Even as the elevator doors closed in front of her, the silence she needed didn't come. Her advanced hearing wouldn't let her rest - that's the gift of being an Alpha's daughter. 

But right now it felt like a stupid curse since Chloe's moans wouldn't stop echoing against the elevator even as it descended. 

She tried her best to shut it out, hoping that would ease the pain that kept constricting her heart. Selene started at the elevator mirror instead. 

Dark hair tied up in a messy bun, tired eyes, straight posture, and trembling lips. 

This was not the Selene she knew from college. 

She was utterly, and completely broken, to the core. 

She held the divorce folder loosely with one hand, wondering if these five years ever meant a single thing to Adrian. 

She already knew the answer. 

This marriage had been his biggest regret. Laurent Enterprise had needed the support desperately years ago when the company was about to go bankrupt, so her uncle had stepped in to supposedly save the day by supporting Laurent with Sterling Cooperation. 

How should Adrian pay him back? By marrying his niece, who is absolutely in love with him!

It sounded like a dream come true then, for both sides. Till Selene realised that it was actually the worst nightmare. 

Since her Father died while she was still quite young, Kingsley Sterling, her uncle, was crowned the acting Alpha of the Silvercrest Pack till she came of age. But her marriage to a human had hindered that now completely. 

Back then, she was too naive and stupidly in love to realise the trap her uncle had set up for her. 

The elevator dinged softly once it reached the underground parking lot, and Selene stepped out slowly.

The cold evening air hit her skin immediately, carrying the faint scent of rain. Her driver was already waiting beside the black car.

Benjamin Tucker looked up the second he saw her approaching, and immediately frowned.

Not because she looked disheveled. Selene Laurent never looked disheveled.

But because after years of driving her around, Benjamin had learned how to recognize the difference between quiet... and shattered.

He quickly opened the back door for her, "Good evening, ma'am."

Selene nodded faintly before slipping into the car, but the second the door shut behind her, she broke down.

The tears suddenly spilled down her cheeks faster than she could stop them, and a deeper pain crashed into her heart as she tossed the folder to the other side of the car. 

Her wolf hated crying.

It hated weakness.

But five years of pretending she was alright finally collapsed all at once inside the privacy of that car.

Benjamin looked away instantly, giving her dignity instead of pity. Another reason she trusted him.

"I'm sorry," She whispered hoarsely while wiping angrily at her face.

"You never have to apologize for being hurt, ma'am," Benjamin replied gently.

That almost made her cry harder.

Selene leaned back against the seat and closed her eyes. The smell of Chloe's perfume still clung to her senses, and her enhanced hearing still remembered every sound from that office.

Every laugh. Every touch. Every moan. Every humiliating little whisper.

Sometimes she wished she could pull out her wolf and toss her far, far away.

Her wolf growled softly beneath her skin, but didn't say anything. 

Benjamin started the engine quietly, "Should I drive you home?"

Home.

It was laughable.

Adrian's mansion had never truly been home.

But still, she had things there. Her clothes, and documents.

"Take me to the house first," She murmured tiredly. "I need to pack the rest of my things."

"Yes, ma'am." Benjamin nodded once.

The car pulled away from Laurent Enterprise while Selene stared blankly outside while city lights blurred past. Five years down the drain with a heartless family... but thankfully, it wasn't all for nothing. 

Her phone suddenly buzzed beside her, and the screen lit up instantly. 

ELARA.

Selene felt a tiny breath of life come back to her lungs, and her lips stretched into a small smile. She was probably the only person in the world who could still make her feel remotely human after a day like this.

Selene answered immediately.

"You sound terrible," Elara said before Selene could even speak.

"Hello to you too." Selene replied, letting out a weak laugh.

"I'm serious. What happened?" Elara paused briefly, "Wait. Did that bastard do something again?"

Selene looked out the drizzle-covered window quietly, "When doesn't he?"

There was immediate silence on the other end, and Selene could smell the danger through the phone. 

Elara Channing had many talents, and patience wasn't one of them.

"I can be there in twenty minutes," Elara said coldly, "Actually no, ten. I'll kill him myself."

"You'd go to prison." Selene smiled again. 

"For you? Happily."

That finally pulled a real laugh from Selene's chest, though it cracked painfully halfway through.

Elara immediately softened, "Oh my dear," She murmured, "I really should come over,"

Selene pressed trembling fingers against her eyes, "No, don't...I...I.. gave him the papers,"

Silence followed, then Elara exclaimed, "...What?"

"The divorce papers," Selene whispered. "He signed them."

The car went completely quiet, and even Benjamin glanced briefly at the rearview mirror before quickly looking away again.

"Wait. Adrian Laurent signed divorce papers willingly?" Elara asked carefully. 

"He didn't even read them." Selene laughed bitterly.

"Oh." That single word carried so much fury inside it.

Selene leaned her head back against the seat, "He was with Chloe,"

Another silence, then Elara cursed viciously.

"I'm going to set his building on fire. I need to set his building on fire, and as for that bitch...I'll first tear off that tongue of hers, then I'll..."

"Please don't."

"No, actually, I think this situation calls for arson, and a crazy amount of blood-spillage,"

Selene laughed softly again despite herself.

That was Elara. Sharp-tongued, Fiercely loyal, and one of the very few people who knew Selene beyond the carefully controlled masks.

"So," Elara said after a moment, her voice gentler now, "How do you feel?"

Selene opened her mouth, then closed closed it again.

How did she feel? She felt humiliated. Relieved. Heartbroken. Numb. Name it. 

"Tired," She admitted finally.

"Good." Elara said. 

"...Good?" 

"Yes," Elara replied firmly, "Because maybe being tired is what finally saved you from wasting another five years on him. I mean, he took everything you've done for him for fuckin granted. You were the absolute best wife in the world, and he just happened to be the biggest fool in the world,"

The absolute best wife... but it wasn't enough to win his heart. 

Before Selene could respond again, Elara suddenly sucked in a sharp breath, "Oh...i almost forgot!!!"

The sudden squeal from Elara had Selene adjusting in her seat, "What?"

"You're not going to believe who contacted us thirty minutes ago."

Something about Elara's tone immediately sharpened Selene's attention, "Who?"

"The Blackwell brothers."

Selene's entire body went still, and even her wolf stirred uneasily beneath her skin. Outside, thunder rumbled faintly across the city.

"They sent an official partnership request," Elara continued excitedly, "An actual request, Selene. After ignoring Lunaris for months!"

Selene's heartbeat slowed dangerously.

The Blackwell brothers.

Ajax, Jayden and Elliot.

Three names that tasted like poison in her mouth.

"What exactly do they want?" She asked quietly.

"A private meeting tomorrow morning."

Selene stared out the window silently while the drizzle of rainwater slid slowly down the glass.

So it finally begins.

"Should I be worried about how quiet you just became?" Elara asked curiously.

"No."

That was a lie.

Elara sighed dramatically, "Well, whether you like it or not, this is huge. If Blackwell Industries partners with Lunaris, every other corporation in the country will practically start worshipping us."

"They already do."

"True," Elara admitted proudly.

A small smile touched Selene's lips briefly before fading again. 

"Hey," Elara whispered, "You're really okay?"

Selene looked down at the folder resting beside her.

The divorce papers were still there.

Still signed.

Still real.

For some reason, that reality still felt strange to herz and a bitter smile touched her lips, "I think..." She said slowly, "there's only so many times someone can break before they eventually stop feeling it."

Elara immediately clicked her tongue in disapproval, "Don't say things like that."

"It's true."

"No," Elara replied firmly, "what's true is that Adrian Laurent never deserved you, and Kingsley is a freaking snake!"

Her uncle was going to get what was coming to him... eventually. 

Elara sighed dramatically again, clearly trying to lighten the mood, "Well," She declared, "now that you're finally free, I fully support your villain era."

"My what?"

"Your villain era," Elara repeated confidently, "Dark dresses. Colder stares. Emotional damage. Financial domination. Maybe arson."

Selene laughed softly again, and Benjamin smiled faintly to himself from the front seat.

"You're insane."

"And yet you adore me."

That part was unfortunately true.

Elara suddenly gasped loudly, and Selene almost thought it was another nightmarish, but good news, "Oh my God."

"What now?"

"You know what this means?"

"I'm scared to ask."

"You're technically one of the most eligible women in the country now."

Selene stared blankly ahead, almost shaking her head in dismay, "Elara." She sighed. 

"No, seriously! Billionaires, politicians, heirs-"

"Elara."

"The Blackwell brothers are literally meeting you tomorrow while you're freshly divorced. This is cinema."

Selene nearly choked, "Please never say that again."

Elara cackled loudly through the phone, and the sound eased something heavy inside Selene's chest.

Just a little.

Then Elara's tone softened one final time, "Go home and rest tonight, okay?"

Home.

That word again.

"...I still have to go back to Adrian's house first."

"To pack?" Elara asked carefully.

"Yes."

"Do you want me there?"

The offer wrapped around Selene warmer than she expected, but she shook her head even though Elara couldn't see it, "No. I can handle it."

"You shouldn't have to." Elara said softly.

Maybe not.

But she always had.

"I'll call you later," She murmured softly.

"You better," Elara warned immediately. "And Selene?"

"Yes?"

"If Adrian cries after realizing he signed those papers..."

A small smirk touched Selene's lips, "...?"

"I want pictures."

Selene laughed quietly again, then she remembered something, "Elara?"

"Yup?"

"I need a dress for tomorrow...," Selene said, "Something that screams... Untouchable!"

She felt Elara smirk on the other side, "You got it, bestie!"

The call ended, and silence filled the car once more.

Only this time, it didn't feel quite as suffocating.

Outside, the drizzle continued falling gently against the windows while the city lights flickered endlessly beyond the glass.

Selene leaned her head back against the seat and stared ahead quietly. Tomorrow, she would face the Blackwell brothers. Tomorrow, Adrian would still think she belonged to him. Tomorrow, everything would begin changing.

And none of them were near-ready for what was coming.

The room reeked of sex, sweat, and dominance.

Red lights covered the room, spilling against the silk black sheets of the bed that were all tangled up now, and three men lounged like Kings in the aftermath of it.

The Blackwell Triplets.

Ajax, the eldest leaned against his wall, his pants barely hanging to his waist. He was powerfully muscular, and tattoos curled up his arms and neck like smoke. His hair was a tousled mess, and his molten silver gaze was like steel.

Jayden, the middle one, wiped blood from his lip with the back of his hand and smirked, already lighting a cigarette.

And Elliot, the youngest of the triplets was sprawled lazily on the couch with his shirt hanging open, his wolfish grin daring anyone to speak first.

On the bed, the woman they'd just finished with was still sprawled naked on the bed. She was a high-ranking wolf from the WinterMoon Pack and was still gasping from exhaustion and awe minutes after they were done.

Her body twitched every now and then, and she could barely get on her feet.

"Get up," Ajax finally said, his voice almost as powerful as his build, with a side dish of lethality, "You've had your fun,"

The woman blinked, still dazed, "I... Alpha Ajax, I thought-"

"You thought wrong," Jayden's tone cut through her sharply. He didn't even spare her a glance and continued, "You were never here for that. You were a distraction. You came to experience what other women have been gossiping about, and you got exactly that. Nothing more,"

Elliot gave her a lazy smile, dark amusement in his voice like he enjoyed watching she-wolves break at their mercy, "Don't look so heartbroken, sweetheart. You'll still walk straight, eventually."

She managed to stand up, picked her clothes from the floor and fled the room in silence and shame.

For a long moment, only the faint sizzle of Jayden's cigarette filled the space, and of course, their brooding dominance and the tension it came with.

Then the door opened again and this time, their Beta, Carter walked in.

He bowed in submission the moment he softly closed the door behind him.

"That's all the women for today, Alphas," He stated.

"You may leave," Elliott dismissed.

"But there's news," He said.

"What news?" Jayden half-growled.

"They've agreed," He announced, "The CEO of Lunaris Biotech is coming. Tomorrow morning,"

Three sets of silver eyes lifted in unison.

Ajax's jaw flexed, and he pushed off the wall, "The Elusive CEO...,"

Jayden puffed out some smoke and leaned back in his chair, "The human genius with a secret identity and a company that came out of nowhere five years ago, and has been roaring with success ever since," His tone turned sardonic, "Tell me that doesn't smell suspicious,"

"It doesn't matter what it smells like," Elliot said, "What matters is what they have,"

Carter nodded once, "Lunaris Biotech's R&D division filed a confidential patent three weeks ago. A serum coded as AX-23. Initial reports suggest it could counteract the poison you were dosed with,"

The room turned still, and the tension grew.

Jayden stubbed out his cigarette, something dangerous flashing in his eyes, "How accurate are we talking?"

"Eighty percent, maybe more. But it's experimental. And I've learnt that the CEO is not selling. At least, not publicly,"

Ajax's eyes darkened too, "Then we'll give this CEO a reason to,"

The silence stretched before Elliot chuckled like he was unbothered, "So that's why we're playing the partnership card. You think we can somehow...charm it out of them,"

"Charm, manipulate, dominate," Jayden's grin returned, "We'll use everything till one works,"

"There's something...else," Carter added hesitantly.

Damian's gaze snapped at him, "Speak."

"The doctor ran another analysis. The poison's evolving faster than predicted. You've got twelve days left, at most,"

Jayden's smirk faltered and Elliot straightened on the couch, the first flicker of tension breaking through his unbothered facade.

"Unless-" Carter continued

"Unless we find our mate," Elliott finished for him, "Yeah, we know. Then it resets to thirty," He scoffed, "Great. Buy one, get fifteen days free,"

"We've fucked our way through half the city, and none of them even twitched the bond," Jayden said with a frown,

The shift in the aura of the room was immediately and suffocating as Ajax began walking, hands buried inside his pockets, "It doesn't matter. We'll keep moving till we find her,"

"Assuming we live long enough to," Jayden muttered under his breath.

Elliot snorted, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, "Oh, don't get soft on me now, brother. We've been through worse,"

"Not like this," Jayden shot back. "Not from inside our veins,"

Ajax stopped pacing and turned toward them, his eyes like glaciers, "We all know how it started."

Carter looked uneasy, glancing between them, "The feast," he said quietly.

Jayden gave a harsh humorless laugh, "Yeah. The goddamn celebration feast for our victory over the Ironclaw border dispute. A night meant to honor us," He ran a hand through his hair, "Now I can't even smell roasted venison without thinking of blood,"

"It wasn't the food," Elliot said, "It was the wine. The imported crimson batch from the eastern vineyards. Same one gifted to every guest,"

Ajax's jaw tightened with anger, "Except only ours was poisoned."

The silence that followed was like the calm before a storm.

Ajax leaned back against the edge of a table, voice still controlled but vibrating with threat now, "The toxin wasn't immediate. It was designed to slowly dismantling our wolf DNA while keeping us functional. To everyone else, we looked fine. Strong. Untouchable. But inside..." He gestured vaguely toward his chest, "We are Rotting,"

Carter shifted, then added uneasily, "The labs also confirmed the molecular base matches a venom strain that isn't related to any existing Pack. He suggested it might have hailed from...,"

Elliot exhaled sharply, "You've got to be fucking kidding me,"

Jayden's smirk disappeared completely, "The Silvercrest Pack? Their Alpha died years ago and the Pack was as dismantled,"

Ajax's gaze was glacial and he was barely keeping his calm at this point, "That's what we thought."

Carter hesitated, then continued, "We've actually traced quiet movements along the old border. Wolves that don't belong to any pack. No insignia, no hierarchy-but they fight like soldiers. Rumor says the Alpha's heir survived,"

"The Alpha had no heir!" Ajax growled this time.

Jayden let out a bitter laugh, "So you're saying the ghost pack finally crawls out from under its grave? Great!"

Elliot leaned back, a darker edge in bis voice, "If it really is the Silvercrest, then this isn't just revenge. It's reclamation. They've been waiting many years to hit us where it hurts,"

Carter added, "The doctor said the poison is rapidly adapting to your immune system. That kind of biochemical manipulation isn't something feral wolves do. Someone's funding them. Someone smart,"

"An underground genius who knows exactly how to kill Alphas. Sounds like a bedtime story," Jayden snorted.

"No," Elliot said with a humourless grin, " It sounds like someone who's been studying us,"

"Then we study them back. We find their chemist, their labs, their allies. We burn it all down,"

Ajax turned toward the city lights spilling in through the tall windows, his reflection like a dark shadow against the golden lights outside. He was a bit calmer now, "But for now, we have to get that antidote from Lunaris Biotech. It won't be easy taking down an unknown enemy when we are weak,"

"First the cure..., then the problem," Elliott said.

"And we are getting that cure...," Ajax's eyes turned crimson for a moment, "No matter what it takes,"