By the time I reached the hallway, my hands were shaking. The image of his calm, detached expression lingered in my mind.
So this was what I had become to him.
Not his future Luna.
Not his mate.
Just a link to a powerful, wealthy pack. A convenient alliance.
That night, moonlight filtered gently into my room, casting soft shadows along the walls. I sat quietly at the edge of my bed, watching the shifting shapes while my wolf stirred restlessly inside me.
I didn’t plan what I did next.
I simply followed the ache in my chest, the faint bond that still pulled me toward him, even when it hurt.
Barefoot and silent, I walked down the hallway toward his quarters.
The scent reached me first.
Vanilla and rosewater.
Not mine.
Not the earthy scent that usually surrounded him.
Then I heard voices.
Soft, breathy sounds. A woman’s moan. And then—
His voice.
“Victoria… you’re incredible. So much better than Brielle. She just lies there like a lifeless log.”
The words cut through me like silver.
I froze outside the door, my breath trapped in my throat. My hands went cold, my heart skipping before shattering all at once.
I didn’t move.
I didn’t even cry at first.
I just stood there, numb, listening to the sounds of betrayal spilling through the door.
Inside me, my wolf let out a broken howl—rage, heartbreak, disbelief tangled together. I pressed my hand over my mouth, forcing back the sob threatening to escape, then turned and ran down the hallway, my bare feet silent against the marble floor.
By the time I reached my room, tears blurred my vision. My body trembled as I grabbed my phone, my fingers shaking so badly I nearly dropped it.
I dialed my brother.
He answered after two rings, his voice warm and steady. “Brielle? It’s late. Is everything alright?”
Hearing him broke whatever control I had left.
“Benedict…” My voice cracked. “He… he betrayed me.”
“What?” His tone sharpened immediately. “Who?”
“Alpha Xavier,” I whispered, choking on my tears. “He… he didn’t show up at our wedding because he was saving his child. With another woman. Victoria—his childhood sweetheart. She has his son. He’s been lying to me the entire time.”
Silence followed.
A dangerous silence filled with restrained fury.
“He did what?” Benedict’s voice dropped, his Alpha authority bleeding through. I could almost feel his power surge even through the phone. “I’ll gather our warriors right now. He won’t get away with this, Sam.”