Lone Wolf

After being discharged from the clinic, I returned to our den alone.

I lay in bed for a long time before finally picking up my phone to call my old pack mentor.

"Fiona, is the pack translator position still open?" I asked, hoping my voice sounded steadier than I felt.

Fiona hesitated before answering uncomfortably, "Alpha Karl arranged for Natalie to handle all translation duties. I don't think there's anything available right now."

I forced a smile she couldn't see and thanked her before ending the call.

As the screen went dark, I heard Karl push through the door, his Alpha scent filling our den before he even appeared. He was typing on his phone, a faint smile playing on his lips.

When he looked up and met my gaze, the smile vanished instantly.

"Why aren't you resting?" he asked, confusion and a hint of irritation in his voice.

I sat on the sofa across from him and asked casually, "The pack has a new translator? I heard their family name is Northwood. Do you know them?"

Guilt flashed across Karl's face before his features smoothed into neutrality.

"The candidates you recommended lacked the necessary skills, so I asked my beta to recruit someone new. Northwood? I haven't formally met them yet."

"It's late, you should be resting. The pup needs you to sleep properly." He sighed, stepping closer. "I'm sorry for all these pack duties lately, but isn't this all for you and our pup to have a better life?"

I suppressed the urge to snarl and instead returned to our bed.

Karl's body pressed against mine from behind, his familiar scent now tainted with Natalie's Omega pheromones.

"Sleep, my Luna. I'm exhausted today."

His words made me physically ill.

Climbing back from Natalie's bed in the middle of the night, still carrying her scent on his skin, he had the audacity to claim everything was for me and our nonexistent pup.

It was as if I was seeing the true face of my mate of eight years for the first time.

Karl didn't notice my rigid posture as he wrapped an arm around me. I couldn't bear it anymore and bolted to the bathroom, retching violently into the toilet.

My eyes were red and raw by the time I finished. Karl, thinking I was experiencing typical pregnancy symptoms, rubbed my back with what appeared to be genuine concern.

I flinched away from his touch and activated the air purifier, desperate to eliminate Natalie's lingering scent.

"Our pup is quite the troublemaker," he said with a gentle laugh. "I'll have to scold them properly when they arrive for tormenting you like this."

I could barely force my lips into a semblance of a smile.

Karl finally seemed to sense my mood. The next morning, he worked from home instead of attending his usual "pack business."

My body appeared to physically reject Karl's presence. Whenever he touched me, nausea would overwhelm me.

I vomited repeatedly until my complexion turned ashen.

Karl nervously suggested taking me to the pack healer, but I firmly shook my head.

"No need."

I no longer needed his false concern or pretended devotion.