The Kept Lover Turns Out to Be the Wolf King

My stilettos hadn’t even grazed the marble steps leading to the grand entrance when the butler, with a deferential bow, swung the heavy oak doors wide, ushering me into the opulent embrace of the Voss estate.Since Damian’s betrayal, I’d completed our wedding alone and moved into the sprawling manor with his parents, as would’ve been expected had our marriage not imploded. Margaret and Victor, Damian’s mother and father, had enveloped me in respect and tenderness. Not only did they treat me as their son’s wife, but their guilt over Damian’s actions spurred them to embrace me as a daughter. Their warmth had been my anchor in the storm of his absence.Through the open doorway, I glimpsed Damian’s bowed silhouette, but it was Margaret’s sharp rebuke, slicing through her usual warm laughter, that reached me first. “You vanish for a year, not a word to your wife, Lila, nor a shred of duty as Alpha to this pack. And now you slink back—do you think you deserve anyone’s respect?”“I was wrong

As I emerged from the bathroom, Damian had already ended his call with Isabelle, slinking back into the bedroom. Whether he’d overheard my phone conversation or caught the stifled moans I couldn’t quite suppress in the bathroom, I didn’t care. To me, he was no different from a slab of meat—tainted goods, discarded by my former friend.But Damian clearly didn’t share my indifference. His eyes narrowed, raking over me with a sneer curling his lips. “Who were you talking to?”“Not just you get to keep lovers.” His question didn’t faze me. I sauntered to the vanity, patting serums onto my face with deliberate nonchalance. Still sticky from the rush of ecstasy, I’d scrubbed myself clean in the shower.“You, my *wife*, dared to take a lover?” His voice rose, thick with incredulity, brows knitting in outrage.A laugh tugged at my lips—his hypocrisy was almost comical. Had a single year erased his memory of abandoning me, his bride, for my best friend at our own wedding? Mirroring his tone, I

Unlike Damian, though Isabelle was also watching my every move, she was focused on what I would present to Clara.“Lila isn’t so impressive after all,” Isabelle sneered, her mouth twisting scornfully as the item in my box was revealed. “Treating the Wolf King’s Luna’s birthday gala like a high school graduation ceremony? A photo album for Clara? It’s truly shameful.”Isabelle’s voice grew louder, as if she wished every corner of the ballroom could hear her, ensuring everyone witnessed my embarrassment.Every gift Clara received was priceless; even the L. Quill painting she and Damian had so meticulously chosen didn’t earn them more than a polite acknowledgement.A worn-out photo album as a gift for the Luna? By what right?Isabelle folded her arms, a smug smile plastered on her face, waiting for Clara to dismiss me in disgust.But everything unfolded contrary to her expectations.Clara took the album from the box, her expression starting with the same polite smile. However, as she ope

By the time Damian had managed to soothe Isabelle and feign ignorance of his earlier embarrassment during the gift-giving, the banquet was already underway.He had missed the grand entrance of Gabriel and Lucas, and he was secretly furious.He quickly snatched a cocktail from a passing server's tray and began searching for me.At this hour, guests were circulating across the hall's expensive marble floors, driven by various motives: seeking favors, establishing new connections, maintaining social ties, or discreetly passing on information—all seeking the person they needed to socialize with.It took Damian some effort to find me. I was standing alone in a secluded corner by the dessert station, looking pale and panicked, completely unnerved, as if I had suffered a massive blow. The face that had been so bright and captivating this morning, capable of infuriating others with its confidence, was now colorless and distraught.Glass after glass of wine was being relentlessly poured down m

The brief interlude was over.Some guests were initially concerned that Prince Lucas had left with a grim expression, perhaps annoyed. But less than two minutes later, Prince Lucas sent an order to the butler to bring out the royal family's treasured collection of fine wine to entertain the guests, urging everyone to enjoy the celebration of Clara's birthday to the fullest. Werewolf emotions are often fleeting; with the Royal Family offering fine wine for everyone to enjoy freely, no one was going to worry about any remaining tension.Besides, the precious wines from the Royal Cellar were not something one could drink anytime.In the past, a wine-loving Alpha had even requested the Royal Family's vintage wines as a special reward from the Wolf King simply because they were extraordinarily delicious.Thus, the banquet was instantly filled with merriment.Though Damian was initially angered by Lucas's pointed questioning, his shallow mind ceased to worry about the incident after I succe