One week before our marking ceremony, I arrived at the pack house earlier than usual, my arms filled with fresh lilies and ceremonial candles. The scent of pine and sage filled the air as I walked through the familiar corridors, my heart light with anticipation. I wanted to surprise Carson with the preparations I'd made for our special day.

My wolf, Luna, stirred uneasily within me. She'd been weakened since the rogue attack in the northern territories where I'd nearly lost her saving Carson's life, but her instincts remained sharp.

*Something's wrong*, she whispered in my mind.

"It's just nerves," I murmured, trying to calm us both. "Our marking ceremony is almost here."

As I approached Carson's private study, voices drifted through the partially open door. Not just voices—sounds that made my stomach clench with dread. My fingers tightened around the stems of the lilies until thorns pricked my skin.

No. This couldn't be happening.

I pushed the door open with trembling hands.

The candles and flowers slipped from my grasp and crashed to the floor as my world shattered into a thousand pieces.

Carson and Evie lay entangled on the leather couch, their scents mingling in a way that made Luna howl in anguish inside me. His hands were tangled in her hair, her legs wrapped around his waist. They broke apart at my entrance, but not quickly enough.

Evie's lips curved into a smirk as she deliberately caressed her visibly pregnant belly. "Hello, Grace."

I stumbled backward, my chest constricting as if all oxygen had been sucked from the room. "What is this?"

Carson barely disentangled himself from Evie, his expression more irritated than guilty. There was no shame in his eyes—only annoyance at being interrupted.

"Grace," he said coldly, straightening his shirt. "You're earlier than expected."

"Clearly," I whispered, my voice breaking as Luna whimpered inside me.

Evie's hand continued to circle her swollen belly. "Didn't Carson tell you? I'm carrying his heir—the child of his true destined mate."

The floor seemed to tilt beneath me. "But our marking ceremony..."

Carson's eyes hardened. "Was merely a formality I felt obligated to perform given your financial contributions to the pack."

Evie's laugh was like shards of glass. "We've been together for months. Remember that trip to the southern territories? When you thought he was in meetings all day?" She leaned forward, her eyes gleaming with malice. "He was with me."

Each word was a dagger to my heart. I turned and fled, ignoring the crash of the ceremonial items behind me. Luna was too weak to shift, too damaged from the attack that had nearly killed us both. All I could do was run.

"Grace, wait!" Carson called after me, but his voice held no real urgency.

I ran until my lungs burned and my legs gave out in the forest beyond the pack house.

---

Hours later, after composing myself as best I could, I returned to confront Carson in his office. The sun had set, casting long shadows across the room as I stood before his desk.

"What is happening with Evie?" I demanded, my voice steadier than I felt. "Why is she back? Why is she claiming to be your destined mate?"

Carson leaned back in his chair, studying me with detached curiosity. "Her wolf was severely damaged during our separation. She's only recently begun recovering."

Something didn't add up. "That's not possible. I remember her wolf being perfectly healthy before you sent her away."

His jaw tightened. "You remember incorrectly."

"I don't think so," I pressed, stepping closer. "Carson, what aren't you telling me?"

His eyes flashed with irritation. "Enough questions, Grace."

"But—"

"ENOUGH!" His Alpha tone vibrated through the room, making Luna cower inside me. "Drop this subject and trust my judgment."

The command hit me like a physical blow. My wolf whimpered at the dominance display from the mate who was supposed to protect us.

I backed away, my hands shaking with anger and betrayal. "You're using your Alpha voice on me?"

"I'm ending this conversation," he replied coldly. "We'll discuss the ceremony arrangements tomorrow."

I left his office with my wolf crying inside me, the bond that had once felt so strong now fraying at the edges. Something was terribly wrong, and despite his command, I knew I couldn't let it go.

What had Carson done to Evie's wolf? And what had he done to mine?

I couldn't sleep that night. Carson's lies echoed in my mind, each one cutting deeper than the last. Something about Evie's story didn't add up. I needed proof—something concrete that would either confirm my suspicions or put them to rest.

Luna stirred restlessly within me. *We need answers.*

"I know," I whispered into the darkness of my room. "And I know exactly where to start."

The next morning, I slipped out of the pack house before anyone noticed and made my way to a small café in the neutral territory between packs. The kind of place where wolves from different territories could meet without raising suspicions.

I checked my watch nervously as I waited in a corner booth. Finally, the door opened, and an elderly man with silver-streaked hair entered. His eyes scanned the room until they landed on me.

"Grace Patterson," he said softly as he slid into the seat across from me. "It's been a long time since you called on old Marcus."

"Thank you for coming," I said, gripping his weathered hand briefly. "I need your help, Marcus. And I need absolute discretion."

Marcus Reed had been the pack healer for my father's territory before I left to join Carson. If anyone could help me without raising suspicions, it would be him.

"I need you to look at someone's wolf," I explained, keeping my voice low. "Without her knowledge. Without anyone knowing."

I slid a piece of paper across the table with Evie's name and a detailed description of her current behavior and scent markers.

"She claims her wolf was damaged," I said carefully. "I need to know if that's true."

Marcus's eyebrows rose slightly, but he asked no questions. "I'll need two days."

"Thank you," I whispered, relief washing through me.

---

Two days later, my phone vibrated with an encrypted message. My hands trembled as I opened it.

*Evie Gordon's wolf shows no signs of damage—past or present. Her wolf is perfectly healthy and has been for years. There is no evidence of recovery from any injury or illness.*

The phone nearly slipped from my grasp as the implications hit me. Carson had lied. He'd been lying all along.

"No," I breathed, sinking onto my bed as Luna howled in anguish within me. "This can't be happening."

But it was. And now I needed to know why.

---

I began watching Evie more carefully, following her movements around the pack house and beyond. What I saw made my blood run cold.

She was meeting with unfamiliar wolves at our territory borders—wolves whose scents marked them as outsiders. Their conversations were hushed, secretive. Always when Carson was occupied elsewhere.

One night, I followed her into the forest. The moonlight cast long shadows as I crept from tree to tree, staying downwind so she wouldn't catch my scent.

"—and the eastern perimeter is weakest on Thursdays," Evie was saying, her voice carrying clearly in the night air. "That's when Carson does his rounds with the inner circle."

A male voice responded, "Good. We'll move then."

I froze, hardly daring to breathe as I peered through the darkness. Three wolves stood with Evie—their scents marking them as members of the Black Crest Pack, our rivals for years.

"The information you've provided has been valuable," one said. "Your Alpha doesn't suspect anything?"

Evie laughed, the sound chilling me to the bone. "Carson sees what he wants to see. He's too busy trying to keep both me and his little pet Grace happy."

I must have stepped on a twig or something, because suddenly a branch snapped beneath my foot.

Evie's head whipped around, her eyes scanning the darkness until they locked directly onto my hiding spot.

A predatory smile spread across her face. "Well, well," she said softly. "What have we here?"

---

The next morning, I was arranging flowers in the pack gardens when Evie approached. Her smile was sweet, but her eyes were cold as winter.

"Grace," she said pleasantly, as if we were old friends. "I think we need to have a little chat."

I straightened, facing her directly. "About what?"

"About nosy little wolves who don't know when to mind their own business." Her voice dropped to a dangerous whisper as she stepped closer. "You've been watching me."

"I don't know what you're talking about," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

Evie's laugh was brittle. "Please. You're as transparent as glass." She glanced around to ensure we were alone before continuing. "Let me make something very clear. Carson will never believe you over me. I'm carrying his heir—his true heir."

"I don't want to cause trouble," I said carefully.

"No?" Her smile widened. "Then you should stop interfering in Alpha matters." She reached out suddenly, her fingers brushing my cheek in a mock-caress. "Accidents happen to wolves who stick their noses where they don't belong. Especially ones with weakened wolves who can barely defend themselves."

Luna growled within me, but we both knew the truth of Evie's words. We were in real danger.

"I understand," I said quietly.

"I hope so." Evie's eyes glittered with malice. "For your sake."

The monthly pack gathering was always a spectacle of unity and strength. Tonight, though, as I stood among the crowd of familiar faces, my heart hammered against my ribs with a mixture of dread and determination.

Luna stirred restlessly within me. *It's now or never.*

"I know," I whispered under my breath.

The clearing was bathed in moonlight, bonfires casting dancing shadows across the faces of my packmates. Carson stood at the center, his powerful frame commanding attention as always. Evie hovered nearby, her hand perpetually resting on her swollen belly.

"Tonight we celebrate another month of prosperity," Carson announced, his voice carrying across the gathering. "Our territory remains strong, our alliances secure."

Applause rippled through the crowd. I clutched my hands into fists, feeling the sweat on my palms.

"And," Carson continued, "we prepare for the joyous addition to our pack."

All eyes turned to Evie, who stepped forward with practiced grace. She swayed slightly, one hand pressed dramatically to her forehead.

"Though my wolf remains fragile," she said, her voice trembling with perfectly feigned weakness, "I'm blessed to carry the future of this pack."

Something snapped inside me. The weeks of lies, the betrayal, the constant fear—it all boiled over in an instant.

"Stop," I called out, my voice cutting through the murmurs of sympathy for Evie.

The crowd parted as I stepped forward. Carson's eyes narrowed dangerously.

"Grace," he warned, but I was beyond heeding warnings now.

"Your wolf isn't fragile," I said, pointing at Evie. "It never was."

A shocked silence fell over the gathering. Evie's eyes widened in momentary panic before narrowing into slits.

"How dare you," she hissed.

"I dare because it's the truth." My voice trembled with fury as I turned to address the pack. "Evie's wolf is perfectly healthy. She's been lying to all of you."

"Enough!" Carson roared, stepping between us.

"Prove it," I challenged, staring directly at Evie. "Shift right now and show everyone your 'damaged' wolf."

Gasps rippled through the crowd. No one had ever dared challenge an Alpha's mate this way.

Carson's face contorted with rage. "You've lost your mind," he snarled, his Alpha aura pressing down on me like a physical weight.

I felt Luna struggling within me, trying to resist the crushing pressure of his dominance.

"Grace is delusional," Carson announced to the pack. "Her jealousy has driven her to madness."

"I'm not jealous," I insisted, though my voice cracked under the strain of resisting his aura. "I'm telling the truth."

"Apologize to Evie," Carson commanded, his Alpha tone vibrating through the clearing. "Now."

The command hit me like a physical blow. Luna whimpered as we both fought against the compulsion to obey.

"I won't," I managed to say, though every word felt like glass in my throat.

The silence that followed was deafening. Pack members exchanged shocked glances. No one had ever seen a wolf resist an Alpha's direct command before.

Carson's face purpled with fury. "What did you say?"

"I said no." Each word was agony, but I stood my ground.

Chaos erupted. Some pack members backed away from me as if I were contagious. Others whispered excitedly about what they were witnessing.

"She's possessed," someone called out.

"Her wolf must be defective," another suggested.

Carson's eyes flashed dangerously. "Take her to her quarters," he ordered two warriors. "She needs time to come to her senses."

Strong hands gripped my arms, dragging me away from the gathering. I caught one last glimpse of Evie clinging to Carson, her face a perfect mask of distress.

---

The door to my quarters slammed shut behind me. I heard the click of the lock and the heavy footsteps of guards stationed outside.

Luna curled into a tight ball within me, exhausted from resisting Carson's command.

*We need proof,* she whispered. *Something no one can deny.*

"I know," I murmured, pacing the small space of my room.

A soft sound at the door caught my attention. Something slid beneath the gap—a folded piece of paper.

With trembling fingers, I unfolded it.

"Stay away from what doesn't belong to you," it read in neat, anonymous handwriting.

Before I could process this threat, another note appeared under the door.

"Weak wolves don't survive betrayal."

A third followed moments later: "Leave while you still can."

I backed away from the door, my heart pounding. Evie had allies within the pack—wolves loyal to her rather than to truth or justice.

I sank onto my bed, clutching the notes in my fist. The isolation pressed down on me like a physical weight. No one would believe me over Carson and Evie.

But I couldn't give up. Not now.

"We need more than accusations," I whispered to Luna. "We need proof they can't ignore."

Luna's determination surged through me. *Then we'll find it.*

I stared at the locked door, a new resolve hardening within me. Somewhere in this pack house was evidence of what Carson and Evie had done—to me, to my wolf, and to the truth.

And I would find it, no matter the cost.