CHAPTER FOUR: THE ALPHA'S WIFE

Gabriel's voice thundered, echoing through the house like a storm.

"You had no right to make that decision by yourself! That's my child!"

Elena froze for only a moment before turning, her eyes burning with pain and fury. "Your child? The one you didn't even want, Gabriel? Please, spare me that act."

Her words cut him deeper than any blade. She walked past him, her steps heavy, heading inside the house. Gabriel tried to grab her arm, but her bodyguards stepped forward instantly, holding him back.

"So this is your move?" Gabriel spat, his jaw clenched tight. "Some twisted way to make me care? You've crossed the line, Elena. You've gone too far."

Inside, Elena's trembling hands dug through her handbag, searching frantically. Gabriel stormed in after her, his voice dripping with venom.

"You couldn't stay away from the luxury, huh? The jewelry, the clothes, the life I gave you? Apologize, and maybe, maybe, I'll let you keep some of it."

But Elena ignored him. Her eyes stayed fixed on her bag. She pulled at the zipper, searching harder.

Gabriel grabbed her shoulder roughly, spinning her to face him.

"Hey! I'm talking to you!"

Her eyes flashed. "Let go," she said in a tone that wasn't just human, it was Alpha.

Before he could react, a surge of raw energy burst from Elena's body. Gabriel stumbled back, his eyes widening in shock. He had felt strength before, but never like this.

"Elena..." he breathed. "How do you have that much power?"

She didn't answer. She pulled the folded document from the bag, the pregnancy report. Her face softened for a moment as she tucked it close, then hardened again.

"Take everything else," she ordered the guards.

The men moved without hesitation, lifting bags of clothes, shoes, jewelry, everything Gabriel had ever given her.

Gabriel's bitter laugh filled the room. "Elena, are you that desperate? You can't leave anything behind that I bought for you? Is this what you've become?"

She walked past him without a word, her silence louder than any insult.

"I guess you know you're nothing without me!" he shouted after her, his voice cracking with rage.

But outside, flames were already rising. The bodyguards had lit a fire, a great roaring blaze that licked at the night sky.

Gabriel rushed out the door. His eyes widened as he saw the fire consuming everything he thought defined her.

"What are you doing?" he shouted.

Elena turned, her voice calm but cold as ice. "I don't need any of this."

The guards threw the bags into the fire, the jewelry melting, the clothes turning to ash. Gabriel's face twisted, veins rising on his neck as he roared, "How dare you?!"

But Elena didn't flinch. She stepped into the waiting car, her bodyguards closing the door after her.

As the car pulled away, she reached up slowly and peeled the small inhibitor patch from the side of her neck. For the first time in years, her wolf surged forward.

A deep growl echoed in her chest as glowing eyes stared back at her from the window's reflection.

"Finally," her wolf whispered in her mind. "You're letting me out."

Elena exhaled shakily, her lips curving into the faintest smile. "Yeah," she said softly. "I'm done hiding. It's our turn now... to show them who I really am."

The flames in the distance grew higher, and Gabriel's furious voice carried faintly in the wind, but Elena didn't look back.

Gabriel watched the cars drive away, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. How could she just leave? That wasn't like Elena.

SIX YEARS LATER

The sun streamed through the wide windows of the Alpha's office in the Moonstone Clan. Elena sat behind her desk, flipping through stacks of files, her chestnut hair falling gracefully against her shoulders. Her eyes were sharp, commanding.

The heavy door burst open, and a little boy ran in, his laugh filling the room. "Mama!" he shouted, throwing his small arms around her. "Happy birthday!"

Elena's expression softened instantly. She lifted him, pressing a kiss to his cheek. "Thank you, sweetie," she whispered, holding him close.

From the doorway, a tall man stepped in with a bouquet of fresh flowers. Marcus Frost, Alpha of the neighboring pack, stood with an easy smile. "Matriarch Victoria made me the special delivery guy today," he said with a playful tone, handing her the flowers.

Elena arched a brow, still holding her son on her hip. "Thank you, Marcus. But you know, Grandmother loves putting you to work. And I know how busy you are with your own pack."

Marcus's smile softened. "It's never trouble, Elena. You know that."

Her son looked curiously between them. "Marcus was saying he's planning a big birthday party. Can I come with my two sisters?"

Elena bent closer to him, her lips brushing his temple. "Now, what did you promise me about early bedtimes?" she teased gently.

The boy sighed dramatically, earning a laugh from both adults. "Fine, Mama."

"Go wash up with your sisters," Elena said warmly. "We'll get lunch soon."

As the boy darted out, Marcus stepped closer and offered her the bouquet. "Happy birthday, Elena," he said more softly this time. "I also heard... Gabriel is still looking for you."

Elena's smile faltered. She set the flowers down, her fingers tightening against the desk. "Still trying to find me?" she asked bitterly. "Why? Does he want me to make his mistress some more soup?"

Her hand unconsciously brushed against the faint mark on her palm, the scar left from their broken mate bond. Every time she saw it, every time she felt the phantom sting, it reminded her of the nights filled with betrayal, pain, and humiliation.

She whispered to herself, almost too softly for Marcus to hear, "I wish I had never met him again."

Marcus's eyes lingered on her, but he didn't speak. His silence carried the weight of feelings he had never confessed.

Meanwhile, across the territory, Gabriel sat in his own office at the Shadowmere Pack, his expression hardened by years of anger and obsession. His hand turned a small wedding ring over and over, the same ring Elena had pulled off the day she left him.

"Six years," he muttered, his voice low and hoarse. "Six years... not a single trace. You think you can just vanish after killing my child?"

His jaw tightened, his eyes cold and wild. "There's only one place left you could be."

The door opened, and his Beta, Derek Cole, stepped inside. "Alpha, you wanted to see me?"

Gabriel was startled, quickly shoving the ring back into the drawer before Derek noticed. He stood, pulling on his jacket with a sharp motion. "We're going to Alpha Marcus's gala tonight."

Derek's brows shot up. "You mean the birthday party Marcus Frost is throwing for his future Luna?"

Gabriel's eyes flickered with something unreadable, his tone clipped. "Yes."

"Marcus is our biggest rival," Derek pressed. "And you never go to those events. Why now?"

Gabriel didn't answer. His eyes narrowed as thoughts churned darkly in his mind. Marcus's territory is the only place I haven't checked... could she be there?

Derek was still standing, confused, waiting for Gabriel to say something. But before Gabriel could open his mouth, a woman walked in. Her sharp voice startled both Gabriel and Derek.

"Why? Because you spent the past six years pretending you don't care, and now that's the only place you've never looked?"

Gabriel froze. "Mom, I..."

She cut him off with a raised hand. "What? Is it a secret that you drove away the best Luna this pack has ever had? Look at the pack now. Chaos since Elena left."

Gabriel's jaw tightened. "Mom, Vanessa is running the day-to-day. She's competent enough. She saved the pack, remember?"

His mother, Celeste Thorne, let out a bitter laugh. "Competent? That girl doesn't even know how to bring Marcus's Luna a proper gift. She's going to turn this pack into a laughingstock. The last thing we need is more embarrassment."

With a flick of her fingers, a group of women entered, carrying several velvet boxes filled with shimmering necklaces. Celeste tilted her chin toward them. "What you need is a proper gift. Pick one."

Gabriel's hand hesitated before hovering over a sapphire necklace, the same type Elena used to like. He clenched his jaw and grabbed it. "This one."

That evening, Gabriel arrived at the gala with Vanessa clinging to his arm as though they were already married. Her smile was painted on, too wide, and too forced. Gabriel's expression was unreadable as he walked into the glittering hall.

The room fell quiet for a moment when the Shadowmere Alpha entered, whispers spreading like wildfire. Gabriel ignored them, heading straight for Marcus Frost.

"Well, well," Gabriel said with a cold smirk. "Didn't think you'd find someone desperate enough to be your Luna, Marcus."

Marcus's golden eyes narrowed. "And I didn't think you'd be pathetic enough to show up at my event."

Gabriel lifted his hand, and one of his guards stepped forward with the box. He handed it over. "A gift for your Luna," he said flatly. Then he leaned closer to Marcus, his voice low and mocking. "Try not to mess up tonight."

Marcus's lips curved into a dangerous smile. "Oh, tonight? The embarrassment won't be mine."

Before Gabriel could respond, the sound of footsteps echoed from the grand staircase. Everyone turned, and gasps filled the air.

"Oh my God... that's Alpha Marcus's future Luna!" a voice from the crowd exclaimed.

Gabriel's gaze snapped upward.

There, standing at the top of the stairs, was Elena.

Her smile glowed brighter than the chandeliers above, her beauty undeniable. She descended the stairs with elegance, her presence commanding the entire room.

Gabriel's breath caught in his throat.

Vanessa's grip on Gabriel's arm tightened painfully, her eyes wide with disbelief.

Elena's gaze swept over the crowd before landing directly on Gabriel. She froze.