Chapter 1

I stood outside the door to the study, holding a plate of deer meat that was still dripping with fresh blood.

It was instinctual for an expectant she-wolf to crave sources of energy, but at that moment, I felt my stomach roiling with nausea.

However, it wasn't due to the scent of blood, but because of the conversation happening in the study.

"Alpha, you sure are ruthless," the Beta of the pack, Marcus Foster, said, voice deliberately pitched very low, "Aurora is so loyal to you, yet because you want to protect Vivian, you're treating her as nothing but a breeding tool?"

Dominic Carlton's indifferent reply chilled me down to my very bones.

"Vivian is an Omega, so her body won't be able to cope with the energy needed to sustain a pup, and she'll die. Nonetheless, she needs to have a strong pup to stabilise her position in Jason's family.

"As for Aurora… Once the pup is born, I'll tell her that it died at birth. After that, I'll use losing the pup as an excuse to chase her out of the territory. Either that, or shut her up forever!"

Marcus was silent for several seconds before he finally sighed. "As long as you don't regret your actions, Alpha. Deceiving one's mate will incur punishment from the Moon Goddess, you know."

I heard Dominic laugh lightly.

"For the sake of protecting Vivian, I'm willing to endure any and all punishment."

My fingers had gone pale from the force of my gripping the plate, the porcelain edges digging deep into my skin. Yet, I didn't feel even a shred of pain.

Inside me, I heard my wolf howling, the sound filled with the anguish of betrayal, at having the person we trusted the most stab us in the back.

Four years. For the past four years, I had thought that Dominic was my savior.

On the day of my marking ceremony, my fated mate, Jason Potter, was found cheating on me with Vivian Tallow, my younger sister, on the altar. This resulted in me becoming the biggest joke of the pack.

It was Dominic, the powerful Alpha of our pack, who marked me right there before the crowd, thereby defending my tattered dignity.

After marking me, he was completely devoted to me, doing everything I told him to.

Using my acute sense of smell, I helped him seize a mining vein and even aided him in taking over the nearby territories.

I had assumed that we were a perfectly matched mated pair, equals in all aspects. I had thought that those tender, passionate nights and loving care during my pregnancy were real moments between us.

As it turned out, I was nothing but a living, breathing vessel he was keeping around for reproductive purposes only.

I didn't barge into the study to demand answers. After all, I was a proud she-wolf, not some rabid dog snapping at everyone in sight.

Turning around, I carefully concealed my scent and silently left that corridor. Upon returning to the bedroom, I tossed the deer meat into the trash before dry-heaving nonstop over the toilet bowl.

Once my nausea had subsided somewhat, I gazed into the mirror at my reflection. There was an unhealthy pallor to my skin, and I could see that the love in my eyes was slowly cracking.

At that moment, the sound of heavy footsteps rang out from downstairs. Shortly after, Dominic entered the bedroom. When he spotted me curled up on the couch, his brows furrowed slightly in a small frown, but he quickly put on the same loving mask I had seen for the past four years.

"Why didn't you turn on the lights, my dear Aurora?"

As he came closer, I detected the faint scent of cigar smoke on him, along with the overpowering scent of his cologne. Hidden beneath it was a disgustingly sweet stench that I instantly recognized as the same smell Vivian gave off when she was in heat.

"You okay? The maids told me that you didn't eat dinner." Getting down on one knee, he placed a large hand over my icy abdomen. "No matter what, you shouldn't starve our pup."

I stared at him intently, taking in the perfect mask he had made for himself.

Since he wanted to put on an act, there was no way I would lose to him.

Blinking, I pushed down the murderous intent in my eyes and curled my lips into a weak smile.

"I'm fine, Dominic, just a little tired. The pup was rather active today, so I don't really have an appetite."

Dominic sighed in relief before kissing my forehead. "Be good now. For the sake of our pup, make sure to eat your meals and get proper rest."

I thought to myself, "Fine then. I'll play along with you for three more days, my beloved Alpha. After three days, it's time for this show to end."