The pack archives smelled like old paper and forgotten promises.

I stood in the doorway of Grandma Stevens' private study, watching her gnarled fingers trace the edge of a leather-bound ledger. Morning light slanted through the window, catching the silver in her hair. She looked up at me with those sharp gray eyes that missed nothing.

"You're certain about these numbers, child?"

I stepped closer, keeping my voice soft. Concerned. The perfect worried Luna. "I found the discrepancies three months ago, Grandma. I didn't want to believe it, but..." I let my words trail off, biting my lip. "Isaac has been so stressed. I thought perhaps if I understood the finances better, I could help ease his burden."

A lie wrapped in truth. In my previous life, I'd discovered Isaac's embezzlement too late, after Allie had already drained half the pack's resources. This time, I had the advantage of memory.

Grandma Stevens closed the ledger with a decisive snap. "My grandson has forgotten the old ways." Her voice carried the weight of disappointment. "A true Alpha shares his burdens with his Luna. He does not hide his failures behind locked doors and pretty lies."

She stood, moving to an ancient oak cabinet. A key appeared from somewhere in her sleeve—she unlocked the cabinet and withdrew a small iron ring heavy with keys.

"The archives are yours, Vera. All of them." She pressed the ring into my palm. "Including the financial records Isaac believes are sealed."

I closed my fingers around the cold metal, feeling the first piece of my revenge click into place. "Thank you, Grandma."

"Don't thank me yet." Her gaze pierced through me. "I loved that boy since he was born. But I love this pack more. If he's betrayed his duties..." She didn't finish. She didn't have to.

I spent the next two hours in the dusty basement archives, pulling records that hadn't been touched in decades. Pack law. Ancient remedies. Punishment protocols for Alphas who violated sacred bonds.

And then I found it.

Tucked inside a crumbling journal written in Old Script: a recipe for Silver-Dust. The notation was clinical, detailing how the compound slowly calcified the neural pathways between human and wolf. Undetectable. Irreversible if administered long enough.

The same way wolfsbane had destroyed my connection to Sasha.

*He deserves this,* my wolf whispered. Her voice was stronger now, fed by my rage and growing power.

*He deserves worse,* I agreed.

I photographed the pages with my phone, then carefully returned everything to its place. No one could know I'd been here. Not yet.

That night, I waited until Isaac left for his evening patrol. The pack house settled into quiet—Allie was in her third-floor suite, probably video-calling her Beta lover. The staff had retired. I was alone.

I moved through the shadows like the rogue I'd once been, silent and invisible. Isaac's office door was locked, but I'd stolen his spare key weeks ago in my first life. Some skills transferred between timelines.

The room smelled like him. Expensive cologne and arrogance.

I found his custom protein powder in the small refrigerator behind his desk—the Alpha-enhancement blend he mixed into his post-workout shakes. He was vain about his physique, about maintaining his dominance.

Perfect.

I'd prepared the Silver-Dust in my bathroom, grinding the components with mortar and pestle like the recipe specified. The powder was fine as talc, nearly invisible when mixed.

My hands didn't shake as I unscrewed the protein container. Three measured teaspoons, stirred carefully into the chocolate-flavored powder. The recipe promised it would take weeks to build up, mimicking the slow deterioration of an overworked Alpha.

No one would suspect poison. They'd think he was burning out.

I was screwing the lid back on when I heard footsteps in the hallway.

I froze. The footsteps passed. Probably a Delta on night rounds.

I exhaled slowly, returning the container to its exact position. Wiped down every surface I'd touched. Slipped back out into the darkness.

*First dose administered,* I thought, feeling Sasha's savage satisfaction mirror my own.

The next morning, I was coming back from the pack gardens when Allie appeared in the second-floor hallway. She wore a silk robe that barely covered her thighs, her blonde hair artfully tousled. Playing the seductress even when Isaac wasn't around.

"Vera." Her voice dripped false sweetness. "We need to talk about the pack budget. Isaac says you've been asking questions."

She moved closer, and I saw it—the silver curling iron in her hand, still plugged into the hallway outlet. Still hot.

"I'm just trying to help," I said softly, backing against the wall. Playing weak.

"Are you?" Allie's smile turned vicious. "Because it seems like you're trying to undermine my position as Pack Consultant."

She stumbled forward—a calculated movement—and pressed the burning iron against my forearm.

The pain was instant, searing. Silver against werewolf skin. In my previous life, weakened by wolfsbane, this would have taken days to heal. Would have left a scar.

But I wasn't weak anymore.

I felt my Alpha blood surge, Sasha rising with feral fury. The burn healed in seconds, flesh knitting closed before Allie's shocked eyes.

I grabbed her wrist, squeezing hard enough to make her drop the iron. Then I let my aura unfurl—just a fraction of it, just enough to make her knees buckle.

"What..." Allie gasped, her face going white.

I leaned close, my voice a whisper. "You must be more careful, Allie. These old hallways are so dangerous. You could trip and hurt yourself."

I released her, watching her stumble back against the wall. Her eyes were wide, terrified. She'd felt my power. She knew.

"There's no burn," I said pleasantly, showing her my unmarked arm. "You must be seeing things. Perhaps you should rest more. Stress can cause hallucinations."

I walked away, leaving her trembling in the hallway.

*Let her wonder,* Sasha purred. *Let her fear.*

Behind me, I heard Allie's ragged breathing. The sound of her confusion. Her terror.

Good.

The predator had just shown her teeth.

I found Ivey in the kitchens just after dawn, her hands deep in dishwater. The morning staff hadn't arrived yet. Perfect.

"Luna." She straightened immediately, wiping her hands on her apron. Her dark eyes flickered with concern. "Is something wrong?"

I glanced toward the hallway, then back at her. "Allie visited your quarters last night."

Ivey went still. "How did you—"

"Check under your mattress. Now."

She didn't question me. That was the thing about Ivey—she'd survived this pack by knowing when to trust her instincts. We moved quickly through the servants' wing, our footsteps silent on the worn carpet.

The room she shared with Nia was small but tidy. Two narrow beds, a shared dresser, a window that overlooked the training grounds. Ivey dropped to her knees beside her bed and reached underneath.

Her hand emerged holding a diamond bracelet. Then a ruby necklace. Then a pair of emerald earrings I recognized from the pack vault.

"Moon Goddess," Ivey breathed. Her face had gone pale. "She's framing us."

"She's terrified," I said quietly. "I showed her something yesterday. Something she wasn't supposed to see." I knelt beside her, gathering the jewelry. "Now she's trying to eliminate anyone loyal to me."

Ivey's jaw tightened. "What do we do?"

I smiled. In my previous life, I'd discovered the planted evidence too late. The guards had already found it. Nia and Ivey had been dragged before the pack council, and I'd been powerless to stop their exile.

Not this time.

"We give it back to her," I said.

Twenty minutes later, we stood in the underground garage. Allie's silver Mercedes gleamed under the fluorescent lights, parked in the spot marked "Pack Consultant." The vanity of it made my teeth ache.

Ivey pulled a thin piece of metal from her pocket—a lock pick she'd carried since her orphan days. Her fingers worked the car door with practiced ease. The lock clicked open.

"Trunk," I whispered.

She popped it from inside. I lifted the carpeted floor panel, revealing the spare tire well. Deep enough. Hidden enough.

I placed each piece of jewelry carefully inside, then covered them again. Closed the trunk. Locked the door.

*Your move, Allie.*

Isaac's voice boomed through the pack house at noon, amplified by his Alpha authority. "All pack members to the main hall. Immediately."

I arrived with the other Lunas and high-ranking females, my face carefully composed. Concerned but calm. Isaac stood on the raised platform, his jaw clenched. Allie hovered beside him, her expression a perfect mask of distress.

"Valuable items have been stolen from the pack vault," Isaac announced. His Alpha aura pressed down on the assembled wolves, making the lower-ranked members whimper. "Beta Cross will conduct a search of all quarters. Anyone found with stolen property will face exile."

Murmurs rippled through the crowd. I felt Nia and Ivey's fear spike from where they stood among the other Omegas. I caught Ivey's eye and gave the smallest shake of my head.

*Trust me.*

Beta David Cross was thorough. I had to give him that. He started with the Omega quarters, his team of Deltas moving through each room with grim efficiency. When they found nothing in Nia and Ivey's room, I saw Allie's face tighten.

She'd expected them to find the jewelry. She'd been so certain.

David moved through the pack house systematically. Guest rooms. Storage areas. Even the Alpha's office, though Isaac's scowl could have melted steel.

Nothing.

"The garage," David said finally. "We should check the vehicles."

Allie's scent spiked—sharp with sudden panic. I caught it immediately. So did several other wolves with strong noses.

David's team moved through the garage. When they reached Allie's Mercedes, David paused. His nostrils flared.

"The scent trail leads here," he said, his voice carefully neutral.

Allie laughed. High and brittle. "That's ridiculous. Why would I steal from the pack vault? I'm the Pack Consultant."

"Open the trunk, please," David said.

Allie's hands shook as she pressed the button on her key fob. The trunk popped open. David lifted the floor panel.

The jewelry glittered in the fluorescent light.

The crowd erupted. Gasps. Whispers. Accusations flying like arrows.

"I didn't—" Allie's voice cracked. "Someone planted this! I would never—"

"The scent trail doesn't lie," David said quietly. He looked at Isaac. "Alpha, the evidence is clear."

Isaac's face had gone rigid. I could see the war happening behind his eyes. Believe his mistress, or believe his Beta.

I stepped forward before he could speak.

"Perhaps," I said softly, my voice carrying just enough to reach the crowd, "Allie has been under too much stress. Adjusting to a new pack, taking on such important responsibilities..." I let sympathy color my tone. "Sometimes the pressure can make us confused. Overwhelmed."

I met Allie's eyes. Saw the fury there. The humiliation.

"I'm sure she didn't mean any harm," I continued. "We should be understanding. Forgiving."

The crowd shifted. I felt it—the subtle change in their perception. The Luna, gracious and kind, making excuses for the mistress who'd tried to frame innocent Omegas.

Allie's face flushed red. "I am not confused—"

"Of course not," I said gently. "But perhaps you should rest. Take some time to settle in properly."

Isaac's jaw worked. He couldn't defend Allie without looking weak. Couldn't punish her without admitting he'd brought a thief into the pack.

"Return the items to the vault," he said finally, his voice tight. "We'll discuss this later."

As the crowd dispersed, I caught Allie's gaze one more time. Her eyes promised murder.

I smiled.

*Let her try.*

The training grounds smelled like sweat and dirt. I stood at the edge of the field, watching Forest practice his defensive stances with the other young wolves. He was small for his age, but his movements were precise. Focused.

My son.

In my previous life, I'd lost him to Allie's poison. She'd whispered lies until he couldn't look at me without disgust. This time, I'd make sure he saw the truth.

"Again!" Gamma Reed barked at the line of youngsters. "Faster!"

Forest dropped into a crouch, his muscles coiling. He was getting stronger. Soon his wolf would awaken, and he'd need to understand what real leadership looked like.

Not Isaac's brutality. Not Allie's manipulation.

Something better.

"Luna Vera." One of the Deltas approached, dipping his head respectfully. "The Alpha asked if you'd observe the afternoon drills."

I smiled. "Of course."

Twenty minutes later, Allie's voice cut across the field like a whip.

"You clumsy idiot!"

I turned. A young Omega—barely sixteen, with mousy brown hair—had dropped a stack of towels near the water station. They lay scattered in the dust. The girl's face had gone white, her shoulders hunched as Allie loomed over her.

"Do you have any idea how expensive these are?" Allie's voice dripped venom. "Of course you don't. Omegas like you wouldn't know quality if it bit you."

The girl's eyes filled with tears. Around us, the warriors had stopped training. Watching. Waiting to see what would happen.

Forest stood frozen, his gaze locked on Allie's face.

I moved before I could think.

"It's just towels, Allie." My voice was soft. Calm. I knelt beside the trembling Omega, gathering the fallen fabric. "Accidents happen."

Allie's eyes narrowed. "She needs to learn—"

"She's learning." I met her gaze, still smiling. Still gentle. "We all make mistakes when we're nervous. Don't we?"

The emphasis was slight. Just enough for Allie to remember the jewelry in her trunk. The humiliation in front of the pack.

Her jaw tightened.

I turned to the Omega, pressing the towels into her shaking hands. "What's your name?"

"M-Mara, Luna."

"Mara." I squeezed her shoulder. "Thank you for helping today. The warriors appreciate your service."

Her eyes went wide. Like she'd never heard those words before.

Maybe she hadn't.

I stood, brushing dust from my jeans. Around us, the warriors had started moving again. Training. But I felt their attention. Their approval.

Allie's face had gone red. She spun on her heel and stalked away.

I glanced at Forest. He was staring at me, something shifting behind his eyes. Understanding, maybe. Or the beginning of it.

*Good,* Sasha whispered. *Let him see.*

The pack barbecue that evening was loud and crowded. Families gathered around picnic tables, the smell of grilled meat thick in the air. Isaac stood near the main grill, laughing with Beta Cross. Playing the perfect Alpha.

I spotted Ramon near the dessert table, his plate piled high with cake. Allie's precious son. The supposed heir.

I picked up a glass of lemonade and moved through the crowd. Casual. Unhurried.

Ramon was bragging to a group of younger wolves about his "Alpha strength," flexing his arms like he was already grown. The other kids looked impressed.

Fools.

I stumbled—just slightly—and the lemonade sloshed over the rim of my glass. It splashed across the grass, droplets hitting Ramon's expensive sneakers.

"Oh!" I gasped, setting the glass down. "I'm so sorry!"

I dropped to my knees, pulling a napkin from my pocket. Ramon stepped back, annoyed, and I leaned closer. Wiping at the grass. Breathing in.

His scent hit me like a fist.

Beneath the designer cologne and the arrogance, I smelled it. Earth and pine. The distinct, unmistakable odor of Beta blood. Not just any Beta—Bloodmoon Pack. I'd know that scent anywhere. Isaac's rival pack.

Allie's lover.

*Gotcha.*

I kept my face neutral as I stood, still apologizing. Ramon waved me off, already turning back to his audience. As I moved away, my fingers brushed his jacket. A single dark hair came away in my hand.

I palmed it carefully. DNA evidence. Proof that would destroy Allie's lies forever.

*Soon,* Sasha purred. *Very soon.*

The next morning, I woke to chaos.

Shouts echoed from outside. I threw on clothes and ran downstairs, following the sound to the forest trail where the pack did their morning runs.

Isaac lay on the ground, surrounded by warriors. His face was twisted in pain, one hand pressed to his temple. His Alpha aura flickered like a dying lightbulb—weak, unstable.

"Alpha!" Beta Cross knelt beside him. "What happened?"

"My head..." Isaac's voice was strained. "I can't—my wolf won't—"

I pushed through the crowd, my face a mask of panic. "Isaac!"

I dropped to my knees beside him, reaching for his hand. Playing the terrified mate. Inside, Sasha was howling with triumph.

The Silver-Dust was working.

Isaac's eyes found mine, confused and afraid. "Vera, something's wrong. I tried to shift, but—"

His aura flickered again. I felt it—the fracture in his connection to his wolf. The bond between human and beast cracking like ice.

"Get the healer," I said, my voice shaking. "Now!"

Warriors scattered. Beta Cross barked orders. And I stayed there, holding Isaac's hand, whispering soothing words.

While inside, I smiled.

The predator was closing in for the kill.