Chapter 2

When I got back to my suite, my hands were still shaking.

Claus and I had never been just ordinary mates over these past seven years.

Forget the massive amount of capital the Blackthorn pack funneled into his hands during his rise to power. Even later on, a full third of Nightshade Corp's revenue was secured by my people.

I was the one who pressured those most troublesome shareholders on the board into submission.

Since Claus took over, everyone only remembered the man in the sharp black suit standing on the podium at ceremonies. They had conveniently forgotten whose shadow was cast behind that suit.

Standing in the room we had shared for seven years, I recalled a night long ago, before he had secured Nightshade Corp. An Alpha from another pack had brushed a hand against my waist during a negotiation.

That night, Claus had pinned the man to the ground and snapped three of his ribs.

We lost the entire deal because of that outburst.

I remembered him holding me afterward, his hands covered in blood and his eyes glowing with a manic intensity. He had whispered, "Aserina, no one touches you. Ever."

He sounded so sincere back then.

A bitter smile played on my lips. I reached for an old photo of us on the coffee table and tossed it into the fireplace.

Back then, Claus wanted the whole world to know I belonged to him. Now, as I watched the flames lick the edges of the frame, the irony was suffocating.

I pulled out my phone and dialed Cecilia Lawson, my closest friend and a professional information broker.

The second she picked up, she chirped, "What's the word, babe? Who are we digging up dirt on today?"

I leaned against the desk and replied, "Claus."

The line went dead silent for two beats. "Who?"

"You heard me. Claus Ellison. He betrayed me with some mixed Omega who's been hanging around the Nightshade pack. I've never seen her before."

Cecilia immediately exploded. "Where is he? I'm getting my people right now. We're going to tear the hair out of both their heads!"

Listening to her rant actually made me feel a bit more grounded. "That's too easy on him. Start with the woman. I want a name, a background, and exactly how she ended up with Claus. I want to know if there's anyone else pulling her strings. I'm going to take my time settling this debt."