Returned Gifts

(Audrey's POV)

My heart pounded as I smoothed down my robe and hastily tied my hair back. Victoria Moonstone was here—with a jewelry box. Could it possibly be the necklace I had seen in the video?

I moved toward the staircase, eager to confront Arthur's stepsister, when a tall figure suddenly blocked my path. Arthur stood at the top of the stairs, his broad shoulders tense, his dark eyes watching me carefully.

"Where are you going?" he asked, his voice deceptively casual.

"Mary said Victoria is here to see me," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "Apparently she has something to return."

Arthur's jaw tightened. "I'll handle Victoria. You don't need to come down."

"She asked for me specifically," I countered, studying his reaction. "She's returning something that belongs to me."

"Audrey," Arthur said, his tone shifting to that authoritative Alpha voice he used when giving pack orders. "Stay upstairs. I'll bring whatever it is to you."

"I'm coming down," I stated firmly, sidestepping him.

Arthur's hand shot out, catching my wrist. Not roughly, but with enough pressure to make his intent clear. "Audrey—"

I met his gaze steadily. "Let go, Arthur."

After a tense moment, he released me with a barely concealed scowl and descended the stairs ahead of me. I followed close behind, watching his every movement, cataloging his unusual tension.

Victoria Moonstone stood in our living room, looking immaculate as always. Her blonde hair cascaded in perfect waves down her back, her designer outfit clinging to her slim figure. A velvet jewelry box sat on the coffee table in front of her.

"Arthur!" Victoria's face lit up when she saw my mate, her eyes barely acknowledging my presence. "And Audrey. Good morning."

"Victoria," Arthur greeted, his voice noticeably softer than it had been moments ago with me. "What brings you here so early?"

Victoria smiled sweetly, lifting a glass of lemonade Mary must have served her. "I wanted to return—"

The glass tilted in her hand, lemonade splashing down the front of her cream blouse.

"Oh!" she gasped dramatically, setting the glass down with a clatter.

Arthur was at her side instantly, concern etched on his face as he grabbed a napkin from the coffee table. "Are you alright? Here, let me help you—"

I watched in stunned silence as Arthur Moonstone, the fearsome Alpha King who rarely showed emotion even in private, fussed over Victoria like she was made of glass. He dabbed at her blouse with the napkin, his movements gentle, protective.

"It might stain," he said, his brow furrowed with worry.

Mary Bennett appeared with a towel, her efficient manner a stark contrast to Arthur's frantic attention. "It's just lemonade, Alpha," she said, offering the towel to Victoria. "It won't stain if cleaned quickly."

Arthur ignored Mary, continuing to dab at Victoria's blouse himself.

"I don't think I've ever seen you this concerned when I spill something," I remarked, unable to keep the edge from my voice. "I must not be doing it dramatically enough."

Arthur's hands froze. He straightened, suddenly aware of how his behavior must look. His expression shifted, closing off that rare display of concern.

"Victoria has always been clumsy," he said coolly, stepping back. "A trait she never outgrew."

Victoria's perfect lips curved into a pout. "That's not very nice, Arthur." She dabbed at her blouse with Mary's towel. "I came here to do something nice, and this is how you treat me?"

"What exactly did you come to return?" I asked, my eyes fixed on the velvet box.

Victoria's gaze slid to mine, something calculating behind her smile. She picked up the box and held it out to me. "This belongs to you, I believe."

I took the box, feeling Arthur's eyes on me as I opened it. Inside lay the necklace—a stunning gold chain with a moonstone pendant, exactly like the one in the video. My stomach twisted.

"Thank you," I managed, my voice tight. "How did you come to have it?"

Victoria's eyes flickered toward Arthur before returning to me. "Arthur gave it to me yesterday, but when I learned it was your anniversary gift, I insisted on returning it." She touched her throat delicately. "I couldn't possibly keep something meant for the Luna."

The night before, when I'd confronted Arthur about the necklace, he'd claimed it was for Lucas. Now Victoria was standing here, confirming my suspicions that he'd lied.

Arthur cleared his throat. "It's just a trinket," he said dismissively. "I'll get you a better one, Audrey."

Grace growled inside me. Just a trinket? After I'd admired it for months?

"No need," I said, my fingers closing around the box. "This one is perfect."

Victoria watched our exchange, her smile never reaching her eyes. "Well, I should be going. I have an appointment at the therapy center." She turned to Arthur, touching his arm lightly. "Thank you again for being so supportive during my divorce. I don't know what I'd do without you."

Arthur nodded stiffly. "Family takes care of family."

I felt like an outsider witnessing an intimate moment that excluded me completely. The way they looked at each other spoke of shared history, of something deeper than step-siblings should share.

After Victoria left, escorted to the door by Mary, I turned to Arthur, the jewelry box clutched in my hand.

"You lied to me," I said quietly. "You told me the necklace was for Lucas."

Arthur ran a hand through his dark hair, his expression guarded. "I didn't want to upset you."

"By telling me you gave my anniversary gift to your stepsister?" I challenged.

Before I could react, Arthur closed the distance between us. His lips captured mine in a demanding kiss, effectively silencing my accusations. His hand cradled the back of my head, his body pressing mine against the wall. For a moment, I was lost in the familiar heat of him, my wolf responding to her mate despite my anger.

I pushed against his chest, breaking the kiss. "Don't do that," I said breathlessly. "Don't try to distract me."

Arthur's dark eyes studied me, his thumb tracing my lower lip. "Fine. I lied about Lucas," he admitted. "Victoria just ended her mating bond with that merchant wolf. She needed something to cheer her up."

"On our anniversary," I pointed out, stepping away from his touch.

His expression softened, something rare for the usually stoic Alpha. "You know my obligations to Victoria. Katherine sacrificed everything for me."

I nodded slowly. Everyone in the pack knew the story—how Katherine had thrown herself between young Arthur and an assassin's silver dagger laced with wolfsbane. The double poisoning had put her in a coma that lasted to this day.

"I know what Katherine did," I said softly. "But that doesn't explain why you lied to me about the necklace."

Arthur's face darkened with old pain. "Victoria was just a child when her mother fell into that coma. She's had a hard life, Audrey."

"So giving her my anniversary gift was what—compensation?" I asked.

"It wasn't your gift yet," Arthur countered. "And Victoria needed something positive after her divorce. The merchant wolf left her with nothing."

I wanted to believe him. Wanted to accept that his concern for Victoria was merely familial duty, repayment of an old debt. Yet something didn't feel right. The way he had rushed to her side, the gentle touch that he rarely showed even with me...

"I understand family obligations," I said finally, though my wolf whined in disagreement. "But I don't appreciate being lied to."

Arthur seemed relieved by my partial acceptance. He touched my cheek briefly. "I have to go. Pack business. We'll talk more tonight."

After he left, I carried the necklace upstairs, putting it away in my jewelry box rather than wearing it. Somehow, knowing Victoria had touched it, had possibly worn it, made me reluctant to place it around my neck.

Grace paced restlessly inside me, sensing my unease. "It's nothing," I whispered to her. "Just hormones."

The thought of our pups growing inside me brought a fresh wave of anxiety. I needed to tell Arthur soon, but after last night and this morning's revelations, I wasn't sure how.

I showered and dressed for work, pushing my personal concerns aside as I prepared for my day at the Moonstone Therapy Center. As the senior therapist, I'd built the mental health program from nothing, focusing especially on helping omega wolves who often suffered trauma in the rigid pack hierarchy.

The therapy center had been my sanctuary, the one place where I'd earned respect through my own merit rather than as Arthur's mate. And now, with the announcement of a new Clinical Director position overseeing the center's expansion, I finally had a chance at real recognition.

Sarah Mitchell was waiting for me at my office when I arrived, her wild hair pulled back in a messy bun, tattoos peeking out from under her professional blazer. As a lone wolf who'd chosen independence over pack life, Sarah understood better than most how important this promotion was to me.

"Big day," she grinned, perching on the edge of my desk. "Nervous?"

I set my bag down, trying to ignore the morning sickness that threatened to overtake me. "A little. But I've earned this, Sarah. Everyone knows I built this program."

"Hell yeah, you did," Sarah agreed, her fierce loyalty one of the reasons I loved her. "The announcement should come through any minute now."

As if on cue, both our phones pinged with an email notification. The official announcement from the pack council regarding the new Clinical Director position.

I opened it, my heart pounding with anticipation. This was my moment, my chance to prove my worth beyond being Arthur's mate.

My eyes scanned the message, and the blood drained from my face.

"What the hell?" Sarah exclaimed, reading her own copy. "This can't be right!"

But it was there in black and white. The Moonstone Pack Council was pleased to announce Victoria Moonstone as the new Clinical Director of the therapy center's expanding mental health practice.

Not me. Victoria.