The bass from the karaoke bar pulsed through my chest like a second heartbeat, each thump making my temples throb. I watched Lucca laughing with his pack brothers, his arm slung casually over Delta Marcus's shoulder as they belted out some terrible rendition of an old pack anthem. The crowd was a sea of familiar faces from Silvermoon, all here to celebrate our territory's founding anniversary.

I'd been smiling for two hours straight, playing the perfect Luna-to-be, but the noise was finally winning. 'I need some air,' I murmured to Mira, who nodded with understanding before turning back to her own conversation.

The cool night air hit my face like a blessing as I slipped through the bar's side door. Silvermoon territory at night was beautiful—the trees rustled gently, and moonlight painted everything in silver and shadow. I took a deep breath, letting Selene, my wolf, stretch contentedly within me. For just a moment, I could pretend I was alone with the night sky.

Then I heard Lucca's voice.

'She's so easy to manage, you guys have no idea.' His tone was casual, amused, the way someone might talk about a particularly well-behaved pet. 'I mean, look at her. She's always there, always happy to see me, always making sure everything's perfect. It's like having a live-in maid who's also really good in bed.'

I froze, my hand still on the door handle. Through the gap, I could see him leaning against the brick wall, surrounded by his pack brothers. He looked so relaxed, so comfortable sharing this truth with them.

'But that's not the best part,' Lucca continued, and I heard the smile in his voice. 'The best part is that she smells just like Paulina. Not exactly, of course—nobody could ever be exactly like Paulina—but close enough that sometimes, when she's wearing that vanilla perfume, I can almost pretend. It's like having a stand-in for the one that got away. And the best part? She has no idea. She actually thinks I love her for who she is. Isn't that funny?'

The world stopped. Selene howled in agony inside me, clawing at my insides, desperate to burst out and make him pay. But I held her down, my grip on her mental leash so tight it felt like it might break.

'So you're just waiting for Paulina to come back?' Delta Marcus asked, and I heard the laughter in his voice.

'What can I say? A wolf can dream,' Lucca replied, and the group erupted in knowing chuckles. 'Until then, Samara's... sufficient. More than sufficient, really. She's practically perfect. But we all know who the real prize is. Always has been. Always will be.'

I stood there in the shadows, my entire body numb. The cool night air felt like ice against my skin, but I couldn't move, couldn't breathe. Every memory of our time together flashed through my mind—every kiss, every whispered promise, every moment I'd thought was real. It had all been a lie. I was nothing but a placeholder, a warm body that smelled like his obsession.

Selene whimpered, and for a moment, I let her grief wash over me. Then I swallowed it whole, letting it crystallize into something harder, colder, more useful than tears.

I heard footsteps approaching and quickly stepped deeper into the shadows. Lucca appeared around the corner, his face lighting up when he saw me. 'There you are, beautiful,' he said, wrapping an arm around my waist and pulling me close. 'I was wondering where you'd gone.'

I looked up at him, at the face I'd memorized, at the eyes I'd once thought held love for me. Now I saw him clearly—not as my mate, but as a man who'd used me, who was still using me, who saw me as nothing more than a convenient substitute for the woman he really wanted.

And I smiled. Not the smile of a broken heart, but the smile of a wolf who'd finally found her teeth.

'Just needed some air,' I said softly, leaning into his embrace. 'It's so loud in there. But I'm ready to go back in now. I wouldn't want to miss the celebration. After all, it's important to support the pack, isn't it?'

As we walked back into the bar together, his arm warm around my shoulders, I made a silent vow to the Moon Goddess and to myself. Lucca Boyd would pay for this betrayal, and he would pay in full. But not with tears. Not with screams. I would make him regret the day he ever thought he could use me as a stand-in for someone else's shadow.

Morning light streamed through our bedroom window, painting everything in a golden glow that felt like a mockery of the darkness I now carried inside. I moved through the kitchen with practiced ease, the scent of bacon and fresh coffee filling the air as I prepared Lucca's favorite breakfast. My hands didn't shake. My face didn't betray me. If anything, I smiled more than usual, the expression feeling like a mask I was trying on for size.

I arranged the bacon in a perfect lattice pattern, the way he liked it, and added a side of scrambled eggs with a touch of chives. The plate looked like something from a magazine spread—beautiful, flawless, and completely hollow. Just like our relationship.

'Something smells incredible,' Lucca's voice drifted from the bedroom, warm and appreciative. I heard the shower shut off, followed by the sound of a towel being snapped.

'Good morning,' I said, setting the plate on our dining table. 'I thought you might be hungry after last night.'

He appeared in the doorway, his hair still damp and his smile bright. 'You're the best, you know that?' He kissed me on the cheek, his lips barely grazing my skin, and I wondered if he'd always kissed me like I was an afterthought.

'I have something for you,' I said, reaching into the drawer where I'd hidden the small velvet box. I placed it on the table beside his plate.

Lucca's eyes lit up with genuine surprise as he opened it. Inside lay a custom-engraved silver watch, its face gleaming in the morning light. 'Samara, this is... this must have cost a fortune. You shouldn't have.'

'Only the best for my mate,' I replied, the words tasting like ash on my tongue. 'I had it engraved with our initials and the date we met. I thought... well, I thought it could be part of our mate ceremony memories.'

His expression softened, and for a moment, I saw the wolf who'd made me believe I was loved. 'It's perfect. I love it.'

He fastened it around his wrist, admiring how it looked. 'I'll wear it every day, I promise.'

I nodded, already knowing he would. Men like Lucca loved gifts that fed their ego, and this one was tailored perfectly for his vanity.

After he left for his morning run, I waited until I heard the front door close. Then I walked to my desk, pulled open the bottom drawer, and removed a manila folder labeled 'Mate Ceremony Memories.' Inside, I tucked the receipt for the watch—$2,500 from the jeweler in town—alongside other receipts I'd been collecting. The folder was already thick, filled with evidence of my devotion and his deception.

The paper trail was just the beginning.

Later that day, I drove to Black Moon territory, the engine of my car purring as I navigated the winding roads. The interview for the Beta assistant position was scheduled for two o'clock, and I couldn't afford to be late.

The Black Moon Pack House loomed ahead, a sprawling structure of stone and timber that radiated power and stability. I parked in the visitor's lot and took a deep breath, Selene stirring anxiously within me.

'Relax,' I murmured to her. 'We've got this.'

Beta Damon Cruz met me at the entrance, his handshake firm and his eyes assessing. 'Ms. Wagner,' he said, his voice deep and professional. 'Thank you for coming. Shall we begin?'

The interview room was sparse but elegant, with a large oak table and several chairs. Damon didn't waste time on pleasantries. Instead, he launched into a series of questions designed to test my knowledge of pack management, territory disputes, and inter-pack relations.

I answered each one with precision, drawing on years of observation and study. I might be an Omega in Silvermoon, but I'd always been a student of pack politics.

'Impressive,' Damon said after I'd finished outlining a strategy for resolving a hypothetical territory dispute. 'You think like a Beta.'

The door opened before I could respond, and the room's entire atmosphere shifted. Alpha Colton Hansen entered, his presence filling the space like a physical force. His dark eyes locked onto mine, and I felt Selene stir again, more alert this time.

'Ms. Wagner,' he said, his voice low and controlled. 'I've reviewed your application. The position is yours.'

I blinked, caught off guard by his immediate decision. 'Just like that?'

His lips quirked in what might have been a smile. 'Just like that.'

As he spoke, I caught his scent—cedarwood and cool night air, crisp and clean. It triggered something deep within me, a recognition I wasn't ready to name.

'Start tomorrow,' he continued, already turning to leave. 'Damon will show you to your office.'

The door closed behind him, but his aura lingered, wrapping around me like a promise I didn't understand.

The news spread through Silvermoon territory like wildfire—Paulina Rivera had returned from abroad. The she-wolf who'd haunted Lucca's dreams for years was finally back, and the pack was buzzing with excitement. I first heard about it from Mira, who mind-linked me while I was organizing files in my new office at Black Moon Pack House.

'You've heard, haven't you?' Her mental voice carried a note of concern that made my chest tighten. 'About Paulina?'

I kept my mental tone perfectly even. 'Yes. Welcome back to our unattainable goddess. I'm sure the pack is thrilled.'

The silence on the other end told me Mira knew exactly what this meant for my mate bond. She'd been one of the few who'd seen through Lucca's charm from the beginning.

That evening, I returned to our suite to find Lucca pacing like a caged animal. His eyes were wild, his movements jerky, and when he saw me, he couldn't quite meet my gaze.

'Hey,' I said softly, setting my bag down. 'Rough day?'

'You could say that.' He ran a hand through his hair, and I noticed he was still wearing his watch—the one I'd given him just days ago. 'Listen, about tonight...'

I raised an eyebrow, already knowing what was coming.

'There's an emergency border patrol. I have to go.' He didn't look at me as he spoke, and his scent carried the unmistakable note of a lie. 'Can't be helped. Pack duty, you know?'

Selene growled inside me, but I kept my expression sympathetic. 'Of course. Go save the territory, hero. I'll just eat dinner alone and plan our mate ceremony by myself. Again.'

He winced, but not enough to change his mind. 'I'll make it up to you. I promise.'

The next day, Paulina herself appeared at the Silvermoon pack house. I was arranging flowers in the main hall when she walked in, a vision in a flowing white dress that made her look like she was floating. Her scent—night-blooming jasmine and warm rain—filled the space, and I watched as every male wolf in the vicinity straightened, suddenly aware of their appearance.

'Oh!' she exclaimed when she saw me, her voice breathy and surprised. 'You must be Samara! Lucca's... mate.' She stumbled slightly over the word, and I caught the calculated hesitation. 'I'm Paulina. It's so lovely to meet you.'

I smiled, the expression feeling sharp as a blade. 'Welcome home, Paulina. Would you like some tea?'

Her eyes widened slightly at my composure, as if she'd expected tears or jealousy. 'That would be divine. You're so thoughtful.'

I led her to the sitting room, aware of Lucca's gaze following us. He'd been staring at her since she'd entered, his eyes drinking her in like a man dying of thirst. The sight should have hurt, but instead, it fueled the cold fire in my chest.

'Here we are,' I said, pouring tea with steady hands. 'Sugar? Milk?'

'Just a touch of sugar,' she replied, watching me with those calculating eyes. 'You're so... calm, Samara. I expected you to be more... upset. About me being here.'

I handed her the cup, our fingers brushing. 'Why would I be upset? You're an old friend of the pack. We're all happy to have you back.'

She sipped the tea, her eyes never leaving mine. 'You're not what I expected.'

'No?' I tilted my head slightly. 'What did you expect?'

'A mess,' she said honestly. 'A jealous, insecure little Omega tearing her hair out.'

I laughed, the sound light and genuine. 'Sorry to disappoint.'

That night, after the pack bonfire, Paulina made her move. She swayed dramatically, her hand pressed to her forehead. 'I don't feel well,' she announced to the group. 'I think I've had too much to drink.'

Lucca was at her side in an instant, his arm around her waist. 'I'll take care of her,' he said, not looking at me. 'She shouldn't try to make it back to Moonveil tonight.'

'Of course not,' I agreed smoothly. 'We have plenty of guest rooms.'

He led her away, and I watched them go, Selene snarling in my chest. But I didn't follow. I didn't scream. I simply turned back to the bonfire, my face a perfect mask of the gracious Luna-to-be.

As the flames danced in the darkness, I thought of the receipts in my drawer, each one a piece of evidence, each one a step closer to the day when Lucca would understand exactly what it meant to betray a wolf who kept score.