Chapter 0004

Sylvia’s POV

Dawn light crept through Elena's guest room window, painting shadows on unfamiliar walls. I hadn't slept, the events from the jewelry store playing on an endless loop in my mind. The necklace. Astrid's tears. Raven's betrayal.

A soft knock echoed through the house.

"Sylvia?" Elena's voice carried from downstairs. "Raven's here. He's... he's been sitting at the door all night."

My wolf stirred weakly, responding to our mate's proximity despite everything. I moved to the window, and my breath caught.

There he was - the powerful Alpha of the Silver Moon pack, sitting on Elena's doorstep like a penitent wolf.

His usually immaculate clothes were wrinkled, and dark circles under his eyes matched mine. A bouquet of moon flowers - my favorites, so rare they only bloom at midnight - trembled slightly in his hands.

"Go away, Raven," I called down, hating how my voice shook.

He looked up, those dark eyes that had once held my whole world were now filled with desperation. "Please, little wolf. Just five minutes."

"You gave up your right to call me that when you gave my necklace to another woman."

"I was wrong." His voice cracked. "I was so wrong. Please, just let me explain."

Elena appeared at my side. "Want me to chase him off? I may not be an Alpha, but I can still bite."

I almost smiled. "No. I need to face this."

The walk downstairs felt endless. Each step was a battle between my heart, which still ached for him, and my pride, which screamed to remember his betrayals.

I opened the door.

Raven immediately dropped to his knees, the mighty Alpha kneeling before me. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, my love."

"Sorry for what?" My voice came out bitter. "For missing our anniversary? For abandoning me while I was bleeding? For giving my necklace to Astrid?"

"All of it. Everything." He reached for my hand. I let him take it, watching as he pressed his forehead to my knuckles - a wolf's deepest gesture of submission. "I've been a fool. I let my guilt over James cloud my judgment. But I promise you, I've fixed it."

"Fixed what?"

He looked up, hope flickering in his eyes. "Everything. I've arranged for Astrid to move to one of the pack's remote properties. I've hired the nanny you suggested. I've deleted her number and removed her from pack meetings. She'll be cared for, but she won't come between us again."

My heart stuttered. "You... you did?"

"I should have done it months ago." He pulled something from his jacket - a velvet box. "And this... I spent all night searching every jewelry store in three territories."

Inside lay a necklace almost identical to the one from yesterday. Almost, but not quite.

"I don't want a copy," I said, even as tears threatened. "I don't want another woman's leftovers."

"You're right. You deserve better." He set the box aside, still on his knees. "You've always deserved better. Do you remember when we first met? Not as adults, but as pups?"

The memory rose unbidden. Me at six years old, lost in the forbidden woods between territories. Him at eight, found me crying under a silver moon.

"You gave me your jacket," I whispered. "Led me home even though our packs were at war."

"I knew even then." His thumb traced circles on my palm. "Knew you were meant to be mine. Through all the fighting, all the politics, all the tragedy - you were my constant star."

"Until I wasn't." I pulled my hand away. "Until Astrid needed you more."

"No," he caught my fingers again. "I lost my way, but you've always been my true north. Please, little wolf. Let me make this right. Let me prove myself again."

"How?"

"I'll do anything." He pressed something else into my palm - his phone. "Look. I've already deleted her contact. Check my messages and my calls. I'm an open book to you."

I scrolled through, seeing he was telling the truth.

"The baby ceremony..." I began.

"Marcus will handle all preparations for the baby blessing ceremony," he said, hope blooming in his eyes. "I won't even attend. My place is with my Luna, celebrating our anniversary properly this time."

He reached for my hand again. "Just us, little wolf. No interruptions, no pack business, no... distractions. I swear on the moon herself."

My wolf whined softly, wanting to believe.

Memories flooded back - countless moments of joy and love before Astrid entered our lives. The way he'd held me through my father's death. The way he'd defied his own pack to mate with me.

"I need time," I said finally.

"Take all you need." He stood slowly, relief evident in every line of his body. "I'll wait forever if I have to."

I looked at the necklace again. It was beautiful, but... "I think I'll get you something too. Show you I'm willing to try."

His smile - that rare, real smile that crinkled his eyes - made my heart ache. "I love you, little wolf. Never doubt that."

I watched him leave, hope warring with caution in my chest.

After he disappeared from view, I picked up the discarded necklace box, running my fingers over the velvet.

The jewelry inside sparkled, catching the morning light—beautiful, but not quite the same as the original piece.

"Maybe I'm being too harsh," I whispered, my wolf stirring with longing. The sight of our proud Alpha on his knees, the desperation in his eyes, the way he'd spent all night searching for a replacement necklace...

"Hey." Elena squeezed my shoulder. "I know that look. You're already forgiving him, aren't you?"

"Not forgiving exactly," I said slowly, closing the box. "But maybe... maybe willing to try? "

I set the necklace box down carefully. "I think... I think I want to meet him halfway. Show him I'm willing to try too."

Elena's eyes lit up. "Shopping trip? I know just the places for Alpha-worthy gifts."

The mall was quieter than usual this early. Elena and I wandered, looking for something worthy of an Alpha, of the mate who'd just humbled himself to win me back.

A familiar voice drifted from the luxury boutique ahead.

"Oh yes, my husband is so generous."

I froze. Astrid.

"These are gorgeous pieces, madam," the saleswoman gushed. "Your husband has excellent taste."

"He does spoil me." Astrid's laugh tinkled like poison. "Especially now, with the baby."

I edged closer, staying out of sight.

"Another piece for your collection?" The saleswoman was wrapping something in silk.

"He insists. Says nothing's too good for his..." Astrid's voice dropped sweetly, "family."

My eyes fixed on the credit card in her hand as she paid. Black metal with a familiar silver moon insignia - Raven's secondary pack card.

Three months ago, he'd casually mentioned needing it back, something about pack accounting and consolidating expenses.

"Have you seen my black pack card?" he'd asked then, barely looking up from his papers. "The backup one?"

"It's in my wallet," I'd replied, already reaching for it. "Though I've barely used it."

"Good. The council wants all secondary cards recalled. Something about tighter financial controls."

I'd handed it over without a second thought. My mate is always so responsible with pack finances. Always so concerned about proper protocols.

Now I watched that same card—the one that was supposedly canceled for pack security—glinting in Astrid's manicured hands. The card he'd taken from me, his Luna, only to give to her.

All those pretty words this morning about ending their connection, about putting our marriage first... while she still had access to pack funds, to his accounts, to his trust.

"Your husband must really love you," the saleswoman smiled.

"Oh yes." Astrid caught my eye in the mirror, her smile turning razor-sharp. "He does."

The world tilted sideways. All his pretty words, his promises, his show of deleting her contact - worthless.

He didn't need her number when he was still funding her shopping sprees, still letting her call him husband.

My wolf, weak as she was, howled in agony.

I stumbled back, memories taking on new, horrific meanings:

"I've arranged for her to move..." - To a luxury property?

"I've hired a nanny..." - While giving her his credit card?

"She won't come between us..." - Because he'd hidden their connection better?

My phone buzzed - Raven, sending a photo of dinner preparations for our makeup celebration.

Another text arrived immediately after a receipt from the boutique, forwarded from his bank alert. Astrid's purchase was made seconds ago with his card.