All Chapters of A Spy's Gambit: Forsaken by the Pack, Claimed by the Alpha.: Chapter 1 - Chapter 4

Liora's POVToday was supposed to be the day the nightmare finally ended.If my heart beats any louder, the entire pack house will hear the sound of my desperation.For a whole week, the grand estate had been buzzing with preparation. Even the servants, who usually stopped to talk with me for a while, only gave me quick, nervous little smiles as they passed by in the corridors.I understood they were all overwhelmed with the work for tonight anyway.Julian hadn’t told me his grand plan in advance, but he didn’t need to.I trusted him.I believed with everything in me that he would keep his promises.He had told me just last night, right before he kissed me, that we would be marrying today.“The trade lines are finally secured, Liora,” he had promised, his hands framing my face. “We now have the leverage I need over the High Council. I will use my power as Alpha to free your mother. We will announce our mating before the entire pack, and no one will ever look down on you again, babe. I

Liora's POVI woke up in a cold room but was sweating profusely.Today was the day I wished I had never woken up to. I got up from my bed and closed my eyes, breathing in and out. Everything I was about to do—every single step I took down that aisle toward a literal monster—was just to buy time for my mother.Her execution was set for dawn tomorrow, and my name on that marriage contract was the only thing stopping the High Council's executioner from pulling the lever.It was funny, really. The whole pack thought my mom was a disgraced traitor who had leaked our secret trade routes. They all thought she was a criminal when everyone knew how criminal and unfair the High Council had always been.I quickly showered, refusing to let any of the maids help me. I threw on my robe, tied the belt tightly around my waist, and walked out into the drawing room to pack up the few things I was allowed to bring to the Moonstone estate.I walked into the room to see Julian and Samantha already there