Chapter 2

Leina’s POV

The car stopped smoothly in front of Blackthorn Pack Enterprises building, Kael’s company.

I look up at the massive glass building shining under the afternoon sun. My heart, beating so fast in anticipation. I took a deep breath and forced myself to stay calm before stepping out of the car.

I needed to act normal, like everything is fine. The moment I entered the building, I realized the entire lobby had been decorated.

Red and white flowers covered the walls beautifully. Balloons floated near the ceiling, and silver ribbons were wrapped around the front desk. The whole place looked like a celebration.

“Happy anniversary, Luna!”

A cheerful voice pulled me from my thoughts as I turned toward the voice to see a young lady with a smiling face.

Right. Today was our tenth anniversary.

Every year, Kael made sure the entire company celebrated it with us. He always said he wanted everyone to know how proud he was of me.

The memory made my chest ache painfully. He knew I would come here today. Of course he did.

“Luna, Alpha Kael asked me to give this to you,” the lady said excitedly.

She bent down and lifted a huge bouquet from behind the desk. It was made of expensive red roses mixed with neatly folded stacks of money between the flowers. The gift looked luxurious and flashy.

I stared at it silently for a few seconds but didn’t touch it.

“Where is Kael?” I asked calmly.

“He’s currently in a meeting with Beta Ken,” she answered quickly.

Ken… Ken is Kael’s Beta and closest friend.

The two of them built Blackthorn Enterprises together from the very beginning. Ken always treated me kindly too. Every anniversary, he would joke about competing with Kael to buy me the best gift.

But now… A terrible thought suddenly entered my mind. Did Ken know? Did he know Kael had another mate this entire time? Before I could think further, footsteps echoed from down the hallway.

Then I heard familiar voices.

“Happy anniversary. Ten years already, huh?”

Kael gave a short laugh. “Yeah.”

There was a small pause before Ken spoke again, his voice much quieter this time. “Don’t you think this is wrong?” he asked carefully. “You keep pretending to be the perfect mate to Leina while secretly living another life with Helena.”

I froze completely. Then Kael laughed again coldly.

“Leina is useful,” he said simply. “You know how hard it would’ve been to build Blackthorn Pack into this level without her.”

My body stiffened.

“She created the entire security system we use,” Kael continued casually. “The trading software too. Most of our investors only joined because of her talent and connections.”

Each word struck my chest painfully.

“She’s intelligent, rich, and useful. I’d be stupid to let someone like that go.”

My fingers curled tightly at my sides.

“But the funniest part?” Kael said with amusement in his voice. “She actually believes I love her.”

My breathing stopped for a second.

Ken sighed heavily. “Still… hiding another mate and child from her for years is insane.”

Kael sounded completely relaxed as he replied. “Leina is obsessed with me. She’ll never leave,” he said confidently. “Besides, she still believes I married her because I loved her.”

A cold feeling spread through my body. Obsessed of him? Was that really how he saw me? For ten years, Kael never once learned the truth about who I really was. He didn’t know I was the only heir of the Silvercrest Bloodline. The granddaughter of the strongest Alpha family in the werewolf world.

The future Luna whose family controlled powerful pack alliances, tech companies, and billions in wealth. To Kael, I was simply a talented woman he could use. Nothing more.

“Everything changed after Leina entered my life,” Kael continued proudly. “The pack contracts, the investors, the expansion deals, the technology growth… she made all of it happen.”

My chest tightened painfully.

“Once Blackthorn completely dominates the market, I won’t need her anymore.”

The words nearly destroyed me.

Ken sounded uncomfortable now. “So you really plan to throw her away?”

“It’ll end soon,” Kael answered calmly. “Once the final merger is complete and the shares are under my control, I’ll put her back in her place.”

Every sentence felt like poison inside my chest.

“And besides,” Kael continued lazily, “ Leina loves romance. It’s easy to control her. I even ordered a custom diamond bracelet for her anniversary gift. She’ll be distracted again.”

For a moment, everything around me felt unreal. The flowers. The gifts. The affection. The expensive surprises. All of it was fake. Just manipulation. A way to keep using me.

“And what if she finds out?” Ken asked quietly.

Kael laughed softly and replied.. “She won’t,” he said confidently. “I’m careful. Leina only sees what I allow her to see. Besides, Blackthorn already got everything it needed from her.”

Then his tone suddenly softened completely.

“Helena already gave me a son,” he said gently. “And now she’s pregnant again. Hopefully this time it’s a daughter. Then the four of us can finally live peacefully.”

My heart shattered completely. Ten years. Ten entire years. I loved him with everything inside me. And to him… I was nothing more than a tool.

Inside me, my wolf growled violently in pain and rage. I could feel the mate bond weakening little by little, like threads slowly tearing apart.

Tears burned my eyes. But I forced them back immediately. No. I would never cry for Kael again. Because Kael Blackthorn made one terrible mistake. He thought he knew exactly who his mate was. But he had no idea the woman he planned to throw away was the hidden heir of the most powerful Alpha bloodline in the werewolf world.

And if I helped build his empire… Then I could destroy it too.

A few moments later, the conference room doors opened and workers began stepping into the hallway again. The cheerful atmosphere returned immediately.

“Happy anniversary, Luna!”

“Congratulations!”

“Ten years together! That’s amazing!”

People approached me with gifts and smiles, completely unaware they were celebrating a lie. Maya stepped beside me quietly.

“I’ll carry the gifts for you, Luna,” she said softly.

I gave a small nod before walking past the decorations and fake happiness surrounding me. Then I headed straight toward Kael’s office. Each step felt heavier than the last.

When I reached the door, I pushed it open without knocking. And instantly, my blood froze. Kael and Helena stood together in the middle of the office. Her arms were wrapped around his neck while his hands rested possessively on her waist. They looked comfortable together in an Intimate position

Like real mates. Like the mates I foolishly believed we were.

“Kael…” Helena whispered sweetly. “I still can’t believe the deal actually worked.”

My breath caught painfully in my throat. Everything inside me went silent. Then Kael looked up suddenly and our eyes met.

For the first time in ten years… I saw real panic on his face. His body stiffened instantly as he realized I heard everything. And without hesitation, he shoved Helena away from him.