My intended mate's Omega aide stole my ancestral Bloodmoon Jade Charm.
When I confronted her to reclaim it, she smashed it into fragments right before my eyes. Then, in front of the entire pack hall, she humiliated me, claiming I had only received such a treasure by warming the furs of some aging Alpha.
Fury burned through my veins. I produced proof that the Bloodmoon Jade Charm belonged to my bloodline and immediately called for the pack trackers. Their scent-reading confirmed she had stolen the charm.
I demanded pack-law judgment against her for slander and den-theft.
My intended mate only chuckled, reaching over to pat my head like I was a confused pup. "She's young and new to pack politics. She doesn't understand these things yet. When she sees something beautiful, naturally she wants it. Can't you just let it go?"
The Omega aide smirked at me, her expression dripping with arrogance as she made a crude gesture behind his back.
I responded by having her dragged before the Pack Elders for formal correction.
Yet my intended mate showed no anger toward me. Each day, he sent me lavish den treasures and spoke eagerly of hastening our pre-bond ceremony.
Until the night of the gathering itself.
I arrived in my finest ceremonial gown, only to be seized like a common thief. They pulled a missing Moonstone timepiece from the folds of my dress.
My intended mate emerged with his Omega aide draped against his side. "Tsk. Seal the den doors. Don't let the thief find a chance to escape. She may have stolen from others as well. Perhaps we should strip her gown and search her properly."
——
The words had barely left his lips before a swarm of pack sentries surrounded me, forming an impenetrable wall. The gathered wolves pointed at me, their voices thick with contempt.
"She wears a pretty face, but who would have thought she'd be bold enough to steal from the Alpha Patriarch's own collection?"
"These days, you never know what kind of creature walks among us. Her clothes look fine enough!"
"Ha! Those garments probably came from spreading her legs for some old Alpha. I thought it strange—I've never seen this female among the noble bloodlines of the Northern Territories."
"They already said she climbed into some elder's furs to get here. A scheming little she-wolf like that would naturally grow greedy around precious relics."
The humiliation made my fists clench until my claws threatened to break through. My whole body trembled as I turned toward Kael Hartwell, hoping he would speak up and clear my name.
"Kael, tell them. I'm not a thief or a scheming she-wolf. I'm your intended mate—tonight's honored female."
But Kael only gave me a mocking smile. "My intended mate? You?"
"Perhaps you should find a still pool and look at your own reflection. A gold-digging she-wolf with a passable face dares call herself my intended mate?"
"What a delusion. I am the heir to the Hartwell Pack's Alpha seat, the next in line for leadership. How could a creature like you ever be worthy of my claim?"
With that, he hurled his goblet at my face. The shattered pieces caught the edge of my eye.
Pain lanced through me. I squeezed my eyes shut, feeling them burn and sting.
When I opened them again, tears slipped down my cheeks—which the crowd took as proof of my guilt.
I stared in disbelief at the male I had loved for years. Just last night, he had been gentle and attentive in my presence.
Now he would destroy me to please his Omega aide.
Ah. So that explained his sudden generosity with gifts.
That explained why he hadn't been angry when I had Lily Hartwell brought before the Elders. His calm had been a mask. All along, he had been planning how to exact revenge on her behalf.
Now he refused to acknowledge our bond. Instead, he presented Lily Hartwell to everyone as his rightful intended mate while treating me like a common criminal.
Every wolf in attendance pointed at my face, sparing no breath in their rush to shame me.
"Tsk, a gold-digging she-wolf dreaming of mating into a noble pack. Have you been reading too many moonlit tales?"
"Tsk tsk tsk, she's ruthless—only steals the most valuable relics!"
"She has working paws and a strong body, yet she won't earn her place honestly. She'd rather sell her flesh and steal to gain wealth."
"Ha! With a pretty face, she just lies back in the furs and waits for tribute to spend."
Kael Hartwell pulled Lily Hartwell close. "Beloved, tonight is the surprise I prepared for you. However she humiliated you that day, return it tenfold."
