The Harrisons exchanged a glance, a silent understanding passing between father and son. Dash, with a dismissive snort, brushed my hand aside.

"Commission?" he scoffed, his Alpha aura pressing down on me like a weight. "Your contract was as clear as day when you joined the Harrison Pack. All profits from the territory expansions go to the pack. You receive your base salary and bonuses. I don’t recall ever promising you any commission."

Leanna chimed in, her voice dripping with mockery, "Exactly. Stop trying to swindle the Harrison Pack. Why don’t you show us the contract?"

I stood there, stunned by their audacity. Dash had verbally promised me a share of the territory profits when I first joined as Gamma, but it was never put in writing. Every time I mentioned the topic, he’d come up with an excuse, saying that once we were mated, it’d all be in the family anyway. Foolishly, I believed him.

Dash and I had trained together in the pack’s warrior program. After completing my training, I turned down offers from stronger packs to join his family’s struggling one. For him, I spent five years strengthening the pack’s defenses and streamlining its patrol routes, followed by another five years negotiating territory expansions. I single-handedly pushed the Harrison Pack from near collapse to one of the top ten in the region. It felt more like my life’s work than theirs.

Leanna had always been a few years behind us in training. Dash had been drawn to her back then, but she thought him too weak to bother with. She had always been antagonistic towards me, especially after I reported her for cheating during a pack trial. Who knew when the two of them began their affair?

Just then, Alpha Gavin Harrison stepped forward, pretending to be generous. "Evangeline, given your contributions to the pack, I can offer you a dignified exit. Or, if you prefer, you could stay on as an Omega. Your rations would continue."

"What do you mean by that?" I asked, seething. Gavin, who had been eyeing me with unwelcome interest, narrowed his eyes into a smirk.

"Well, you’re easy on the eyes. You’d brighten up the packhouse. And you’re good at dealing with other packs, right? That can continue."

His insinuations were clear and offensive. The room erupted in laughter, my packmates looking at me with contempt. Dash smirked.

"Oh, if you’re staying for the Moon Festival celebration, don’t forget to chip in for the gift money."

I trembled with anger. "Dash, we weren’t even done when you started up with this woman. You two deserve each other."

"An Omega? Entertain other packs? And you want me to pay for a mate pairing ceremony I organized? That was all my hard work!"

Dash jabbed a finger at my face, his Alpha tone sharp and commanding. "Who are you calling trash? Leanna and I share a true mate bond, a bond blessed by the Moon Goddess! Without me, you wouldn’t have even set foot in the door as Gamma, let alone anything higher!"

"Regarding our pack’s future," he continued, his voice cold, "with the Pendleton territory lined up, you think you’re the only one holding it all together? You’re far from irreplaceable in this pack!"

"Three-legged wolves might be hard to find, but warriors like you are a dime a dozen."

With Leanna in his arms, Dash proclaimed arrogantly, "From today, Leanna is the new Luna of the Harrison Pack. Remember that!"

The gathering cheered in agreement. Leanna clung to Dash’s arm with triumph.

"Evangeline, stop deluding yourself," she sneered. "I’m younger, prettier, and I can give the Harrison Pack an heir. Who do you think you are, competing with me?"

I suddenly found myself laughing, the sound sharp and bitter. "Leanna, are you sure the pup you’re carrying is even Dash’s?"

Leanna's expression shifted, her eyes darting with anxiety. "What nonsense are you talking about?"

I was well-acquainted with her character, so I threw it out there, but her reaction made me chuckle dryly. "I was merely asking a question. Why so defensive?"

Dash shot me an angry look, his Alpha aura flaring. "Evangeline, quit stirring things up. If you keep this up, don’t expect me to show any courtesy!"

"I'm giving you a heads-up, the Lycan King will be at my mate pairing ceremony later. So if you mess it up, prepare for the consequences!"

Leanna stepped forward, shoving me with a force that surprised even herself. "Evangeline, if you know what's good for you, quit the theatrics. This is my big day."

I lightly brushed her hand away, my Gamma strength making her stagger back a few steps.

"Stop it!" Dash rushed to steady Leanna, his eyes blazing with fury. "Evangeline, don't you see that Leanna's pregnant? How dare you lay a hand on her?"

Thinking about the baby, with its paternity still a question mark, I couldn't help but let out a derisive laugh. "Are you so certain that the Lycan King is here for your ceremony?"

Dash and Leanna exchanged a glance before bursting into laughter. "If not for my ceremony, why else would he be here? Evangeline, you sure have some imagination!"

With feigned sympathy, Leanna added, "Dash, don't be so harsh. Poor Evangeline had such high hopes. From future Luna to spinster, it's no wonder she’s lost her wits."

The room buzzed with shocked whispers.

"Always thought she'd be running the pack, huh?"

"Yep, now she's without a mate; serves her right!"

The ones making comments were the long-timers in the Harrison Pack. I'd disciplined each one, and if not for Alpha Gavin's interference, they’d have been long gone.

Dash raised his hand to hush the noise, his Alpha tone commanding silence. "Evangeline, since you don't appreciate our generosity, I declare you're stripped of your Gamma rank. You're not suited even for an Omega's duties here!"

"Get out now!"

I shook my head, amused. "Don't worry about the Omega gig. In less than three months, you'll be on your knees, begging me to take over this pack."

The room was silent for a moment before bursting into laughter.

Leanna was laughing loudly, her gaze mocking. "Evangeline, you think you're the Alpha of the Wright Pack and we'll be begging you to take charge?"

Just then, the grand doors of the hall swung open, and a man in a sharp suit walked in, accompanied by a group of similarly dressed men, one of them holding an ornate gift box.

"Beta Judson is here!" Alpha Gavin rushed to greet him, his face alight with smiles.

The man was none other than Judson O'Brien, Beta to the Lycan King Lewis Rose. Everyone knew that Judson represented the Lycan King in all matters of importance.

Judson surveyed the room, his gaze briefly settling on me before he approached Alpha Gavin.

"Alpha Gavin, congratulations. This is a gift from the Lycan King to the groom!" He handed the gift box to Gavin. "The Lycan King mentioned he has some business to attend to and will be arriving later. He instructed not to wait for him once the auspicious hour comes."

When the box was opened, it revealed a perfectly cut diamond, surrounded by matching men's jewelry.

Someone in the know whispered, "Just that diamond alone could nearly cover the cost of our entire pack's territory."

Everyone present inhaled sharply.

"Groom?" Dash murmured, eyes fixated on the gift box. "It's mine, all mine!"

Beside him, Leanna was struggling to maintain her composure, her hands instinctively cradling her belly as if to remind everyone of her claim to Dash.