Six years ago, Alpha Bryce and I were inseparable. His commanding presence and warm, protective nature were all I could ask for. But now, as I stare at the pile of laundry he just tossed at my feet, I feel like nothing more than a ghost of who I used to be.
“Carsen, stop standing there and staring like an idiot,” Bryce said, his tone sharp. He barely spared me a glance as he walked past me, his Alpha presence as suffocating as ever. “Dorothy needs something nice for her upcoming birthday. Go out and get it. And I have to go for work.”
Dorothy. The bane of my existence for the past two years. She had shown up out of nowhere, claiming to be Bryce’s step-sister. I hadn’t known Bryce had a step-sister, but the way he welcomed her into our home and doted on her made me feel like an outsider. And the way she looked at me—with her sly smiles and veiled insults—made it clear she relished that.
I swallowed the lump in my throat, forcing myself to nod. “Yes, Bryce.”
The words tasted bitter. It had been two years since I stopped being his equal and became something closer to his maid. My family had no idea. If they did, they’d drag me out of here kicking and screaming, but I couldn’t bring myself to tell them. Not yet.
An hour later, I picked up the laundry and made my way to the washing machine, my movements robotic. As I sorted through Bryce’s clothes, something caught my eye—a faint red mark on the collar of his white polo. My stomach twisted. Lipstick.
I leaned closer, and my senses were assaulted by the sweet, floral perfume clinging to the fabric. It wasn’t mine. My heart dropped into my stomach.
He’s cheating!
The realization hit me like a slap. I’d suspected something was wrong for a while now, but this... this was proof. My hands trembled as I gripped the shirt, my wolf stirring restlessly beneath my skin. I wanted to lash out, to demand answers, but I pushed her down. Not now.
“Carsen!” Dorothy’s voice floated down from upstairs, sickly sweet and full of authority. “Come up here!”
I clenched my jaw, my nails biting into my palms as I forced myself to respond. “Coming!”
I made my way upstairs, my mind racing. When I reached her room, Dorothy was lounging on the bed, scrolling through her phone like a queen on her throne.
“I’m starving,” she said without looking up. “Go get me something from that restaurant I like. You know the one.”
I nodded, though the knot in my stomach tightened. As I turned to leave, I hesitated. Maybe she knew something. Maybe she could confirm my suspicions.
“Dorothy,” I began, my voice careful. “Do you...do you think Bryce has been seeing someone else?”
Her laughter was sharp and cruel, like glass breaking. She finally looked up at me, her eyes gleaming with amusement. “You’re delusional,” she said, her lips curling into a smirk. “Seriously, Carsen, you’re embarrassing yourself. Just stick to your chores and stop making up stories.”
The way she said it—so dismissive, so smug—made my wolf bristle. She knows something, I thought, my heart pounding. She knows.
But I couldn’t confront her. Not yet. Not without more proof. So, I nodded again, swallowing my pride, and left the room.
It took me an two hour to get her food. The traffic was unbearable, and my frustration only grew with each passing minute. By the time I got home, I was exhausted and frazzled. But as I stepped inside, something felt off.
Bryce’s shoes were by the door. He’s home early.
Confused, I made my way upstairs. That’s when I heard it—the low murmur of voices coming from Dorothy’s room.
I froze.
“Dorothy, how much longer do I have to keep up this act?” Bryce’s voice was sharp but quiet, like he didn’t want to be overheard.
My heart stopped.
“Soon,” Dorothy replied, her tone playful. “But for now, we need her. She works for free, remember? Why ruin a good thing?”
My hands began to shake. I leaned closer, my wolf urging me to burst in, but I couldn’t move.
Dorothy laughed, her voice dripping with venom. “Besides, Carsen is so stupid. She actually thinks I’m your step-sister. Can you believe that?”
“Let her think whatever she wants,” Bryce said. “As long as she keeps doing what we need her to.”
The world spun around me. My knees felt weak, and my breath came in short, shallow gasps.
“And once we’re done with her,” Dorothy continued, “I’ll finally take my place as your wife. The rightful Luna.”
The bag of food slipped from my hands, hitting the floor with a dull thud.
The sound must have startled them, because the room went silent.
I stood there, trembling, as the truth crashed over me. The man I had loved for six years had been lying to me. Betraying me. Using me.
And the woman I had been forced to serve wasn’t his step-sister. She was my replacement.
