3. Gasps and Murmurs

When Aria’s eyes fluttered open, the sunlight had already spilled across the marble floors like molten gold. The air was still, but her mind immediately spun into motion.

She bolted upright and grabbed her laptop. As the screen lit up, a cascade of new emails poured in—updates, schedules, today’s agenda. 

She skimmed through them quickly, completely missing the one email from last night, marked URGENT, buried beneath the rest.

Her eyes dropped to the bottom right corner of the screen—and her stomach dropped with it.

8:00 AM.

Her heart stuttered. “Oh, no. No, no—damn it!” she hissed, springing from the bed like the floor was on fire.

Today wasn’t just another workday.

This was the day.

The day Crimson Claw Enterprises was set to seal a deal that would catapult their pack to second in the Alliance rankings—just one step below the Silver Moon Pack itself. 

The final phase of the project she'd bled herself dry for. Endless nights spent revising proposals, calling in favors, humbling herself before former contacts, even her own parents. 

It was her lifework… her gift to Elliot, to their company, to a pack that had never truly accepted her.

“I cannot mess this up,” she whispered through gritted teeth, dragging herself into the bathroom.

There was no time for a full routine—just a splash of cold water, a dab of concealer over the dark bruises on her face, and a suit thrown over aching limbs. She looked presentable. Just enough to hide the storm beneath.

Stepping into the hallway, she spotted a maid.

“Have you seen Elliot?” she asked, voice tight.

“He’s in the dining room, eating breakfast, Luna.”

Aria rushed down, but she wasn’t fast enough.

Elliot was already stepping out of the dining room, wiping his mouth with a napkin like nothing was amiss.

“You’re fifteen minutes late,” he said curtly, not even looking at her. “I can’t wait. Take the other car.”

Without another word, he walked past her, briefcase in hand, his driver trailing behind like a shadow.

Her stomach twisted, but she bit down on the pain and swallowed it whole.

She hadn’t even had breakfast, but she needed to take her antibiotics. Snatching a sandwich from the table, she sprinted to the garage. That’s when her phone rang.

[Luna, I’m at your front door. I know you are stubborn and you’d still insist on going to work despite what happened yesterday. I’m driving you, no arguments.]

Her assistant's voice—warm, familiar, grounding—made her laugh softly despite everything.

“Perfect timing. Meet me in the garage.”

Within moments, they were driving toward the towering silhouette of Crimson Enterprise HQ. Aria leaned her head back and closed her eyes for just a second, but then—

*Beep*

*Click*

The Bluetooth speaker came alive without warning.

[Alpha, everything is ready. Soon, you can expose Luna’s betrayal to the Pack during the meeting.]

Aria’s eyes flew open.

[I want undeniable evidence. Something that will destroy her credibility—her position—everything. I don’t want anyone defending her when I tear her down.]

The voice was unmistakable.

[It’s all been prepared. The evidence of Luna skimming project funds and her infidelity. With these solid proofs, the entire corporation will naturally side with you. Your goals are just one critical step away. Congratulations in advance, Alpha.]

[Perfect. Make it happen.]

*Beep*

Silence returned to the car like the air had been sucked from the world.

Aria sat frozen, her fingers cold, her face pale as ice. She felt her wound throb with new intensity, the dull ache sharpening into a piercing migraine.

'So this was it,' she thought.

This was why her proposals had been blocked. Why the departments had quietly sabotaged her. Why she’d been gaslit and sidelined.

They were setting the stage to destroy her—and the person she trusted the most was leading the charge.

She inhaled sharply, steadying herself. No tears. No weakness. Not now.

“I’m with you, Luna,” her assistant said, eyes glancing sideways with unshakable loyalty. “Just tell me what you need.”

Aria straightened her posture, steeling herself against the blade of betrayal that had lodged in her spine.

“Contact the team. We need to regroup the moment we arrive. We’re not going down without a fight.”

When they arrived in the office, she met her team members, who were concerned about her injuries. They have no clue that something far worse than her injuries is brewing on the horizon.

She had no time to care; she quickly told them that the team would be targeted in the meeting, and they needed to prepare, which was exactly what her team did.

As they approached the conference room, a woman with perfectly curled blond hair stepped into her path, hand raised like a traffic barrier.

“You’re Aria Harper?” the stranger asked, eyes glinting with something that wasn’t quite friendliness.

“Yes. And you are?” Aria snapped, already out of patience.

The woman chuckled, infuriatingly amused. “Oh, nothing. Just wanted to say thank you.”

“For what?”

The woman winked. “You’ll find out soon. Ciao.”

She disappeared down the hallway like a phantom, leaving a bitter taste in Aria’s mouth.

Inside the conference room, chaos was brewing. Executives, shareholders, and even Federation representatives had filled the space. The Alpha Chairman himself sat at the head of the table, grim-faced and observant.

Aria took her place at the table, nodding absently at familiar faces, including one man with his arm in a cast. She recognized him—the father who cried for help to save his little girl from yesterday’s accident.

'I hope his daughter is healing well,' she thought. But the moment passed quickly. The storm was already upon her.

“Thank you for joining this critical meeting—” an executive began.

But he was cut off—harshly, deliberately.

“Before we proceed,” a voice declared, “we must address the presence of a traitor in our ranks.”

Gasps. Murmurs.

Then, the lights dimmed—and the screen lit up.

One after another, images filled the room. Photos. Documents. Bank statements. Contracts.

Aria’s face, alongside an unfamiliar man, intimate, indecent, and lewd photos. Screenshots of alleged money transfers. Fabricated communications.

She gritted her teeth, her fists clenched beneath the table. She expected this. She knew it was coming.

But then she looked at Elliot.

He didn’t speak.

He didn’t blink.

And then…

He smiled.

A twitch of his lips, subtle—but unmistakable.

Aria’s breath caught in her chest. The pain she thought she’d already felt at its worst deepened like a chasm opening inside her.

The room erupted. Rage. Accusations. Condemnation.

Aria felt everything collapsing around her.

But it wasn’t over.

Elliot’s father stood up, seething with venom.

“Aria Harper! You are a disgrace! You dare betray our pack, betray your husband—your Alpha! As if your barren womb wasn't enough, now you dare sabotage our future?! You are such a slut!”

Aria sat frozen in her seat, her heart pounding against her ribs, her hands curled into fists in her lap. Every word hurled at her, every accusation, dug deeper than any physical wound ever could.

Her gaze remained steady, fighting back the tears that threatened to fall, but her breath hitched. And then—

*SLAM!*

The doors of the conference room burst open.

The sound reverberated like a gunshot. Every head turned sharply toward the entrance. 

Silence fell. 

Gasps followed like a rising tide.