Juniper’s mate, Riley, a Gamma of the Allen Pack, had forgotten to log out of his Facebook Messenger on her computer. As she glanced at the messages, she saw he was chatting in his family group chat.

Esmeralda, his mother and a Healer of the pack, had written: *[Son, are you really planning to give Juniper $30,000 as a dowry tomorrow?]*

Riley’s response was swift: *[Absolutely, even if we have to borrow $90,000, we'll give it to her.]*

For a moment, Juniper’s heart swelled with warmth. He truly loved her, she thought.

But then, her smile froze.

Riley’s next message appeared: *[Anyway, once we're engaged, I'll report them to the authorities to get it back. In the end, we'll have a housekeeper for free who's also having my child.]*

His father, a Gamma like Riley, replied: *[Are you sure? If they return it, she might not want to marry you. Isn't this risky?]*

Riley’s response was chilling: *[If she refuses, I'll use AI to create compromising photos of her, ruin her reputation, and claim she lived with me and had an abortion. She'd have no choice but to marry me then.]*

His father praised him: *[That's brilliant, son! What a clever plan!]*

Esmeralda added: *[I always knew my son was smart. Marrying without spending a dime!]*

Raelyn, Riley’s sister and an Omega in the pack, chimed in: *[I'll help spread those photos, hehe.]*

Juniper’s hands trembled as she read the messages. The betrayal was so deep it felt like a physical blow. She had always known the Allen Pack was ambitious, but she hadn’t expected Riley—her mate—to be so calculating and cruel.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. It was Riley.

“Juniper, I left my car keys at your place. Can you let me in?” His voice, usually warm and reassuring, now felt like a dagger.

Juniper sat frozen for a moment, her mind racing. She quickly grabbed her phone and recorded the conversation from her computer. Tonight, Riley was coming over for dinner to discuss their engagement. He had logged into his Messenger on her computer to send a file, probably distracted by her call for dinner, and forgotten to log out.

When she returned to the room, she saw the full extent of their scheming. At first, when she read Riley’s willingness to spend any amount on her dowry, she had felt lucky to have such a devoted mate. But now, she realized it was all a facade.

Riley’s plan was clear: any dowry amount was just a number, and he intended to reclaim it later. The higher the dowry, the more reason he had to report it to the authorities. But the real malice lay in what followed. If she refused to marry him, he would use AI to generate compromising images, destroy her reputation, and force her into submission.

His entire family was in on it, waiting to drag her into their pack as an unpaid housekeeper. Juniper’s parents, a Gamma and Healer in their own pack, valued their reputation above all else. This scheme could drive them to despair.

The more Juniper thought about it, the calmer she became. Riley and his pack had underestimated her. She wasn’t just a Delta; she was cunning, resourceful, and fiercely protective of her family. If they wanted to play games, she would ensure they faced the consequences of their actions.

With that resolve, she slowly made her way to the door to let him in. Her wolf, sensing her inner turmoil, growled softly in the back of her mind, urging her to stay strong. Juniper took a deep breath, steeled herself, and opened the door to face Riley.

Juniper knew exactly why Riley had turned back so soon after leaving.

He must have realized his WhatsApp was still open on her computer and was rushing back to see if she had discovered anything. Unable to log out from his phone discreetly, he had no choice but to return quickly.

She casually left her phone on the living room table, rolled up her sleeves, and held a coffee mug as she went to answer the door.

"I was just finishing my coffee," she said, her tone calm. "What did you say you left at my place?"

Riley visibly relaxed when he saw the mug in her hand. They didn’t live together; Juniper had insisted they’d only move in after the marking ceremony, and he’d agreed. So, he mostly just came over for meals but never stayed overnight.

"Sweetheart," he said, his voice smooth but with a hint of urgency, "I left my keys in your study. I realized it when I got to the car. Let me just grab them real quick."

He brushed past her and dashed into the study. Juniper watched his retreating figure, her sharp eyes catching the tension in his shoulders. She didn’t call him out on it. There were no keys in the study; she’d seen him take them when he left earlier. This was clearly just an excuse.

Riley emerged shortly, still looking a bit flustered but trying to mask it with a smile.

"Sweetheart, you didn’t go into the study, did you? Did you see my keys?"

Juniper feigned confusion, tilting her head slightly. "No, I went into the kitchen to finish my coffee right after you left. I haven’t been in the study."

Only then did Riley’s shoulders fully relax, and a broad smile spread across his face. "Alright then, I'll pick you up tomorrow."

With that, he made a quick exit, the keys jingling in his hand as he left. Juniper watched from the floor-to-ceiling window as his car drove out of the neighborhood, her expression unreadable. Then, she grabbed her phone and headed out, her mind already racing with what to do next.

The evening air was cool, and the scent of night-blooming jasmine filled the air—a sharp contrast to the tension simmering inside her. She walked briskly, her Delta instincts kicking in as she mentally mapped out her next steps. Riley’s behavior had been suspicious for a while now, and she wasn’t one to ignore her gut feeling. As a Delta in her pack, she was trained to notice the smallest details, and something about his recent actions didn’t sit right with her.

She pulled out her phone, sending a quick message to a contact she’d only recently added. The seller—a mysterious werewolf who specialized in phone spy software—had promised her discretion. Juniper didn’t trust easily, but she trusted results. And right now, she needed answers.

Her fingers hovered over the screen for a moment before she typed, *"Is the software ready?"*

The response came almost immediately. *"Yes. Undetectable. Follow the instructions I sent you."*

Juniper’s lips curved into a faint, determined smile. Whatever Riley was hiding, she’d uncover it. She had always been resourceful, and in the intricate hierarchy of werewolf packs, she knew how to navigate the shadows. She wasn’t just a Delta; she was a strategist, and she’d use every tool at her disposal to protect herself—and her pack.

As she walked, her mind briefly flickered to the possibility of what Riley might be hiding. Her wolf stirred faintly in the back of her mind, a low growl of unease. She ignored it for now, focusing on the task at hand. There would be time for reflection later. Right now, she had work to do.