After collecting my thoughts, I grabbed the USB drive and headed out. My car was in the shop for maintenance, so I hailed a cab to get to the Moonlight Pack’s headquarters, where Timothy’s office was located.

The driver, Paul, a Delta in our pack, greeted me with a friendly nod as I slid into the backseat. “Heading to the Alpha’s office, Gamma Iliana?” he asked, his tone respectful but warm.

“Yes,” I replied, forcing a smile. “Thank you, Paul.”

When we arrived, I stepped into the grand building, the scent of pine and fresh earth—distinct to our pack—filling the air. The Betas and Gammas I passed bowed their heads slightly in acknowledgment, their deference to my rank as a Gamma evident. I returned the gestures with a nod, my heart heavy but my expression neutral.

When I handed Timothy the USB drive, I had to act as if everything was perfectly normal. It felt quite awkward, especially with the weight of his Alpha aura pressing subtly against me, a reminder of his dominance. He stood tall and broad-shouldered, his presence commanding the room as always.

Just as I was about to leave, Timothy suddenly took my hand, his grip firm yet gentle. His dark eyes softened as he said, “Having you in my life is such a blessing.” His voice carried the warmth that had once made me feel secure, but now it only stirred a bitter ache in my chest.

At that moment, William, a Beta and one of Timothy’s closest advisors, happened to walk by. He paused, his lips curving into a teasing smirk. “Oh, our Alpha’s flaunting his romance again!” he joked, his tone light but still laced with the respect owed to his leader.

I discreetly pulled back my hand, my smile tight. “I promised to meet Murphy for some shopping, so I’ll head out now,” I said, my voice steady despite the storm inside me.

Timothy nodded slightly, his gaze lingering on me for a moment longer. Then, with a small smile, he reached out and gave a gentle pat on my head, his touch as familiar as it was painful. “Take care, Iliana,” he said softly.

I turned and walked away, my steps measured and deliberate. The pack members I passed continued to show their respect, their bows and nods a reminder of the world I still belonged to—even if the man at its center no longer belonged to me.

In the café, Murphy listened intently as I recounted the whole story. Her amber eyes—a trait common among Deltas—narrowed with fury, her canines slightly bared as if she wanted to tear Timothy apart with her bare hands. As a Delta, her loyalty to the pack was unwavering, but her loyalty to me, her best friend, burned even fiercer.

"Alpha Timothy is such a jerk," she muttered, stabbing her fork aggressively into the spiced honey cake in front of her, as though it could somehow vent her rage. Her voice dropped to a growl, low and dangerous, but still respectful enough to use his title. "Iliana, what’s your next move?"

I gazed absentmindedly out the window at the bustling streets, the scent of freshly baked bread from the bakery next door mingling with the faint floral aroma of my own mate scent—a scent Timothy had once claimed to love. My wolf stirred faintly in the back of my mind, a silent but persistent presence reminding me of the bond that still lingered despite his betrayal. Slowly, I responded, "I want to plan a little surprise for him on his birthday."

Murphy’s face lit up at my words, her Delta instincts kicking in as she slapped the table with enthusiasm. Her voice was full of excitement, though her eyes still burned with a protective fire. "Perfect! I’m all in. Just let me know what you need; I’ve got your back."

I shared my plan with her, and she nodded along, her sharp features softening slightly as she absorbed every detail. At the end, she added with determination, "Iliana, count me in. Once we’re done with this, let’s take a trip to the Alps together. A run in the mountains might do us both some good."

Her words were a subtle reminder of our nature—our need to connect with the wild, to run free in our wolf forms even as we navigated the complexities of our human lives. Her eyes were full of anticipation as she looked at me, and I realized she was concerned about how I was handling everything. As our eyes met, a small smile appeared on my face, though it didn’t quite reach my heart.

"Deal," I said, my voice steady despite the ache in my chest. My wolf let out a low, approving rumble, a silent acknowledgment of the strength it took to keep going.

When Timothy came home that evening, I was just setting the last bowl of soup on the dining table. He walked up behind me, his presence immediately commanding the room as always, his Alpha aura wrapping around me like a heavy cloak. His arms slid around my waist, and he rested his chin on my shoulder, giving a gentle nuzzle.

"Having a Luna is such a blessing," he murmured, his voice low and warm against my ear. "Coming home to a warm meal, to you."

As he leaned in closer, I caught a whiff of an unfamiliar scent—something floral, faint but unmistakable. It wasn’t mine. My wolf stirred in the back of my mind, a low growl of suspicion that I quickly suppressed. My body tensed, but I kept my composure, gently moving his hands away.

"Go wash up, Alpha," I said softly, using his title out of habit and respect, though the word felt heavier on my tongue than usual.

He turned away, and as soon as his back was to me, the smile I had been holding slipped away, leaving my face cold and stern.

Once we were seated at the table, he barely looked up from his phone, tapping away with occasional smiles, his mind clearly elsewhere. The dining room, usually a place of comfort and connection, felt hollow now, the silence between us thick with unspoken tension.

I glanced over, pretending to be curious. "What’s got you so amused, Alpha?"

He snapped his head up, our eyes locking for a brief moment. I saw a flicker of panic in his dark eyes, but he quickly masked it with a casual smile.

"Just some pack members chatting in the group chat," he said, his tone light. "Some silly jokes."

Playing along, I feigned interest. "Let me see."

He immediately switched off the screen, placing his phone face down on the table with an air of indifference. "Oh, it’s nothing important," he replied, avoiding my gaze. "Let’s eat before the food gets cold."

The light in my eyes dimmed quietly. The once-shy boy I had known in pack school, the one who had confessed his feelings to me with a trembling voice and a blush that rivaled the setting sun, had become someone who could lie without hesitation. In that moment, a wave of disappointment washed over me, heavier than I had ever felt.

The aroma of spiced honey cake mingled with the rich scent of pulled pork and ravioli from our usual Thanksgiving dinner. The Victorian-style dress I wore felt suffocating, tightening around my growing unease. As I sipped my coffee, I couldn’t help but reflect on how the comforting rituals of home—our home, the one we had built together over the years—felt like a distant memory, replaced by this hollow charade.

My wolf growled again, louder this time, her voice sharp in my mind. *He’s hiding something.*

I clenched my fists under the table, my nails digging into my palms. *I know.*

But I forced myself to stay calm, to keep my mask in place. For now, I would play along. I would watch, and wait, and when the time came, I would be ready to face whatever truth lay behind his lies.