Cheated by My Mate, Bound to His StepbrotherCHAPTER 1

It's been years of trying to conceive, I stumbled upon a message from a woman named Quinn on my mate Benedict's phone.

[My new nightgown feels a little tight. Maybe you could help me see if it's too small?]

Attached was a picture—a woman draped in a red silk slip, the deep V-cut leaving little to the imagination. Her golden curls cascaded over bare shoulders, and her lips were parted in a way that suggested an invitation.

My grip on the phone tightened as I scrolled up, searching for previous messages. Until now, their conversations had been formal—mostly about pack duties. I frowned.

Was this a mistake? A message meant for someone else. Or was it something far worse?

Before I could dwell on it, a strong arm snaked around my waist. The scent of pine and embers filled my nose as Benedict pressed against my back, his breath warm against my ear.

"You're snooping through my phone, sweetheart?" His voice was laced with amusement, but I wasn’t in the mood for his charm.

I turned to face him, lifting the screen between us. "Explain."

Benedict’s golden eyes flickered over the message, and instead of looking guilty, he sighed and reached for his phone. Without hesitation, he pressed Quinn’s number.

The line clicked. "Alpha Benedict," a woman’s voice purred.

"Quinn," Benedict’s voice was ice-cold. "I wasn’t aware my Beta had started offering... personal services."

A pause, then a nervous chuckle. "Oh—Alpha, I’m so sorry! That message wasn’t meant for you. I must have sent it by mistake—"

"If it happens again," he interrupted, "you’ll be out of my pack before sunrise."

He ended the call and turned back to me, his sharp features softening. "See? It was nothing."

I should have felt reassured. But something inside me—the same instinct that had kept me alive all these years—refused to let it go.

I pulled away from his grasp. "I’m tired. We can talk tomorrow."

His jaw tightened for a fraction of a second before he nodded. "Fine. I’ll be in the study."

The storm outside raged long into the night. Thunder cracked overhead, shaking the windows. When I woke, the bed was still empty beside me.

Frowning, I glanced at the clock. 3:12 AM. Still working?

I slipped on my robe and padded to the study, only to find the room dark and empty. My heart clenched.

Then my phone buzzed. A message request from an unknown number.