The Veil of Betrayal

The sharp ache in my neck was the first thing I felt as consciousness pulled me from the depths. Every beat of my heart seemed to pulse directly into the wound, a constant, throbbing reminder of what Duncan had done. I forced my eyes open, blinking against the faint light streaming through the curtains. I was still on the floor, curled up at the foot of the staircase, my skin slick with cold sweat. Memories of last night crashed over me, one after another. The full moon, the looming shadows outside, Duncan’s tortured form, and then… his bite.

My hand flew to my neck, fingers grazing the faint indentations left by his fangs. It was barely a mark, yet it burned with an unfamiliar heat that felt as though it had seeped into my very blood. I pulled myself up, leaning against the wall to steady my legs. My emotions were a tangled mess of anger, confusion, and something else I couldn’t quite name. Did he even realize what marking me meant? Or had his wolf completely taken over?

“Wait.” A voice called out and I turned to stare at Melissa as she walked in. Her dress was the same as yesterday when she had left. I stared at her and the images of her running out as she clenched her arm came back to me. Her arm seemed fine. “ Don't tell me you slept down here, did you?” Melissa asked and I immediately knew what she was worried about.

“ Of course not. I slept in my room, ma'am. I remember what you said.” I answered watching as a smile formed on Melissa's lips.

“ You better. If you want to get the money that we promised you.” Melissa said before walking off.

After taking my bath and changing into fresh clothes, I came down immediately trying to get the house in order. The entire house was in a mess but it didn't faze me at all. I was already used to it in my pack. While I was cleaning, my eyes caught sight of Duncan as the door opened. I froze immediately wondering what to do as he entered.

“ Melissa?” Duncan asked as he walked inside making me tense.

Was he avoiding eye contact with me?

“ Honey, I'm back,” Melissa answered as she walked down the stairs dressed beautifully.

“ We need to talk. The elders of the pack-” Duncan started taking Melissa's hand in his as she walked down the stairs.

I took the hint to slip away to the kitchen, giving us all a bit of space. Minutes later, the three of us settled around the table for breakfast. As I'd guessed, Duncan's gaze stayed firmly away from mine. I looked down, absently picking at my slice of bread, only to find it dry. I reached for the strawberry jam, but just as my fingers brushed the jar, Duncan's hand touched mine. He froze, staring at me for a beat before pulling his hand back abruptly.

“I’m finished. Thanks for breakfast,” he muttered, his voice flat, as he stood up abruptly, not meeting my gaze. His chair scraped loudly against the floor as he made his escape, leaving me sitting there, the silence in his wake deafening.

I stared at the empty space where he’d been, the bitter taste of rejection lingering in my mouth. What had that meant? Why did his touch feel so distant after he had marked me yesterday? Before I could dwell on it, Melissa’s voice snapped me back to reality.

“We will be holding our engagement party here this evening. This house better shine by then. No mistakes, understood?” she said, her tone sharp and commanding. I nodded numbly, watching as she walked out of the room, the weight of her words sinking in.

As the evening settled in, I couldn't help but watch the powerful Alphas pour into the party, each one exuding strength and confidence as I watched from the stairs hiding. The atmosphere was vibrant, the room lit with beauty and elegance, and for a moment, I longed to join them. But I knew my presence had to remain a secret, a quiet shadow amidst the celebration, bound by the constraints of the contract.

Everywhere I looked, faces shimmered with charm, but none could rival Melissa’s beauty. My eyes scanned the crowd, searching for the one who mattered most. Duncan. However, he was nowhere to be found. My gaze fell on my father instead, a cold knot forming in my chest as I watched him laugh and flirt with yet one of the Omegas who were waiting at the party.

"Come on, let's have a drink. I’m sure you could use one too," my father murmured in the Omega's ear, his words dripping with something unsettling. I could sense her discomfort, and it sent a spike of anger through me. My fist clenched tightly, and I moved to step forward, ready to intervene, but then Emmett arrived.

I quickly ducked, hiding in a corner as I did my best to stay hidden from his view. I wasn’t sure what Emmett said to my father, but a few moments later, the room was filled with the sound of loud applause. My heart skipped a beat as I looked up and saw Duncan enter, wearing a sharp white suit that made him look impossibly handsome. His presence commanded the room, and it was clear that everyone else was as mesmerized by him as I was. However, Melissa was in his arms again.

Seeing them together made it clear to me. There was no way that I stood a chance even though he had marked me.

“ Congratulations.” Everyone said as they walked up to Melissa and Duncan.

Melissa's smile seemed fake, and I wanted more than to reveal the truth about her; however, I didn't have any proof of her relationship with Emmett. A while later, Melissa slipped out of Duncan's arms, and I searched around for Emmett, realizing that he was also missing. Seeing this as my opportunity, I watched as Melissa headed outside the house, and I followed her to the garden. The garden was huge so I knew I had to be careful unless I would get lost. Making my way towards where they were quietly, I gasped in shock as I saw them kissing passionately, their bodies entwined with each other.

A gasp escaped before I could stop it, and my hand shot to my mouth in an attempt to silence myself. I turned to flee, but my path was blocked as I bumped into someone. Duncan stood there, his gaze as cold and unforgiving as stone. My heart raced as I realized that Duncan would see them.

“Mr. Duncan, perhaps we should—”

“How long have you known?” Duncan’s words sliced through the tension, leaving me speechless.

“W-what?” I managed, my mind struggling to process what he had just said.

Had he known all along that his fiancée had been betraying him?