Zaiden Ortiz, my mate of seven years, handed me a positive pregnancy test and announced he was going to mark his mother’s servant, Ophelia Brooks. "It was a mistake; I drank too much. I have to take responsibility. Once the pup is born and everything is settled legally, I’ll reject her. Just wait for me," he insisted, his voice laced with that infuriating charm that had once made me believe in him. "You love me because I’m responsible, right? Trust me."

To avoid confrontation, he even brought his mother, Isabelle Ortiz, a Delta in the Ortiz Pack, to mediate.

But this time, I packed my things and moved out of that cramped apartment willingly. I agreed to the arranged mating with Hugo Kelly, the Alpha of the Kelly Pack, a union forged by our grandfathers' alliance during the war.

In the past, I had slapped Ophelia in a fit of rage, causing her to lose the pregnancy. Zaiden never mentioned it, marked me as his mate, and soon had me pregnant. On the day our pup was born, he deserted us in the snowy Alps.

"Zaiden, how can you be so heartless? This is your own flesh and blood!" I screamed, clutching our newborn pup close to my chest.

He sneered, his wolfish eyes glinting with malice, "Do you think I would ever touch someone as vile as you? The one who sired your pup was some rogue I found in the forest!"

"You should understand what it’s like to lose a pup."

The snow buried us, and my pup and I froze to death.

So, in this new beginning, I decided to let go and allow them their sordid affair.

Five years later, at a pack business conference, Zaiden spotted me and urgently pulled me aside. "I’ve been searching for you. You finally appeared. This project is crucial for me. I know you’re upset, but let me explain after it’s over. Please, don’t cause trouble."

I pushed him away, my voice cold and authoritative. "I’m the one hosting the bid. This territory is mine."

Zaiden was stunned, uncertainty clouding his face. Just then, a voice dripping with sarcasm came from behind him.

“Oh, no wonder you looked familiar. It’s Beta Jasmine Kelly. Five years apart, and you’re still dressed so plainly. What are you hiding under all those layers?”

I was dressed in a tailored professional outfit, devoid of any pack insignia, yet it cost more than Zaiden’s annual earnings. Ophelia, in contrast, wore a cheap, tight-fitting spaghetti strap dress with towering heels, her makeup as exaggerated as for a mating ceremony.

I gave her a cold look and moved to walk inside, but Zaiden grabbed my arm again.

"You’ve become so disrespectful. Ophelia greeted you, and you didn’t even acknowledge her?"

I frowned, pulling away and smoothing out the wrinkles in my sleeve. I retorted coolly, "Grabbing another female’s arm in front of your mate—that’s quite disrespectful, wouldn’t you say?"

To my surprise, he then said, "We are not mated."

I looked at him in astonishment. Wasn’t Ophelia supposed to mark him after carrying his pup? Had something changed?

Before I could ponder further, Ophelia angrily stepped forward and shoved me. "Jasmine, why won’t you just disappear?"

"Did you hear that Zaiden promised to secure this project and then mark me? Is that why you’re here to disrupt us?"

I sighed, replying, "I have no interest in your affairs anymore. Step aside, please don’t block my path."

She completely ignored what I said, snorting disdainfully and taunting, "I get it. You’re a thirty-year-old, unmated female who’s desperate enough to think about Zaiden all the time. It’s understandable."

"But look at yourself! Is there anything about you that compares to me? Dreaming that Zaiden would choose you—it’s been too long, hasn’t it?"

Though I had no intention to engage with them, Ophelia’s relentless provocation pushed me to respond.

"Ophelia, besides being three years younger, what else do you have that’s worth bragging about? Do you think your four-figure handbag holds a candle to my nearly impossible-to-get seven-figure one? Or do you believe that your height, barely reaching Zaiden’s chin even with heels, is some advantage over my 5’7 stature?"

"Or is it that your unfinished education surpasses my doctorate in pack management?"

"What exactly makes you better?"

"Perhaps you’ll say you’ve won Zaiden’s affection, but so what? You merely picked up the trash I discarded."

My words infuriated them instantly. Zaiden pointed at me, his voice rising, "Jasmine, when did you become so sharp-tongued?"

"I’m giving you one last chance to apologize. Otherwise, even if you beg on your knees, I won’t forgive you!"

I couldn’t help but laugh at his arrogance. "Zaiden, who gave you the confidence to think I’d ever beg you? I think you’re the one dreaming here!"

"Jasmine, are you seriously claiming you didn’t show up today with the intent of drawing my attention?"

"Do you take me for a fool? We’ve been together since our school days; do you think your little tricks escape my notice?"

"When you vanished suddenly, it was to make me feel guilty, wasn’t it? I admit I did feel guilty and wanted to find you, but you hid well. You only reappeared because you couldn’t stand the idea of my marking ceremony with Ophelia, didn’t you?"

Ophelia stamped her foot in frustration and snapped, "Are you trying to pull that move where you dump your mate, get rich, and then rub it in his face? That ridiculous bag of yours is clearly a knock-off. Real ones have two metal clasps, but yours only has one. How dare you flaunt it!"

"Being away from Zaiden must have been rough for you. There's no need to pretend you’re someone you’re not. If you need cash, just say so. At least my Zaiden is now a Gamma in the Ortiz Pack. After all the time he's spent with you, it’s only fair to offer some payback."

"Seven years, right? How about seven hundred bucks? That should buy about ten of those cheap handbags."

I’m not one to waste my breath explaining things to clueless Omegas. The handbag on the market usually has two clasps, but this limited edition, custom-made one only has one. People outside our social circle would never recognize it.

Just then, my phone rang. I looked down; it was a video from my mate showing him playing with our son. I accidentally tapped on it, and the sound blared through the speakers.

"My Luna, when will you be done? Reed wants you to bake cookies for dinner."

I quickly muted the phone. To my surprise, Zaiden's jaw dropped in disbelief.

"Jasmine, what do you mean 'mate' and 'son'? Who is that guy?"

Ophelia sneered, "Oh my Goddess, Jasmine, have you sunk so low as to become a step-Luna? By the sound of it, this guy's probably some old rogue. You must be desperate. Does he smell like mothballs? How do you handle that?"

Zaiden’s face turned crimson with anger. "You’ve stooped too low! Are you really trying to make me jealous with some other guy? We’re adults now; this childish stunt is for pups. How immature can you be?"

"You’ve spent years out there, and this is what you picked up? Dirty tricks!"

At that moment, a group of pack members approached, chatting on their way to the meeting hall for the bidding meeting.

"I heard the Alpha of the Kelly Pack is incredibly handsome, but he’s never shown up in public. I wonder if he’ll attend in person for such a big deal."

"Looks like you’ll be let down. Word has it he’s staying home with his pup; his Luna is the one showing up today."

"Wow, I’ve heard she’s incredible, too. Their mate bond is legendary. Seeing her will be just as exciting!"

After they went inside, I turned to Zaiden and Ophelia. "The man in my video is my mate and that’s our son. My mate is Alpha Hugo Kelly of the Kelly Pack. Got it now?"

"I’m here to oversee the bidding for the Kelly Pack. If you don’t move aside, this bidding meeting is off!"

Ophelia Brooks burst into laughter, her Omega status doing nothing to temper her arrogance. "This is priceless! You've got a real knack for spinning tales. You overhear a bit and weave it into a whole story!"

Zaiden Ortiz, a Gamma from the Ortiz Pack, shook his head, his smug expression unwavering. "Jasmine, your fixation on me is getting out of hand. Let's not turn this into a spectacle. I promise I'll speak with you once the auction is over."

"You should really leave," Ophelia added, her tone dripping with condescension. "This isn't a place for just anyone to wander into. It's confidential, and you could get in serious trouble if someone reports you."

I was done with their games. When they didn’t move, I pushed past Ophelia, striding toward the entrance. I didn’t expect Zaiden to grab me, his grip tight enough to bruise, before he slapped me across the face.

"Why’d you shove Ophelia? Apologize to her!" he barked, his voice sharp and commanding.

The commotion drew a crowd almost instantly, the tension in the air thick enough to cut through. Security guards, all Delta warriors from the hosting pack, closed in on us quickly.

I held my cheek, the sting of his slap burning into my skin as I glared at him. "Zaiden, do you have any idea what kind of trouble you're in for hitting me?"

Hugo Kelly, my mate and the Alpha of the Kelly Pack, is famously devoted to me. He might appear calm and composed, always flashing that charming smile, but beneath it lies a ferocity that only those who’ve crossed him truly understand. The last time a Delta in our pack disrespected me, Hugo had them run perimeter patrols in wolf form for an entire week under the harshest conditions. Now, if he hears about someone striking me, the consequences would be unpredictable.

Zaiden really asked for this one—it’s on him.

Ophelia sneered, her confidence unshaken. "Still so defiant, huh? What, you want your Alpha to come and get revenge on Zaiden? He’s so weak, Zaiden would chew him up and spit him out!"

By then, the security guards had reached us, their postures stiff and alert. "What’s happening here? What’s with the commotion?" one of them demanded, his tone sharp and authoritative.

Ophelia immediately pointed at me. "This woman is trying to disrupt the auction. You need to escort her out immediately."

The guards glanced at me, their expressions uncertain but their hands already moving to grab me.

I addressed them firmly, my Beta status lending weight to my words. "I’m the organizer of this auction, Beta of the Kelly Pack. These two are blocking me from entering and causing a disturbance. I want them removed!"

The guard’s hand paused, hesitating as he glanced between me and Ophelia.

"May I have your name, please? I’ll have my colleague verify it on the registration list," he said, his tone more cautious now.

Since this event was hosted in a neutral territory, it made sense that the guards didn’t recognize me on sight.

Just as I was about to give my name, Ophelia interrupted, her voice shrill and demanding. "What’s taking you so long? Open your eyes! Do you really think this washed-up hag is a Beta? She’s out of her mind! If you don’t get her out, I’ll report you!"

She shoved her and Zaiden’s entry badges into the guard’s face. "We’re here for the auction. Do you think we don’t recognize the organizer? Quit stalling and get her out!"

The guards’ hesitation vanished, their grips tightening on my arms as they started to drag me away.

Then, a young man pushed through the crowd, his voice cutting through the chaos like a knife. "Hold it!"