The Alpha’s Second Choice

I had been excited for the journey with my husband, Marek Wolfhart, and our daughter, Lunara. I hoped a few peaceful days away from the pack would mend the distance growing between us.

But on the morning we were meant to leave, Marek abandoned us without warning.

I reached for him through the mindlink, hurt and confused, yet his response was cold.

Something came up with pack matters, Lyanna. Just leave without me and stop making trouble out of everything.

Still, Lunara and I continued the journey alone.

Later, while waiting at the airfield, I absentmindedly scrolled through my crystal mirror feed until a post from Araminta—my so-called closest friend—made my blood run cold.

Thanks for taking me to paradise, M.

The words burned into my mind.

The post showed Araminta smiling along a sunny shore, looking smug and carefree. In one picture, Marek’s hand was entwined with hers.

I would recognize my mate’s hand anywhere.

For years, I had struggled to keep our family together while Marek chased after her, neglecting both Lunara and me. I gripped the mirror stone so tightly my fingers trembled.

The worst came the following day.

After Lunara and I settled into the Moon Tide resort, I stepped away briefly to bathe. During that time, someone sent Lunara a message crystal claiming there was sweetbread waiting for us at the front hall.

She went alone.

The food had moonnut oil in it—something she had always been deathly allergic to.

By the time they found her struggling for breath, it was too late.

Losing my daughter shattered something inside me.

That was the moment I finally chose myself. I severed my mate bond with Marek and walked away from the lies. But not long after, a truth surfaced—one that destroyed what little remained of him.

And by the time Marek understood the full weight of his betrayal, it was already too late.

**

On the seventh day, I finally returned home with Lunara’s coffin.

Everything felt unreal, as though my soul had left my body days ago and only an empty shell remained.

I had stopped trying to reach Marek after every mindlink attempt was blocked and every messenger wolf returned unanswered. During the worst moment of my life, my mate had been nowhere to be found.

Looking back now, I should have expected it.

Marek had always vanished whenever I needed him most.

A bitter laugh escaped me as I stepped inside the manor. I had truly been foolish enough to believe he would someday become the husband and father we deserved.

The house felt unbearably quiet.

My gaze drifted toward the sitting room where I used to teach Lunara her letters beside the fireplace. Then toward the garden where she chased butterflies beneath the moonflowers.

And finally—

Her bedroom.

The small blankets. The scattered toys. The little wooden wolf figurines she loved so much.

The memories closed around me like claws.

Dizzy, I reached for the wall to steady myself.

“Luna Lyanna!” one of the maids cried as several hurried toward me.

“Please sit down—someone fetch water!”

I pressed trembling fingers against my temple.

“No,” I whispered weakly. “Take me to my chambers… and move all of Lunara’s belongings to the attic. Everything. I cannot bear to look at them right now.”

The maids exchanged uneasy glances before carefully guiding me upstairs.

But halfway there, voices echoed from the lower hall.

I froze.

Marek.

And Araminta.

My jaw tightened immediately.

Marek was helping Araminta onto the sofa, her arm wrapped around his shoulders. Both of them still wore light beach garments, their hair tousled by sea wind.

They had only just returned.

When Marek noticed me, his eyes shifted away almost instantly. Araminta looked startled for only a second before forcing on a guilty expression.

“Lyanna, I’m so sorry,” Araminta said softly. “I slipped near the cliffs and injured my knee. Marek insisted on helping me—”

“Enough, Lyanna,” Marek interrupted sharply before she could finish. “Do not start causing trouble.”

He focused entirely on Araminta while ordering the servants to bring bandages and healing herbs, as though I did not even exist.

My chest tightened painfully.

“Causing trouble?” I repeated. “You claimed pack duties kept you away. So why were you with her?”

Marek sighed heavily, already irritated.

“Answer me, Marek!”

“Oh, come now,” he muttered dismissively. “I promised Araminta first. Lunara could have traveled another time. Why are you making such a massive issue out of this?”

My hands curled into fists.

“You promised Lunara,” I said, my voice shaking. “You promised our daughter.”

Marek looked momentarily surprised by my outburst.

Perhaps because I had endured every disappointment in silence until now.

“Why must you always behave so dramatically?” he snapped.

“This is why I cannot stand speaking with you. You make me feel trapped every time. I said I would make it up to both of you eventually. Lunara would have understood.”

Understood?

My grief turned ice-cold.

A hollow laugh escaped my lips.

“You cannot make it up to her anymore, Marek.” My voice cracked. “Lunara is dead.”

His expression darkened instantly.

Then anger flashed across his face.

“You are disgusting,” he growled. “How dare you lie about your own pup’s death just to guilt me?”

I stared at him in disbelief.

Even now… he still refused to believe me.

Before I could speak, Araminta stepped forward with fake concern painted across her face.

“Lyanna, I know I should not have asked Marek to come with me,” she said gently, “but saying something like that is dangerous. Speaking death over your own child could invite the Moon Goddess’s wrath.”

The innocence in her voice made my blood boil.

This was the same woman who once swore there was nothing between her and my mate. The same woman who cried and played victim while destroying my family behind my back.

I had stayed silent for Lunara’s sake.

But now she was standing there, pretending my daughter’s death was some cruel lie.

Rage exploded inside me.

Before I could stop myself, my hand struck her across the face with a sharp crack that echoed through the entire hall.