The Seed Has Been Planted

Since Liliana was born, Shaina and Matthias had become very busy with pack duties and business.

But they always made sure to set aside time for their family.

They ate dinner together most nights. They read stories to Liliana before bed.

And on quiet mornings, the three of them would walk in the mansion gardens, holding hands.

Liliana grew up beautiful and strong. Her red hair shone bright whenever the sun hit it, the same rich color as her father’s.

Her eyes were silver, the clear Silvershade trait, exactly like her mother’s.

Her face was a perfect mix of both parents, her father’s strong nose and her mother’s soft, kissable lips. She looked picture perfect.

Every year, her birthday was grand. The celebrations had different themes each time, one year a moonlit garden party, another a forest adventure with games for all the pack pups.

Liliana grew up surrounded by love and affection from her parents and everyone around her. She stayed warm and obedient, always quick to smile and quick to listen.

Until Liliana turned eight.

That year, Shaina had to leave for a week.

She went personally to inspect the new rehabilitation facility she had funded for berserkers. It was important work. The facility would help calm and heal wolves who lost control.

Matthias stayed behind at the Redborne mansion and tower. He missed Shaina badly. His wolf paced inside him, restless and seeking her presence.

It was the first time they had been apart for so long since they bonded. He found it hard to focus on anything.

At Redborne Tower, Matthias sat in his office, staring at papers but seeing nothing. His mind kept drifting to Shaina, her touch, her scent, the way she moaned when he fucked her. He shifted in his chair, his cock half-hard just from thinking about her.

The mate bond pulled at him constantly. He wanted to bury himself inside her again, to hear her beg for more.

The Blacklore pack saw the distance between the perfect couple and took advantage of it.

Zacharias Blacklore started investing in Shaina’s rehabilitation facility.

He brought excellent technicians from the Blacklore pack, known for their tinkering skills, to help with the equipment.

He stayed close to Shaina that week, offering ideas and support, always polite and helpful.

At the same time, Zacharias’ cousin Paloma made her move on Matthias.

The Blacklores pretended to submit to Redborne. They pledged their alliance instead of staying enemies.

Their Alpha, Ferdinand Blacklore, was old but still cunning. He refused to step down from leadership.

No matter how many resources they used, they could never surpass Redborne. Business deals kept getting cut off.

Even the vital Silvershade medical facilities, the only ones that could stabilize berserkers, were now partnered with Redborne.

Ferdinand decided it was time to fight from inside. If they could not win in a fair fight, they would poison the couple’s perfect life.

To show sincerity in their new allegiance, Ferdinand recommended

Paloma as Matthias’s personal secretary. She started working at Redborne Tower right away.

Paloma was sharp, attractive, and always ready with a smile or a quiet word of support. She brought coffee exactly how Matthias liked it. She stayed late when he worked late. She listened when he spoke about missing Shaina.

One afternoon, when Matthias looked especially distracted, Paloma leaned over his desk a little too close.

“You seem tense, Alpha,” she said softly. “Is there anything I can do to help you relax?”

Matthias looked up at her. For a brief moment, his eyes lingered on the curve of her breasts under her blouse.

His wolf stirred, still hungry from days without Shaina. He shook his head quickly. “No. Just… bring the next reports.”

But Paloma did not stop trying. She touched his arm when handing him files. She laughed at his dry jokes. She made sure he noticed her.

Meanwhile, Zacharias stayed near Shaina at the facility. He walked beside her during inspections, asking thoughtful questions about her vision for the berserkers.

He made sure she felt supported and admired.

Back at the tower, Paloma stayed late again that night. She found Matthias still at his desk, rubbing his temples.

The mate mark on his neck burned hotter than usual, reminding him how empty the bed felt without Shaina.

“Alpha, you should go home and rest,” Paloma said gently, stepping closer. “Or if you need company… I’m here.”

Matthias stood up. His body ached with need.

He thought about bending Paloma over the desk the same way he bent Shaina over it, hiking up her skirt, freeing his hard cock, and thrusting into her wet heat until he forgot everything else.

The image flashed in his mind before he pushed it away.

“No,” he said firmly. “I’m going home to my daughter.”

But the seed was planted.

The Blacklores had started their quiet work. Ferdinand’s two pawns were moving exactly as planned.

Slowly, they began to poison the air that the perfect couple breathed.