I was a fool. A blind, pathetic fool.
For two years, I had believed Fred was my fated mate. My Alpha. My protector. I thought I had found love, but love was never part of his plan.
Now I know the truth.
I pressed my palm against my belly, feeling the faint life growing inside me. My pup. My only reason to stay strong.
Downstairs, I heard Fred’s deep laugh. And Audrey’s sickeningly sweet voice followed right after.
My claws itched to extend, my wolf restless under my skin. I should have known. My instincts had warned me from the start, but I ignored them. I had been blinded by Fred’s charm, by the way he had claimed to love me despite my scars.
I moved silently, my bare feet making no sound against the wooden floor. My ears twitched, sharpening, catching every sound.
Then I heard it.
A low moan.
The scent of desire—thick, unmistakable—filled the air.
I felt as if something inside me snapped. My breath hitched, my heart pounded, and my wolf howled in agony.
I wanted to storm in. To tear them apart. To rip Audrey’s throat out with my fangs and make Fred suffer for every lie he ever told me.
But I didn’t.
I forced myself to take a step back. Then another. And another.
I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of seeing me break.
I turned and walked away, my nails digging into my palms so hard they almost drew blood. My vision blurred with unshed tears, but I refused to let them fall.
I reached my bedroom and locked the door behind me.
Then, I let out a shaky breath and collapsed onto the bed.
My body trembled. My wolf whimpered inside me, torn between rage and heartbreak. I curled into myself, my arms wrapped protectively around my belly.
“I have to get out,” I whispered. “I can’t stay here.”
But I had no pack to run to. Fred had made sure of that. When I married him, I left my old pack behind. He had isolated me, made me believe he was the only one I needed.
I was alone.
No, I wasn’t.
A name flickered in my mind. Matthew.
A rogue wolf. A powerful one. A former pack alpha turned outcast.
He had once wanted me, back when I was still a prized she-wolf, before the accident that scarred my face. He had given me his card, told me to call if I ever needed help.
At the time, I thought I never would.
Now, I had no choice.
I waited until I heard the front door open.
Then Audrey’s voice—sickeningly sweet. “You are so cruel, Fred. Destroying Suzanne’s face, pretending to love her… just so I could take her place as Luna.”
Fred chuckled. “She was useful. But she’s nothing now.”
My breath hitched. My heart felt like it was shattering into pieces.
I heard them leave. I forced myself to move.
I reached for my phone and found the card Matthew had given me years ago.
My hands trembled as I dialed the number.
The phone rang. Once. Twice.
Then a deep, familiar voice answered. “Well, well. If it isn’t Suzanne.”
I swallowed hard. “Matthew… I need your help.”
There was a pause. Then, in a low voice, he said, “Where are you?”
I took a shaky breath.
“Meet me tomorrow. The old café on the border.”
I could hear the smirk in his voice. “I’ll be there.”
I hung up.
Tomorrow, everything will change.
I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the phone in my hand. The room was quiet, the weight of my decisions settling around me like a heavy cloak. I had already chosen my path. Fred had made his choices, and now, it was my turn.
A soft knock at the door pulled me out of my thoughts.
“Sweetheart?” Fred’s voice drifted through the wood. “Are you okay?”
I felt my wolf stir at the sound of his voice. She was ready to rip him apart for the betrayal, but I forced her to stay quiet, to remain still. The last thing I needed right now was for him to feel my anger. If he suspected something, it would all be over.
“I’m fine,” I called out, my voice trembling just slightly, though I tried to mask it.
“I’m sorry,” Fred continued, his voice low, full of fake concern. “I didn’t mean to upset you. I know things haven’t been easy with the pregnancy, but we’ll get through it.”
My wolf snarled at the lie in his voice, and I almost felt her take over. But I gripped my abdomen and pushed the rising heat back down. I wouldn’t let him see me break. Not now. Not after everything.
“I’m just tired,” I said, forcing the words past my clenched teeth. “Please, just let me rest.”
There was a long pause before he finally spoke again.
“Alright, I’ll give you some space. We’ll talk later.”
I could hear his footsteps fade as he walked away, leaving me alone in the silence of my thoughts.
I stared at the ceiling, my mind spinning. This wasn’t how it was supposed to be. When I met Fred, everything seemed perfect. He was charming, strong, and we had the kind of bond that was supposed to last forever. But now, I saw the truth for what it was.
I was a tool to him, an accessory to his power. Audrey was the real prize, and I had been nothing more than a stepping stone in his game.
But the wolf inside me was a survivor. And I would make him pay for every lie, every broken promise.
I rubbed my belly gently, feeling my pup move. The pup that would be stronger than anything Fred could imagine. The pup that would be mine to protect. I would raise this child, and I would make sure they grew up knowing their worth. They would never feel the pain I had endured.
Tomorrow, Matthew and I will meet. And then everything would change.
The hunt for my revenge would begin.
