CHAPTER 1

Crystal's POV

"How should I ride you? Rough or soft?"

A husky and breathless voice drifts out of my bedroom door, making me freeze dead in my tracks.

That's definitely not my husband, Ethan's voice.

I drop the wine bottle I'm holding on the living room stool, my brows furrowing together. Or did I imagine it?

I mean, who could be role-playing a biker in my matrimonial bedroom? Riding rough and—?

"Oh, yes!" Loud moans break through the wall yet again, cutting my thoughts off.

"Faster, Ethan! Please!" It gets even louder.

And that's when I hear it— the wet sound of flesh hitting flesh hard and fast, accompanied by low groans that sound like Ethan's voice.

Dread tightens my gut, and my heart starts to pound hard in my ears.

Is Ethan trying to prank me or something? On our wedding anniversary?

But then... that feminine moan. That huskiness in the voice. There's something about it that sounds too real.

Too familiar.

My feet move on autopilot, trembling with panic as I double up the stairs till I reach the room. Without a second thought, I push the door open.

And then, my world crashes.

For a second, I stand riveted to a spot, unable to blink or breathe as I watch Ethan thrust hard into another woman on our bed.

He's too hooked to notice my presence.

I feel like my heart is being clawed out of my chest and thrown into a burning furnace.

Throughout our four years of marriage, I've never known Ethan to be so engrossed in sex. If he doesn't get distracted by work at his company, then it's pack duties.

You see, Ethan is not just one of the biggest CEOs in Silvercrest Pack, but he's also a major stakeholder in the pack's council, and honestly, I think he wants the Alpha position too.

He's been working so hard for it since the current Alpha's got a terminal illness, and his sons are in other Packs overseas, showing zero interest in taking the throne.

So, yeah, that's all Ethan ever devotes his time to— Pack politics.

When it comes to being intimate with me, he never spends more than five minutes, no foreplay, no actual "lovemaking".

Just bland, boring sex. 

But now, I'm watching him sweat so hard, using all his strength to pleasure another woman.

Is she that good?

I flick my gaze to the woman. Her blonde hair spills across the pillow — my pillow, her long legs wrapping around Ethan's waist.

Then my gaze catches the tattoo on her hip.

My blood freezes.

A Blondie with a python tattoo on her hips — oh moon goddess be my guide! Serena? 

My eyes widen with disbelief and horror.

Just why? No, how? How can my husband be sleeping with my stepsister?

Bile rises in my throat, tears burning the corner of my eyes.  It is all so overwhelming that I feel like my head is about to explode.

"Am I interrupting anything?" The words burst through my lips.

Ethan freezes instantly, his head whipping towards me. And for one beautiful second, I see panic and guilt flash across his face.

"Crystal !" Shock cuts through his voice as he tries to scramble off Serena.

But the worst happens.

Serena actually pushes him back to the bed and climbs over him to straddle him. Then she looks me straight in the eyes with a cruel smile.

"Hey, little sis."

For a split second, I want to believe that I'm seeing things wrongly.

Like, how can my very own step sister whom I haven't seen in four years be seriously smiling at me while sitting naked on my husband's dick?

I swallow hard. 

What the hell is wrong with her?

I swear I want to hit her— pounce hard on her and tear my nails through her scalp to bring her senses back.

But the ache in my chest is pulling me apart. My legs stay glued to the ground. 

I can't fucking move.

Finally, Ethan pushes her off and grabs his boxers. "Crystal , This— this isn't—I can explain—"

"Explain?" My voice comes out steady. Too steady. Like I'm watching this nightmare happen to someone else. 

"Please explain why your dick is inside my sister on our anniversary."

God! I can't even laugh at the humour.

Never in my life did I think our fourth wedding anniversary would turn into my darkest nightmare.

Four years of marriage. Four years of perfectly timed ovulation apps and negative pregnancy tests. 

Four years of watching my college mates post their gender reveals while my uterus remained stubbornly empty because my husband is always too busy with work.

Four years of being treated like trash by Ethan's family because I couldn't give him a child.

Adopting our daughter, Talia, only made things worse. They never fail to remind me that she isn't mine...even in public. 

Serena's  derisive snort slices through my train of thought.

"Don't be so dramatic, sister." She begins, flicking her hair and making no move to cover her nudity.

"You really didn't think Ethan would be satisfied with a barren and wolfless omega like you?" 

My jaws clench tight, but I don't utter a word. How can she be so brazen and shameless?

"No way!" She cackles spitefully. "I can't believe you really thought he wouldn't search for his true fated mate." 

My heart does a flip over. No! She can't be serious. She can't be Ethan's fated mate.

"Yeah, that's right. I'm his fated mate and we found out three years ago." 

My mind sank to the pit of my stomach as her words hit me like a physical blow. I wince hard, my face turning pale.

What in the moon goddess's name is this?

Ethan found his fated mate three years ago, and not only did he hide it from me, but she's also my sister?

"Oh, goddess." My voice breaks as I turn to Ethan, searching his face. 

This is the same man that promised to love me forever. He swore it didn't matter if I didn't have a wolf.

He promised to never look for his fated mate.

"Tell me it's a lie. Please." My voice sounds so small, so "not me"

And I hate it.

But I can't help it. My heart is shattering silently in my chest and I can't hold the tears anymore.

Ethan and I met in college. He pursued me relentlessly until I gave in. I believed the moon goddess had blessed me with my soulmate.

I believed nothing and nobody could ever get between us.

What a fool I was.

"Ethan, tell me this is all a joke. You took a day off work to celebrate our anniversary. You said you needed no fated mate. I was enough for you. This can't be—" I choke on my tears.

Serena bursts into a sardonic laughter. "Oh, please, Crystal . Stop the pity party. You know Ethan doesn't desire you enough to take a day off work." 

"Serena!" Ethan shrieks. "Look, Crystal , don't listen to her. This is a mistake and—" 

"I don't wanna hear it!" I cut him off.

I turn to Serena— her face brimming with hate and malice. Right from the time my mom married her dad, she hated me with passion.

She always wanted what was mine throughout high school and even till she left Moonbloom. But never did I think she'd come back and deal me the biggest blow.

When did she even come back to the Pack? How did she meet Ethan? 

Different questions run through my head but I refuse to let Serena see how much I'm breaking apart.

"Get out of my house, now!" I snap at her, keeping my poise intact.

"Alright." She scoffs mockingly. "I guess my time's up. By the way, thanks for helping me take care of my daughter, Talia, for three years." 

My heart stops.