After I Died, He Finally Called Me His Fated Mate

They said a perfect luna should be gentle, obedient, and tolerant of everything.

My husband, Alpha Cedric Blackwood, said that as his luna, I had to be virtuous and generous, and I had to take good care of his "little woloves."

If anyone was led astray, it meant I, as luna, had failed to set a proper example, and I had to be punished in their place.

And so, when his adopted sister, newly graduated from Crescent Moon Academy, ran off to party at a bar and stayed out all night, I was ordered to wash clothes for the entire pack in the bitter winter cold until my hands were covered in frostbite.

When his little lover chased thrills and went alone to the border, drawing rogues to her, I was punished for poor discipline with ninety-nine lashes from a silver whip, beaten so badly that my wolf fell into a deep sleep.

When the two of them grew bored with life, went traveling together, and even stole my unlimited black card, they had barely left before their wild spending drew the attention of an enemy pack and got them kidnapped.

The news that Cedric had spent fifty million to ransom the two women was exposed, turning the Blackwood family into a laughingstock across the werewolf world.

The elders were furious and demanded that the matter be dealt with severely.

Cedric's face darkened. Then he turned around and ordered someone to tie me up.

"You knew they were young, naive, and easy to deceive, yet you deliberately gave them the black card. Weren't you trying to attract the enemy pack's attention so they would get rid of the thorns in your side?"

"A vicious, jealous she-wolf like you deserves to taste what it feels like to be kidnapped and tortured!"

But he did not know that on the first night after I was taken away, I was tortured to death.

Seraphina

My name was Seraphina Silverwood. I was once the daughter of the alpha of the Silver Moon Pack. Later, I became the fated mate of Cedric Blackwood, alpha of the Shadow Pack.

What an ironic title.

A fated mate should have been the most precious bond granted by the Moon Goddess.

But in Cedric's eyes, I was nothing more than a tool used to balance the interests of different factions, a housekeeper meant to clean up his messes.

I was something he could dispose of at will the moment he was displeased.

On the day he handed me over to the kidnappers, the great hall of the Shadow Pack was packed with people.

Cedric sat in the main seat. Those amber eyes that had once made my heart flutter did not spare me even a glance.

"Jack, take her away."

He said this to the werewolf standing in the middle of the hall.

Jack was a rogue exiled by the pack. In the past, he had made a living through kidnapping and extortion, and his body reeked of a disgusting stench. He rubbed his hands together hesitantly.

"Alpha Cedric, this... this doesn't seem right. You only just bailed me out of prison. How could I dare touch your luna..."

Before he could finish, Cedric cut him off impatiently.

"I have already decided to sever my mate bond with Seraphina. She is no longer the luna. If I tell you to take her, then take her!"

As he spoke, he gave his assistant a look.

The assistant immediately handed Jack a check for fifty million and a slip of paper.

Once Jack saw what was written on it, he grinned, revealing a mouthful of crooked, sharp fangs. As if afraid Cedric might change his mind, he hurriedly stuffed the check into his pocket.

He shoved me hard. I stumbled a few steps and nearly fell.

"Tsk. Look at that delicate skin. She looks like she can take a lot. Perfect as a punching bag for the boys."

Lilian and Kristin, Cedric's adopted sister and his little lover, both froze for a moment when they saw how brazenly he touched me.

But Cedric, seated above us, ignored it entirely. His expression was indifferent.

Only then did I finally realize.

He was not merely saying it. He truly meant to throw me into the hands of kidnappers.

Trembling, I knelt on the floor and begged him.

"Cedric, please, for the sake of our son, don't..."

Our son, Lucas, was the next alpha of the Shadow Pack.

Six months ago, Cedric had sent him abroad with the elders for training.

Several family elders nearby also felt this was inappropriate.

"Alpha Cedric, Alpha Silverwood personally went overseas to help us expand our markets. You have already stripped Seraphina of her title as luna. This punishment is enough. If Alpha Silverwood finds out you treated his daughter this way, the cooperation between our packs may fracture."

"Besides, Lucas is our next alpha. If the kidnappers do anything to Seraphina... where would that leave his dignity? You should consider this carefully!"

Hearing this, Cedric gave a cold laugh.

"Alpha Silverwood raised such an unvirtuous, jealous woman. The fact that I haven't canceled our cooperation is already giving his family face."

"As for Lucas... I am still in this position. What exactly are you implying?"

At those words, the elders exchanged glances and no longer dared to speak.

Cedric ordered the guards to hold me down. In front of everyone, he forced me to sign the papers dissolving our mate bond, then made them strip off my custom suit.

They allowed me to keep only a camisole and shorts.

Other than humiliation, I could think of no reason for it.

Was he unwilling to leave me even the last scrap of dignity?

I struggled and cried out.

"Cedric!"

But he acted as though he had not heard. He lowered his head and toyed with his ring. Only Jack laughed exaggeratedly beside me.

"You can't take it after just having your fingers bent back a little and your coat stripped off? This is nothing. Once you meet the boys later, you'll be stripped naked a dozen times a day. Better get used to it early."

Seeing this, Lilian and Kristin's pity for a fellow she-wolf overwhelmed their former resentment toward me.

They looked at each other, then both dropped to their knees and pleaded.

"Brother, the truth is, we stole the black card while Seraphina wasn't paying attention. She didn't know anything! We only lied earlier because we were scared!"

"Alpha Cedric, we were wrong. We won't dare do it again. Luna has always treated us like her own sisters. Please let her go!"

"She is a pure-blooded she-wolf from a noble family. How can you let lowborn werewolves ruin her? Please!"

When Cedric saw the two of them, who usually turned the territory upside down and refused all discipline, voluntarily admitting their mistakes and defending me, he gave a pleased smile.

"You finally understand a little about rules, unity, and affection. My efforts were not wasted."

Just as a sliver of hope rose in me, his face darkened again the next second.

"Seraphina, as luna, treating pack members kindly is your duty."

"But if you had hidden the black card properly, how could they have taken it? You cannot escape blame. They also need to remember this lesson well."

"Someone, tie her up and take her away, so she doesn't run halfway."

And just like that, the guards forcibly pinned me down as I struggled, trying desperately to catch the alpha's attention, and made me sign the documents ending our mate bond.

Sadly, even when I struggled until my hair came loose and tangled around my face, Cedric only glanced at me. He even gave a cruel, faint laugh.

At last, I fell into despair. I quieted down, let them bind my hands and feet, and was thrown into the van outside.

Jack patted my face with a grin and climbed in after me.

As the van drove out of the estate gates, I could still hear Lilian and Kristin crying.