When the Alpha Lost His Luna

In the fourth year of our arranged marriage, Nathaniel still loved that fragile human, Sophia, his fated mate.

Even though I was his wife now, it didn't matter.

After Sophia got injured, he even wanted to drain half his blood for her.

Alpha blood had strong healing powers. It could prevent scars from forming on her wounds.

Sophia shattered the keepsake my grandmother left me.

Yet he grabbed me by the throat and forced me to apologize to Sophia.

To make him happy, I chose to break the mate bond and leave on my own.

Two months later, he found me in Paris and begged me to come back to him.

But he didn't know. I had found my fated mate.

Amelia Johnson POV

On the phone, Moore, my father's beta, had a calm and professional voice.

"Amelia, Alpha Silas has carefully considered your proposal. He admits that Nathaniel has done far too much for that human, things a qualified alpha heir shouldn't do. Therefore, the cooperation with Moonclaw Pack can be terminated. You can leave Moonclaw Pack after that ridiculous marriage contract expires and go anywhere you want."

His voice paused, taking on a hint of amusement.

"If the money isn't enough, you'll have to talk to your father yourself."

"Thank you for your help, Moore."

I hung up and looked at the enormous photo hanging in the center of the living room wall.

In the picture, I wore a formal dress, standing beside Nathaniel.

That was the only time in my life I dared to stand so brazenly close to Nathaniel.

Yet his expression was so cold.

Love or the lack of it needed no words. It hung there, naked and obvious.

"It's finally going to end."

I sighed.

Four years ago, my father sent me to Moonclaw Pack for an arranged marriage when I was twenty-two and still hadn't found my fated mate.

After arriving, I learned that Nathaniel had already found his fated mate.

It's just that his fated mate was human, a human that Nathaniel's father, Alpha William, refused to accept.

So Alpha William ordered him to give up that human and be with me.

On my wedding night, there was no tenderness, only Nathaniel's cold, cutting words and a ridiculous marriage contract.

"Amelia, remember your place. This is just an arranged marriage between us. And this arrangement only lasts four years. During these four years, do what you're supposed to do and don't fantasize about anything that doesn't belong to you. After four years, give up your position to its rightful owner."

Back then, I naively thought that four years would be enough to warm a block of ice.

I thought we could become mates who loved each other.

But four years passed, and I finally understood: some ice would never melt for me.

A soft sound at the door interrupted my thoughts.

Nathaniel was home.

His tall figure brought a sharp chill as he stepped inside. I took a deep breath and went to meet him.

I took his coat and hung it up.

I knelt down in front of him, opened the shoe cabinet, and took out a pair of soft house slippers.

I had practiced this routine for four years.

Nathaniel had long grown accustomed to it all. He loosened his tie and tossed it carelessly on the shoe cabinet:

"Next month is the pack's full moon festival. Don't forget to attend."

My movements as I changed his shoes froze for a moment.

I shook my head gently:

"I'll probably be busy that day. I won't go."

After that day, I would no longer be Nathaniel's mate.

But I couldn't bring myself to say those words.

Hearing this, Nathaniel's brows furrowed immediately.

"What are you throwing a tantrum about now?"

His voice was full of impatience.

"Because I've been spending more time with Sophia lately? Amelia, I warned you on the first day of our marriage. Don't fantasize about things that don't belong to you. And put away that pathetic victim act. It only disgusts me."

I was simply preparing to disappear completely from his world after the contract expired, to never be an eyesore again.

Yet he thought I was protesting his kindness toward Sophia in this way.

I opened my mouth but ultimately said nothing.

Nathaniel's phone rang.

He glanced at the caller ID, and his expression instantly softened. A tenderness he had never shown me.

Sophia's crying came through the receiver. Nathaniel asked nervously and gently:

"Sophia? What's wrong? Don't cry, take your time."

Sophia on the other end seemed to be saying something intermittently.

Nathaniel kept comforting her:

"Don't be afraid, I'm here. Where are you now? Okay, I'll be right there!"

He hung up and didn't even glance at me still kneeling on the floor. He grabbed his car keys and rushed outside.

He moved so urgently that his shoulder slammed hard into me.

I was already off-balance, and this powerful impact sent my body stumbling backward uncontrollably.

My forehead struck hard against the sharp corner of the door frame. Searing pain exploded from my temple, and stars burst before my eyes.

But Nathaniel's figure had already disappeared outside the door. He rushed into the cold night without even a backward glance.

The huge house instantly fell silent.

I supported myself against the wall and slowly stood up. The pain at my temple made me dizzy.

I walked to the mirror in the entryway and looked at the pale-faced woman in the reflection.

I wore a blue floral dress, looking docile and harmless.

But I wasn't always like this.

I was my father's favorite child, inheriting his combat talents. I could shift at sixteen and beat down those guys who drooled after me.

I never imagined becoming someone's mate, bearing his children, managing a household.

For four years, I had disguised myself as a weak, unthreatening woman.

All to win Nathaniel's love.

It was laughable, but I had to do it to maintain the alliance between our packs.

I was an alpha's daughter. This was my duty.

At least it would all end soon.

It wasn't until late at night that my phone rang.

It was Nathaniel.

I answered.

His voice came through, completely flat:

"Come to the hospital."

I instinctively asked:

"What happened? Are you hurt?"

"Come and you'll see."

The call was mercilessly disconnected, leaving only the cold dial tone.

Without thinking, I grabbed a coat and rushed out.

The night wind was freezing. I drove at top speed all the way.

What could have happened?

Was it an accident with Sophia? Or was it him?

I arrived at the hospital as fast as I could.

From a distance, I immediately saw Nathaniel in the hospital room, holding the crying Sophia and comforting her.

They were embracing tightly. The scene felt so ironic, as if I, who had rushed here, was the third party.

Amelia Johnson POV

The air in the corridor felt especially cold because of the disinfectant smell.

I stood there, feeling like all the blood in my body had been frozen by this chill.

I watched the two people embracing tightly in the distance.

Nathaniel lowered his head, softly comforting Sophia who was crying in his arms. The lines of his profile were as gentle as if he were a different person.

That was the tenderness I hadn't earned even after four years.

I could barely breathe.

It took me a long time to move my stiffened legs again, walking toward them step by step.

Nathaniel heard the sound and looked up.

The moment he saw me, the tenderness that flashed in his eyes quickly faded, replaced again by that familiar coldness.

"What happened?"

I forced myself to speak.

Nathaniel looked at me with those terrifyingly calm eyes and spoke slowly:

"Sophia had an accident. The wound is long, and she's lost a lot of blood."

I instinctively asked:

"What?"

"She needs a blood transfusion."

Nathaniel looked at me as if stating a fact as mundane as the weather, completely unrelated to her:

"My blood can not only save her but also prevent the wound from scarring."

"You want to give her your blood?!"

Alpha blood did indeed have powerful healing abilities.

But that didn't mean it should be used at times like this, especially not for the reason of preventing a human from having scars.

This was absurd.

He would go this far for Sophia?

"I didn't call you here for your opinion."

Nathaniel coldly interrupted me.

"Just to inform you."

"Nathaniel, you can't do this!" I stepped forward, my voice trembling with urgency. "Losing a large amount of blood is dangerous even for you. This is too risky!"

"Dangerous?" A mocking smile curved Nathaniel's lips. "That's none of your concern. My decisions aren't for you to question."

"I'm your mate!" The words burst out, carrying a desperation I hadn't even noticed in myself.

"Mate?" The mockery in his eyes deepened. "Remember your place, Amelia. You're just a conveniently suitable arranged marriage partner when I needed one. Now, move aside."

I see.

So my only value as his mate was to be a silent background prop when told he'd decided to risk himself for another woman.

How ironic.

"Fine."

I stepped back, feeling all the strength drain from my body.

Nathaniel released Sophia and helped her sit in a nearby chair.

He comforted her with gentle words, then turned and strode toward the treatment room.

Just as the door was about to close, I called out:

"Nathaniel!"

He stopped and turned to look at me without emotion.

For a moment, I wanted to ask him:

In these four years, did you ever care for me, even for a second?

But meeting those cold eyes, I knew the answer would only disappoint me more.

In the end, I only said:

"Be safe."

His gaze seemed to flicker slightly, but he said nothing in the end.

He turned and went to give blood without hesitation.

I finally understood completely.

His love for Sophia was profound enough that he would give his precious blood for her.

And my four years of devotion and waiting were nothing but a joke.

In the corridor, I sat on the cold bench.

Sophia walked out of the hospital room, wiped away her tears, sat down beside me, and spoke in a gentle tone:

"I'm sorry for troubling Nathaniel again because of me. You know, when I first learned about you, I was really angry. But he said you were just a tool he used to deal with Alpha William. With you around, Alpha William wouldn't make things difficult for me, and I could have more freedom."

I knew what this meant.

Alpha William was an extremely strict werewolf alpha.

He didn't allow any female werewolves to leave the pack, or even go to bars alone.

He was even stricter with Nathaniel's mate.

He forbade me from leaving the pack, required me to wait at home when Nathaniel returned, demanded I personally take care of all of Nathaniel's needs.

So Nathaniel knew this life was restrictive, but he didn't care about me, so he couldn't see my pain.

"You know what? One year, he secretly flew to Paris just because I casually mentioned I liked a certain vintage pendant that was about to be released."

Sophia smiled and continued to provoke me.

"But I was still angry at the time, so I threw the jewelry box right back at him."

I remembered that pendant.

When Nathaniel returned from Paris that time, he casually tossed an exquisite velvet box to me, his tone indifferent:

"Someone gave it to me. I don't like it. You deal with it."

I was so happy when I opened it and saw the necklace.

I thought it was the first and only gift he'd ever given me.

I treasured it at the bottom of my jewelry box, never daring to wear it, often taking it out and looking at it for hours.

It turned out that what I treasured was just the garbage Sophia had disdainfully thrown away.

"And another time,"

Sophia's voice drifted over leisurely,

"I was in a bad mood late at night and posted something really sad on social media. Guess what? He actually flew to New York overnight to be with me. Even though I didn't want to see him, he stood in the rain all night."

I remembered that time. When Nathaniel came back from his business trip, he was soaking wet and pressed me hard beneath him, taking me fiercely.

I naively thought at the time that it was proof of his longing for me after our separation, a breakthrough in our relationship.

It turned out that wasn't love at all, much less genuine feeling.

It was just him venting all his unfulfilled desire for another woman on me, a substitute he could use whenever he wanted.

"These four years,"

Sophia's voice was full of pride,

"I ignored him, wanted him to give up, but Nathaniel pursued relentlessly. Every day he had someone send me a bouquet of lisianthus."

The flower language of lisianthus is unchanging love, eternal waiting.

I felt dizzy and disoriented.

He didn't like having any plants in the house. He said he was allergic, so I, who had always loved fresh flowers, hadn't bought a single one in four years.

Yet he easily ordered flowers for someone else for four entire years.

I was a complete fool.

Four years of arranged marriage, an elaborately planned deception.

"I'm leaving."

I didn't want to hear her continue.

I stood up and pushed through the hospital doors, finally breaking into a run.

I was afraid that one second later, I would completely drown in this four-year-long fantasy.

Amelia Johnson POV

After escaping from the hospital, I locked myself in the villa for three whole days.

So the pendant I had carefully treasured was someone else's discarded garbage.

So what I thought was passion was just a tool for venting.

So my joyful late-night companionship was just witnessing a prolonged confession.

Four years, one thousand four hundred and sixty days: I had become a complete substitute, a shadow.

Not even a shadow, just an insignificant background prop in his love story.

On the fourth day, Beta Henry knocked on my door:

"Amelia, Alpha William wants you and sir to remember to attend the gathering tonight."

I didn't refuse.

This was Moonclaw Pack's rule: a monthly banquet, rain or shine.

I spent a long time using thick concealer to hide the exhaustion and pallor on my face.

I changed into a proper long dress and played the role of Nathaniel's gentle and virtuous mate once again.

This would be the last time.

In the evening, Nathaniel came home, his face slightly paler than usual but still upright.

Seeing me, he only nodded faintly as a greeting, then went straight upstairs to change.

From beginning to end, he didn't ask why I had suddenly left that day or how I'd been these past few days.

As if I were just a prop needed to attend the banquet together.

The pack's council hall was built large and usually served the function of hosting banquets as well.

The huge dining table was filled with pack members, but the atmosphere was as oppressive as always.

No one dared to make noise around the stern and rigid Alpha William.

Nathaniel's father, Alpha William, sat at the head of the table.

Halfway through the meal, an elder spoke up with concern:

"Nathaniel, you and Amelia have been together for four years. Why hasn't she gotten pregnant yet?"

At these words, everyone's gaze focused on my flat abdomen.

Oh no.

Nathaniel put down his utensils and wiped the corner of his mouth with a napkin, his tone indifferent:

"No rush."

These three casual words instantly ignited Alpha William's fury. He slammed his fork heavily on the table.

"No rush?!"

William glared at him.

"You're already thirty years old. How much longer do you want to wait? Amelia, as Nathaniel's mate, don't you have any sense of responsibility?!"

The attack instantly turned toward me.

I put down my fork, stood up, and bowed my head slightly:

"Dad, it's my fault."

"Of course it's your fault!"

William's voice grew even harsher. His sharp gaze cut into me like a knife.

"I heard that a few days ago, Nathaniel gave a lot of blood for that human woman! Alpha blood is so precious and powerful. How can it be casually given to others, especially to a fragile human?! You're his mate and you were there. Why didn't you stop him from doing something so dangerous and reckless?!"

"Dad, this was my own decision."

Nathaniel frowned and spoke up.

"You shut up!"

William scolded.

"You don't get to speak here! Amelia, you've been married to Nathaniel for four years without bearing an heir for the pack. Now you can't even take care of Nathaniel's health, letting him deplete himself for some damned human! You're failing completely as a mate!"

Yes, this was another reason I decided not to continue the marriage arrangement.

This Alpha William was even more domineering and tyrannical than a king.

Especially, he hated all women.

That included me, of course.

He believed women should stay obediently at home, locked up in chains, only needed to bear children.

So his mate, that brave Luna, tried to resist and ultimately chose suicide.

The death of his fated mate only intensified this tyrant's obsession.

In these four years, I had endured too many such insults. I hadn't planned to respond.

But William gestured to a nearby servant.

The servant immediately brought over a bowl of dark, bitter-smelling medicine.

"This is medicine I specially had the healer prepare for you. It will help you get pregnant. Drink it!"

William commanded.

I looked at the bowl of medicine, my stomach churning.

For the first time, I chose to resist.

"Dad, I'm sorry. I won't drink this medicine."

Everyone was shocked, including Nathaniel, who looked at me with surprise.

William's face turned ashen. He pointed at my nose and roared:

"You dare defy me! Are you challenging Moonclaw Pack's rules? Guards!"

Two tall guards immediately stepped forward.

"Take her to the yard! Give her ten lashes with the silver whip!"

I didn't resist, letting the guards drag me out.

From beginning to end, Nathaniel just sat there, watching coldly.

He didn't even say a word in my defense, only looking away the moment I was taken out.

As if what was about to happen in the yard had nothing to do with him.

The late autumn night was bitterly cold.

William was always strict. He had established many rules.

This wasn't my first time being punished, but it would be my last.

Wounds left by silver weapons were difficult to heal. The cold penetrated through the wounds into my bones, making me shiver all over, yet I also felt a burning pain spreading.

Through the study window, I could clearly see Nathaniel's silhouette.

He didn't come out. He sat on the study sofa, holding his phone and making a call.

I couldn't see his expression, but I could imagine that the person on the other end must be Sophia.

Time passed minute by minute. The intense pain and cold from my back gradually blurred my consciousness.

After the whipping ended, I felt my body growing colder and heavier, and the scene before my eyes began to spin.

In the second before I completely lost consciousness, I saw Nathaniel in the study finally hang up the phone, stand up, and draw the curtains.

He completely shut out my last shred of hope.

So he simply didn't care.

Everything went black.

Then nothing.