Just then, a knock came from the front door.

I composed myself and opened it.

"Anya, the Alpha is blackout drunk. I brought him back."

I thanked him and took Kade's arm, supporting his weight.

For once, Kade was docile, burying his face in my neck and murmuring incoherently.

"Don't go... Anya... no... Selena... my Luna..."

The words hung in the air, and the living room fell silent.

"Uh... Anya, don't read too much into it. The Alpha's just drunk. He was probably telling some guest not to leave."

"Besides, he was still calling your name..."

I managed a bitter smile. "Yes, I know."

Seeing my composed expression, Ryan let out a quiet sigh of relief and left in a hurry.

I sat on the edge of the bed, my gaze inexplicably drawn to the scattered scrolls on the nightstand.

It occurred to me that in four years as his secret mate, I had never once set foot in his study.

Now, I just wanted to confirm one thing.

Was the Selena he murmured about the person I thought she was?

I stared at the unconscious Kade.

"Don't go..." he mumbled again, his arm instinctively reaching for me.

After a moment's thought, I walked toward the study.

This was the Alpha's private sanctuary, a place where even Chloe was not allowed.

I stepped through the heavy oak door.

The shelves were lined with yellowed tactical manuals and dusty pack law codices.

I looked at a stack of ancient scrolls in the corner, hoping to find a clue.

I walked over, carefully arranging the tomes that carried the legacy of our werewolf lineage.

Suddenly, a photograph slipped from between the pages of a book.

I bent down to pick it up, and my blood ran cold.

The photo was so worn at the edges from repeated handling that it was clear someone had treasured it for a long time.

The young she-wolf in the picture had a pair of eyes almost identical to mine.

Of course they were similar. How could they not be?

After all, this was my half-sister, Selena.

My hand trembled as I held the photo, a sharp pain piercing my chest.

Just then, a powerful mind-link pulse hit my mental barriers.

It wasn't for me, but the group link for Kade's inner circle.

As his marked mate, I could passively receive parts of their conversations when his mental energy was unstable, a failsafe to ensure I wouldn't miss important pack information.

I never thought it would be useful at a time like this.

"Yo, you guys are not gonna believe this. Last night the Alpha was holding Anya but calling out Selena's name. Nearly gave me a heart attack."

"Good thing I thought fast and covered for him. Otherwise, if she found out the Alpha only marked her on a whim, that little Beta would totally lose it."

"I thought the Alpha was supposed to be devoted. Wasn't the plan to dump her when he got bored? How come he's getting more serious now?"

"I know, right? It's weird. He used to complain that Anya was too old and boring for him. Why hasn't he dumped her yet?"

The conversation in the group link grew increasingly vile.

My wolf snarled in rage inside me, but my reason was consumed by despair.

I wanted to cut off the connection, but then I heard something even more heartbreaking.

What came next was even more vile.

"Hey, you know what Selena showed me? Anya's not boring at all," one of them said excitedly.

"Haha, turns out that quiet Beta is a total freak in the sheets."

Hearing this, I wanted the ground to swallow me whole.

"No wonder she managed to capture our Alpha's heart."

"Too bad for her. A placeholder is still just a placeholder. Now that the real thing is back, her time is up."

I desperately wanted them to shut up, but I was powerless.

I remembered another time, shortly after we were marked, when I'd accidentally overheard Kade's men discussing me.

Back then, Kade had stormed out, the full force of his Alpha's authority laced with killing intent. "Shut your mouths. Is Anya someone you can talk about?"

At the time, I thought he could protect me, that I would be willing to be his secret mate, even if it was temporary.

But now, he would only get drunk and pass out, again and again, for my sister.

I couldn't hear what they said after that.

So Kade wasn't just using me as a replacement.

He was willing to trample on my dignity for Selena's sake.

Those private, intimate memories, secretly recorded without my knowledge, were used to entertain Selena.

But why?

Selena was the bastard child of our mother's affair.

It was my mother who despised my father for the battle scars that covered his body. So why was everyone now siding with Selena and scorning me?

A tearing pain ripped through my chest, and tears streamed down my face uncontrollably.

I quickly wiped them away, my hands shaking as I used my own memory crystal to record all of this as evidence.

I traced the connection back, uncovering even more horrifying schemes.

The late-night call to pick up a drunk Kade, with stray wolves arranged to "coincidentally" harass me on the way.

Deliberately getting Kade drunk on strong liquor while I was recovering from an injury, just to watch me entertain his guests while enduring the pain of my infected wound.

Even my father's worsening condition was due to a wolfsbane poison they had secretly administered.

Revelation after revelation, each one a silver blade twisting in my heart.

Tears blurred my vision. I bit my lip hard, suppressing the sobs that threatened to escape.

I was a plaything, the most convenient weapon at his side, but never his love.

All I wanted now was to delete those intimate memories that might have already been spread.

But when I tried to search for them in his mind, I was blocked by a powerful Alpha's mental wall.

I couldn't touch those humiliating "collections" at all.

I placed Selena's photo back where I found it, my heart as cold and dead as ice.

No wonder he always had excuses whenever I brought up making our relationship public.

My supposed mate bond was nothing more than the delusion of a placeholder.

As I walked out of the study, a pack messenger respectfully handed me a formal invitation sealed with a silver wolf crest.

"A formal invitation from Alpha Jasper of the Silver Crest Pack."

The messenger respectfully presented a silver envelope engraved with a moon goddess sigil.

"Alpha Jasper of the Silver Crest Pack formally invites the warrior Anya to serve as his Head Warrior. He awaits your reply."

"Tell your Alpha I accept the invitation."

I watched a flash of surprise in the messenger's eyes, a strange sense of satisfaction welling up inside me.

"When can you begin?"

"In one week."

After the messenger left, I put the invitation away, my mind already starting to plan for the future.

Since Kade only saw me as a stand-in, there was no reason to waste my youth on this sham of a relationship.

The Silver Crest Pack was stronger than the Black Moon Pack, and the position of Head Warrior offered a much better future than my current status.

I packed a small bag and drove to the veteran's quarters on the edge of the pack's territory.

"Anya?" My father opened the door, pleasantly surprised. "What are you doing here at this hour?"

His face was even paler than the last time I'd seen him, and the cough rattling from his old battle wounds had clearly worsened.

"I have good news," I said, taking his slightly trembling arm. "The Silver Crest Pack has invited me to be their Head Warrior."

My father was so excited he broke into a coughing fit. I quickly patted his back.

"Good, good! I always knew my daughter was the best warrior!"

Once he calmed down, he frowned. "But what about your relationship with the Alpha?"

My smile stiffened slightly. "What relationship?"

"Don't play dumb with me. You can't fool your old man," he said, his expression serious. "You need to have him hold a mating ceremony for you, and soon. It's the only way to secure your position."

"When you have time, bring him to see me. I need to talk to him."

A wave of bitterness washed over me, but not wanting to worry my father further, I nodded in agreement.

When I returned to the Alpha's residence, Kade had just woken up.

The hangover left him looking disheveled, his golden hair falling unkempt over his forehead.

"Anya?" He rubbed his temples. "What happened last night?"

"You drank too much last night. Ryan brought you home."

Kade sat up and suddenly reached out his hand to me. "Come here."

It was that commanding tone he always used, the one I used to obey without question.

But now, his voice filled me with a strange revulsion.

I instinctively took a step back. "I'll go make lunch."

"Anya." Kade's voice was laced with annoyance. "I said, come here."

I reluctantly walked to the side of the bed, but when his hand touched me, the nausea churning in my stomach intensified.

"What's wrong with you?" Kade sensed my discomfort. "You look pale."

"It's nothing, maybe..."

Before I could finish, I shoved him away and bolted to the bathroom, dry-heaving over the toilet.

Kade followed immediately, rubbing my back with a worried frown.

"I've been feeling a little off... My stomach has been acting up lately."

"You're not... pregnant, are you?"

His words made us both freeze.

I looked at Kade's reflection in the mirror and caught a fleeting glimmer of joy in his eyes.

He might not have even been aware of it himself, but the primal, instinctive pride of an Alpha learning his mate might be pregnant came through our bond, clear as day.

"I'll go with you to the clinic for a check-up this afternoon," he said.

I nodded, hesitating for a few seconds before carefully choosing my words. "This afternoon, could you... come with me to see my father?"

Kade was leaning against the doorframe, looking at his phone. He answered with a distracted "Mmm."

I was surprised he agreed so readily, and a complicated mix of emotions stirred within me.

Whether it was genuine or just an act, I couldn't afford to have a showdown yet.

I needed to put my father's mind at ease.

I went downstairs to the kitchen.

By the time I emerged with a bowl of seafood porridge, Kade was already dressed and heading for the door.

"I have an urgent meeting at the border this afternoon. You'll have to go to the clinic by yourself. Mind-link me if there's any news."

"What about my father..."

"Send me the address."

The sound of the closing door cut off whatever I was about to say.

I didn't say anything more. I sat at the table, took a few simple bites of porridge, and lost my appetite.

I pushed the porcelain bowl away and walked quickly to the pack's medical center.

In the healer's office, I took the test results with a hand that wouldn't stop shaking.

Positive.

To be pregnant at a time like this was the cruelest joke of all.

I could feel Kade's desire for this pup through our mate bond, clear as day.

But the existence of this child would make everything infinitely more complicated.

I carefully placed the report in my bag. Just as I stepped out of the clinic, I saw Kade's car parked nearby.

He was in the driver's seat, seemingly waiting for someone.

Selena, wearing a pale blue dress, walked briskly toward Kade's car, a sweet smile on her face.

"Kade, thank you for coming with me," she said, her voice soft and cloying.

"How did the check-up go?" Kade's voice was gentle in a way that felt alien.

"The doctor said everything looks good. The pup is very healthy."

My heart stopped.

When I came to my senses, I realized my communication crystal was blinking.

My father's voice came through, filled with an excitement he couldn't hide.

"Anya, I've already made your favorite beef bone soup, and I've prepared roasted venison."

I took a deep breath, said nothing more, and fled.

My father and I spent the whole afternoon preparing a lavish warrior's feast, simmering his secret-recipe wild game stew.

The hot dishes grew cold on the table. Kade never showed.

The few mind-links I sent him went unanswered.

Seeing the disappointment dimming my father's eyes, I felt a pang of shame and made excuses, then stepped out onto the balcony to forcibly activate my mate bond with Kade.

This time, the link connected quickly.

I got straight to the point. "Are you here? My father has been waiting a long time."

He sounded as if he'd just remembered. "Sorry, the meeting ran long. I lost track of time..."

Suddenly, the sound of loud music and the laughter of a pack of wolves came through the connection.

It was the soft, ambient music unique to high-end private clubs.

"Kade, try this. I had the chef make it just for you," Selena's saccharine voice cooed through the link.

"Some old veteran's cooking? So dated. They probably don't even use the right spices."

"Is Selena getting jealous?" someone teased.

"Don't you worry. Anya's no competition. Her old man is a washed-up warrior. Didn't even earn any real honors in the war."

The mocking laughter of his friends made my blood run cold.

I heard Kade's impatient "Mmm," as if he was frequently checking his phone.

"Knock it off, you guys," he said, his voice laced with annoyance.

I heard the flick of a lighter, followed by his smoke-raspy voice.

"Anya, I just took over as Alpha. I can't look bad by leaving an important meeting early. I'll make it up to your father another day, okay?"

Did he really think I was a fool, that I'd believe he was holding a meeting with the sounds of a private club in the background?

I unconsciously tightened my grip on the communication crystal. Just as I was about to speak, I heard an urgent voice from the other end.

"Kade, stop wasting time. Selena's waiting for you."

Kade stubbed out his cigarette, his voice laced with false tenderness. "Be good. You're always so understanding. I'll make it up to you tonight when I get back."

After ending the transmission, I returned to the dining table, feigning a casual air. "He has an urgent meeting," I said with a forced smile.

The table was laden with the food he had prepared. The beef bone soup was still simmering over a low flame, its aroma filling the air.

"Let's eat first."

"We're not waiting?" my father asked, looking at me.

"We're not waiting."

We sat quietly at the table. My father ladled a bowl of soup for me.

"Anya, do you think the Alpha truly loves you?" he asked suddenly.

My spoon froze mid-air.

"An Alpha who truly loves you wouldn't let you face an embarrassing situation alone on an important occasion."

My father's voice was calm, but every word was a nail driving into my heart.

"He might have really had something urgent..." I tried to defend Kade again.

"Child, I've seen a thing or two," my father said, shaking his head. "Anya, I want to see you settled as a proper Luna in my lifetime. But if a mate bond isn't built on a foundation of respect, I would rather you walk alone."

He paused, looking at me. "And remember, a warrior's honor is more precious than an uncherished love."

I put down my spoon and hugged my father.

"Dad, I know what to do now."

When I returned to our penthouse apartment, Kade had somehow already returned.

He was coming out of the kitchen with a glass of blood-red, potent wolf's liquor.

When he saw me, his eyes landed on the duffel bag at my side, and his pupils constricted.

"What's this? I hear you're going to the Silver Crest Pack?"

I didn't deny it.

Kade closed the distance in a single, sudden step, pulling me into his arms.

"Anya, you're not going anywhere without my permission."

He kissed me forcefully, the movement rough, as if staking a claim.

I bit down hard on his lip. "Let me go, Kade."

He hissed in pain and stopped, but then he bent down, scooped me up with one long arm, and threw me onto his shoulder.

I was tossed onto the plush sofa, the impact leaving me breathless and dazed.

Before I could recover, Kade was already on top of me. "The Silver Crest Pack. Don't even think about it."

"You are my marked mate."

His warm breath fanned across my trembling eyelashes.

I struggled instinctively.

Feeling the resistance from the woman in his arms, Kade's grip on my wrist tightened abruptly.

His other hand clamped down on my restless waist, and his knee pinned my tense legs, completely cutting off my escape.

He then lowered his head and sealed my lips, his fingertips expertly igniting fires across my skin.

It wasn't that he was oblivious to my emotions; he was just used to solving conflicts this way, with brute, primitive force.

In four years as his secret mate, whenever friction arose, this proud Alpha would never stoop to console me.

And I had always been the one to yield to his Alpha temper.

But this time was different. He had been deceiving me from the very beginning.

I cleared the possessive fog from my head and shoved him away with all my might.

"Kade, let's end this."