Chapter 1

Tessa’s POV

“I’ve always loved you,” a female voice said out with a playful, romantic slur. “I love you so much, baby,” She said again as I could hear soft kisses and chuckles of soft moans followed by another moan and another moan and another.

“I love you too.” A male voice replied. It sounded familiar, so familiar. That was my husband, Sabastian’s voice and my best friend’s voice, Lyra.” And the voices came from my husband’s office, Sebastian Simeon, Beta of the Ironclaw Pack.

Stopping in my tracks, I felt a sudden cold, a shiver running down my spine as i stood in front of Sebastian’s office door in shock, my fingers clenched tightly to the package of gifts I had brought him, alongside the key to the private yacht I had gotten for him as a birthday present. 

Regrets… I should have listened. I should have listened to my father while he was still alive when he warned me against marrying Sebastian Simeon. A man from a rival pack.

I, Tessa, daughter of the former Alpha of the Icevein Pack, had defied my family’s warnings to marry him. The Icevein Pack, known for its icy fortitude, had been rivals with the Ironclaw Pack, a tribe thriving on commerce and ambition. Sebastian had been an enemy, a forbidden choice, but I’d seen past the tribal feuds and fallen for him. I’d used my family’s influence to support his rise in the Ironclaw Pack, smoothing tensions and opening doors.

Today, a day I’d been anticipating for months. Sebastian and I shared a birthday, a coincidence that felt like fate when we’d first met. I’d always dreamed of celebrating this day together every year, of making it special. Though Sebastian never celebrated with me, never showed interest in my birthday, and I didn’t care. Being his wife was enough, and I’d accepted his cold, distant personality the day I said, “I do.” Today, though, I was determined to change that. The yacht was my grand gesture, a symbol of my love for him. 

“Lyra,” Sebastian murmured, his voice slurred with desire. “Don’t worry, Tessa won’t be here anytime soon. She’s too busy playing the perfect wife.”

Her giggle sliced through me as goosebumps filled my body. “Oh, Sebastian , you’re so bad. She’d never suspect us.”

I stood there, numb, the yacht key suddenly slipping off my fingers as it fell to the ground alongside other package gifts I had carried. My once happy eyes filled with tears. Immediately, my wolf, Lititi’ sneered. I could feel her pain too as she roared in my head in rage, as if wanting to jump out and take matters in hands as I tried to ignore it.

Lititi howled inside me continuously, clawing at my chest, but my human side was frozen, unable to process the betrayal.

That was the same Lyla who had once advised me back then in my old pack against Sebastian, giving me so many reasons to believe he wasn’t a fit for me. She’s with the man I’d sacrificed everything for?

My thoughts drifted back as I remembered one of the days Sebastian had hurt me so badly emotionally. On our first wedding anniversary, when I’d spent days planning the surprise I had arranged for him, hoping to rekindle the spark between us days after he hit me.  He’d barely glanced at it before leaving for a “business trip.” I’d waited up for him, only to learn he’d been gone for three days, sleeping elsewhere. I and Lititi had felt devastated, sensing the betrayal, but I’d convinced myself it was a one-time mistake. And didn’t want to start regretting the fact I’d ignored my family’s warnings about marrying a beta from a rival pack, dismissing their claims that Sebastian was ambitious and was never like the rest. I had compromised, sacrificed, poured my heart into this marriage, only to be met with coldness and now this? I knew he wasn’t a perfect husband and could wrong me in so many ways but cheating? I had never refused to bed with him every night. So why?

My shock gave way to rage, and then Litit snarling for release and immediately, I shoved the door open as I saw Sebastian and Lyra, tangled together on his desk kissing passionately, half dressed as his eyes fell on me, nonchalantly and Lyra on the other hand didn’t feel remorseful. 

 “Tessa,” Sebastian called as he got away from Lyra.. “What are you…”

“Save it,” I snapped, my voice trembling with fury. My claws extended, itching to tear into something. “How long, Sebastian ? How long have you been betraying me with her?”

Lyra had the audacity to look sheepish, pulling a sheet around herself. “Tessa…” I didn't let her finish.

“Don’t,” I growled, my eyes flashing amber. “You were my friend, Lyra. I trusted you.” Then I turned to Sebastian , my heart shattering. “I sacrificed everything I had to make you happy, and this is what I get?”

Sebastian ’s expression hardened, his beta aura flaring. “Tessa, don’t be petty. You’re overreacting.”