Chapter 2

I jolted awake to find Adrian pinning me down, reeking of alcohol, his lips smearing sloppily across my face. The stench of perfume clung to him, and there was a lipstick stain on his collar he hadn't bothered to wipe away—constant reminders that he'd been with someone else.

The thought of that mouth on another she-wolf made my stomach turn. Before I could stop myself, I slapped him across the face.

The slap sobered him halfway. He stared at me, bewildered. "Serena, it's me!"

Then, like a magician, he produced a bouquet of crystal roses from behind his back. "I'm sorry—the project meeting ran late. That's why I'm home so late. Here, these are for you. And cake."

A dainty little cake appeared before me.

Once upon a time, I might have cried with gratitude. Now all I wanted to ask was, Was your meeting in a bedroom?

But I held back, keeping my voice neutral. "Then stay out for the night. Don’t bother coming home just for me."

He pushed the cake toward me, his tone gentle. "I can't do that. I heard you were hurt and I was worried sick. Thank goodness it wasn't serious, or I'd never forgive myself."

"I need you to understand—as the Alpha, the pack has to come first."

He made himself sound so selfless, as if I were the petty one. But he didn't know I'd heard everything. His phone hadn't disconnected—every word he'd whispered to Vivian had come through crystal clear. I just hadn't seen the point in confronting him. His affair with Vivian was all over the internet; there was no way I didn't know. He saw my expression and assumed I was upset about the tabloids, so he pulled me into his arms with a laugh.

"The media will say anything for clicks. It's nothing like what they're reporting. I'm only using her family's connections to close a major deal."

"You're my only mate. Vivian's pack is hosting a celebration next week—all the major Alphas will be there. This is my one shot at turning our pack into a real power. I can't pass it up."

When I stayed silent, he played the Luna card. "You're about to become Luna. You need to think about what's best for the pack. Once I close this deal, I'll cut things off with her immediately. Can you just wait a little longer?"

Every time we argued, he pulled out the Luna lecture. I used to think he was doing it because he truly saw me as his Luna. But now? Whoever wanted that title could have it.

"Fine," I said. "I understand."

Adrian smiled and lit the candles on the cake. "Come on, make a wish."

The evening breeze slipped through an open window, making the candle flames dance and flicker across my face. This was the eighth birthday he'd spent with me. Every year, I'd wished for the same thing—a grand mating ceremony with Adrian, followed by forever.

Now the very thought disgusted me.

I closed my eyes and pressed my palms together: I wish that from now on, Serena Blake will have the courage to live for herself and never be anyone's puppet again.

I opened my eyes and blew out the candles, then looked up to find Adrian glued to his phone, typing furiously, brow furrowed like something urgent had come up. Suddenly he leaped to his feet and started throwing on clothes.

"Serena, I'm sorry—I can't stay for the cake. Something's come up with a project. I have to go."

He was out the door before I could respond. Some project. I'd seen the message—it was from Vivian, saying she was attacked by rogues in an alley and needed him immediately.

Same scenario—rogues—and his reaction couldn't have been more different. Who he truly loved was painfully obvious.

I looked at the wilting crystal roses and laughed coldly, then tossed them in the trash along with the cake.

The next morning, I went to the pack administration office to file for separation from the pack. The first thing I saw when I walked in was a wall of oil portraits—every Alpha and Luna in the pack's history. Three years ago, when Adrian took over as Alpha, he'd brought me here and pointed to a blank spot on the wall.

"Someday our portrait will hang right there. I'll have your name written in the pack's history books so you'll be remembered forever."

But I'd never wanted to be remembered. I'd only ever wanted to spend my life with the man I loved. That promised spot on the wall—I'd given up waiting.

The clerk at the desk looked startled when she saw my application. "Serena, you're the pack's Beta. You handle practically everything around here. If you leave, who's going to manage all of this?"

I smiled. "There are plenty of capable people in the pack. They'll do fine without me. Besides—I'm going home for my mating ceremony."

She studied the form, sighed, and finally relented. "I'll submit this to the Alpha. But I have to say—you're the best Beta I've ever seen. The Alpha values you deeply. Are you really giving up your career like this?"

Values me? Maybe. He felt nothing for me, yet went to such lengths to act deeply devoted in front of me—all just so I would help him run the pack, I suppose. In his eyes, that was probably all I was worth.