My mate, Russell Simmons, Alpha of the Blue Moon Pack, invited me to his seaside villa for a getaway with his childhood friend, Sunny Parker, a Gamma from the rival Silver Fang Pack, and the Warren brothers—Leonard, Jayden, and Kyree, Deltas in the Lycan Prince’s guard. For seven nights, I was wrapped in his arms, thinking it was a reconciliatory gesture after our big spat when Sunny returned from abroad a month ago. Despite her insistence on avoiding the mate bond, she demanded that my mate help her have a child. Our fight left Russell ignoring me, but now I thought things were finally getting back to normal.

A month later, I discovered I was pregnant and excitedly rushed to share the news with him, only to confront a group chat on his computer in his study. Sunny had posted a disgusted emoji, saying, "A whole month and there’s no sign of a baby bump on her. What’s wrong with you three brothers?" Leonard replied, "We took turns with her for seven days; she should have conceived by now. Besides, Sunny and Russell had fun too, didn’t you? Why isn’t your belly showing anything?" Russell’s response was, "Sunny and I have all the time in the world; she’ll get pregnant eventually. As for you guys, should I arrange another go?" Jayden’s message read, "Gracelynn’s sweet voice still haunts me. I’m in if we do it again. No worries, no matter whose child it is, the Warren project deal is yours."

My legs gave way, and I collapsed to the floor, unable to process that the intimate nights I had were actually with the Warren brothers. That was my first experience.

Feeling utterly drained, I dragged myself out of the study. As I stumbled forward, I heard the sound of the door unlocking and Russell’s voice ringing through the house, "Gracelynn, we’re having some friends over for dinner. Could you get things ready?"

I was trembling, wanting to confront him, but then I saw Sunny beside him, with an innocent look on her face. "Gracelynn, you look pale. Don’t you want me here as a guest? If not, I can leave," she said sweetly, her tone laced with mock concern.

Russell wrapped an arm around her waist, glancing at me with annoyance. "Why the long face? Show some courtesy to our guest."

Their overt intimacy made my stomach churn. "The Warren brothers are coming too; make sure to prepare more food. And don’t forget to clean the shrimp properly; Sunny loves it," Russell added before whisking Sunny away to the bedroom.

I had always been aware of their close relationship and the ambiguous undertones, but Russell had never been so blatant about it in front of me. Now, he wasn’t even trying to hide it anymore.

The bedroom door was slightly open, and I crept closer to listen. "Alpha," Sunny said, her voice dripping with feigned concern, "isn’t this risky? She’s right outside. Aren’t you afraid she’ll get upset?"

Russell scoffed, "Why would she be mad? I’m only with you. She got to enjoy three men; she’s the one who benefited."

"Sunny, you’re my lucky charm. You introduced me to the Warrens as soon as you got back. Securing that project with them will push me into the elite circles," he boasted. Their conversation was followed by the unmistakable sound of a kiss.

I clamped a hand over my mouth, tears streaming down my face. It all felt like a surreal nightmare, completely at odds with the Russell who had declared his love for me at our engagement ceremony.

In the kitchen, I meticulously deveined the shrimp, desperately trying to convince myself that maybe he was just helping fulfill Sunny’s wish for a child. Perhaps, he still loved me. But looking down at my belly, the tears flowed anew. If his affair with Sunny was to help her, what about the child in my womb?

I desperately tried to find an excuse for him, but it was futile. Absorbed in these thoughts, I accidentally picked up a knife, holding it to my wrist. "This has to be a dream. If I hurt myself, I’ll wake up," I whispered.

Just as I was about to make a cut, laughter and male voices erupted outside. The Warren brothers had arrived. "Oh, Sunny, couldn’t wait, huh? Your shirt’s not even buttoned right," Jayden teased.

"Russell, can’t you do better? If not, I’ll take a turn with Sunny. My genes are far superior to yours," Kyree joked.

Unexpectedly, Russell grew angry, his alpha tone sharp and commanding, "Get lost! No one touches Sunny. Do you think she’s a rogue?"

My grip slackened on the knife, my heart crushed as if run over by a truck, shattered into a thousand pieces. His precious Sunny was not to be treated like that, yet he allowed three men to use me. Was I nothing but a mere toy to him?

Footsteps approached the kitchen, and I quickly wiped away my tears, pretending to be busy. But the three brothers appeared before me, their presence bringing back blurry images from those seven nights. Overwhelmed, I fled to the bathroom, retching violently.

Outside, their excited voices echoed, "Look, she’s throwing up! She must be pregnant!"

After what felt like an eternity of retching, I stumbled out, weak and drained. Russell grabbed my arm, his grip firm but devoid of any warmth, "Are you pregnant? Let’s get you to the pack healer!"

I held up the pants I had changed out of, bloodstains still visible. "No, I just got my period. The cramps made me sick." It was blood I had painfully squeezed from a cut finger.

Russell, you can forget about the elite circles; no one will ever know about this child.

Upon hearing what I said, everyone’s expressions shifted, the air in the room growing heavy with unspoken judgment. Leonard Warren, ever the dutiful Delta of the Lycan Prince’s guard, waved his hand dismissively. "Since Gracelynn isn’t feeling her best, let’s wrap it up early and skip dinner."

Alpha Russell Simmons, his towering frame exuding an air of dominance, frowned and grabbed my arm, his grip firm. "You’re not some delicate flower, so don’t act like one. Go cook dinner."

He shoved me toward the kitchen, closing the door behind me with a deliberate thud. The sound echoed in my ears, a reminder of my place in his world.

Outside, laughter and cheerful chatter resumed, cutting through the silence like a blade.

"Alpha Russell, you’ve got her well-trained," someone teased.

"Absolutely," he boasted, his voice carrying a smug edge. "Her family practically begged my mother to let her mate with me. She wouldn’t dare go against me."

Sunny Parker, the Gamma from the Silver Fang Pack, chimed in softly, her voice dripping with false sweetness. "Talking like that isn’t nice. You sound like you’re pushing her around. I think I’ll go lend Gracelynn a hand in the kitchen."

Alpha Russell quickly stopped her, his tone softening as it always did when he spoke to her. "No need. You’ve got such gentle hands, not suited for kitchen work. What if you get hurt? You wouldn’t be able to look after me."

"Oh, you’re impossible," she replied playfully, her laughter light and melodic.

I could hear the sound of Alpha Russell giving her a loud peck on the cheek, the intimacy of it twisting something deep inside me.

"Sunny, remember? On my eighteenth birthday, you kept me company all night with those hands. No one else has been close like that."

The memory hit me like a punch, and I felt my wolf whimper in the back of my mind, a quiet ache of betrayal. That day, I had spent all my savings on a gift for him, and he kissed my forehead for the first time. I had thought it was the beginning of something real.

I never imagined that on the same night, he had done something so vile with Sunny Parker. Yet he always insisted they were just childhood friends, nothing more. Only someone as naive as me would have believed him.

Once dinner was ready—ravioli, pulled pork, and spiced honey cake—I tried to slip away to my room, eager to escape the suffocating atmosphere. But Sunny Parker, her movements graceful and deliberate, grabbed my arm, her grip surprisingly strong for someone who claimed to have "gentle hands."

"Gracelynn," she said, her voice sweet but laced with something darker, "don’t run off. We’re all here to enjoy the evening. You wouldn’t want to ruin it for everyone, would you?"

I forced a smile, my wolf stirring uneasily as I nodded. "Of course not, Sunny."

But inside, the cracks were spreading, and I knew it was only a matter of time before everything shattered.

The dining hall of the Blue Moon Pack lodge was bustling with activity, the scent of roasted meats and herbs filling the air. I had spent hours preparing the feast, hoping to impress Russell and the Warren brothers. As the future Luna, I wanted to prove myself worthy of my position, even if Russell’s attention had been increasingly distant lately.

“Let’s raise a glass in Gracelynn’s honor,” Jayden Warren suggested, holding up a glass of whiskey. His tone was light, almost teasing, but there was an edge to it that made me uneasy.

Russell, sitting at the head of the table, smirked and joined in. “Come on, Gracelynn. Down it! Drinking with the Warren brothers is a rare opportunity—consider yourself lucky.”

I stared at him, my stomach twisting. “Have you forgotten that I’m allergic to alcohol?” My voice was firm, but I could feel the weight of the room’s attention pressing down on me.

He waved a dismissive hand, his Alpha aura flaring subtly, a reminder of his authority. “Oh, don’t be such a wimp. Just drink it. How often do you hear about someone dying from an allergy? You can just take some medicine after.”

Frustration bubbled up inside me, and I set the glass on the table with a sharp clink. “I’m leaving,” I said, standing to go.

Russell moved faster than I expected, blocking my path with a predatory ease. “What’s this supposed to mean?” His voice was low, a warning growl creeping into it.

Sunny, sitting beside him, clutched his arm, her eyes wide with faux concern. “Let it go, Alpha. Gracelynn has been cold toward me since I showed up. Maybe I should just stop coming, so I don’t ruin the mood.”

The Warren brothers exchanged glances, their expressions uneasy. Leonard, the most level-headed of them, spoke up. “It’s just one drink, no big deal. If she doesn’t want to drink, she shouldn’t have to.”

But Russell wasn’t having it. His patience, thin as it was, snapped. He grabbed the glass and, with his other hand, roughly forced the whiskey down my throat. The liquid burned, and I choked, stumbling back as I gasped for air.

Leonard was on his feet instantly, reaching out to steady me. “Gracelynn, are you okay?”

Russell, unfazed, picked up another glass and shoved it toward my mouth. “Are you trying to humiliate me in front of everyone? Drink this right now!” His Alpha tone was sharp, commanding, and it sent a shiver of fear through me.

Tears streamed down my face as I glared at him, defiance burning in my chest. “No!”

Sunny let out a theatrical gasp, her hand flying to her chest as she clung to Russell. “Alpha, the way Gracelynn looked at me was terrifying. I’ll have nightmares for sure. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have brought up the drink.”

Russell’s expression softened as he turned to her, his voice soothing. “Don’t worry, Sunny. I’ll stay with you tonight. You didn’t do anything wrong. It’s her who should apologize.”

He grabbed my hair, his grip punishing, and tried to force my head down. “Say sorry to Sunny!”

I resisted, my body trembling with anger and pain. “Russell, I’m your mate! How can you do this to me?”

He slapped me across the face, the sound echoing in the hall. “If you want to be my Luna, you’d better learn to obey, got it?”

A sharp pain shot through my lower abdomen, and the alcohol reaction kicked in; my entire body started itching like crazy. Writhing in discomfort, I curled up on the ground, groaning.

Leonard rushed over, his voice urgent. “She looks really sick. We need to get her to the hospital.”

My consciousness began to fade. Before everything went black, I heard Russell snort, “If you want to take her, go ahead. She’s just putting on an act, and you actually believe her?”

And then everything went dark.