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.