“For three years, my family's merchant wealth filled the empty vaults of the Obsidian Pack. I was their Luna, bleeding to keep them afloat. But my Alpha mate, Xander, spent my gold on his childhood friend Serena, while his mother secretly fed me Wolfsbane mixed with silver dust to destroy my fertility. They drained my private dowry to buy Serena a mansion and plotted to kill me so she could take my place. When I suffered a severe hemorrhage from their poison, Xander's mother locked my door and priced a cheap pine coffin for me. Even when I risked my life to save a royal pup and got crushed by a burning silver beam, Xander only rushed to comfort Serena's fake tears. "Look what you are doing! You are cruel, Wynne." He used his Alpha Command to force me to my knees, accusing me of bullying a sick orphan while my own flesh was melting from the silver. I didn't marry up; I bought him. I gave them everything, but they treated my life like worthless dirt to make room for his true love. I finally realized that this mate bond was nothing but a rotting chain around my neck. When the Supreme Luna asked what royal grace I desired for saving the pup, I dragged my bleeding, ruined body to the center of the hall. "I ask for permission to reject my Alpha, Xander." I spoke calmly, ready to tear down his pack brick by brick.”