Chapter 3

Molly’s POV

With shaking hands, I yanked a handful of tissues from my purse and frantically wiped at the sticky mess between my thighs, trying to erase any evidence of what we'd done.

I couldn't let anyone, especially not Gerald, knock me up. Not yet. Not until I had what I wanted from him first.

I rushed to the bathroom, my heart pounding in my ears. I locked the door behind me and leaned against it, taking a moment to catch my breath.

Then I turned to the mirror, hardly recognizing the flushed, disheveled girl staring back at me. My hair was a wild mess, my lips swollen and slick, my eyes glassy. I looked like a girl who'd just been thoroughly fucked. I looked like a girl in love.

I splashed cold water on my face, trying to wash away the haze of lust. I couldn't think about how good Gerald had made me feel, or how much I already craved his touch again. I had to focus. I had a plan, and I couldn't let my own desperate desire derail it.

After a few minutes, I felt calmer. I dried my face and smoothed my hair, changing my shirt to a clean one from my bag.

I checked my reflection one last time, making sure I looked put together and normal. Then I took a deep breath and stepped out of the bathroom.

As I walked back into the reception hall, I spotted Gerald and my mother across the room, talking to a group of the pack elders.

They were all laughing at something Gerald had said, and I felt a pang of jealousy seeing him so at ease with them. He looked every inch the powerful alpha, confident and in control.

Beside him, my mother was a vision of elegance, her silver hair gleaming under the lights, her smile radiant. They made a striking couple, and I felt a fresh wave of anger at the thought of her betraying my father's memory with this alliance.

As if he could feel my gaze on him, Gerald glance my way. Our eyes met, and I felt my heart stutter in my chest.

His golden eyes were dark and intense, filled with a hunger that made me shiver. Slowly, deliberately, he raised the glass of wine he was holding to his lips.

He took a sip, his tongue darting out to catch a stray drop from the corner of his mouth. I couldn't look away, couldn't breathe, as he licked his lips, a clear, filthy promise in the gesture.

I thought of the way he'd touched me, the way he'd made me come on his fingers, the way his huge cock had planned to stretch me open.

I thought of the way he'd growled that he was going to fill me up, going to make me his. I thought of the way I'd wanted him to do it, to claim me, to ruin me for anyone else. I thought of the way I still wanted it, even now.

I looked away, my face flushed and my heart pounding. I couldn't let him distract me. I had a goal, and I wouldn't let my own desperate arousal make me lose sight of it.

I took a deep breath and walked towards the bar, determined to get a drink and calm my nerves before I confronted them. I needed to be clear-headed for what I had to do next.

As I walked, my mind drifted back to how it had all started. It had been three long years since I'd begun my secret investigation into my father's death, the late Alpha King.

At first, it had seemed like a tragic accident, a hunting mishap. But the more I dug into the details, the more I'd begun to suspect something sinister.

Whispers of a cover-up, of hushed conversations and furtive glances. And then, a little over a year ago, I'd stumbled upon an old, dusty file hidden away in the pack archives. A file that detailed a very different story about that fateful hunt.

According to the file, my father had been on the verge of exposing a massive scandal within the pack, one that reached to the highest levels of leadership.

He'd been gathering evidence, lining up witnesses, ready to blow the whole thing wide open. But before he could, he'd been killed.

The official story was that he'd been caught in a crossfire during a rival pack's raid, but the file painted a very different picture—a picture of cold-blooded murder, ordered by someone who wanted to keep their secrets buried.

I'd been devastated, angry, and determined to find the truth. I'd spent the last year digging deeper, following the breadcrumbs, putting the pieces together.

And now, finally, I was ready to confront the people responsible and make them pay for what they'd done. I was ready to get justice for my father, no matter the cost.

Of course, my mother's engagement to Gerald had thrown a wrench into my plans. I'd been shocked when she'd first announced it, unable to believe she could replace my father so easily.

But as I'd watched them together over the past few months, I'd begun to see the way Gerald looked at me—the heated glances, the secret smiles, the way he always seemed to find an excuse to touch me, even the most innocent of brushes against my hand or arm.

I'd begun to realize that whatever my mother thought this marriage was about, Gerald had other ideas. And now, after today, I knew for certain that he wanted me. That he intended to make me his, one way or another.

I shook my head, trying to dispel the thought. I couldn't focus on that, not now. I had to stay on track, had to keep my eye on the prize.

I had to find a way to expose the truth and make the people responsible pay for what they'd done. And if Gerald got in my way... well. I'd deal with that when I had to.

I was stronger than I looked. Smarter than people gave me credit for. And I wasn't going to let anyone stand in my way, not even a powerful alpha like Gerald.

I'd find a way to have my vengeance... and maybe, if I was lucky, I'd find a way to have my pleasure too. But first things first.

I had to talk to the pack elders, had to find a way to convince them to reopen the investigation into my father's death. And then... then I'd deal with Gerald. One way or another.

Steeling myself, I walked up to the group, my footsteps faltering slightly as they all turned to look at me. Mom's eyes widened in concern, her brows pulling together. "Molly, what's wrong?"

I swallowed hard, looking down at the floor. "I... I wanted to apologize to all of you," I said softly, my voice shaking slightly. "For my behavior earlier, at the ceremony. I was wrong to act that way, and I'm sorry."

The pack elders exchanged glances, their expressions unreadable. Then, the eldest of them, a grey-bearded man with sharp eyes, cleared his throat.

"Apology accepted, Molly," he said gruffly. "What's done is done. We've forgiven your transgression."

I took a shaky breath, hoping my next words wouldn't change their minds.

"Thank you," I said, looking up at them with pleading eyes. "That means a lot. But there's something else I need to ask... something important." I turned to my mom, my heart pounding. "Can we please... can we reopen my father's case? I know there are things that don't add up, things I've found in my investigation..."

Mom's face paled, her eyes flashing with anger and fear. "Molly!" she hissed, her voice low and sharp. "We've been through this. Your father died tragically, but there is no conspiracy. The case is closed."

The pack elders shifted uncomfortably, looking away. The leader held up a hand, silencing my mom. "I'm afraid your mother is right, Molly. The case was closed for a reason. Reopening it now would serve no purpose."

Tears stung at the corners of my eyes, but I blinked them back. I couldn't give up, not after everything I'd found, everything I knew.

"But what if there's new evidence?" I pressed. "What if there are things I've discovered that could change everything?"

"Molly Lugard, I will not warn you again," Mom said, her voice shaking with barely contained rage. "If you continue to pursue this foolish obsession, there will be consequences. It’s enough for you this night. Now, go to your room. Now!!"

I glanced at Gerald, hoping for... something. But he just shrugged slightly, his expression unreadable. Biting my lip, I turned on my heel and stormed away, my heart aching and my head spinning with frustration.

I couldn't go back to my room, not now. I needed to blow off some steam, to clear my head. So I ran, my feet pounding against the grass as I made my way out to the field surrounding the lake behind the pack house.

As I sat down on the cool grass, I looked up at the moon hanging high in the inky black sky. It was a full moon, casting a silver glow across the still water of the lake.

I closed my eyes, trying to calm my racing thoughts. But all I could think about was Gerald. The way he touched me, the way he made me feel... I hated him for it.

I hated that he had this power over me, this ability to make me forget everything but the aching desire he stirred in my core.

I thought of my father, trying to remember his face, his smile. But the memory was already starting to fade, replaced by the burning image of Gerald's handsome features, his golden eyes, his strong hands on my body.

I felt a pang of guilt, of shame. How could I have let him do those things to me? How could I have betrayed my father's memory like that?

I shook my head, determined to push those thoughts away. I couldn't let Gerald get to me like that again. I had to be stronger, smarter. I had to protect myself, no matter what it took.

Looking up to the moon, I mouthed, “father, I hope you’re not disappointed in me?”

Just then, a voice cut through the silence of the night. "Why should he be disappointed in you?"

I turned my head, startled, to see a young man emerge from the shadows. He looked to be in his late twenties, with sharp, handsome features and eyes that seemed to glow in the moonlight.

His dark hair was slightly tousled, falling over his forehead in a way that made my fingers itch to smooth it back. He was tall, lean, with the muscular build of a swimmer or a runner. Something about him drew me in, made me want to stare at him for hours.

He smiled at me, a slow, easy smile that made my heart skip a beat. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you," he said, his voice deep and smooth, with just a hint of a rasp. "I saw you out here and I couldn't resist the chance to sit and enjoy the view with someone so beautiful."

I felt my cheeks flush at the compliment, and I nodded mutely, gesturing for him to sit beside me. As he settled down on the grass, I caught a whiff of his scent.

It was a dark, spicy aroma, with notes of sandalwood and something else, something uniquely him. It made my wolf howl in the back of my mind, a sound of pure, instinctive approval.

I had never reacted to a wolf's scent like that before, and it both thrilled and frightened me.

We sat in awkward silence for a while, watching the moonlight ripple across the lake. Finally, he broke the silence with a rueful chuckle. "Worse wedding ever," he said, shaking his head.

I turned to him, my lips curving into a wry smile. "Tell me about it," I agreed. He looked at me, his eyes widening slightly as he took in my face. Then he grinned, a flash of white teeth in the moonlight.

"Daughter of the bride, right?" he guessed. I nodded, and he laughed softly. "You don't look like your mom," he said, his gaze roaming over my face, my body, in a way that made me feel warm all over. "You're prettier."

I blushed at the compliment, looking down at my lap. "Thank you," I murmured. "I'm Molly, by the way."

"Nice to meet you, Molly," he said, holding out a hand. As I placed my smaller one in his, I felt a jolt of electricity at his touch.

His fingers were warm, his palm calloused in a way that made me wonder what he did for a living. I found myself hoping it was something outdoorsy, something that kept his skin tanned and his muscles lean and strong.

"I'm Ethan," he said, his thumb brushing over the back of my hand in a way that made me shiver. "So, wanna tell me what's really bothering you, Molly? Because I get the feeling it's more than just wedding jitters."

I hesitated, biting my lip. But something about Ethan made me want to trust him, to confide in him. Maybe it was the way his eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled, or the gentle strength in his voice. Or maybe it was just the fact that he was a stranger, someone I would probably never see again after tonight.

Whatever the reason, I found myself pouring out the whole story, from my father's suspicious death to my mom's sudden marriage to Gerald, to the... incident in the study earlier that evening.

I left out the more intimate details, of course, but I didn't hold back on the rest. And as I spoke, I felt the tightness in my chest ease, the anger and frustration and confusion draining away.

Ethan pulled back slightly, his brow furrowing as if something had just clicked into place. "Wait, wait, wait," he said, holding up a hand. "Alpha Gerald was your mom's high school sweetheart? You mentioned that earlier."