The Moon Auction Hall gleamed beneath gilded chandeliers carved from enchanted crystal.
As the Beta in charge of logistics,I had arrived an hour early to register the“rare relics”the Hamilton Pack would offer in tonight’s charity auction for orphaned pups.
But as I neared the curtained section marked“High Alpha Access Only,”familiar voices drifted from the crack in the door.
Alexander—and his old pack brothers.
The same wolves I once welcomed into our den,poured wine for,laughed with.
Now their laughter echoed through the chamber,sharp and predatory.
“Now that Stephanie’s back in your life,you’re finally free,Alexander,”one of them drawled.
Another snorted.“What about Lavina?She’s decent,sure,but come on.Between her and Stephanie?One’s the Winslet Pack’s prized daughter—and the other…”He chuckled.“Just a no-name she-wolf from a forgotten valley who got lucky.”
The words hit harder than claws.
I remembered that night years ago,when Alexander had introduced me to them as‘a humble wolf from the outer territories’,saying his friends disliked arrogance.
But now I saw the truth.
He wasn’t protecting me.
He was hiding me—so that Stephanie could shine.
“And infertile too,isn’t she?”someone added,laughing cruelly.“Didn’t she miscarry once?I heard she failed her Healer’s treatments four times.You’d be a fool to bet your legacy on a barren female.”
A chilling silence followed.
Then Alexander spoke.
“It’s not Lavina’s fault,”he said evenly.“She’s been a good placeholder.But that’s all she’ll ever be.I can’t let a substitute carry my bloodline.”
My breath caught.
“The first pregnancy was a mistake,”he continued,voice low and cruelly steady.“When she lost it,I felt bad,sure—but I never meant for her to bear my pup.After that,I made sure she couldn’t.I’ve been giving her suppressants in her tonics for years.She never noticed.”
My world fractured.
The bitter tablets I used to choke down—the ones he claimed would“stabilize my wolf energy.”
Every failed fertility ritual,every moon I wept believing I was broken—
It had all been his doing.
‘We’ll try again when you’re stronger,’he’d said each time,arms around me while his lies dripped like poison.
“Spirits,Alexander,”one of the men muttered.“Your mother despised Lavina enough already.Making her suffer through false hope just for Stephanie’s sake?That’s cold—even for you.”
“I only married Lavina because my grandfather insisted,”Alexander said with a low,bitter laugh.“He liked her purity.I didn’t have a choice.”
He paused,and his tone softened into longing.
“Stephanie is everything I’ve ever wanted.”
That was it.
That was the moment I stopped breathing.
I turned and fled down the corridor.The world blurred into streaks of gold and shadow.My hand pressed against my mouth to stifle the sob threatening to break free.
When my communicator buzzed,I glanced down.
[ALEXANDER:Where are you?Get back here.Now.]
A bitter smile touched my lips.
Even now,he summoned me like an obedient wolf on a leash.
I called the steward of the Hamilton estate.
“Bring me everything from my vault.Now.”
Then,I wiped my tears and straightened my back before reentering the hall—masking the ruin inside with calm precision.
The Grand Auction was filled with Alphas and Betas from every major pack.Flashing orbs of press crystals lit the hall when Alexander appeared—with Stephanie clinging to his arm.
“Lavina,there you are.”
I turned toward them silently as the press surged forward.
“Alpha Hamilton!”a reporter shouted from behind the velvet rope.“Is it true you dismissed your Beta assistant today?”
“Alpha,are the rumors about your assistant being your secret mate true?”
Questions flew like arrows.
Stephanie’s grip tightened around his arm,her eyes blazing with false innocence.
Before Alexander could speak,I stepped forward.
“There has been a misunderstanding,”I said evenly,my voice slicing through the chaos like a blade.“There is absolutely no personal bond between Alpha Hamilton and me.”
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
“Alpha Hamilton is the leader of this pack,”I continued,tone composed.“And I was merely a subordinate wolf serving under his command.Nothing more,nothing less.I have already accepted an offer from another Alpha to transfer packs.”
The words hit like thunder.Alexander froze,his jaw tightening.
But he couldn’t refute me—not without confirming the truth.
A bold journalist stepped forward,holding up a photo crystal displaying matching rings forged by a Parisian mage.
“Are you saying there’s no secret bond?Because the pair of rings you both wear were enchanted as mating tokens—the male version is still seen on Alpha Hamilton’s hand—”
I raised my hand calmly.My finger was bare.
“No ring,”I said softly.
The silence that followed was absolute.
Alexander stared at me,shock flickering in his eyes.He remembered my vow beneath the Blood Moon—that I would never remove the ring sealing our bond.
I reached into my bag,withdrew a sealed scroll,and handed it to the nearest reporter.
“Here’s a certified record from the Council of Elders.No mating bond ever registered between Lavina and Alpha Hamilton.In fact,”I said,letting my eyes meet Alexander’s,“I am already promised to another Alpha.”
The crowd erupted in stunned whispers.
Alexander took a step forward,lips parting—but before he could speak,the great bronze bell tolled three times.
The auction had begun.
Perfect timing.
