Chapter 4

Fiona’s POV

“Father, please,” I tried to beg again. “You can’t seriously expect me to marry Rex. I don’t want this anymore. He’s not—” My voice faltered as I tried to find the words to explain how Rex wasn’t the man they all thought he was. But how could I? I couldn’t tell them the truth, not without sounding insane.

My father, Alpha Ambrose, let out a long sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Fiona, we’ve been over this,” he said, his tone exasperated. “You need to work out whatever problems you have with Rex. This is a done deal. The packs are merged. We can’t back out now.”

“But I don’t want to marry him!” I insisted, my voice rising. “Father. Please, just listen to me.”

“Listen to you?” My father’s voice hardened. “Fiona, you begged me for days—days—to agree to this marriage. Do you remember that? You came to me, crying, telling me how much you loved Rex, how this was the right decision for you and for the pack. And now, suddenly, you’ve changed your mind?”

I flinched, guilt gnawing at me. I had begged him back then, hadn’t I? I thought Rex was my salvation. I thought he cared about me. But I was so wrong. I didn’t know the kind of man Rex really was back then. I didn’t know he was capable of such cruelty.

Before I could respond, my stepmother, who had been quietly watching from the corner, finally snapped. “You are so irresponsible, Fiona!” she shouted, her sharp voice cutting through the tension. “Do you have any idea what this marriage means? This isn’t just about you! The entire pack is depending on this. And now you want to throw it all away because you’ve changed your mind like some immature child?”

I turned to face her, my stomach twisting with anger. Of course, she would side with Rex. She had always supported this marriage. Rex had bribed her with expensive gifts, and she was more than eager to get rid of me. After all, with me out of the way, her precious son would have no competition for the alpha title.

“Nobody else in this pack wants to marry you, Fiona,” she continued, her tone dripping with disdain. “You’re a weak omega, and we all know that. Rex was doing you a favor by agreeing to this marriage in the first place.”

I clenched my fists, forcing myself to stay calm. I couldn’t let her get to me, not now. She wanted me gone, that much was clear. The less competition I posed for her son, the better. But what could I say? I had no proof, no evidence of Rex’s betrayal. 

No one would believe me if I told them the truth. They’d think I was crazy. Or worse—they’d think I was just making excuses to get out of the marriage.

Taking a deep breath, I straightened up and forced a smile. “You’re right, Father,” I said, my voice calm despite the storm raging inside me. “I’m sorry for causing a scene. I’ll… work things out with Rex.”

The room fell silent for a moment before everyone let out a collective sigh of relief. My father nodded approvingly, and my stepmother crossed her arms with a satisfied smirk.

“That’s more like it,” she muttered under her breath.

I forced myself to nod, swallowing the lump in my throat. This wasn’t over. I couldn’t stop the wedding yet, but that didn’t mean I had to go through with it. I just needed time. Time to gather evidence. Time to expose Rex and Lillian for what they truly were.

Everyone began to file out of the room, thinking the matter was resolved. As soon as we were alone, Rex quickly pulled me aside, his hand wrapping around my arm gently. I turned to face him, already bracing myself for the performance he was about to put on.

“Fiona,” he began softly, his eyes filled with concern. “What’s wrong? Why have you suddenly changed your mind about me? You don’t love me anymore?. Is it something I did?” His voice was low, soft, as if he genuinely cared about what I was feeling.

I couldn’t help but scoff internally. His acting was almost convincing. Almost. But I knew better now. I had seen the real Rex—the cold, calculating man behind the charming smile.

“Rex,” I said, keeping my voice neutral, “you haven’t done anything. It’s just… I don’t know. Maybe I’m nervous about the wedding.”

He frowned, looking troubled. “Nervous? Why? We’ve been planning this for months. I thought you wanted this as much as I do.”

I stared at him, watching how his brows knitted together, his lips curving into a look of concern. It was all fake. I knew it. The Rex standing in front of me wasn’t the man I had once thought he was. He was a monster, pretending to care. Pretending to love me.

“I do,” I lied smoothly. “But you know how stressful weddings can be.”

He nodded, looking down at the floor as if he was deeply pondering my words. “I’m sorry, Fiona. If I’ve done anything to hurt you, I want to make it right. I love you. I’ll do anything you want, just… please don’t leave me.”

The fake ass sincerity in his voice was almost enough to make me laugh. He was good, I’d give him that. But I wasn’t falling for it this time. I would play along, for now. And I would use my secret knowledge to my advantage later.

“I’m not going to leave you,” I said with a small smile, trying to appear as if I was reassured by his words. “We’ll get through this.”

Rex visibly relaxed, his hand squeezing mine gently. “Thank you, Fiona. I promise, I’ll make you happy. You’ll see.”

I smirked inwardly, already planning how to use his promises against him when the time came. “I know you will.”

Suddenly, the door burst open, and Lillian rushed in, her face pale with worry. “Fiona! Is it true? Are you really breaking up with Rex?”

I turned to face her, keeping my expression calm and neutral. Her panic was almost amusing. They were both so worried that I might ruin their plans.

“Lillian,” I said, my tone soft but firm. “It was just a misunderstanding. I’m not breaking up with Rex.”

Her relief was almost palpable as she exhaled, placing a hand over her heart. “Thank the Moon Goddess. I thought something terrible had happened.”

I glanced between her and Rex, noting how closely they watched me, like two predators circling their prey. They thought they had won, that everything was back on track. But I wasn’t the naïve girl they thought I was anymore.

I wasn’t going to let them betray me again. Not this time.

My mind was already working, calculating my next steps. I had to find evidence—something that would expose them both for who they really were. If I could destroy the treaty my father signed, the marriage would be off. And once I had proof of their treachery, I’d take them down for good.

For now, I had to play the part. But soon enough, they’d see. They’d both pay for what they did to me.