Brielle’s POV
The dining hall carried the warm scent of roasted meat and freshly baked bread, but even that comforting aroma couldn’t soften the tension thickening the air. I sat quietly across from Alpha Xavier, my appetite long gone, while Victoria Blackwell spoon-fed her son like she belonged at the head of the table. Her laughter echoed brightly through the hall, light but edged with something mocking. When our eyes met, she didn’t even pretend to look away.
Instead, she tilted her head deliberately, exposing the smooth curve of her neck. My stomach twisted. Dark hickeys bloomed across her skin—fresh, unmistakable. That space should have held my mate’s mark someday, but instead, it bore evidence of her nights with him. She wasn’t even trying to hide them. Each bruise felt like a deliberate insult, a silent reminder of what she had taken.
Xavier didn’t appear bothered in the slightest.
He focused entirely on Liam, carefully slicing the boy’s meat into smaller pieces. When Liam thanked him, Xavier smiled gently, his expression soft in a way I hadn’t seen directed at me in weeks. I watched that quiet moment, the tenderness of a father, the scene I once imagined sharing with him when we had our own pup.
Foolish.
Victoria’s voice pulled me from my thoughts. “Brielle, would you mind passing the juice? It’s closer to you.” Her tone was sugary sweet, but the innocence in it felt fake.
I glanced at the pitcher, then back at her. “You’re perfectly capable of reaching it yourself.” My words came out sharper than I intended, but I didn’t bother softening them.
The table fell silent.
Xavier placed his fork down with a sharp clang. “Brielle.” His voice carried a warning. “Is it really so hard to do a simple favor without creating an issue?”
Under the table, I clenched my fists, my wolf stirring restlessly inside me—hurt, humiliated, ready to snap. But I swallowed the surge of emotion, picked up the pitcher, and poured juice into her glass.
Victoria smiled, smug satisfaction gleaming in her eyes.
“Thank you,” she murmured sweetly, her tone as smooth and poisonous as silk.
For a moment, I imagined throwing the glass straight at her face.
Xavier leaned back in his chair, studying me, his irritation shifting into something colder. “Brielle, has Moonveil Pack transferred the funds yet? We’ll need extra budget for Liam’s birthday.”
For Liam.
Not for me. Not even though the money came from my family.
My jaw tightened. “You’re asking about money again?”
“It’s for the pack,” he replied calmly. “You know Stormvale doesn’t have the same wealth as Moonveil. If you could ask your parents—”
A bitter laugh escaped me, cutting him off. “No, Alpha. There won’t be any more funds. I’ve already told my parents to stop sending money to Stormvale. You have more than enough businesses and resources to support your own pack.”
The entire table fell silent.
Xavier’s expression darkened immediately. “What did you just say?” His voice dropped, low and dangerous.
“You heard me,” I answered, holding his gaze. “No more money.”
His palm slammed against the wooden table the next second, the loud crack echoing across the hall. Liam flinched, and Victoria gasped softly—though I noticed the faint curl of satisfaction at the corner of her lips.
“Do you realize what you’ve done?” Xavier growled. “You’re cutting off the very support that keeps this pack running. That supports you.”
I rose slowly from my seat, forcing calm into my voice. “Maybe it’s time you stopped relying on my parents’ generosity and started standing on your own.”
His eyes burned with anger. He shoved his chair back so abruptly it scraped loudly against the floor. “You’re unbelievable,” he snapped before storming out of the dining hall.
Victoria quickly stood, lifting Liam into her arms as she followed him, as though worried I might do something to them.
But I remained where I was, trembling.
My nails dug into my palms as I tried to steady myself. Inside, my wolf whimpered softly, confused and wounded. How had things fallen apart so badly? How had the man who once promised to cherish me above all else become someone who saw me as nothing more than a financial bridge?
Hours later, the mansion buzzed with activity again.
Visitors had arrived—mostly other Alphas. Their deep laughter echoed from Xavier’s office, loud and carefree. I walked quietly through the corridor toward my guest room, hoping to avoid them. But as I neared the office, their conversation drifted out, sharp and unmistakable.
“I heard the wedding with Brielle didn’t happen,” one Alpha remarked with a chuckle.
“Didn’t happen?” another laughed loudly. “Xavier never planned on showing up in the first place.”
Their laughter grew louder.
My breath caught.
Then Xavier’s voice joined them, relaxed and almost amused. “Still, all the wedding preparations paid off. Moonveil transferred hundreds of thousands before the event. Easy money.”
I froze where I stood.
“So you never intended to marry her?” another Alpha asked.
“Why would I?” Xavier replied casually, arrogance thick in his tone. “She’s useful leverage. Her pack is wealthy, and I needed funding for Stormvale’s expansion.”
More laughter erupted.
My heart shattered.
Through the slight gap in the partially open door, I caught sight of the room. Victoria sat comfortably on Xavier’s lap, her hands sliding across his chest as she pressed kisses along his collarbone. None of the other Alphas seemed surprised.
I bit my lip until I tasted blood.
Victoria’s voice purred softly. “So what happens now, darling? I heard Brielle told her parents to stop sending money.”
Xavier smirked. “If she still wants to eat and live comfortably here, she’ll change her mind soon enough. I’m not spending a single coin to support her stay in my pack.”
Cruel laughter followed.
Something inside me broke.
I pressed my trembling hand against my chest as tears slipped down my cheeks. My wolf howled in anguish—hurt, humiliation, rage all tangled together. Every word I heard felt like another blade carving into me. The love I had clung to, the loyalty I had protected despite everything, suddenly felt painfully foolish.
I staggered away from the door, each step heavier than the last. My vision blurred, my throat tightening painfully. The truth had finally revealed itself.
All this time, I was never his Luna.
I was a pawn.
A source of wealth.
A convenient alliance.
When I reached my room, I collapsed onto the bed, sobs finally breaking free. My mind replayed every memory we shared—his promises, the warmth in his eyes, the laughter when we talked about our future.
None of it had ever been real.
