Curiosity led me to the local fair, where I decided to indulge in a fortune reading. As I handed over a photo of my mate, seeking insight into our future, the fortune teller—an Omega from the local pack—surprised me with an unexpected admonishment.

"You’re clever, yet you’re letting yourself be played like a fiddle," he said, his voice low and tinged with urgency.

Feeling increasingly unsettled, I left the fair and requested surveillance footage from the pack’s Gamma warriors. I planned to confront the fortune teller the next day. To my shock, the footage revealed my mate, Baylor Williamson, Beta of the Williamson Pack, and his assistant, Dakota Rivera, a Delta warrior from the same pack, engrossed in a passionate kiss right at that fortune teller’s booth.

The following day, I approached the fortune teller again, tossing a thick stack of cash in front of him.

"Did you catch any of their conversation?"

His eyes widened at the sight of the money, greed evident in his gaze.

"They talked about you being the heir to the Cruz Pack. He intends to become Alpha of your pack through the mate bond and then reject you for her."

I was staggered. Despite two years with Baylor, my true identity as the future Luna of the Cruz Pack had always been under wraps. Who had let this slip? Being called a fool by an Omega was mortifying. Baylor Williamson, this was a betrayal I was determined to address!

That evening, as I relaxed in Baylor’s modest apartment, enjoying a pasta dish paired with fine wine, he arrived with Dakota trailing behind. Approaching with his usual exuberance, he hugged me tightly, his alpha aura enveloping me like a suffocating blanket.

"My Luna, I’ve missed you so much today," he murmured, his voice dripping with false affection.

I gently pushed him away, smiling. "Let’s take our time; we’re not marked yet."

He finally noticed the fancy spread on the table, swallowing nervously and attempting a lighthearted reproach.

"My Luna, weren’t we supposed to be saving up for the marking ceremony? Why splurge on expensive stuff?"

"The pack handed out bonuses today. Felt like celebrating a little."

Dakota, looking displeased, stepped forward. "My Luna, my Beta has been working hard, leading patrols, all for your future together. He hasn’t even eaten. It’s not fair to celebrate alone."

Baylor had introduced Dakota as his cousin, making it seem natural to employ her as his assistant. She had criticized my spending before, seemingly wanting the best for her Beta and me. Baylor, playing the dutiful mate, always promised happiness with his efforts. I had once thought he was sincere.

In hindsight, the fortune teller was right—I’d been blindly romantic.

With a cool chuckle, I replied, "Would you like some?"

Baylor kissed my forehead, smiling. "My Luna, celebrations are better with company. Dakota hasn’t eaten either, so let’s add a couple more dishes."

I glanced at Dakota, her face flushed, and smirked.

"Sure, but only if you kiss me again."

"My Luna, you’re the sweetest person. I could kiss you forever."

Under Dakota’s burning gaze, he pressed another deliberate kiss on my forehead. Then I excused myself to the bathroom, where I turned the faucet on and scrubbed my forehead vigorously. Memories of happiness from simple gestures seemed distant, replaced by sheer disgust.

Moments later, the doorbell rang, announcing our takeout. Baylor eagerly fetched it, but his face fell as he returned with two bags.

"My Luna, did you order the wrong thing? Wasn’t it supposed to be pasta? Why am I looking at chili cheese fries?"

I chuckled inwardly. You, a Beta of a crumbling pack, deserve nothing but this basic fare.

Feigning innocence, I said, "My mate, didn’t you just mention we should save for the marking ceremony? Opted for something economical. Look, got the cheapest combo for you both."

"Aw, craving pasta? Why not speak up? I’m a bit dense that way. Unless you tell me directly, I won’t realize."

With that, I popped the last of the pasta dish into my mouth, reveling in the taste.

"Mmm, can’t blame you for wanting it. It is exquisite."

Dakota, livid, stomped off to her room. Baylor awkwardly settled with the chili cheese fries, starting to eat.

Draining my glass of wine, I said, "By the way, take tomorrow off. Let’s visit your parents."

If they’ve raised such a thankless child, they might share the blame. I wanted his entire pack to grasp this: while I might tolerate someone fleecing my pack’s resources, deceiving my heart is something I won’t abide.

That evening, I fabricated an excuse to leave, telling him my best friend was dealing with a shattered mate bond and considering something drastic. I quickly packed my clothes and valuables, my movements brisk and determined.

Baylor’s brow furrowed, his Alpha aura flickering with confusion. "Aren’t you just going to comfort her for a few days? Why are you packing as if you’re leaving for an entire year?"

"Oh, well," I said, forcing a light tone, "my friend wants me to help her relive the good times from the past year, as if that rogue were still around. I’m just getting into character, you know."

"But they severed the bond," he countered, his voice laced with skepticism. "Why revisit the past?"

"She has to go through the sweet memories to find the bitter truth," I replied, my words sharp despite the casual delivery. "Once she feels the sting, she’ll finally be able to move on, right?"

I left without giving him a chance to respond, my heart pounding with a mix of anger and resolve.

---

Back in the werewolf academy, I noticed him first. His commanding presence, his broad shoulders, and the undeniable Alpha aura he carried were everything I found irresistible. Charming, magnetic, and full of life, he seemed like the perfect mate. Just as I was planning to make my move, he surprised me by approaching me first.

Back then, I was over the moon, feeling like I’d found my fated mate. I thought he was the one, and I was ready to stand by his side as his Luna. That certainty stuck with me until I discovered his betrayal with Dakota Rivera, a Delta warrior from his own pack. All those sweet memories shattered into pieces that cut deep into my soul.

This hurt, I vowed, I would return tenfold.

---

The next day at noon, I dressed in my finest designer clothes and accessories, my aura radiating confidence as I made a grand entrance at the Williamson Pack’s ancestral home. As soon as I stepped inside, Alpha Barrett and Luna Janelle greeted me warmly, their smiles masking the deceit I now knew lurked beneath.

"Layla, it’s been ages since you visited. I’ve missed you," Luna Janelle said, her tone warm and kind. I couldn’t help but marvel at the acting skills of this family.

In the past, she’d always treated me with kindness, making me believe Baylor came from a respectable pack. It made me trust him even more.

At that moment, Baylor sat beside me, his Alpha aura palpable as he eyed my outfit. Shocked, he exclaimed, "Your outfit today must have cost a fortune!"

With a playful grin, I confessed, "Oh, you’ve caught me. Actually, I’m Layla Cruz, heiress to the Cruz Pack, one of the most prestigious and wealthiest packs in the region."

Their expressions froze in shock at my revelation, their auras flickering with unease.

Feigning surprise, I asked, "What’s the matter? Aren’t you supposed to be taken aback? Why do you look like you already knew?"

Baylor was the first to recover, slapping his knee in mock frustration. "Layla, why hide this from me for so long? Do you think I’d care about your pack’s wealth? I’m so let down."

His parents quickly added, their auras shifting to feigned hurt, "Layla, keeping us in the dark like this—is that how you see our pack?"

Their performance nearly had me laughing out loud.

Isn’t this just like a scene from a novel, where the heroine reveals her identity and the hero pretends he’s not interested in wealth? Reminds me of the story I read last night, where the girl spends lavishly to win the guy back.

Right on cue, Dakota chimed in, her Delta warrior tone sharp, "Just because you say you’re a wealthy heiress doesn’t mean I believe you."

"So what would it take to convince you?" I asked, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Buy me a sports car, and we’ll see."

I nearly choked on my tea, spraying some onto Baylor’s face.

His face turned red, then pale, his Alpha aura flaring with irritation. "Your deceit truly disappoints me. Don’t I deserve at least an apology?"

Their dramatic performance was commendable. My previous love-struck self might have bought him a car, maybe even a dealership. But today, I refused to play their game.

Pretending to wipe away tears, I dabbed at my eyes. "What should I do then, Baylor? I’ve hurt your feelings, your parents think I look down on your pack. Maybe we should sever the bond?"

Their faces twisted in shock at my suggestion, especially his parents, who forced themselves to smile.

"Layla, that’s not what we meant," Alpha Barrett said quickly, his tone strained. "We just worry that a prestigious pack like yours might see our Baylor as not good enough for you."

I considered their words seriously, then nodded.

"Well, now that you mention it, that does make sense."

Luna Janelle’s expression changed, and she shook her head emphatically. "No, no, that’s not what we meant."

Feigning confusion, I frowned and asked, "Then what did you mean?"

"Oh dear," she said, her voice syrupy sweet, "since you love our son so much, pack status shouldn’t matter, right?"

I immediately played the obedient role, nodding and smiling. "Absolutely, you’re right."

"Now that everyone knows my background," I said, my tone light but my words cutting, "why don’t Baylor and I move into my family’s mansion today?"