Chapter 2

"Eileen, are you sure about this? This isn't a game."

Sarah's voice came through the phone, full of shock and concern.

"I've never been more sure of anything," I replied softly, not wanting to wake the baby.

Later that night, after I heard Albert go into his own room, I slipped into his study. My body ached with every step, the bones protesting, but my mind was sharper than ever. If I was leaving, I was taking back what was mine.

The security panel on the study door glowed red.

I typed in a series of numbers: our mating anniversary.

BEEP. ACCESS GRANTED.

The lock clicked open. I couldn't help but scoff. A man who clung to the past so much that he wouldn't even change a password could so easily betray his present mate.

I pulled up the pack’s most confidential files: "Pack Resource Allocation."

As I scrolled, my blood ran cold.

The records were clear. My dowry—the rare moonstones and dozens of chests of top-grade healing potions from the Blood Moon Pack—was mostly listed as "depleted" or "used for border support."

But when I dug deeper, I found that Albert had secretly given almost all of it to Chloe.

I took out my phone and photographed every piece of evidence of the theft of pack assets.

Then, I did something I never would have done as his "supportive Luna." I used my Luna ring to claim my highest authority and accessed his private messages. I had always trusted him, always deferred to his status as Alpha.

Not anymore.

That's when I found the conversation that sealed his fate.

Albert: [Image]

The photo was of a plant that glowed with a soft, ethereal blue light.

Albert: Chloe, I just found a prime Moon-Soul Herb in the pack vault. It works wonders for difficult pregnancies. I'll have someone send it to you tomorrow. Don't worry, even though you're carrying that bastard's child, I'll raise the pup as my own. I won't let you suffer.

Chloe: Thank you, Albert… You’re the only one who’s ever truly cared for me. But if you give this to me, won't Eileen be upset?

Albert: She doesn't need it. Her wolf is strong enough.

I stared at the picture of the Moon-Soul Herb, my knuckles white as I gripped the phone.

I took a sharp breath, the memory of my own near-death experience during the last trimester flooding back.

Just two months ago, carrying a pup with a powerful Alpha bloodline had nearly drained my life force. There were days I could barely hold my human form.

I had begged Albert to find me a Moon-Soul Herb to stabilize my pregnancy.

And what had he told me then?

He’d held my shoulders, his voice full of gentle regret. "Eileen, one of our respected elders needs it more. Just this once, let's give it to her. I know it's a sacrifice."

And I’d believed him. I’d told myself he was an Alpha putting his pack first, that it was the right thing to do.

But it was all a lie. In his eyes, my suffering—and the life of his own son—meant less than Chloe and her child.

Albert’s hypocrisy and deceit shattered the last bit of feeling I had for him.

I quickly bundled the chat logs and sent them to Sarah, erased my digital footprints, and slipped back to the guest room.

The next morning, Albert must have felt a sliver of guilt for kicking me out. For the first time in ages, he brought me breakfast himself, a plate of my favorite French omelet.

"Eileen, did you sleep well?" he asked, trying to make peace. "I was a bit harsh last night. Here, eat something."

I sat on the edge of the bed, nursing our son, and didn't even bother to look at him. My face was a calm, distant mask. He was nothing but air to me.

My silence clearly bothered him.

Albert's expression darkened, and he opened his mouth to speak, but a piercing scream from outside cut him off.

"Albert!"