Chapter 1: Ashes of Trust

The room reeked of old smoke and fresh betrayal—a bitter haze that couldn’t quite mask the cold pressing in from the penthouse windows. Nyxara Vale sat in the blue glow of her monitors, her world in ruins because of two people she’d once trusted completely. Cassian Ward—her mate, the man who’d sworn she was his forever. Brielle Shaw—her best friend, the one who always knew how to make her laugh. They thought she was gone for good, just a ghost in their memories.

They had no idea.

Her fingers flew over the keys, violet eyes darting from one screen to the next. Then she found it. A single file that stopped her breath and sent anger burning through her veins. She hesitated, barely a second. Then she clicked.

A sex tape. Her own bedroom—she recognized her white and gold vanity dresser, the messy pile of books on her gold and white nightstand. The camera must’ve been hidden there, aimed right at the bed. Cassian came into view first: broad-shouldered, crisp shirt already being undone, muscles flexing. He looked cocky, eyes full of heat as he turned to Brielle. Her ex-best friend. Long dark hair loose over a tight red dress, the kind that dared you to stare.

“Finally alone,” Cassian growled, yanking Brielle against him. Their mouths crashed together, hungry, hands everywhere. His worked her dress up her thighs. She moaned, nails digging into his hair, pulling him closer.

He broke the kiss, eyes burning. “I’ve wanted to fuck you since Nyxara introduced us.” He spun her around, yanked down the zipper, and let the dress fall. Brielle stood there in black lace, curves on full display. Cassian smacked her ass, hard enough to echo, and she gasped, arching against him.

He pressed into her from behind, already straining against his pants. Brielle fumbled with his belt, impatient, freeing his cock—thick, hard, already glistening. She gave him a wicked grin, then stroked him, slow and tight. He groaned. “Suck it,” he ordered, pushing her to her knees.

She didn’t hesitate. Her lips wrapped around him, tongue swirling, taking him deep. Cassian tangled his fingers in her hair, guiding her as she bobbed her head. Wet, messy, desperate. Saliva ran down her chin. He fucked her mouth, shallow thrusts, jaw tight and eyes wild.

After a few minutes, he yanked her up. “Enough.” He tossed her onto the bed, face down, ass high. Brielle spread for him, panties soaked. Cassian ripped them off, shoved his face between her thighs, and started licking—slow, then fast, tongue everywhere. Brielle cried out, pushing back, riding his mouth. He slipped two fingers inside her, curling them just right. She bucked and shuddered, moaning his name, until she came hard, soaking his hand.

Cassian stood, mouth wet, cock throbbing. He lined up behind her, teasing her with the head. “Beg for it,” he demanded.

“Please, Cassian, fuck me,” Brielle whimpered, eyes pleading. “I want you.”

He slammed into her, all at once, making her scream in pleasure. She clung to the sheets, body trembling as he pounded her hard, the bed rattling beneath them. Skin smacked on skin, his balls slapping her with every thrust. “You’re tighter than Nyxara,” he grunted, reaching around to pinch her nipples.

Brielle didn’t hold back. She pushed back, tearing off her bra, letting her breasts bounce free. “Harder—don’t stop.” He gave her everything, sweat pouring down his face. He flipped her onto her back, hooked her legs over his shoulders, and drove in deeper, never breaking eye contact.

Her nails raked his back, leaving red trails. “Cum inside me,” she begged, voice cracking. Cassian’s thrusts turned ragged, his body tightening. Then he lost it, roaring as he came, filling her up. Brielle followed, her body shaking, their bodies tangled and slick, everything spilling over.

They collapsed in a tangled heap, breathless. Cassian's lips found her neck. “This is just the beginning,” he murmured. Then the video went dark. Cassian. Brielle. Raw, reckless—caught in the act. Proof of everything. Every laugh, every touch, every secret—they’d left it all for her to see, bold as daylight.

Nyxara pressed her lips together, jaw tight. The wolf inside her snarled, claws raking bone. She’d known anger. She’d tasted heartbreak. But this? This was wildfire in her veins.

“You think this breaks me?” she whispered, voice sharp. “You think I’ll fall apart just because you picked each other?”

She leaned back, pulling up the security logs. Servers scattered all over the world. Firewalls tougher than most governments. No sweat. She grinned, letting her hacker instincts take over, following their digital trail and twisting it, rewriting their history with every keystroke. This was just move one.

Her “death” had been their prize. But prizes don’t last. Nyxara Vale wasn’t gone—she was remade. The White Wolf inside her beat stronger now, ancient fury humming through her. MMA, Krav Maga, hacking, race cars, boardrooms—she’d take every skill and sharpen it to a lethal edge.

Brielle was pregnant. Cassian had moved on—but he’d regret thinking she was finished.

Tonight, betrayal was her blade. Tonight, Nyxara started taking back everything they stole.

The world had no clue. But it would.