Chapter 2 Face the mistress

I tried to move, but my feet wouldn't work.

I just stood there, frozen, as the study door swung wide open.

Leighton filled the doorway.

He was shirtless, his hair messy.

Fresh scratch marks ran across his chest—from her nails.

His eyes met mine, and for just a second, I saw surprise.

Then it was gone.

Replaced by cold annoyance.

"Sophia." He didn't even sound guilty.

"I see you were listening."

My mouth opened, but no words came out.

"Julia, come here," he said, reaching back.

The red-haired woman appeared beside him. She linked her arm through his, her green dress still wrinkled. She looked at me with fake sympathy.

"Good evening, Sophia." She smiled. "Or should I call you... Ex-Luna?"

Something inside me snapped.

"How dare you!" My voice came out as a snarl.

"How dare both of you!"

"How dare I?" Leighton stepped forward.

Suddenly, the air got heavy. Thick.

His Alpha power pressed down on me like a physical weight.

My knees buckled, and I gasped for air.

This was alpha dominance—the power every alpha had to force wolves to submit.

I used to be immune to it.

But now, weakened as I was, it crushed me.

"I'm doing what's best for this pack," Leighton said coldly.

"Choosing a Luna who can actually do the job. Not some aging failure who can barely function."

"I'm your wife!" The words tore out of me.

"I gave you everything! I almost died for this pack!"

"That was before." He looked at me with disgust.

"Look at you now. Weak. Powerless. Your scent is so faint I can barely smell it anymore."

He walked closer, and I stumbled backward.

"The pack needs fresh blood. Strong genes. Julia's bloodline is pure Blood Moon—one of the strongest in the north. And she's already carrying my son."

"You're disgusting," I whispered.

"I'm practical." He shrugged.

"Tomorrow, everyone will see the truth. You'll step down. And Julia will take her rightful place."

"The Elders won't allow this!"

Leighton laughed. "The Elders? Those old fools? I've already bought each one of them. Power, money, promises—they all caved. They'll support whatever I say."

"And Erica?" My voice cracked.

"What about our daughter?"

"Erica will undergo re-education by the Elder Council. Maybe they can fix whatever weak genes she got from you."

Re-education? That was pack code for brainwashing.

For breaking a young wolf's spirit and rebuilding them from scratch.

"You monster," I breathed.

"Call me whatever you want." He turned back to Julia.

"Tomorrow, everyone will know the truth."

He walked back into his study and slammed the door in my face.

I stood there in the empty hallway, tears streaming down my cheeks.

Everything I'd built—my marriage, my position, my life—was crumbling around me.

And there was nothing I could do to stop it.

Or was there?

I wiped my eyes and took a shaky breath.

My wolf stirred inside me, angry now instead of afraid.

'We won't go down without a fight,' she growled.

No. We wouldn't.

I turned and walked back to my bedroom.

My mind was already racing, planning, and strategizing.

If Leighton wanted a war, he'd get one.

But first, I needed to figure out why I'd gotten so weak in the first place.

Because six months ago, I could've fought off his alpha dominance.

I could've shifted fully.

I was strong.

Now I was barely functioning.

Something had happened to me.

Something deliberate.

And I was going to find out what.

I reached my bedroom and locked the door behind me.

Then I walked to my vanity and stared at myself in the mirror.

Dark circles under my eyes. Pale skin. Thin arms. I looked sick.

When did this happen?

I searched everything in my bedroom until I found my jewelry box.

I opened my jewelry box—the velvet one Leighton had given me on our first anniversary.

Inside were all the gifts he'd given me over the years.

A necklace. A bracelet. Earrings.

My wedding ring.

I picked up the ring and held it to the light.

Beautiful white gold with an enormous diamond. It had always been a little heavy, but I'd assumed that was just the style.

Now, looking closer, I noticed something strange.

A tiny mark on the inside of the band. Almost invisible. A symbol I didn't recognize.

My heart started pounding.

I grabbed the necklace next.

The one with the giant sapphire.

Also from Leighton.

I examined it carefully, running my fingers over every inch.

There.

Another mark. Hidden under the gem setting.

What was this?