My fingertips slid across the cold screen of my phone.

The painting Brian sent me-it was nothing more than a disgusting copy.

The original piece? My artwork from three years ago, one I'd never shown anyone. A piece born from heartbreak. I have no clue how Silvia found out about it, but the painting she's now calling hers is identical to mine.

Three years ago, one night. Brian and I had agreed to have dinner together. I waited, full of hope, counting down the minutes until he'd come back.

But he didn't. I waited from day to night, and he never showed up. I ended up standing alone at the cliff behind the Blackwood Pack manor, the moonlight stretching my shadow long and thin. It wasn't until later I found out he'd been chasing after his first love-chasing a lie because the news he got that day wasn't even real.

That moment wrecked me. I was completely shattered. So, I went back to my room and poured all that loneliness and despair onto a canvas.

Now, Silvia's taken my pain and dressed it up as if it's her own masterpiece.

No, not exactly the same.

My painting, set where moonlight met the edge of the forest, held a small, curled-up wolf hidden in a deep, almost black shade of blue. That wolf was me-a soul without a wolf spirit, longing for a place to belong. But Silvia's painting? None of that. Hers was just an empty imitation, all surface-level moonlight and a wolf, no soul at all. She had no clue what the painting really meant. She wasn't anything more than a lousy thief-first stealing my husband, and now trying to steal my work.

"Ms. Rebecca?" Leo's voice pulled me from those cold memories.

His face showed a mix of confusion and hesitation. "Are we really... going to say no to Alpha Brian? He's the Alpha of the Blackwood Pack. Our gallery might be independent, but openly offending him..."

"No." I turned off my phone, done looking at that sham of a painting. "We're not saying no."

Leo's eyes widened in surprise. "You mean..."

"Reply to him," I said, pausing for a moment before continuing, "tell him the Rose Gallery would be honored to showcase his wife's masterpiece. The painting can be part of the exhibit.

"Not only that-give it the best spot. Right at the entrance, under the best lighting. Make sure it's the first thing every guest sees when they walk in."

Leo's face was full of questions, but he didn't press further. He simply nodded and said, "Understood, ma'am. I'll take care of it right away."

"Wait a second." I stopped him, the smile on my lips growing wider. "And one more thing-get that painting I did three years ago, 'The Waiting,' from my private collection. I'll be unveiling it myself."

Leo froze for a moment, his entire body tensing. Then, in an instant, his confused look transformed into one of pure admiration and excitement. "Got it, Ms. Rebecca."

Perfect.

Silvia, didn't you want to leave your mark on this world? Didn't you want to show off your "talent" and "kindness" in front of all the elite wolves?

Fine. I'll make it happen for you.

I'll let you stand at the very top, and then I'll be the one to push you off.

I could almost picture it now-the priceless look on her face when everything falls apart.

After Leo left, silence returned to the office. I poured myself a glass of water. The icy liquid slid down my throat, but it did nothing to calm the storm raging inside me.

Then, my phone buzzed again. The name flashing on the screen was one I could recognize in my sleep.

Brian.

I considered ignoring it entirely, but instead of calling, he'd sent a message. That familiar, commanding tone of his, like nothing had ever changed between us.

"My grandmother is visiting the estate this weekend. She doesn't know about our divorce yet. You need to organize the family dinner. This is what you're supposed to do as Luna. Don't even think about running away from it."

My... Luna... duties?

A laugh, sharp and laced with disbelief, surged up from my chest before I could stop it.

I laughed out loud. The sound echoed in the empty office, cold and cutting.

He threw me out of our bedroom like garbage, dumped my belongings on the lawn for everyone to trample on. He choked me, crushed me with that Alpha dominance of his-all because of another woman. He humiliated me.

This man. His selfishness and arrogance are unreal.

My fingers hovered over the screen, countless biting, brutal words swirling in my mind, ready to pierce through him like a sharp blade. But in the end, not a single one made it to the text.

Ignore him! I have to learn how to ignore him, like he's nothing.

Brian's POV

Time dragged on, second by second, yet the screen of my phone remained silent. Still no reply. Damn it, how dare Ashley ignore my messages? How could she?! I need to cut off all her financial support.

Once she's got no money, she'll have no choice but to crawl back. Without hesitation, I shot off the order to my Beta, Kael.

Half an hour later, the phone was still dead quiet. A surge of anger welled up in my chest, blazing through my self-control like wildfire. I paced back and forth in the living room, the restlessness eating away at me.

Me. The Alpha of the Blackwood Pack. Waiting for a damn text from a woman-a runaway Omega at that. What kind of joke is this? She was just some beggar I picked up off the street. Why on earth do I feel this hollow emptiness?

This has to be the bond messing with me. Not me, not Brian. My wolf. Werewolves can't stand it when a marked she-wolf tries to pull away. This possessiveness will stick until she bonds with another male. Only then will it fade.

I came to a halt, and the voice of the gallery owner who called herself "Rebecca" played uncontrollably in my mind. That voice was cold, decisive, carrying an unquestionable authority-like a blade coated in ice. Yet underneath that icy tone, why did I feel a damn trace of familiarity?

I shook my head, trying to wipe away such an absurd thought.

No way.

Ashley was nothing more than an omega who had spent three years as a housewife, a mere accessory with no wolf spirit. Her entire existence revolved around me and tending to those ridiculous plants. How could she possibly transform into someone running a top-tier art gallery and daring to stand up to Alphas?

I must be losing it, even to connect them in my mind.

"Brian?" Silvia's soft voice pulled me out of my restless thoughts. She moved her wheelchair soundlessly to my side, lifting her pale, beautiful face to look at me, her eyes full of concern.

"You seem upset, darling. Is it... Ashley?" she asked cautiously, as though just mentioning her name could be a mistake. "She still hasn't responded to you?"

I didn't answer, my jaw tightened instead.

"It's alright," she said gently, attempting to take my hand. I instinctively pulled away. "Your grandmother's banquet-I can help you prepare for it. I remember her tastes. Her favorite was-"

"No need." I cut her off abruptly, my tone colder than I expected. "You're not in good health and shouldn't overexert yourself. I'll take care of this."

I watched as the light in her eyes dimmed instantly, replaced by a cloud of hurt. A flicker of uneasy guilt rose inside me. I had promised to take care of her, and yet all I wanted now was for her to stay away from me.

She seemed on the verge of saying more, but my phone suddenly blared, the screen displaying a name that made my temple throb-Grandmother.

I took a deep breath and answered.

"Brian!" Grandmother's commanding voice cut through the receiver, sharp and no-nonsense. "I don't care what you're doing right now. At Sunday's family dinner, I want Ashley there. Got it? Ashley-your Luna!"

"Grandmother, about that-"

"No excuses!" She interrupted harshly. "Everyone in the pack's community is talking! They're saying you kicked out your legitimate mate for some frail nobody! You've embarrassed Blackwood Pack enough! Our family only recognizes Ashley as your wife, as our Luna!"

My fists clenched tightly, the joints turning white from the pressure.

"Also," Grandma's voice dropped, carrying a seriousness I'd never heard from her before. "The council has issued an ultimatum. You and Ashley have been married for three years, and yet there's not a single pup in sight. The pack is starting to question... questioning whether you have what it takes to continue the Alpha bloodline!"

"That's ridiculous!" I growled, my voice barely human.

"It's the truth," she shot back, her tone sharp like a whip. "The council demands that within six months, Ashley must be pregnant with an heir. Otherwise, they're going to reassess your position as Alpha! Brian, it's pack law. Not even you can defy that!"

"Bang!"

I hung up with a furious slam, hurling my phone at the wall. It shattered instantly, chunks of plastic and battery scattering across the floor.

The Alpha title... They actually dared to threaten me with my Alpha title! Do they even realize how much I've done to boost this pack economically? All they have to do is sit in their cushy elder seats, bragging about how many women they've slept with each year.

Rage churned inside me, so volatile I could hardly keep my human form intact. Ashley. Ashley! Was she really this crucial to the pack?

"Brian..." Silvia's trembling voice came from behind me.

I turned to see her standing there, eyes shimmering with tears, watching me in pure terror.

Ever since I gave in to Silvia's wishes, it felt like the pack had started spiraling out of control. And now, I was stuck trying to figure out how to convince Ashley to come back.

The pack elders are threatening to strip me of my Alpha title? Seriously? Why was everything perfectly fine when Ashley was here? Did I mess this up somehow? No, that's impossible. Ashley is still the Luna. I haven't officially removed her.

She has a responsibility-to give me an heir.

I crouched down eventually, my gaze landing on Silvia. "It's nothing, just some elders from the pack pressing about Ashley needing to have a child soon. Otherwise, they'll challenge my position as Alpha."

"And what are you going to do about it?" Silvia asked.

"I'll tell Ashley what I've decided," I replied firmly.

"But Ashley doesn't seem very willing," Silvia said tentatively. "Is there anything I can do to help you?"

She spoke softly as her slender hand reached out, gently brushing against my chest in an undeniably suggestive way. It was meant to comfort me. I glanced at her-the woman I once adored. Her beauty was as striking as ever: sleek blond hair, clear blue eyes, and those full lips.

But the second her hand touched me, something felt... wrong. Off.

Silvia's touch used to carry this electric spark, calming that wild storm inside me in an instant. Now? There was nothing.

That strange void left me more agitated than before. Maybe it was the damage to her wolf spirit. Or maybe it had just been too long since I last felt her touch. Whatever it was, something had changed.

"No need." I gently pushed her hand away, trying to keep my voice soft. "Your health isn't great right now. You need to rest. I... I have urgent pack matters to deal with."

When I saw the hurt flash across her eyes, a wave of guilt surged through me. But my thoughts were too tangled, a complete mess-I needed time to sort everything out.

"I'll be back soon, alright?" I leaned down to place a light kiss on her forehead. "Rest up, okay?"

Without waiting for a response, I strode out of the Alpha Manor.

The cold night air stung my face, snapping me back to reality just a little. I knew I'd hurt Silvia again, but I just couldn't give her the tenderness she wanted right now.

I had to find Ashley. Whether it was the council's threats or the chaos brewing in the pack, none of it would be resolved without her. Things simply wouldn't hold together unless she came back.

The icy wind kept me sharp as I pulled out my burner phone and dialed Kael's number directly.

"Did you actually cut off Ashley's financial support?" I roared in fury.

Beta's reply came instantly, shaky and panicked. "Alpha Brian, forgive me, but Luna Ashley... hasn't used a single cent from the account you gave her. Not once. Not in the last three years."

What?! Then what about the expensive cufflinks she gifted me? The watches? How did she afford all that? Her father hadn't even left her a dime.

This is ridiculous. She's just a useless housewife. Where would she get the money? Unless some other wolf's been helping her.

The thought alone made my blood boil. Whoever it is, I'll rip his heart out with my claws.

I gave a direct order: "Find out who Ashley's been in contact with recently."

I have to know the truth-the reason behind her sudden defiance.

Has she really been hiding something from me all along?

All of a sudden, the voice of that gallery owner echoed in my head again.

My chest tightened as my heart thudded-no, it's impossible. Ashley's just a useless Omega. There's no way she could pull all this off.