Who were you talking to?

Alex's POV

Somehow I could not help but feel the emptiness of the house after she left. I did not know why I thought I would be happier now — without her lying to my face and cheating behind my back.

The thought of her betrayal stung again, instantly replacing the loneliness that sat in my chest.

“Babe. You woke up so early this morning and I was trying to reach you,” the new love of my life, Carmen, said.

When she moved into the pack house I did not think much of it — after all, she was my mate’s best friend. But in the long run I had to thank her for opening my eyes to the cheating of the woman I loved.

I turned and planted a kiss on her lips, savouring her moan before I pulled away.

“I have a lot of work to do today, and I also have to entertain Alpha Harden later. Perhaps you should look for something to do in the kitchen — I heard the staff need an extra hand cooking dinner tonight,” I said.

She pursed her lips as though I had insulted her.

“What is that supposed to mean? You want me to demean myself to the level of cooking with mere servants?” she snapped.

I inwardly sighed.

“Of course not, babe. It’s not a problem if you can’t do it, but as the Luna and my wife I just thought you would be more in charge of cooking my meals,” I said.

She scoffed — a loud, uncomfortable hiss — and looked at me with narrowed eyes.

“You don’t love me. That’s the only reason I can think of that would make you expect me to slave away in the kitchen when we have experienced chefs,” she said.

I pulled her into my lap to calm her quickly.

“Okay, I’m sorry, okay? It was a bad suggestion. If you’re bored you can watch a movie or something,” I said, burying my lips into her neck and inhaling her intoxicating scent.

“No — I want to go shopping for that new bag you promised me,” she said, a slight pout on her lips.

I sighed, knowing where this would lead. She giggled and picked up my black card, giving me a quick kiss on the forehead before walking out.

Did I make the wrong decision celebrating her as my Luna?

I could not continue the thought as Alpha Harden walked in — a man I’d known for years, grown up with, a brother in every sense.

“Your new Luna is a pretty one, huh. I’m so glad you got rid of that no-good cheat. I always knew something about how she acted kindly to you was off,” he said, taking his seat.

I did not want to talk about Tori, not while my heart still longed for her, wishing she were near so I could study the lines of her body like I always had.

But it was obvious that was the only topic Harden wanted to discuss.

“We should get started on the new contract now. What do you think about a modern building?” I asked, trying to steer the conversation away from her, but he was not buying it.

“You know who my wife said she saw in a hotel yesterday?” he asked, his eyes glinting mischievously as they always did when he was about to reveal something juicy.

I was curious; my heart pounded. “Who did she see?” I asked.

He grinned, as though he’d been waiting all his life for that question.

“She saw your former Luna. And the Alpha of Gold Crest Pack — Alpha Adrian. In a hotel together.”

It took a second for the words to register, and when they did I was livid with anger and disgust.

How had I not realized from the start she was such a disgusting slut? She didn’t even wait after leaving my house — she jumped straight into another man’s arms.

“I never knew she was such a slut,” I muttered under my breath, the dull ache in my chest flaring.

“It’s a good thing Carmen told you about her wayward behaviour. Imagine if she’d already had a child for you,” Harden said. I exhaled — thank goodness there was no child in the picture.

Throughout the rest of the day, even as I tried to focus, I could not shake her image from my head. I groaned in frustration, half my work still undone as night fell and the sky darkened like a blanket.

I headed to my room, steps nimble, walking almost soundlessly down the hall. I was nearly at my door when I heard a low voice at the other end of the corridor.

I listened with my werewolf senses and knew instantly the voice belonged to Carmen.

The realization that I hadn’t seen her since she left my office that morning pulled me toward the sound. I walked slowly, steps as light as a feather as I drew closer.

I made out the silhouette of her by the window, talking into her phone.

“It is all going according to plan, so rest assured,” she said. My suspicion grew. Who was she talking to?

“I love you too,” she added — and that was it for me.

I revealed myself quickly, watching the phone fall from her fingers as she turned to look at me.

“Who were you talking to just now?” I asked, eyes narrowed into slits.