Safe.

That was a lie. Even under Rowena's careful care, I didn't truly feel safe until the moment I first locked eyes with him-Aaron.

I had been seated at the edge of the main hall when he approached under the weight of his Alpha's responsibilities, his broad frame and commanding aura demanding attention. His golden eyes had met mine, and I'd felt it.

The bond. Instant, undeniable recognition.

My wolf, Moonlight, had surged forward in that moment, howling, crying out for him. She had known what we were to each other.

His piercing gaze had remained locked on mine, and for a fleeting second, I thought I'd seen something stir within him. But as quickly as it appeared, it vanished.

That same night, Rowena announced our mating ceremony to the pack, her excitement clear as she spoke about her son's destined mate. The healer wolf of their pack's future.

But Aaron...

"Don't make this more than it is," he had said coldly, handing me a stack of papers after the ceremony. "This bond-our mating-it's a contract, nothing more."

I'd stared at him, my breath hitching. "What?"

"My heart belongs to someone else," he continued, his voice hard. "It always has and always will. This bond doesn't change that."

I clutched the papers, scanning the terms numbly. Four years. He intended for this arrangement to end in four years. I was nothing more than a temporary solution to a problem.

"Do you understand me, Gianna?"

My hands trembled, but I nodded. What choice did I have?

It hurt. Goddess, it had hurt so much more than I thought possible. But I swallowed the pain and pressed my lips into a thin line.

"Understood, Alpha."

(Aaron's POV)

The air in the council meeting was tense, and I was no better.

I leaned back in my chair, my hands gripping the armrests tightly. Around me, the pack council droned on about election strategies, territory alignments, border patrols. It was all important. Necessary.

But my wolf refused to settle. He paced relentlessly in the corner of my mind, growling and snapping, and I couldn't focus for long without his anger boiling over.

"Beta Stellan," I barked, cutting into whatever topic had been under discussion. "Where is Gianna?"

The council members glanced at each other, some curious, others wary. Stellan kept his expression neutral as he cleared his throat.

"She's moved most of her belongings to Evander's territory," he reported. "They're currently shopping in the neutral lands."

"Shopping?" My voice came out sharper than intended, and Stellan hesitated.

"Yes, Alpha."

My wolf roared, and I clenched my fists at my sides, fighting the urge to crush something. Anything.

So, that's how it was? She couldn't even wait for the formal ceremony before prancing around neutral packs as if her position here didn't matter anymore. She didn't seem to care about our bond. About the years we had spent together as Alpha and Luna.

Another growl slipped from me, and I fixed Stellan with a hard stare. "Start hunting for any wolf named Ethan in the neighboring territories."

"Alpha?" Stellan blinked, clearly taken aback.

"Do it," I snarled. "And freeze her access to pack resources. If Gianna Moonsage is so eager to abandon her Luna position, she doesn't need Crimson Moon's privileges."

Stellan nodded reluctantly. "Understood, Alpha."

As he left the room, I slammed my hand on the table, the sound reverberating through the chamber.

My wolf snarled furiously in my head, its anger mixing with something I refused to name.

(Gianna's POV)

The shops in the neutral territory bustled with wolves from all walks of life.

The noise was overwhelming, but my best friend Evander's cheerful voice cut through it like a ray of sunlight, keeping me grounded.

He was a rare male Omega, who was also a respected healer. He had his own sanctuary in the neutral zone.

He walked beside me, a protective hand brushing my arm as we made our way through the crowded market district. "You need to pick something colorful, Gianna!" Evander teased, gesturing toward a rack of vibrant dresses. "No more of those somber Luna outfits."

I rolled my eyes lightly, smiling at his antics despite myself. "I'm not shopping for a wardrobe overhaul, Evander."

We stepped into a boutique, and I reached for my wallet as the cashier rang up a few simple supplies. But when I handed her my card, she frowned.

"I'm sorry, Luna," she said hesitantly. "This card has been declined."

My heart sank, embarrassment prickling at my skin as I quickly rummaged for another form of payment. Evander stepped forward, his warm amber eyes narrowing slightly as he turned to me.

"That's unusual. Is it a mistake?" he asked carefully.

"No," I murmured quietly, my stomach twisting. "It's Aaron. He must have canceled my access-"

Before I could finish, Evander snatched the check Aaron had given me from my hand. "What's this nonsense?" He squinted at the amount. "Fill in a billion dollars. That'll teach Mr. Broody-Alpha a lesson."

I blinked at him, caught off guard by his humor. And then, to both his shock and mine, I laughed.

"Fine," I said impulsively, grabbing a pen. With a flourish, I scribbled the amount into the blank space.

"You're actually doing it?" Evander gaped, his voice rising in disbelief. "Gianna-!"

I handed the check to the bewildered cashier, my smile widening as I spoke. "A billion for my freedom? It's a fair deal."

And as Evander burst into uncontrollable laughter beside me, I felt, for the first time in weeks, a weight lifting from my chest. Just a little. For just a moment.