While I was helping Alpha Timothy copy some files for the pack, I accidentally stumbled upon a hidden photo album. Without thinking, I opened it and was overwhelmed by a flood of images. The screen was filled with pictures of him with another she-wolf. The realization hit me hard—my mate was seeing someone else.

Just then, my phone buzzed with a message from my best friend, Murphy, a Delta in the Moonlight Pack like me.

"Iliana, I’ve got something to tell you. Alpha Timothy is planning to propose to you on Thanksgiving!"

My chest tightened, the air suddenly feeling too heavy to breathe. The bond between us, once strong and unshakable, now felt like a fragile thread on the verge of snapping. I clenched my fists, trying to steady myself. How could this be happening? How could he betray the mate bond, a sacred connection blessed by the Moon Goddess?

---

When Alpha Timothy asked me to copy some files for him, I made a mistake and clicked on the F drive instead of the E drive. Just as I was about to close the window, something caught my eye—a strangely named folder tucked away in a corner. It was titled "With You."

Curiosity got the better of me, so I clicked it open. Instantly, the screen was filled with endless pictures of him with another she-wolf. There they were, smiling, laughing, their closeness unmistakable. At that moment, I felt like the punchline of a cruel joke, the weight of betrayal pressing down on my shoulders.

My wolf stirred in the back of my mind, her presence faint but furious. *He’s broken the bond,* she whispered, her voice trembling with hurt and anger. *He’s betrayed us.*

I stared at the screen, my vision blurring as the images burned into my memory. The she-wolf looked young, vibrant, and carefree—everything I suddenly felt I wasn’t. Her arm was linked with Alpha Timothy’s, her smile radiant, as if she had no idea of the pain she was causing.

A bitter laugh escaped me. Here I was, a Gamma of the Moonlight Pack, loyal and steadfast, only to discover that my mate, my Alpha, had been unfaithful. The mate bond, once a source of strength and connection, now felt like a shackle, binding me to someone who no longer deserved my trust.

I closed the folder, my hands trembling. The pack’s hierarchy, the respect and loyalty we were supposed to uphold, felt like a hollow facade. Alpha Timothy, the leader I had sworn to follow, had shattered the very foundation of our bond.

As I sat there, the weight of his betrayal settled over me like a storm cloud. I had always believed in the mate bond, in the idea that the Moon Goddess had chosen us for each other. But now, that belief felt like a cruel illusion, shattered by the man I had trusted most.

In the photo, Alpha Timothy had his arms wrapped around her waist, his chin resting on her shoulder as they took a selfie. There was another image of him playfully tugging at her cat-ear headband while she looked down, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. These were their private moments, captured in a way that made my stomach twist.

Strange, wasn’t it? When he was with me, his Gamma, he was always so careful, so gentle—like he was treading on eggshells. Yet, in these photos, it was clear he was in control, his Alpha aura radiating even through the image. My eyes zeroed in on the charm bracelet on her wrist—it was identical to the one I wore. Alpha Timothy had given it to me for my birthday last year, claiming he’d engraved both our names on it, making it unique. A lie, it seemed. How ironic.

It was painfully obvious their relationship had been going on for far longer than a year. A sharp pang shot through my chest, and the mate bond within me twisted like a knife, sending waves of agony through every fiber of my being. My wolf whimpered in the back of my mind, her pain echoing mine. I closed my eyes, feeling utterly drained. When I opened them again, tears blurred my vision. I fought back the nausea rising in my throat, took out my phone, and snapped a picture of the evidence before saving it.

The weight of it all pressed down on me. I, Iliana, Gamma of the Moonlight Pack, had been betrayed by my Alpha, my mate. The one who was supposed to lead our pack with honor, with loyalty. And yet, here he was, entangled with an Omega from the Shadowfang Pack. The hierarchy, the rules—none of it seemed to matter to him now.

I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. The mate bond throbbed again, a cruel reminder of what we were supposed to be. What I had believed we were. But now, it felt like a chain, binding me to a man who had shattered my trust, my dreams, and everything we had built together.

Just then, a message came through. It was from my best friend, Murphy, a Delta in our pack.

"Iliana, I’ve got something exciting to tell you. Alpha Timothy is planning to propose on your birthday! He’s already picked out the perfect place and sworn us to secrecy. How romantic is that?"

When I didn’t respond, she followed up with, "Where are you? Aren’t you thrilled? It’s a total surprise, right?"

I replied, "Not really, it’s actually kind of a letdown."

She was puzzled and asked, "What? What’s happening?"

"Alpha Timothy cheated on me."

The next moment, Murphy called. I answered, and she spat out through clenched teeth, "That jerk Alpha Timothy!!!"

---

Later, I found myself sitting at the cozy bakery down the street, a place Alpha Timothy and I had frequented since our pack school days. The aroma of freshly baked spiced honey cake—his favorite—mixed with the scent of coffee, a reminder of the countless mornings we’d spent here, dreaming of our future together. Now, everything felt tainted.

Murphy arrived, wearing a chic vintage-style dress that swayed with her confident strides. She carried a box of dinner rolls, a comfort food we often shared during pack celebrations. We sat in the corner, watching the bustling street outside, the lively scene a stark contrast to the heaviness in my chest.

Murphy sighed as she took a sip of her coffee, carefully placing her cup back on the saucer. "Iliana, you deserve so much more. You’re a Gamma, one of the strongest she-wolves in our pack. Alpha Timothy should be honored to have you as his mate. You know, we’ll always be here for you, no matter what."

I nodded, grateful for her steadfast support. The pain lingered, but I knew with friends like Murphy beside me, I would navigate my way through these tangled emotions. My wolf stirred within me, a low growl of agreement echoing in my mind. She was right—I was stronger than this, and I wouldn’t let Alpha Timothy’s betrayal define me.