wrath."
My blood boiled beneath my skin as I struggled to maintain composure.
Just hours ago, Ronan had looked exhausted on our video call. He was probably sleeping now—he always silenced his phone during rest periods.
I called Damien Riverstone, Ronan's closest packmate since cubhood. They'd grown up in the same pack, sharing a lifelong brotherhood.
He answered quickly. I put the call on speaker, my voice uncharacteristically rough:
"Damien, does Ronan have another mate somewhere?"
Damien sounded like he'd been napping, but my question jolted him awake:
"Luna Selene! Who told you such a thing? Who's spreading these lies?"
"I swear by the Sacred Moon, Ronan has never taken another mate. Luna, you are his only bonded partner."
Hearing this, I finally exhaled with relief.
I played the call recording for everyone in the room. Damien was a renowned warrior of our pack—he would never risk his honor by supporting a deception.
The Wolfgram reactions immediately divided:
[NightHunter88: That was Damien Riverstone himself! Why would an Warrior of his standing lie? Maybe this female really is the Lycandros Luna…]
[MoonChild27: But Vivian's cub looks identical to Alpha Lycandros. The resemblance is unmistakable.]
I raised my eyebrow challengingly:
"This world is full of similar-looking wolves. And intentions can be malicious."
"Who knows if this cub has undergone appearance modifications? Facial resemblance alone cannot prove he carries Lycandros blood."
Seeing I remained unconvinced, Vivian's lips curled into a contemptuous smile.
She took out her phone and video-called Ronan. To my shock, he answered immediately.
She projected the call onto the main screen, and suddenly Ronan's face appeared before everyone.
That face I woke up to every morning—I knew it better than my own.
He wouldn't answer my calls, yet responded instantly to Vivian's.
Blood rushed to my head, making me dizzy with rage.
He needed to clear this situation immediately, or he'd return to find his territory in chaos.
But the next moment froze me in place.
Ronan's voice came through gentle and loving:
"Darling, what are you doing?"
The young boy ran forward, sweetly calling out, "Father!"
Ronan's lips curved upward:
"Have you been behaving for your mother?"
The cub nodded, then frowned as he remembered something troubling.
"Yes, but someone's making Mother upset. Today some female claimed Mother was an intruder and embarrassed her in front of everyone."
Hearing this, surprise flashed in Ronan's eyes, quickly replaced by fury.
"What stray dog dares cause trouble in Lycandros territory? Vivian is my only mate."
"Vivian, fight back. Your Alpha will handle this."
In that moment, Vivian lunged at me, her palm striking hard across my face.
"I've tolerated you long enough," she hissed. "I've proven who I am. Accept your defeat."
I stood there, stunned and pale:
"That can't be Ronan. He would never treat me this way."
"Give me the phone! I need to speak with him directly!"
I reached for the device, desperate for a private confrontation.
But Vivian pulled back, her expression suddenly fearful.
She retreated hastily, then shouted accusingly:
"What are you doing? This is MY mate! Resorting to violence because you've lost the argument?"
"Where are the sentinels? GET THE SENTINELS! Remove this worthless female from our territory!"
Chaos erupted as security approached. I protectively covered my swollen belly:
"I'm carrying a cub. If you dare touch me and something happens—I'll ensure you bear the consequences!"
The pack sentinels hesitated when they saw my swollen belly, immediately halting their advance. One looked at me uncomfortably:
"Shewolf, this is a formal pack announcement gathering. You should leave."
My fury boiled over:
"Are your eyes blind? Can't you see who the real intruder is?"
I didn't know what game Vivian was playing. The face in the video looked like Ronan's, but with today's advanced technology, facial synthesis was entirely possible.
Unless I saw the living wolf stand before me, I refused to believe any of this.
As I considered my options, a sudden realization hit me:
"The Elder Mother Kyra! She can verify my status as Luna!"
Ronan's step-mother Kyra was the previous Alpha Female before passing the title to me. As keeper of pack bloodlines, her word would be unquestionable—even Vivian couldn't challenge her authority.
Selene's POV
I fumbled for my phone, ready to call the Elder Mother Kyra, but hesitated when I saw Vivian's smug expression. I put my phone away.
"If you're truly Ronan's mate, then you must have the Elder Mother's contact information," I challenged.
"Ronan is currently outside pack territory. Any evidence you have could be fabricated and proves nothing about your status."
"If you're so confident, call the Elder Mother Kyra here. Let's see if she recognizes you as her son's true mate."
The Elder Mother Kyra was a renowned Moon Rune artist whose work was displayed in territories worldwide. Even Vivian wouldn't have the resources to find someone who could successfully impersonate her.
Moreover, the Elder Mother Kyra adored me. When I first joined the Lycandros pack, she gifted me her ancestral moonstone bracelet—a family heirloom passed only to true Lunas.
Whenever Ronan and I had disagreements, she always took my side, scolding her son for his stubbornness. She treated me like her own daughter, and when she learned of my pregnancy, she sent me a substantial gift of rare herbs to strengthen the cub growing inside me.
Vivian's lips curled into a mocking smile.
"Still refusing to accept reality? I'm guessing you don't actually have her contact, do you?"
Before I could respond, she called the Elder Mother Kyra, her voice suddenly soft and wounded.
"Mother, someone is causing trouble at the company. She's claiming I'm an intruder in the pack. Please come quickly and set things right."
Vivian put the call on speaker, and a painfully familiar voice came through:
"Who dares upset my precious son's beloved Luna? I'll come immediately to support you."
The Wolfgram feed erupted with new comments:
[AlphaHunter99: Case closed. Vivian is definitely the legitimate Luna. No Elder Mother would speak that affectionately to a false mate.]
[MoonwatcherAlpha: This Selene woman is pathetic, thinking she could climb into a prime Alpha's den.]
[NightRunner45: Even after all this evidence, she's still persisting? The audacity!]
I stared at Vivian in disbelief as she waved her phone tauntingly.
"Even the Elder Mother Kyra confirms I'm Ronan's true mate, yet you refuse to believe."
My fists clenched as my chest heaved with emotion, shoulders trembling uncontrollably.
"Mother, it's Selene! I am your true Luna of your son! How can you support this outsider?"
Before I could finish, Vivian pulled her phone away and slapped me hard across the face.
"What nonsense are you spouting? Who gave you permission to claim my family?"
Vivian's voice shifted to a plaintive whine as she spoke to the Elder Mother Kyra:
"Mother, please come to the company and confirm my status. Some desperate shewolf is trying to steal what's rightfully mine."
The person on the other end had to be an impostor. I quickly sent a message to the Elder Mother's private Howl channel, briefly explaining the situation and begging her to come verify my identity.
The Elder Mother Kyra responded immediately, saying she was on her way.
Given the Elder Mother's fierce temperament, Vivian would surely be driven from our territory once she arrived. All I needed to do was wait for the truth to be revealed.
Within the hour, the Elder Mother's vehicle pulled up outside. She descended slowly, leaning on her distinctive silver-tipped cane—the mark of her status as pack historian and bloodline keeper.
Seeing it truly was her, my heart lifted with relief. I rushed forward to support her:
"Mother, you're finally here. Please tell them that I am your son's true mate!"
"This shewolf appeared out of nowhere with a cub, claiming to be the Lycandros Luna."
"They've been ganging up against me! You mustn't let them get away with this!"
Selene's POV
The Elder Mother Kyra removed her spectacles and studied me carefully for several minutes before her familiar smile appeared.
I exhaled with relief—finally, she would confirm my identity.
I turned to Vivian with newfound confidence, certain this charade would end with her humiliation.
But in the next moment, the Elder Mother Kyra pushed my hand away and walked toward Vivian, affectionately addressing her as "daughter."
Then she turned to me, her lips twisting with contempt:
"I know exactly who you are. You're the one who snuck into my son's den uninvited!"
"You weren't pregnant then. My son wanted nothing to do with you—he tried to send you away with dignity."
"But you were so desperate, you even tried to seduce one of our territory guards."
The room went deadly silent. I stood frozen, staring in disbelief.
"This isn't possible. You must be an impostor."
The Wolfgram feed exploded with reactions to my response:
[SilverPelt88: How shameless can she be? First she doubts her 'mate' is real, then the Elder Mother? So everyone's fake but her?]
[AlphaPack44: So the cub she's carrying is a half-breed, but she's trying to use it to claim pack status?]
The Elder Mother Kyra brushed back her silver hair, revealing a translucent scar at her temple. I remembered how she got that scar—on Ronan's supposed mating day with me, she had accidentally struck her head against a ceremonial altar.
How could an impostor have that same mark? This woman must be close to the Elder Mother to observe such details.
The older female stepped forward and struck me hard across the face.
"What nonsense about real and fake? I never had a daughter-by-blood who crawls into random dens."
"Vivian is my only son's mate. You dare try to introduce unknown blood into our lineage? You're nothing but a desperate omega."
"Impossible!" I screamed. "This cannot be happening!"
"The Elder Mother Kyra has always been kind to me. She would never speak this way. You're definitely an impostor."
Watching my breakdown, Vivian clicked her tongue in disgust. "How much longer will you keep this up? Is accepting your common status so difficult?"
"All evidence points to me. Even the Elder Mother Kyra has confirmed it. Take your half-breed cub and leave our territory."
The Elder Mother Kyra had always been loving toward me. Looking at that familiar face now speaking such cruelty was unbearable.
"This is NOT the Elder Mother Kyra. She would never treat me this way."
I remembered when I had a high fever while Ronan was away on pack business. The Elder Mother Kyra had fed me medicine herself, staying by my side for several nights without rest.
During my difficult pregnancy, when morning sickness prevented me from eating, she personally prepared all my favorite foods.
The Elder Mother was always dignified and refined—she would never publicly destroy someone's reputation with such vulgar language.
Everything had changed. I needed to contact the Moonshadow Guardians—only they could verify my identity now.
Sweat rolled down my forehead as I frantically reached for my phone to call for help, but the Elder Mother knocked it from my hand.
"You worthless shewolf! Don't you know the Lycandros pack is at a crucial stage of expansion? Your actions could destroy everything my son has built."
The Elder Mother Kyra was right about one thing—the pack was facing serious challenges.
I felt a moment of relief that I hadn't completed the call. It would have thrown Ronan into a public relations nightmare.
But the Elder Mother Kyra was known for her gentle nature—she would never speak so harshly.
"You must be an impostor. I will expose your deception."
My words pushed Vivian over the edge. She lunged at me, claws partially extended.
"You dare repeatedly pursue my mate? I could make you and your abomination disappear with a single command."
The security team the Elder Mother Kyra had brought closed in around us. They began striking at my limbs, forcing me to curl protectively around my swollen belly.
Vivian grabbed my hair and slapped me repeatedly across the face.
"Even if you died, it would cost us nothing more than a small settlement."
"Guards! Throw this worthless omega out of our territory!"
I shielded my unborn cub as Vivian shoved me violently to the ground.
The Elder Mother Kyra rushed forward, kicking repeatedly at my stomach. Unsatisfied, she pummeled my chest with clenched fists.
"I've tolerated you long enough, you scheming little bitch."
"Everyone will see what you truly are!"
Pain exploded through my body as I tried to curl into a protective ball. She yanked my head up by the hair, striking my face again and again.
"Shameless creature!" she spat. "Daring to enter my son's den! You disgust me."
"You tried to destroy my son's happiness. Die!"
Tears streamed down my face, but I was helpless against so many attackers.
Suddenly, I felt a warm rush between my legs and excruciating pain tore through my abdomen.
I screamed:
"My cub! I'm losing my cub—"
"Someone call the Moonshadow Guardians!"
The Elder Mother stood by with folded arms:
"Good riddance to half-breed blood. Trying to enter our pack with a bastard cub—you should just die."
Vivian slapped me harder:
"Worthless omega, no one cares about your lost cub. Keep crying and I'll have the guards dump you in the wilderness."
In the next moment, the conference room doors burst open.
I heard Ronan's voice, roaring with fury:
"STOP! RELEASE MY MATE NOW!"
