Chapter 001: Just A Friend

Georgia:

Today’s the 25th of March.

Our second anniversary.

Two years married to Alpha Evans — my mate, my love, the man I once swore I’d spend forever with.

I should be glowing. Smiling. Maybe a little tipsy on wine and happiness by now.

But instead… I’m pacing.

Back and forth across the living room, still wearing the dress I slipped into hours ago. The one I picked just for tonight.

The clock on the wall ticks like it’s trying to get under my skin. 11:00 PM.

An hour left of what’s supposed to be one of the happiest days of my life.

And Evans still isn’t home.

The food I slaved over is already halfway cold. The candles have burned down to stubs. And me? I’m trying not to spiral.

Where is he?

Is he okay?

Did he forget?

Or worse… is he just not coming?

I grab my phone off the couch again. I already called him forty times, but yet-

Still nothing.

I start typing out another “Where are you?” text I probably won’t send when—

The front suddenly door creaks open.

I whirl around so quickly, and oh my goddess, my heart stutters the moment I see him.

Evans.

He’s standing in the doorway, dressed in an immaculate suit, looking devastatingly handsome, like he just stepped out of a magazine.

And clutched tightly in his arms, is a box.

Is that…a gift for me?

Relief floods my chest, and a smile tugs at the corner of my lips before I can stop it.

“Oh my God, Evans..you scared me! Where have you been?” I say, practically launching myself into his arms. My arms loop around his neck like muscle memory.

But something’s off.

He doesn’t hug me back.

I pull away, blinking up at him. He’s stiff. Expression unreadable. No smile. No warmth. Just silence.

“Evans?” I whisper. “What’s wrong? Are you—”

My voice cuts out when the door swings wide open behind him.

And she walks in.

Tall. Effortlessly stunning. A body that moves like it’s been trained to be admired. And that long, glossy brunette hair? Straight off a shampoo commercial.

She doesn’t even look surprised to see me.

Just keeps walking in, like this is her house.

My blood starts to simmer.

Who the hell is she?

She stops and then gives me a slow, sugary smile-the kind that’s anything but sweet — and takes a few bold steps forward, extending a hand like we’re about to be best friends.

“Hi. I’m Anastasia,” she says, voice syrupy. “I assume Evans has already told you who I am?”

Hell no.

My gaze shoots to Evans.

“Evans,” I say, tight. “Who is she?”

He drops the pink box to the ground, and then takes a step forward, taking my hands in his.

“Uhm…She’s just a friend, Georgia,”

My brows shoot up. “A friend?”

“Yes,” he repeats, nodding. “She’s here to conduct some research in our pack. It’s nothing major. Just for a few weeks, then she’ll be gone.”

“What kind of research?”

“You don’t need to stress about it,darling.” he says with a smile. “It’s actually important, and trust me, it’ll benefit this pack. As the Alpha, I already approved the research that will be conducted by her and her team.”

I blink slowly, forcing a smile that doesn’t reach my eyes.

“Lovely,” I say. Then I gently pull my hand from his and turn to her. “In that case, you can call the pack’s Beta. He’ll take you to the guest house where your team is staying.”

Evans clears his throat behind me.

“Uhm… no, baby. She’ll be staying here. With us. For the two weeks.”

“What?!” My face goes cold. I turn to him slowly, every part of me stiff with disbelief.

“Hell no, Evans. You don’t just bring a woman into our home without telling me…let alone have her stay here! What were you thinking?”

“Come on, Georgia. Why not? Don’t tell me you’re feeling insecure.”

“Insecure?” I practically bark out a laugh. “Me?”

I’m fuming now.

“Evans, only the goddess knows where the hell you’ve been all day! I called you over forty times! And you ignored every single one!”

His expression softens—fake or real, I can’t tell—and he reaches for me.

“I’m sorry, Georgia. I swear I was going to come back sooner, but-"

“But what?” I snap, stepping away from him like his touch burns.

My chest tightens, rage and heartbreak boiling inside me like oil over fire.

Then I hear him say, “W… what’s that?”

He’s looking past me now, toward the table. His gaze flickers over the carefully set dishes, the soft candles, the bottles of wine. The petals. The effort. The love.

I swallow hard.

“Those?” I say quietly. “Those were for us, Evans. Today’s our wedding anniversary.”

His eyes go wide. “Oh my God…”

“Y..you forgot?”

“I.. I’m really sorry. It must’ve slipped my mind.” He scratches the back of his neck, looking everywhere but at me. “I’ve been swamped with pack duties all day.”

I nod slowly, biting the inside of my cheek to keep it together.

“It’s fine. The day’s not over yet. We can still celebrate.”

But then his expression shifts.

That look. That guilt-wrapped-in-apologies look.

My stomach sinks.

No. Goddess, no.

“I’m sorry, Georgia,” he says again. “But I need to get Anastasia settled in. She’s our guest, and… it’s important we make a good impression.”

He flashes me a smile like it’s supposed to fix things.

“But hey..don’t worry. I’ll make it up to you. What do you want? A hundred thousand dollars? Two hundred?”

I blink. Then scoff.

Wow. Wow.

My husband just blew off our anniversary to play host to another woman..and now he’s trying to buy me off? Like love is something you can trade for cash?

“You seriously think money makes this okay?”

“Georgia—”

“Oh yeah, perfect!,” I cut in, my voice sweet as poison.

I turn to the woman who’s been watching us the whole time like this is some kind of soap opera.

Anastasia’s standing there with a smirk that makes my skin crawl. The kind of smirk you want to slap clean off someone’s face.

She tilts her head, syrupy and fake and then says,

“Would you be a dear and help me with my luggage? They’re still in Evans’ car, and I figured you’d be kind enough to help carry them in.”

Another smirk.

I stare her down, forcing a smile that doesn’t come close to touching my eyes.

“I’m not your maid,” I say coolly. “You’ve got hands, sweetheart. I’m sure they’ll come in handy when you’re hauling your things yourself.”

She blinks, and I don’t wait for her comeback.

My legs are trembling with anger as I spin on my heels, march straight to the table, and grab one of the big trays—still full of the food I made for us. For a night that clearly meant nothing to him.

I storm toward the kitchen without looking back.

The anniversary dinner is officially over.

Let the maids eat it. Or throw it out.

I don’t care anymore.

But as I reach the kitchen door, ready to push it open, voices filter through the gap.

“Did you see the model-looking lady Alpha Evans brought in tonight?” one voice says.

“I did,” another replies. “Can’t imagine how Luna Georgia must be feeling right now.”

Oh, I’ll tell you how I’m feeling.

Like trash. Like I’ve been run over emotionally, then reverse-parked on.

I’m seconds from storming in and shutting down the gossip when something else stops me cold.

“Do you know Anastasia is Alpha Evans’ first love?” the first voice asks.

“You mean the one who ditched him for that richer Alpha?”

“Exactly,” she whispers. “And I think they’re back together. Anastasia posted a photo of them super close and cozy, on her I*******m four hours ago.”

My breath catches.

And just like that…

My heart drops.

Heavy and hard..like it’s crashing through my ribs and straight into the pit of my stomach.