My Mate Betrayed Me for the Lycan Princess

Seven years of lies, forged identities, and breathless escapes had all built up to this single night.

I stood in the center of our luxurious suite at the Crescent Moon Pack, smoothing my hands over the heavy parchment on the mahogany desk. These were the strategic alliance plans I had spent weeks drafting. Every word, every diplomatic clause was carefully designed to impress the Lycan King and solidify our cover as visiting dignitaries.

I, Juliet Morales, was a street-smart rogue with no pack, no family, and no real name to speak of. But tonight, I was a master strategist. This was our masterpiece. Our final job before we could disappear, shed our fake skins, and build a real life together.

I looked over at Reid Wallace. My partner in crime. My chosen mate. He sat on the edge of the velvet sofa, staring intensely at his phone. His thumbs flew across the glowing glass screen.

"Nervous?" I asked softly, crossing the room to wrap my arms around his shoulders.

He stiffened, locking his phone screen instantly. "Just reviewing the guest list," he murmured, his voice distant. He didn't look at me.

"I'm going to get us a drink," I said, kissing the top of his head. "To celebrate. After tonight, no more running. No more sleeping in damp alleys. We'll finally be safe."

Reid offered a tight, forced smile. "Hurry back."

I slipped out of the suite and walked down to the private VIP lounge. I poured two glasses of the most expensive champagne I could find, my heart fluttering with excitement. I hurried back up the stairs, eager to surprise him.

But when I pushed the heavy oak door open, the suite was dead silent. A soft, breathless moan echoed from the bedroom. My inner wolf snapped to attention, the fur on her back rising in immediate distress.

I walked toward the half-open door. The glasses slipped from my fingers, shattering against the hardwood floor.

The sound of breaking glass didn't even stop them.

Reid was in our bed. He was tangled in the expensive silk sheets with a blonde woman. The cloying, sickening scent of vanilla and roses hit my nose—Maren Sanders, the pampered daughter of the Lycan King. The future Luna of North America.

Reid didn't scramble. He didn't panic. He calmly climbed out of the bed, his naked back facing me, and reached for his trousers. Maren smirked, lazily pulling the white sheet over her chest. Her eyes danced with cruel amusement.

"Reid?" my voice cracked. It sounded small. Broken.

He turned around, buttoning his shirt. He ran a hand through his dark hair—his classic tell when he was calculating his next move. But his eyes were entirely cold.

"Don't look so shocked, Juliet," he sneered, his lip curling in disgust. "Did you really think I'd spend the rest of my life with a gutter rogue?"

The words felt like a silver blade driven straight into my chest. "We've been together for seven years," I whispered, my entire body trembling. "We built this together."

"You built a stepping stone," Reid corrected, his voice devoid of any warmth. "I've been courting Maren for months. Why on earth would I settle for garbage when I can have real royalty?"

Before I could even process the shattering of my heart, Reid lunged forward. His hand shot out, gripping my upper arm with bone-crushing force.

"Reid, stop! You're hurting me!" I gasped, stumbling as he yanked me out of the bedroom.

He didn't say a word. He dragged me through the suite, out into the grand hallway, and toward the sweeping marble staircase that led down to the ball.

We hit the ballroom floor. Hundreds of elite wolves in silk gowns and tailored suits turned to look at us. The crystal chandeliers overhead felt blinding.

Reid raised his voice, projecting a commanding tone I had never heard him use. "Guards! Stop the music!"

The orchestra ground to a screeching halt. Reid shoved me hard. I hit the polished marble floor, scraping my palms and tearing my gown. I stared up at him in absolute horror.

Maren appeared at the top of the stairs, her dress perfectly arranged, fake tears streaming down her powdered cheeks. She rushed down the steps and threw herself against Reid's chest, sobbing loudly.

"This woman is a fraud!" Reid's voice boomed across the dead-silent room. He pointed a damning finger at me. "Her name is Juliet Morales! She is a dangerous rogue spy! She used dark magic to seduce me, to infiltrate this pack, and to steal our secrets!"

Gasps of outrage erupted from the crowd. On the raised dais, King Aldric stood up. The Lycan King's eyes blazed with terrifying Alpha fury.

"A rogue spy?" the King thundered, his voice shaking the very walls. "In my hall? Seize her!"

Heavy, armored hands grabbed my arms. The King's guards hauled me off the floor, their grips bruising my flesh. I didn't fight them. I couldn't. The bond inside my chest was screaming, bleeding out from the violent severing of my trust.

As the guards dragged me backward toward the heavy iron doors of the dungeons, the elite crowd parted. They spat insults. They cheered for my betrayer.

I locked eyes with Reid one last time. He stood tall, hailed as a hero, holding the Lycan Princess in his arms. He looked down at me and smirked.

My heart was completely destroyed. But as the dungeon doors slammed shut, swallowing me in darkness, the rogue inside me woke up. He wanted a villain? I would gladly become his nightmare.