Betrayed By My Mate Saved By His Rival

For our seventh anniversary, my mate, Alpha Ethan, sent my daughter and me to the Moon Goddess Altar.

He told me it was a surprise—to give our daughter her dream of watching a meteor shower from the highest peak in the territory.

But Ethan never came. The protective runes at my feet sputtered, then died. The ground beneath us began to crumble.

My daughter screamed, her small body sliding toward the abyss. I lunged, grabbing her hand just before she went over the edge.

I screamed his name through our mind-link. Ninety-nine times, he refused to answer.

On my hundredth cry, the link didn't just open—it was ripped wide.

It wasn’t his voice that answered. It was his senses, flooding mine.

I saw it all. Him. Another she-wolf. And him, buried deep inside of her.

"I knew you loved me, Ethan," her sickly-sweet voice purred. "You even sacrificed Marcus, just to save our Leo from the soul-sickness. I'll do anything for you."

Ethan’s voice was velvet and ice.

"Stop. If Sera hadn't betrayed me, you never would have had the chance to carry my heir. Once I get rid of her other pup—Jullian's bastard—we can be perfect again."

My world shattered.

My son... Rogues. I'd always believed rogues had stolen him. But it was his own father. He sacrificed him for a lie.

With my last ounce of strength, I called Julian.

"I'm breaking my bond with Ethan," I snarled into the new link. "Make me your Luna. In return, I will help you burn his pack to the ground."

The Moon Festival. Our seventh anniversary. My mate, Alpha Ethan, promised me a surprise. He sent his Beta to escort me and our daughter to the Moon Goddess Altar, perched on the highest cliff of our territory.

I thought he was finally giving our daughter, Lydia, her biggest wish—to see a meteor shower from the place closest to the Goddess herself. I was a fool. I never imagined he was sending our daughter to die.

Just minutes ago, I was carrying my daughter up the steep stone steps, following the Beta.

The height made my head spin, but a smile was plastered on my face.

I thought Ethan and I would soon be watching the stars together.

"Mommy, when is Daddy coming?" Lydia whispered, her arms tight around my neck.

"Soon, baby. Very soon."

The moment our feet hit the platform, the protective runes etched into the stone flared once, a brilliant silver.

Then, they went dark.

The altar shook violently. Lydia was thrown from my arms, sliding toward the cliff's edge.

"HELP!" I screamed in terror.

I glanced back for help, but the guards had already pulled back to a safe distance, their faces impassive. No one moved.

Below, the river churned like a hungry beast.

My wolf was screaming. Howling in terror.

I desperately reached for Ethan through our mind link. We were fated mates. Nothing was supposed to sever that connection.

I screamed for him. Again. And