I stood in front of the mirror, practicing my reflection. The woman staring back at me had red-rimmed eyes and a quivering bottom lip—perfect for what I needed to accomplish today.

"You can do this," I whispered to myself. "For the pup."

Luna, my wolf, growled in agreement. *We will make them pay.*

I heard Anders' footsteps on the stairs and quickly wiped away the moisture I'd dabbed under my eyes. The door opened, and he entered with his usual confident stride.

"Stevie? What's wrong?" His voice held genuine concern as he took in my appearance.

I let my shoulders slump, my hands instinctively cradling my swollen belly. "I had another nightmare," I whispered, my voice deliberately fragile. "The baby was crying, and I couldn't reach her."

Anders sat beside me on the bed, his arm wrapping around my shoulders. "It was just a dream," he soothed, though I could smell the faint trace of vanilla on his collar—Vienna's scent.

"I can't shake it," I continued, allowing tears to well in my eyes. "This house feels... tainted somehow. Like it's not safe for our pup."

His brow furrowed. "Tainted? What do you mean?"

"The energy here is all wrong." I stood abruptly, pacing the room with deliberate agitation. "I need somewhere pure, somewhere untouched by... anything that might harm our baby."

Anders watched me warily, clearly unsure how to handle this version of his usually composed Luna.

"Maybe we should speak to Dr. Elena about your anxiety," he suggested carefully.

"No!" I snapped, then softened my voice. "I mean, I just need a sanctuary. A place where I can nest properly. Don't you understand what's at stake?"

---

Two days later, I sat across from Vienna in my private study, a spread of property listings between us. She looked immaculate as always, her honey-blonde hair pulled into a sleek ponytail, but I caught the flash of calculation in her eyes when I mentioned wanting a new property.

"Luna Stevie, I'm happy to help," she said, her voice dripping with false sweetness. "But the Alpha estate is quite spacious for your needs."

"It's not about space," I insisted, flipping through the listings with deliberate clumsiness. "It's about safety and tranquility for the pup."

I rejected each property she showed me, watching her patience thin with each dismissal.

"This one is too close to the training grounds," I complained about a lakeside cottage.

"The foundation is too old," I declared about a modern mountain retreat.

Vienna's smile tightened as I continued my pickiness. Then, as if reluctantly, she pulled out a final listing.

"There's one more," she said hesitantly. "The Moonlight Cabin. It's quite exclusive, and usually reserved for—"

"The moment I saw it, Luna," my wolf interrupted through our mind-link. "That's the one."

"That's it," I gasped, staring at the listing. The luxury cabin sat perched on a cliff overlooking the sacred lake, surrounded by ancient pines. "This is where my wolf feels safe."

Vienna's face paled slightly. "But Luna, this property is... already under consideration by another pack member."

"Who?" I demanded, my eyes narrowing.

She looked away. "It's confidential."

"Is it you?" I pressed, watching her squirm.

"No, of course not," she lied poorly.

---

When Anders returned that evening, I was waiting in his study, the Moonlight Cabin listing displayed prominently on his desk.

"I found the perfect place for our pup," I announced before he could speak.

He glanced at the listing and frowned. "The Moonlight Cabin? Stevie, that's not a practical choice. It's too remote, and the price..."

"We need it," I interrupted, my voice rising with hysteria I'd carefully rehearsed. "Our baby needs it!"

"Anders," I stepped closer, tears streaming down my face. "Do you not want our pup to be safe? Do you not care about my wellbeing?"

"That's not what I'm saying," he protested, his hands raised defensively.

"Then why are you rejecting my needs?" I wailed, clutching my belly protectively. "Is this how you show your devotion to your mate and heir?"

His face drained of color. "Rejection? Stevie, you can't accuse me of that."

"Then prove me wrong," I challenged, watching him carefully. "Buy the cabin. In my name."

I saw the calculation in his eyes—the fear of being accused of rejecting his pregnant mate outweighed his desire to save the cabin for Vienna.

"Fine," he conceded finally. "If it means that much to you."

I nodded solemnly, hiding the triumph that surged through me. "It means everything."

As he turned away to make the call, I allowed myself a small smile. The first piece of my revenge had fallen into place.

The morning sun filtered through the blinds as I adjusted my oversized sunglasses, checking my reflection in the rearview mirror. The woman staring back at me looked nothing like the composed Luna of Silverclaw Pack. Today, I was just another pregnant woman heading to a routine prenatal appointment.

"Are you sure this is necessary?" Luna, my wolf, questioned through our mind-link.

*Absolutely,* I replied, pulling into the parking garage of the medical building. *We need legal protection before we strike.*

I'd scheduled my "checkup" with Dr. Elena for 10:30, but my real appointment was at 9:15—with Marcus Blackwood, a Beta lawyer specializing in mate separation cases.

Marcus's office occupied the fourteenth floor of a nondescript building downtown. No pack markings, no territorial scents—just neutral ground where secrets stayed secrets.

"Luna Stevie," he greeted me, rising from behind his desk. His Beta status was evident in his respectful posture, though his eyes held the calculating gleam of a predator. "Or should I say, Ms. Stevie?"

"Ms. will do," I confirmed, lowering myself carefully into the leather chair. "I appreciate your discretion."

"Discretion is my specialty." He sat, folding his hands on the polished surface between us. "You mentioned having evidence?"

I placed my phone on his desk and entered my passcode. "Everything's here."

Marcus reviewed the screenshots methodically—the forum posts, the tracking data, the photos I'd taken of Anders's overnight stays at Vienna's apartment building.

"This is... comprehensive," he admitted, his professional demeanor slipping momentarily. "Most Lunas come to me with suspicions. You've built a case."

"I need to protect my pup," I said simply. "And myself."

Marcus nodded, pulling out a legal pad. "The Alpha's Infidelity Clause in pack law is quite specific. If you can prove betrayal during pregnancy..."

"I can," I interrupted. "And I will."

"Then you're entitled to significant assets." His pen moved rapidly across the paper. "The new property in your name, plus fifty percent of liquid assets as child support for the heir."

"And if I reject him publicly?" I asked.

Marcus looked up, his eyes widening slightly. "That would be... spectacular. The pack would witness his shame."

"Draft the agreement," I instructed. "I want everything ready for the Harvest Moon Banquet."

---

Three days later, I sat at the head of the banquet planning table, surrounded by pack elders and committee members. Vienna stood across from me, clipboard in hand, directing the decoration discussions with practiced efficiency.

"The silver goblets should be polished again," Elder Margaret insisted. "The Cross Pack Alpha will expect perfection."

"Of course," Vienna nodded, making a note. "I'll handle it personally."

I studied her as she spoke, my gaze fixed on the delicate silver chain around her neck. The pendant caught the light—a crescent moon embracing a small ruby, identical to the one that had gone missing from the pack treasury months ago.

"That's a lovely necklace," I remarked loudly, interrupting the discussion. "It looks familiar."

All eyes turned to Vienna's throat. She instinctively touched the pendant, her composure faltering for just a moment.

"Thank you, Luna," she recovered quickly. "It's just something I picked up at an antique shop."

"How interesting," I mused, my voice carrying to the elders. "It's remarkably similar to my grandmother's heirloom that went missing from the treasury last spring."

Elder Margaret leaned forward, her aged eyes sharp with interest. "Is that so?"

Vienna's smile tightened. "I doubt it's the same piece. This is quite common."

"Not at all," I contradicted softly. "The ruby is unique—blood-red with a small inclusion that looks like a wolf's paw."

Anders cleared his throat abruptly. "I'm sure Vienna would never take pack property."

"Of course not," I agreed, watching color drain from his face. "Just an odd coincidence."

---

The first bouquet arrived at Vienna's door that evening—exotic orchids arranged with black roses.

"What is this?" she texted me in panic, not realizing I'd used a delivery service.

I sent back a simple message: *Enjoy it while it lasts.*

Over the next two days, more gifts followed—champagne, chocolates, and always with cards containing thinly veiled references to her situation.

*To new beginnings...*

*To secrets soon revealed...*

*To temporary pleasures...*

I watched from afar as Vienna grew increasingly paranoid, checking over her shoulder constantly, jumping at shadows.

Meanwhile, I bombarded Anders with mind-links filled with exaggerated affection.

*My love, I need you to pick up more pillows for the nursery...*

*Anders, the baby's kicking—can you feel it?...*

*I'm so lucky to have such a devoted mate...*

His responses grew shorter, more distracted as he tried to manage both his paranoid mistress and his suddenly clingy Luna.

*Later,* he'd reply tersely.

*Can't talk now,* he'd mind-link back.

I could almost see him fraying at the edges—exhausted from maintaining his double life, careless in his efforts to placate us both.

Perfect.

By the night of the Harvest Moon Banquet, he would be a man stretched too thin, ready to snap.

And I would be there to watch him fall.

The sterile white walls of Dr. Elena Hartwell's office seemed to close in around me as I sat on the examination table, my hands protectively cradling my swollen belly. The Pack Healer's gentle touch barely registered as she checked my vitals, her eyes occasionally flicking to my face with concern.

"Your blood pressure is elevated, Luna Stevie," she said softly. "Have you been under unusual stress lately?"

I took a deep breath, letting my shoulders slump forward. The facade I'd maintained for weeks cracked, and tears welled in my eyes.

"I can't..." My voice broke perfectly on cue. "I can't do this anymore, Elena."

Her professional demeanor softened as she set down her clipboard. "What's troubling you?"

"It's Anders," I whispered, allowing a tear to slide down my cheek. "He's... he's been distant. Always busy with border patrols and meetings."

Luna, my wolf, growled within me. *Tell her everything.*

"He comes home smelling like her," I continued, my voice trembling. "Vienna. The housing coordinator."

Dr. Hartwell's expression remained neutral, but I caught the slight widening of her eyes. "Luna Stevie, are you suggesting—"

"I'm not suggesting anything," I cut her off, wiping away tears. "I'm stating facts. And the stress... it's affecting the baby."

I placed her hand on my belly just as our pup kicked vigorously, as if on cue.

"See?" I said desperately. "She senses my distress."

Dr. Hartwell's clinical expression returned as she checked my hormone levels. "Your cortisol is indeed elevated," she confirmed, making notes in my file. "This level of stress is concerning for both you and the heir."

"I need documentation," I said suddenly, meeting her gaze directly.

She paused, pen hovering over the paper. "Documentation?"

"For the pack records," I clarified, my voice steadying. "If something happens... if he's harming us through his negligence..."

Understanding dawned in her eyes. As Pack Healer, she understood the implications of what I was asking—and what Anders' betrayal could mean under pack law.

"I'll document everything," she promised, her voice low. "Elevated cortisol levels endangering the Alpha heir. Official medical record."

---

"The Cross Pack Alpha accepts with pleasure," I read aloud from the ornate invitation. "How wonderful."

I sat at my desk, a stack of formal invitations before me, each sealed with the Silverclaw Pack emblem. My fingers traced over the embossed lettering as I reviewed the guest list for the Harvest Moon Banquet.

"Will your parents be attending?" Vienna asked from the doorway, clipboard in hand as always.

I looked up, offering her a warm smile. "Yes, they're quite excited about meeting their grandchild."

"Excited enough to travel all this way?" Her tone held a note of suspicion.

"They're family," I replied simply. "And family should be together for special occasions."

I watched her carefully as I addressed another envelope. "I've also invited Alpha Vincent Cross. Such an honor to have him witness our celebration."

Vienna's smile faltered slightly. "Alpha Cross... that's quite the diplomatic move."

"Isn't it?" I agreed, sealing the envelope with a decisive press. "Anders is so pleased about the alliance opportunities."

Later that afternoon, I stood on the front steps of the pack house, watching as Roland's truck pulled into the driveway. My brother's imposing figure emerged, his Beta strength evident in every movement.

"You're early," I said as he approached, embracing him carefully around my belly.

"Wouldn't miss it for anything," he replied, his eyes scanning the area protectively. "You said you needed me here."

"Just a precaution," I assured him, linking my arm through his as we walked inside. "My nesting instincts have been acting up. Dr. Hartwell says I need family nearby."

Roland's expression softened with concern. "Anything else I should know?"

I squeezed his arm gently. "Not yet."

---

The morning of the banquet dawned bright and clear. I stood in the great hall, watching as pack members transformed the space with autumn decorations—gold and crimson leaves, harvest displays, and the traditional moon symbols hanging from the rafters.

"Everything looks perfect," I commented to Vienna as she directed the staff.

"The Alpha requested a special display for his entrance," she replied, not meeting my eyes.

"Did he?" I smiled innocently. "How thoughtful of him."

I approached Anders as he inspected the main table settings. "I have a surprise for you," I said softly.

His eyebrows rose with interest. "Oh?"

"A tribute video," I explained, gesturing toward the large screens flanking the stage. "I've prepared something special to honor your leadership."

Pride flickered across his face—exactly as I'd anticipated.

"That's... unexpected," he said, clearly pleased despite his attempt at modesty.

"I'll need access to the AV system," I continued, my voice honey-sweet. "To load the video before the ceremony."

Without hesitation, he pulled out his phone and opened the administrator app. "Here's the access code," he said, showing me the screen. "Just use this to log in."

I memorized the six-digit code instantly, hiding my satisfaction behind a grateful smile.

"Thank you, my love," I murmured, leaning up to kiss his cheek. "You're so trusting."

His arm wrapped around my waist possessively. "Only with you."

As he walked away to greet new arrivals, I slipped the burner phone from my pocket and sent a quick message to Marcus Blackwood: "Access secured. System ready."

The stage was set. Now all that remained was for the players to take their positions.