The Betrayal

_Elsa’s POV_

The silver tray in my hands felt heavier than usual as I made my way through the crowded ballroom. The championship celebration was in full swing and the air buzzed with excitement and expensive perfume.

“Elsa,” Luna Martha harsh voice cut through the noise. “Take this envelope to the stage manager. Caleb will be making his announcement soon.”

My heart fluttered as I took the cream-colored envelope from her perfectly manicured hands. This was it. The moment I’d been waiting for. Caleb had won the championship game, scored the winning goal in overtime, and now he was going to announce our relationship to everyone.

I smoothed down my black server’s dress and made my way toward the stage. The pack members were already gathering, champagne glasses in hand, their faces bright with celebration. I spotted some of the hockey team near the front, still riding high from their victory.

The stage manager barely glanced at me as I handed him the envelope. “Another speech,” he muttered, but he took it and disappeared behind the curtain.

I found a spot along the wall where I could see the stage clearly. My hands were shaking with nerves and excitement. In just a few minutes, everything would change. I would no longer be just Elsa the maid. I would be Elsa, the future Alpha’s mate.

The lights lowered, and Caleb stepped onto the stage.

My breath caught in my throat. He looked incredible in his black tuxedo, his blonde hair perfectly styled, his green eyes bright under the stage lights. He commanded the room’s attention without even trying, every inch the future Alpha he was born to be.

“Thank you all for coming tonight,” he began, his voice carrying easily across the silent ballroom. “What a night to celebrate! Our team brought home the championship trophy, and I couldn’t be prouder of what we accomplished together.”

The crowd erupted in cheers and applause. Caleb waited for the noise to die down before continuing.

“But tonight isn’t just about hockey,” he said, and my heart started pounding. “Tonight is about the future. About the choices that will shape our pack for generations to come.”

This was it. This was the moment he would tell everyone about us.

“Which is why I’m thrilled to announce that I’ve found my fated mate.”

The words hit me like a physical blow. Fated mate? But that was impossible. We weren’t fated mates, we were chosen mates. We had chosen each other.

“Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome my beautiful mate, Crystal.”

The world suddenly stopped spinning.

Crystal stepped onto the stage in a stunning white gown, her red hair cascading over her shoulders like fire. She was radiant, glowing with happiness as Caleb took her hand and pulled her close.

“Crystal and I felt the mate bond last night,” Caleb continued, his voice warm and loving as he gazed down at her. “The Moon Goddess has blessed us with this perfect match, and I couldn’t be happier.”

The crowd was going wild, but I couldn’t hear them anymore. All I could hear was the sound of my heart shattering into a million pieces.

Last night. Last night, while I was counting down the hours until this moment, Caleb was feeling the mate bond with another woman. While I was dreaming about our future together, he was falling in love with someone else.

“We’ll be mated next month,” Caleb announced, wrapping his arm around Crystal’s waist. “And I know she’ll make an incredible Luna for our pack.”

I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think. I could only stare at the stage in horror as Caleb kissed Crystal, sealing their engagement in front of everyone.

The tray slipped from my numb fingers, crashing to the floor with a loud clatter. Several people turned to look at me, but I barely noticed. All I could see was Caleb on that stage, holding another woman, promising her everything he had promised me.

Before I knew what I was doing, I was pushing through the crowd, my vision blurred with tears. I had to get to him. I had to make him explain. This had to be some kind of mistake.

“Caleb!” I called out when I reached the front of the stage. “Caleb, I need to speak with you!”

He looked down at me, and for a split second, I saw something flicker in his eyes. Guilt? Regret? But then his expression hardened, becoming cold and distant.

“I’m sorry, miss,” he said formally, like he didn’t even know me. “But now isn’t the time for requests from the staff.”

Staff. He called me staff.

“Please,” I said, my voice breaking. “Just give me five minutes. I need to talk to you about—”

“About what?” Caleb’s voice was harsh now, cutting. “About your fantasies? About whatever delusion you’ve been living in?”

The crowd had gone quiet, sensing drama. I could feel hundreds of eyes on me, but I didn’t care. Nothing mattered except getting Caleb to remember what we had.

“You said you loved me,” I whispered, loud enough for him to hear. “Last night, you said—”

“I said what you wanted to hear,” Caleb interrupted, his voice cruel. “Did you really think I would ever claim a maid as my Luna? Did you actually believe I would choose you over my fated mate?”

The words hit me like slaps to the face. Around us, people were starting to murmur, putting the pieces together. Some were laughing, finding amusement in the pathetic maid who thought she could land the Alpha’s son.

“But you promised,” I said, my voice barely audible. “You promised me—”

“I promised you nothing,” Caleb said coldly. “Whatever you think happened between us was just… stress relief. A way to pass the time. Nothing more.”

Crystal was looking between us with confusion and growing anger. “Caleb, what is she talking about?”

“Nothing important,” Caleb said, not taking his eyes off me. “Just a delusional servant who needs to be reminded of her place.”

The humiliation was suffocating. I felt like I was drowning in shame and heartbreak, surrounded by people who saw me as nothing more than entertainment.

But then the hurt transformed into something else. Something hot and fierce and dangerous.

Rage.

I grabbed a champagne bottle from a nearby table, my hands moving before my brain could catch up. The bottle felt solid in my grip as I raised it above my head.

“You lying bastard!” I screamed, and brought the bottle down on Caleb’s head.

The glass exploded on impact, champagne and blood spraying everywhere. Caleb stumbled backward, his hand going to his head as he stared at me in shock. Crystal screamed and the crowd erupted in chaos.

But I was already running.

I pushed through the panicking crowd, my heart pounding as I fled toward the exit. Behind me, I could hear Caleb shouting orders, his voice thick with pain and fury.

“Stop her! Don’t let her get away!”

Heavy footsteps thundered after me as his guards gave chase. I kicked off my shoes and ran barefoot across the floor, my dress tearing as I pushed through the front doors and out into the night.

The cold air hit my face like a slap, but I didn’t stop running. I couldn’t stop.

Two years. Two years of my life wasted on a man who saw me as nothing more than a toy.