Freya found herself surrounded by sneering packmates. Their faces showed clear contempt as they moved closer.

"The demoted omega," someone said mockingly.

"Pathetic little runt," another voice added.

She attempted to escape, but hands pushed her back to the center. Her breathing became rapid as panic seized her.

Jonas appeared through the crowd with worried brown eyes and extended his hand. "Freya, come with me."

Before she could reach for him, everything changed. She stood outside her family home alone. Court officials were posting foreclosure notices on the door. Papers listing debts covered the ground.

"You won't be homeless. I'll give you a home," a cold voice stated behind her.

She turned to see icy blue eyes staring at her. They were nothing like Jonas's warm ones. These eyes belonged to someone powerful and dangerous.

Freya woke with a sharp gasp. Her heart pounded violently. The surroundings confused her momentarily. Then she heard water running, and last night's memories returned.

The party. The mate bond. Alpha Niklaus bringing her to his suite.

She held the sheets against her chest. Her body felt pleasantly sore. Heat rose to her face as she recalled his touch and how his body had felt.

After they made love, he was gentle. He cleaned her up, held her close, and whispered soft words. Before her father's scandal, she never imagined catching an Alpha's attention like Niklaus. He wasn't Jonas, her expected mate, but perhaps the Moon Goddess knew better.

"Vicki, what should I say to him?" she whispered to her wolf.

"Be strong. Don't show fear, "Vicki responded.

The bathroom door opened. Steam poured out as Niklaus stepped out with a towel wrapped around his waist. Water still clung to his muscled chest. His wet hair was pushed back, emphasizing his sharp features.

His expression made her stomach sink. Last night's passion had faded completely. His blue eyes were cold, his jaw rigid.

Freya pulled the sheet higher, feeling suddenly vulnerable.

"Good morning," she said carefully.

He ignored the greeting. Instead, he walked to a chair and sat down. Even wearing only a towel, he radiated authority.

"Let's be direct," he said without emotion. "Name your price."

"What do you mean?" Freya asked, confused.

"I'm going to reject you," he stated plainly. "Last night was an error. My wolf, Flex, lost control when he sensed our bond. I brought you here to talk, but things went too far."

This wasn't the whole truth. Niklaus had planned to reject the mate bond quietly when he first felt it. Flex had reacted violently to that idea. But everything afterward, every touch and kiss, had been his decision. He had wanted her, even while telling himself he shouldn't.

"I'm willing to be generous," he continued in a matter-of-fact tone. "Name your price for accepting my rejection. We can both move forward."

Freya felt as if he had struck her. She thought after last night, he would accept her as his mate. But he still wanted to reject her. His sudden change caught her off guard, leaving bitterness in her heart. Her family had abandoned her, and now her fated mate was rejecting her. Once, she might have accepted the rejection quietly, grateful for any money he offered.

But not anymore.

Her current situation couldn't be solved with money. Her house faced repossession. After last night's scene, rumors were spreading through the pack. If she accepted Niklaus's rejection, she would become the center of a scandal. She had already disrupted Jonas's welcome ceremony. The pack would never forgive that. They would banish her, making her packless. No werewolf survived well as a rogue.

"No," she said quietly.

Niklaus looked surprised. "No?"

"I won't accept your rejection." Her voice grew stronger. "I can't."

He leaned forward, his eyes becoming dangerous. "What do you mean, you can't? "

"I want to be your Luna, in name only." she said, raising her chin.

Niklaus laughed harshly. The sound was mocking. "You want to be my Luna? You're just another gold digger."

"That's not true."

"Absolutely not," he interrupted, standing quickly. "Do you understand how ridiculous that sounds? I already have a chosen mate. She's accomplished, well bred, perfect for Luna. Last night was a mistake. My wolf responding to the mate bond. Nothing more."

Freya winced but remained firm. "I understand you don't want me, but I need this," she admitted. She hated sounding desperate. "My father left me with only debts. I'm losing everything."

"That's not my problem," he said coldly.

"What if we made a deal?" she asked, finding her courage.

Niklaus raised an eyebrow. "What kind of deal?"

"A contract marriage," she suggested. "Three years. I'll be your Luna in name only. I'll handle pack affairs and play the role publicly. You can find your chosen mate after the contract ends. I'll accept your rejection then without questions."

"Why would I agree to this charade?"

"Because rejecting a fated mate is scandalous, even for an Alpha," she explained. "The pack will gossip. Your reputation will suffer. This way, you get time to prepare and control the story however you want."

Niklaus raised an eyebrow. This woman was indeed clever. She was actually convincing him. But he didn't like keeping women around when her affections lay elsewhere.

Niklaus opened his mouth to refuse when a his mother sent a mind-link.

"Niklaus! Is it true?" His mother's voice filled his head.

He grimaced and turned away from Freya.

"Mother, this isn't a good time," he replied.

"So you did find your mate! I've been hearing rumors all morning. The Frostwood Pack's Beta daughter? Why haven't you brought her home yet?"

Niklaus rubbed his damp hair in frustration. "It's complicated. What about Rebekah?"

"Rebekah left for Europe last night," Margaret informed him. "She packed her bags and took the first flight out. Honestly, son, you never had real feelings for her anyway. She was the Council's choice, not yours."

His mother spoke the truth. As the Alpha of the Whitecrown Pack, finding a Luna was his duty. At 26, the pressure had grown stronger. The Council had presented Rebekah as the perfect candidate. She was beautiful, accomplished, from good bloodlines. He had agreed more from obligation than desire.

"A fated mate is a blessing from the Moon Goddess herself," his mother continued. "You'd be foolish to reject such a gift. Bring her home, Niklaus. I want to meet her."

Before he could respond, his mother ended the mind-link.

Niklaus turned back to Freya, who sat waiting on the bed. Despite her vulnerable position, her green eyes showed determination. Flex moved restlessly inside him, growling at the thought of rejection.

"She's OURS," Flex snarled.

Niklaus told his wolf to be quiet, but the pull toward her was undeniable. He studied her more carefully. The delicate curve of her neck. The soft golden hair falling over her shoulders. Those full lips that had moaned his name hours ago.

Maybe a temporary arrangement wouldn't be terrible. It would satisfy the Council, calm his wolf for now, and give him time to find a permanent solution.

"Three years," he finally said. "No more. After that, we divorce, and you accept my rejection. No drama, no demands."

Freya's eyes widened slightly, as if she hadn't expected his agreement. "Yes."

"And during those three years, you'll act as my Luna completely. Handle pack affairs, attend functions, maintain appearances."

She nodded.

"One more thing," he added, his voice becoming harder. "This stays between us. No one else knows about this arrangement. As far as everyone knows, we're a regular mated pair."

"I understand," she whispered.

Niklaus walked to the closet and pulled out fresh clothes. "Get dressed. We're going to my pack house today. My mother is expecting us."

As he turned his back to her, he wondered if he had just made the biggest mistake of his life.

Three years later, at the Whitecrown pack house.

The beef smelled rich as Freya stirred the stew; she added a final pinch of salt to the pot. She had spent hours preparing this anniversary dinner. She made the roast exactly how Niklaus liked it, selected a bottle of wine from his collection, and had the chocolate soufflé batter ready for the oven.

"Why are you doing this yourself, Freya?" Margaret asked as she walked into the kitchen. "We have plenty of staff to handle the cooking."

"It's our three-year anniversary," Freya replied, her heart raced with anticipation. "I wanted to prepare everything myself tonight."

"That's so romantic, dear," Margaret said with a warm smile. "In that case, I will stay out of your way and give you two some privacy tonight."

Freya smiled as her mother-in-law left the room, her mind drifted back to last night.

Niklaus had come home after midnight, his tie was loose and he looked wiped out. She had been waiting for him, as always.

"You should be sleeping," he said, his voice rough from fatigue.

Instead of going to bed, he pulled her against his chest and breathed in her scent. Soon they were in bed together, his body moving against hers.

Freya's face heated up at the memory, their chemistry hadn't faded one bit over the last three years. Before he fell asleep, he had promised her that he would definitely be home early today.

Three years ago, Niklaus brought her to the Whitecrown Pack with nothing but a contract. No wedding, no party. Their deal was strictly business. She would play the role of his Luna for three years, and in return, he would clear her father's massive debts.

The first year was hell. Pack members whispered about the "disgraced Omega" who didn't belong in their pack. They ignored her orders and looked right through her, but Freya didn't break.

Margaret, Niklaus's mother, became her only ally. The older she-wolf looked at Freya and said, "This one has backbone." With Margaret behind her, Freya gradually earned the pack's respect.

Niklaus was ice-cold at first. He barely touched her until the mate bond became impossible to ignore, but over time, something changed. He knew exactly how she liked her coffee. He texted her if he was running late to tell her not to wait up. He even brought her flowers occasionally. These small things gave her hope.

Like last night. The way he looked at her, touched her, and whispered her name. Surely that meant something?

Today completed exactly three years since they signed the deal. Their contract would expire at midnight, and Freya had no idea what Niklaus was thinking. Part of her hoped he would ask her to stay. She hoped he had developed feelings for her, just as she had for him.

The dining room table was set with their finest china and crystal glasses. She'd placed a small gift box beside his plate. It contained a small canvas she had painted in secret. She knew from Beta Dale that Niklaus had recently become obsessed with the work of a mysterious artist named 'F'.

Freya looked at everything with satisfaction, waiting for Niklaus to come home.

"What if he rejects us today?" Vicki asked, voicing the fear that had kept Freya awake for weeks.

"Then I'll hold my head high and walk away," she answered, though her voice trembled.

Suddenly, Freya received a mind-link from Niklaus.

"Are you almost home? "she asked hopefully.

"I'm not coming home, Freya, " Niklaus said coldly through the mind-link.

Freya felt her stomach plummet. "Why? Is everything okay?"

"Rebekah is back," his tone indifferent. "I'm at the airport picking her up right now."

The silence in the kitchen became suffocating.

Freya stared at the candles she had just lit, overwhelmed with humiliation.

"Oh, "she whispered. "And you're telling me this because you'll be late?"

"No. I want you to meet us for dinner," he ordered." I've already made a reservation at Le Ciel for eight o'clock. Grab a cab and meet us there. I think it's time you two met properly."

"You want me to meet you there? At a restaurant?"

"Yes. Rebekah was an important part of the pack before she left. As my Luna, I think you should be there."

"Of course, "she replied. "I'll be there at eight."

Before he could say anything else, she ended the mind-link.

Freya stood motionless in the kitchen. The stew on the stove bubbled over, but she barely noticed.

Rebekah was back on their anniversary.

She thought of the beautifully set table, the hours she'd spent cooking, the gift she had prepared for so long. All for nothing.

Niklaus had forgotten their anniversary completely. Worse, he wanted her to have dinner with the woman he truly loved.

He's going to reject us, Vicki whimpered. He's bringing her back to replace us.

"It's fine," Freya whispered, though her heart was fracturing. "This was always the plan. Three years, then we go our separate ways."

She moved mechanically to turn off the stove, her mind racing.

The timing couldn't be more obvious. Their contract ended today, and suddenly Rebekah was back in town? Niklaus must have planned this, planning the perfect transition from fake mate to real one.

The dinner at Le Ciel was clearly his way of letting her down easily in public where she couldn't cause a scene. She could already picture it, his apologetic face as he explained their arrangement was over, Rebekah's smug smile across the table.

No. She wouldn't be humiliated in public again.

Freya went upstairs to their bedroom and pulled out her suitcases. If she was leaving, she would do it on her own terms.

As she packed her clothes, a plan formed. She needed somewhere to stay while she figured out what to do next. Somewhere comfortable where she could think clearly.

Once her suitcases were full, she looked around the room that had been hers for three years. Her eyes stopped on the bed where she and Niklaus had spent so many nights, where she'd stupidly started to hope their fake marriage might become real.

"Goodbye," she whispered, blinking back tears.

Downstairs, she grabbed the black credit card Niklaus had given her from her purse. She rarely used it, preferring to live off her modest salary as his assistant, but today was different.

Grabbing her painting, she walked out of the home she'd shared for three years and slid into the black Aston Martin-the most expensive car in Niklaus's garage". The engine roared to life as she drove toward the city.

Twenty minutes later, she walked into the lobby of the Royal Crescent Hotel, the city's most exclusive hotel.

"I'd like the Presidential Suite," she told the receptionist, placing the black card on the counter. "For three months."

"The Presidential Suite is one hundred and fifty thousand for three months, ma'am. There's a 30% penalty if you check out early."

Freya nodded. "Just run the card."

By tomorrow, she expected she wouldn't be able to spend a penny of Niklaus's money. Her lawyer's divorce agreement proposed splitting their assets equally, but Niklaus's legal team would fight to ensure she got nothing.

Which was exactly why she decided to spend big while she still could. Any money she didn't use would probably end up with Rebekah anyway.

After the transaction went through, the receptionist handed over her key card with new respect. "Please enjoy your stay, Mrs. Lockwood. Our concierge service is available 24/7."

In the elevator, Freya caught her reflection in the mirrors. She looked different. Her chin was higher, her eyes sharper. No longer the desperate girl who married for survival.

But as the elevator doors opened to her luxury suite, Freya couldn't ignore the pain in her chest. She loved Niklaus. And that hurt the most.

At 8,10 PM at Le Ciel, Niklaus sat in a private room, checking his watch again. Freya was late.

Rebekah sat across from him, her brown hair falling over her shoulders. She sat with perfect posture and her designer dress fit perfectly. She sipped her champagne before sighing.

"Your Luna certainly likes to make an entrance," she said with a fake sweet voice. "Is she always this late?"

Niklaus felt annoyed. Freya was never late. She was always ready five minutes early.

"Traffic might be bad," he said shortly.

Flex growled in his mind. "She's speaking ill of our mate."

Niklaus told his wolf to calm down.

Rebekah pressed her painted lips together but quickly smiled brightly. "Well, while we wait, let me tell you about Paris! The ballet academy was incredible. The director said I have the best extension he's seen in years."

Niklaus nodded, barely listening as Rebekah talked about her European trips. His mind went back to three years ago. When he hadn't properly explained finding his fated mate, she ran off to Europe.

The guilt had bothered him ever since. He knew Rebekah really cared about him, and she had been groomed to be his Luna. Finding out he had a fated mate must have hurt her badly.

But he needed to be clear with Rebekah now. Three years had passed, and no matter how his arrangement with Freya started, she was his Luna now. Having Freya here for dinner would make that clear to Rebekah without any awkward talks.

His phone buzzed. Niklaus looked down at the screen and frowned. It was a credit card alert. Freya had just spent a huge amount at The Royal Crescent Hotel.

"What the hell?" he said, staring at the screen.

What was Freya doing there instead of coming to dinner?

His jaw tightened. The card was linked to his personal account. He'd given it to Freya. In three years, she barely used it.

"Is everything alright?" Rebekah asked, leaning forward with fake concern.

Before Niklaus could answer, a loud crash of breaking glass filled the restaurant. He looked up and saw a man in black clothes charging toward their table with a gun.

The attacker fired without hesitation.

Niklaus's instincts kicked in. He could have dodged the shot, but Rebekah was faster. She threw herself in front of him just as the gun fired. The silver bullet hit her in the lower back, and she collapsed, screaming in pain.

Chaos broke out in the restaurant. Security guards tackled the shooter, and Niklaus knelt beside Rebekah. Her face had gone white.

"Someone call an ambulance!" he shouted, pressing his hand on her wound to stop the bleeding.

Rebekah whimpered in pain. "Nik... it hurts so much."

His stomach dropped. Silver bullets were deadly to werewolves. Even a small hit could paralyze temporarily. A hit near the spine could be terrible.

"Hold on," he said, lifting her carefully. "I'm taking you to the hospital."

As he carried Rebekah to his car, a thought crossed his mind, if Freya had been here, she might have been hurt instead. With her smaller frame and weaker wolf, a silver bullet could have killed her instantly. Maybe her absence wasn't such a bad thing.

At the hospital, the emergency team rushed Rebekah into surgery immediately. Niklaus was left alone in the waiting room.

Four hours later, the surgeon came out of the operating room. Rebekah was being wheeled out, her face as pale as the sheets covering her body.

Niklaus walked quickly to the doctor. "How is she?"

The doctor looked at his chart. "The silver bullet grazed her spine but the damage could be severe. We need to watch her closely though."

Rebekah, now awake but groggy, looked up at the doctor. "Will this affect my dancing career?" Her voice shook slightly.

The doctor looked cautious. "We'll have to wait and see how you recover, but there's hope."

Tears filled Rebekah's eyes. She turned to Niklaus. "Thank you for staying with me. You should go home now, I'll be--"

"No," the doctor said firmly. "She needs someone to stay with her."

Rebekah started to object, but Niklaus cut her off. "I'll stay tonight. You need to rest."

After knowing each other for so many years, Rebekah knew his tone meant no arguing. Still, she looked uncertain. "I'm grateful, but should I call Freya to explain?"

Niklaus paused, his jaw tightening. "That's not necessary."

He spent the night in an uncomfortable hospital chair, watching Rebekah's vitals and thinking about the hotel charge. Every time he thought about calling Freya, something stopped him. Pride, maybe. Or the worry that she might not be alone at that hotel.

"She wouldn't do that to us," Flex growled. "She's our mate."

"But she doesn't love us," Niklaus said quietly.

By dawn, Niklaus was exhausted and irritable. He left the hospital only after the nurse said Rebekah was stable.

When he finally got home, his housekeeper Martha was already busy in the kitchen. She looked up in surprise.

"Alpha, you weren't home last night? Would you like some breakfast?"

"No," he replied shortly. His head was pounding from no sleep, and his mood was bad. He asked, "Where's Freya?"

"I think Luna Freya went to the office already. I haven't seen her since I got here," Martha replied. She didn't seem to know anything was wrong. Freya had given the staff the night off yesterday for their anniversary dinner.

Niklaus looked at his watch. It was almost 8 AM, and Freya was usually eating breakfast now. She hadn't come home last night. Was she still at that hotel? And with who?

His face darkened. Martha, still not noticing his mood, came over with a package.

"Alpha, this was delivered this morning. Someone sent you a package."

Niklaus took it without thinking, tearing open the envelope as Martha poured him coffee. The bold words "Divorce Agreement" at the top of the first page made his blood run cold.

He quickly scanned the document, his anger rising with each page. When he reached the asset division section, he let out a cold laugh. "How thorough."

Every property, car, bank account, and stock he owned were neatly divided in half.

"You've got quite the ambition, don't you?" he murmured.

Martha, who had seen the word "divorce," froze in place. She clearly wanted to disappear.

Niklaus grabbed his phone and dialed a number, divorce papers still in his hand.

After several rings, a sleepy female voice answered.

"What is it?"