Chapter 1

My mate, Alpha Lucius, was Alliance Chairman for four years. And I put him there. Just before his re-election, I found out he had a pup with another omega.

He can kiss that seat goodbye.

Just last night, Lucius and I were at dinner, talking about the election.

"Darling, my re-election is a sure thing."

Lucius sat beside me, leaning in to kiss my neck.

"You are the strongest Alpha because you are my mate. And only the strongest Alpha is worthy of me…"

I trailed off, frozen.

Lucius didn't notice. He just smiled at me, a look of casual entitlement on his face.

"Be your what? Your one and only Alpha?"

He leaned in to kiss me again, but I shoved him away on instinct.

Because just a moment ago, he was mind-linking someone else.

As his lips touched my neck, I’d heard the words that made my world crash.

“My sweet little pup. Daddy’s moving you and Mommy into the new villa tomorrow. I built it just for you.”

Lucius’s smile vanished. His brow furrowed in annoyance.

"What's wrong?"

His powerful Alpha aura pressed down on me.

My heart hammered against my ribs, but I forced myself to stay calm.

I stared at the man I thought I loved, hiding behind his mask, and I lied.

"Nothing. I'm just tired from work lately."

He squeezed my shoulder, wrapping me in his commanding Alpha presence.

His voice was a soothing command. "Then get some rest. I can handle the Alliance. You don't need to worry. Everyone knows who to vote for."

After dinner, he said he had Alliance business to deal with.

I sat on the sofa, the words replaying in my head.

Little pup? Mommy?

A villa built just for them?

Six months ago, he had mentioned building a villa.

The excuse was for his aging parents. Unlike mine, they weren't strong enough to remain pack elders. They needed a quiet place to retire.

Our pack’s resources were tight, but I still pulled strings for him. I approved a massive budget. I spent a fortune.

I wanted him to be free of worry, to focus on being the Alliance Chairman.

But now I knew. The villa built with my family’s money was a love nest for his bastard and his whore.

I went to his study and used my authority as the Silver Moon heir to access the pack’s sealed ledgers. I found the payments. The contractor for the villa. Moonrise Construction.

I dialed the director's number immediately.

"Luna Anya, how may I help you?"

"The villa you started six months ago. Who's using it now?"

There was a pause on the other end.

"Luna, at the Chairman's request, the villa was prepared for a Ms. Clara. She's pregnant and needs a quiet place."

Clara?

My blood boiled.

Lucius had lied about everything.

"Thank you for the information." I hung up and immediately activated the Silver Moon Pack's intelligence network.

"Shadow Guard," I commanded through our private mind-link.

"Princess. We await your command."

"Dig up everything you can on an omega named Clara Winters. I want it now."

Less than thirty minutes later, the full report was in my hands.

Clara Winters, 22. A common omega from the slums.

Four years ago, after Lucius became Chairman, she was hired as an assistant at the Alliance Headquarters through... let's call them "special channels."

Bank records showed monthly transfers from the "Alliance Chairman's Special Fund" for the last three months.

Her latest medical record: three months pregnant. Fetus healthy.

And there was a photo. Clara, standing in front of the villa built with my pack's resources. Her hand rested on her swollen belly, a triumphant smile on her face.

I stared at the evidence. The moonlight tattoo over my heart burned, like it was being ripped apart.

My mate bond fractured, searing me with agony.

"Father." I sent an urgent mind-link.

"My daughter. What's wrong? It's late."

"The 'great' Chairman you picked has not only betrayed his mate, he used our resources to build a love nest for his mistress. He even has a bastard on the way."

A moment of dead silence. Then, my father’s furious roar.

"That powerless mutt is only Chairman because he rode the coattails of the Silver Moon Pack. How dare he betray our bloodline?"

"I will make him pay for betraying me. For betraying our pack."

I stared at the report, my love twisting into ice-cold hatred.

"Daughter, whatever you need, you have my full support."

I stared at the picture of Clara's young, smug face, fighting to chain the wolf raging inside me.

"He and that omega bitch... are going to die."