Chapter 2

She held on tight, her little hands gripping my leg like a lifeline. No amount of coaxing would make her let go. She barely knew Jarek—how could she, when he was always too busy running around handling Pack affairs as Beta?

My mom’s expression twisted with irritation, her amber eyes narrowing. "That wolf? What does he know about pups? Just sling her on your back like you always do and get on with it!"

Right. Because that was my job, wasn’t it?

I turned my head just in time to see Jarek cradling Selene’s son, Mikey, in his arms, making soft growling noises as he waved a shiny new toy in front of him. He looked like a natural—gentle, patient, even affectionate.

Where was that when it came to our daughter? If he spared her even half that effort, maybe she wouldn’t tense up every time he walked into a room. Maybe she wouldn’t look at him like he was a stranger.

With a sigh, I shifted my daughter into the sling and adjusted the straps. The weight on my back was familiar by now, but that didn’t make it any easier. My body ached, my energy had been drained dry ever since I got pregnant again, and now, with the truth gnawing at me, even breathing felt exhausting.

I forced myself into motion, grabbing a knife and chopping vegetables, but my vision blurred as hot tears stung my eyes. Was this it? Was this the rest of my life?

A Beta’s mate—bound by duty, never truly chosen.

I was only twenty-eight, and already, I felt like I was suffocating.

After being strapped to my back for so long, my daughter’s cries escalated into helpless wails.

I sighed and untied the sling, carrying her into the bedroom, whispering soft reassurances.

It took a while, but eventually, she curled into my chest and drifted off.

My mom, meanwhile, was probably halfway to my uncle’s den already.

She never missed a chance to see Selene.

“Selene carries herself so well—so refined, like a true Luna. Not like Astrid, always looking like some stray.”

I wasn’t sloppy. I just didn’t have anything new to wear.

Selene and I were the same age, but my mother always gave her the fresh clothes first. Only after Selene got bored with them did they make their way to me.

And somehow, my mom still had the nerve to tell me I looked unpresentable, like I had no sense of dignity.

I outperformed Selene in Pack training, but my mother never once praised me for it.

“What’s the point of a she-wolf being clever? In the end, the only thing that matters is if she lands a high-ranking mate.”

Then came the courting season. I brought Magnus home, hoping to finally prove my worth, to show my mother I had done something right.

Instead, she turned right around and invited Selene to meet him.

I wasn’t blind. I knew Selene had asked Magnus to go out with her more than once. He never accepted.

When I mentioned it to my mother, she just scoffed.

“You’re being selfish, Astrid. Selene needs a strong Alpha like Magnus. Why not step aside and let her have him?”

For the first time in my life, I disobeyed her.

Magnus and I were getting bonded.

At least, that was the plan.

But my mother wasn’t done yet.

At the very last moment, she increased the Pack tribute, setting the price so high it reeked of pure greed. Magnus had the wealth to cover it, but he wasn’t blind. He saw what she was doing and refused to play along.

He walked away.

I ran after him, begged him to stay.

But he never looked back.

The invitations had gone out. The Pack Elders had already given us their blessing. But none of it mattered.

Selene stepped up in my place, smiling sweetly, lowering her head, offering herself as his Luna—no strings attached. No demand for a tribute.

And just like that, she took everything that was supposed to be mine.