Chapter Two

Dinner with Juliet was as suffocating as ever.

“So… have there been any positive news from the healers concerning her ‘condition’?” Ray’s mother asked, slicing her steak as if she were cutting through my dignity.

I stiffened, fingers tightening around my fork. I had no idea why she’d invited me to her private chamber tonight, but I knew it had nothing to do with family bonding.

“Mother, please drop it,” Ray said, his tone tight.

“When are you going to face reality, Rayson?” Juliet pressed on. “You need an heir, and she can’t give you one. But since you won’t let her go… perhaps you could just marry another wife—”

“I don’t need a second wife,” Ray interrupted sharply, jaw tense.

“So you’d rather doom this pack? You’d rather let this filth—” Juliet gestured to me with her knife “—take everything away from you, from us?”

I told myself to stay quiet as usual, to endure. But the words burst from me before I could stop them.

“I am your daughter-in-law and the Luna of this pack—”

“You are nothing!” she snapped, eyes burning with hatred. “You lost every right the moment you failed to do your duty as a wife. So don’t you dare speak to me about titles.”

Ray shot me a brief, apologetic glance—but said nothing.

We had an agreement. His secret would stay buried, which meant everyone else would keep believing I was the problem. A cruel, necessary lie to protect his pride.

I rose, my chair scraping the floor. “Thank you for the dinner, Lady Juliet, but I’ll take my leave.”

Her smile was razor-sharp. “Mark my words, girl. I won’t let you ruin my son. I’d rather die than see that happen.”

 ~*~ ~*~

Later that night, I found a small note waiting on my dresser:
Meet me at the rooftop – Ray.

My heart lifted despite everything. That was where we had our first date—where he’d once promised me forever. Maybe he wanted to apologize, maybe he wanted to make things right.

I put on my dark green gown, the one he used to say brought out my eyes. I brushed out my dark brown hair, took a deep breath, and headed out.

The night air was cool as I made my way through the corridors, ignoring the pack members’ usual glares. I told myself it would be fine. That things would go back to normal.

When I reached the rooftop door, I paused to fix my hair—then pushed it open.

And froze.

Ray was standing there, pants around his ankles. A blonde knelt before him.

“F—!” he groaned, fisting his hands in her hair as she took him deeper.

The world blurred. My lungs locked. For a heartbeat, I couldn’t even feel anger—just a cold, hollow silence.

Then something inside me cracked.

I stumbled forward before I even realized what I was doing. “Ray, what are you doing!” I shouted with tears.

He jerked back like he’d been burned, shoving the woman away. “Kate—wait, it’s not—”

“Not what it looks like?” My voice came out sharp, trembling. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks exactly like what it is.”

“She—she came to me first. I didn’t plan this,” he stammered, running a hand through his hair. “It just happened.”

I laughed — a hollow, broken sound. “An accident, right? You accidentally undressed yourself? You accidentally brought her here — to our place?”

“It’s not what you think!” He stepped toward me, guilt flashing in his eyes. “I was drunk. I wasn’t thinking clearly.”

I backed away, shaking my head. “Don’t. Don’t come near me.”

“Katie, please. You have to believe me. It didn’t mean anything.”

“Didn’t mean anything?” My voice cracked. “You destroyed everything we had. You lied to me about the tests, you let me believe I was broken — and now this?”

He reached for me again, desperation in his voice. “I still love you—”

“No, Ray,” I cut him off, tears finally breaking free. “You love control. You love the way I protect your secrets. But you don’t love me.”

For a long moment, the only sound was the wind. Then I turned and walked away, leaving him standing there, half-dressed and speechless beneath the moonlight.

*****

Ray’s mother, Juliet, stood by the fire place. From the smirk on her face, it was clear who that letter was truly from.

“I told you, Kate, I would never let you ruin him. The truth is that you never deserved him, any other man would have dumped you the moment they discovered about your inability, but my son was way too kind-hearted to do so. I won’t let his kindness be taken for granted.”

“You know, ever since I came to this pack all you’ve done is make my life a living hell. I am done.” I trialed off, blinking back tears. I wasn’t going to cry, not in front of her.

“Then leave him! Get out of this pack and let my son be, he deserves better and you know it.”

“You’re right. I don’t deserve him and I never will.”