Despite being the fated mate recognized by Alpha Lucian's wolf, Selene remains a prisoner in all but name, reduced to a fertile surrogate for his barren Luna Seraphina. When her second newborn is torn from her arms at the umbilical cut, Selene realizes that submission will never buy her children's affection or her own freedom.
Suppressing her maternal agony, Selene feigns total obedience while secretly mapping the pack's boundary wards and stockpiling silver dust. When the clan gathers for the infant's naming ceremony, she severs the mystical mate bond, vanishing into the wilderness and leaving the arrogant Alpha to drown in devastating regret.
