Chapter 3

A sudden, searing pain tore through my chest. The mate bond tore at me, howling, demanding answers. My face went pale instantly, and my body swayed beyond my control.

"Kath!" Derek caught me immediately, panic flooding his face. "What's wrong?"

Nearby guests glanced our way with concern.

"I..." I clutched my chest, gasping for air. "I'm fine..."

"I'm taking you to the hospital!" His voice shook.

"No." I steadied myself with effort. "It might be... the moonstone's energy. It's overwhelming me."

"The moonstone?"

"Yeah." I took a deep breath. "Its power is too strong. My body needs time to adjust."

Derek hesitated, then pulled me close. "Let's go home first. If you still feel bad, we're going to the hospital."

I looked at his worried expression and found it almost laughable. He was such a good actor. Finally, I managed a weak nod.

In the car, I leaned back against the seat with my eyes closed. The gemstone pendant burned hot beneath my clothes, desperately suppressing the mate bond's furious reaction.

"Derek," I spoke suddenly.

"Mm?"

"I heard an old legend once."

"What legend?" He held my hand.

"Alphas who betray their mates have their power taken back by the Moon Goddess."

Derek's hand stiffened around mine. The air in the car froze for several seconds. A moment later, he laughed. "Then I'm perfectly safe."

He leaned closer, looking seriously into my eyes. "Katherine, I swear I will never betray you.

"You're the most precious thing in my life." He kissed my forehead. "How could I ever betray you?"

I closed my eyes and let his lies wash over me. If I didn't know the truth, I'd probably be moved to tears.

Halfway home, Derek's private phone rang. Only the pack's inner circle and his closest contacts knew that number.

He glanced at the caller ID, and his expression changed completely.

"Stop the car," he said to our driver, David Knight.

The car pulled over to the side of the road. Derek turned to me, apology written all over his face. "Kath, there's an emergency at the border."

"What kind of emergency?"

"Rival pack invasion. I have to get there immediately." He sounded anxious. "Go home and rest. I'll be back as soon as I handle this."

"Should I go with you?"

"No, the border is dangerous." Derek opened the car door. "Get some rest. Wait for me to come back."

I got out of the car, and he quickly flagged down a cab for me. I then watched his car disappear into the night.

"Ma'am, where are we..." the driver asked.

"Follow that car." I cut him off.

"But the gentleman just said..."

"Follow it."

The driver hesitated for a second, then pressed the gas pedal. We tailed Derek's car from a distance. It didn't head toward the border. Instead, it drove to the opposite end of the city.

Finally, the car pulled into a private airfield.

"Ma'am, this is..." The driver sounded surprised.

"Stop here."

I got out and hid in the shadows of the parking lot. Derek's figure appeared on the tarmac. That was when I saw her.

Her blonde hair whipped in the night wind, and she had a body that turned heads. She wore a fitted flight attendant uniform, the skirt short enough to show off her long, slender legs. Her heels clicked crisply against the pavement.

It was the woman from the livestream, Sheila Thorne. She ran toward Derek with a smile and threw herself into his arms. He didn't push her away.

He wrapped his arm around her waist and kissed her. Under the moonlight, two figures clung tightly together. Then they walked toward the private jet together, climbed aboard, and entered the cockpit.

The cabin lights turned on. Through the window, I saw two silhouettes tangled together.

Their bodies intertwined. Her hands climbed up his neck, and he pressed her against the control panel. I turned away and stumbled back to the car.

"Ma'am, are you alright?" The driver looked at me through the rearview mirror.

I didn't answer.

"Ah." The driver sighed. "Ma'am, rich men like that are all the same. They have one at home, but keep one outside. You just... Just put up with it, and it shall pass. Making a fuss over this kind of thing isn't worth it."

I clutched the cold gemstone pendant at my chest. It felt like ice, just like my heart in this moment.

"No." My voice came out hoarse but absolutely firm. "I won't forgive this."