Chapter 2

I stepped out of the Obsidian Fang Pack House, the icy wind slicing through my coat like sharpened claws, burrowing into my skin until it numbed me to the bone. Five hours. That’s how long I stood beneath the flickering streetlights, my breath fogging in the cold air as I watched the windows of Bloodfang Enterprises, waiting. The office lights blinked out one by one until only a single floor remained illuminated. My fingers curled into fists, my nails biting into my palms. Finally, Alpha Kael appeared.

The moment his eyes landed on me, he leaned toward Nyra Raventhorn, the Beta at his side, whispering something close to her ear. She giggled, her hand lingering on his forearm for a fraction too long before stepping away. He turned toward me then, his features schooled into something warm, something that might have convinced me once. Before I knew better. Before I understood what that warmth masked.

His arms enveloped me, but I felt nothing.

"When did you get here? Why didn’t you come inside?" His voice was laced with concern, but I could hear the careful control in it, the effort he made to sound affectionate.

"I’m fine," I lied, forcing a small smile. "I just wanted to bring you dinner, but your Beta said you’d already eaten."

A faint crease appeared between his brows, his grip tightening just slightly before he let out a soft sigh. "You shouldn’t push yourself when you’re not feeling well. I’d feel awful if you wore yourself out." He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a familiar bottle, the label unmistakable. Suppressants.

"By the way, Fenrir dropped off your dose. You’re almost out, aren’t you?"

My fingers closed around the container without a word. The capsule rattled inside, hollow as the silence between us. I slipped it into my bag, feeling the weight of it settle like a stone. Winter’s frost still clung to my coat, but Kael’s touch had long since gone cold.

When we arrived home, Kael barely gave me time to take off my coat before he pulled me down onto the couch, his hands skimming my sides with urgency. His lips hovered dangerously close to my marking spot, the place where our bond should have made us inseparable. I pressed a hand against his chest, firm, unyielding.

A flicker of irritation crossed his face, but he smoothed it away with practiced ease, his voice turning soft.

"What’s wrong? Haven’t you always wanted a pup?"

"Not tonight." My tone was steady, controlled. "I’m not feeling well. Maybe next time."

Instantly, his desire evaporated. Without another word, he rose to his feet, his frustration palpable. The bathroom door clicked shut behind him, and the sound of running water filled the space between us.

Moments later, a familiar vibration hummed across the table. Kael’s phone. I stared at it for a moment before reaching for it, my fingers moving before my mind caught up. The screen lit up with a name I already knew too well. Hot Kitten.

The passcode was easy to guess. Nyra’s birthday. The messages unfurled before me like a slow-burning fire, scorching away the last remnants of any doubt I had left.

[Alpha, rooftop date?]

[Goblin, wait for me.]

[Alpha, how about tonight in the back of the patrol SUV? It’s parked right under your quarters. I’ve never tried it before.]

[Not afraid of getting caught? Guess I’ll have to risk it for my Beta.]

[Alpha, I really want to be part of that new foreign alliance project…]

[No problem. Impress me tonight and it’s yours.]

A bitter taste settled on my tongue as I forced myself to keep scrolling. Every major Pack alliance, every high-profile project Kael had undertaken in the past five years—Nyra’s name was attached to all of them. She wasn’t just his mistress. She was his shadow, woven into every inch of his life. To keep her happy, he had handed an Omega a false Pack rank just so she could act as the face of Nyra’s campaign. The final contract date? Nyra’s birthday. There were countless auction receipts, each one listing extravagant gifts—necklaces, rings, rare gemstones—all purchased under the guise of "Pack donations."

Kael’s so-called hidden love wasn’t hidden at all. It was carved into every action, stitched into the very fabric of our Pack. The same brands of jewelry he once claimed to have picked for me, the same gestures that had once made me believe I was cherished—had all been meant for her.

Everything had become a weapon he used to cut me down. I let out a slow breath, then laughed. The sound was sharp, brittle, like the cracking of ice over a frozen lake. I didn’t need to read another word. Reaching for my phone, I typed in the contact I had saved for weeks now—the Pack’s legal representative.

"I’d like to proceed with the Pack separation papers."

What was mine would remain mine. No one—not Kael, not Nyra, not anyone—would take it from me. The night passed without sleep. At dawn, I showered, dressed, and prepared myself for the day ahead. Just as I stepped out of the bathroom, my phone rang. Kael’s voice drifted through the speaker, his tone tinged with mild confusion. "Selene, what did you book?" I pulled the phone away from my ear, my expression unreadable. "Nothing important. Just a grooming appointment. Didn’t you say I should present myself better as your Luna?"

A chuckle rumbled through the receiver, low and pleased. "That’s my girl. You’ll be the most stunning she-wolf at the next Pack gathering." There was an ease in his voice, as if he believed everything would go back to normal. As if he had already won.

"There’s a meeting at the Pack House today. I better get going," I said smoothly.

He pulled me into his arms, nuzzling against my scent gland, breathing me in.

"My mate is the most beautiful she-wolf in the world, even without trying. Marking you was the best decision I ever made."

I smiled faintly but said nothing. Some lies no longer hurt—because I had already decided to leave.