Fake Dating the Future Alpha

"Back me up at Lunara Estate. I'll throw in extra."

The wolf tilted his head. "You that sure of yourself?"

I just grinned. Damn right I was.

Because Lunara Estate? It belonged to my father.

Mack had no clue the broke girl juggling loans and part-time gigs was actually the Stormhowl Pack's Alpha's daughter. It was the North's most dominant pack.

To claim it, I had to stay off-grid in the South for a year. No names. No power plays.

Dad said I couldn't reveal who I was.

He never said I couldn't wreck a mutt who needed humbling.

Since Mack was dumb enough to flash that smug face at me, slapping it felt like a personal favor to the Moon Goddess.

I squeezed the wolf's hand. "Name."

"Caden." He smirked, rubbing his jaw. "If we're hitting him in the face, I'll need clothes that don't reek of roadkill."

"No problem."

I hauled him straight to the mall.

Got him a sharp outfit—just not the high-end kind. Had to keep up the broke, dumped college girl act alive.

***

7:00 p.m., Lunara Estate ballroom.

Mack and Winona were all smug smiles, basking in their Frostmoon crowd.

The second they spotted us, their faces warped like they'd sniffed something foul.

"Whoa, you actually showed up? Guess broke wolves really DON'T feel shame," Mack scoffed.

Caden hit him with a cold stare.

His eyes flicked to the so-called "vintage red" in Mack's grip.

"This kind of chemical backwash? We use it to scrub toilets back home."

Mack's jaw locked. "You hillbilly! That's an '82 Lafite!"

"Yeah? Looks more like '82 Sprite mixed with grape juice." Caden smirked. "Real Lafite doesn't streak like that. Color's off, too. You got played, mutt."

The room buzzed with whispers.

Mack's voice cracked. "Guards! Get these two out—"

"Hold up."

I stepped forward and unclasped the necklace from my neck.

My dad gave it to me on my fourteenth—right after I got my wolf. Worth over a mil.

To Mack? Just some dollar store bling.

I launched it straight at his face.

Too slow. It hit his wine glass with a solid thunk. Red splashed all over him.

"My suits!" Mack shrieked.

"Chill. Just making a little noise." I flicked a $100 bill at him. "Here. For your eyes—and maybe get that brain checked."

Winona snorted. "What, throwing knockoff jewelry now? That's your move? Pathetic."

But Frostmoon Pack's Alpha went ghost-white.

"Is that... one of the two Lunara Tears?"

His finger shook, aimed right at the gemstone on the dripping necklace Caden had fished out.

Gasps cut through the ballroom.

Mack and Winona didn't recognize it—but their Alpha's face said it all.

They paled too.

I didn't even look their way. Just hooked my arm through Caden's.

"Let's bounce, love. Air's too filthy. Kills my appetite."

Caden looked down at me, something flickering behind his eyes—unreadable.

Outside the estate, I let out a hard breath.

That felt incredible... but now what?

My billion-dollar trust? Locked behind my dad's clearance. And the last of my actual cash? I'd spent it getting Caden suited up for tonight.

I was broke. And homeless.

"So... can I crash at your place tonight?" I asked, trying to play it cool.

Caden's grin was pure trouble. "My place is basically a junkyard. Think a high-class wolf like you can survive that?"

"I'm not high-class! I'm broke!" I shot back.

What I didn't know? Caden was playing the same game.