After My Mate Sold Me for His Mistress’s Lies

Business was booming. After my first successful transaction with Sienna, word spread through the Black Moon Pack like wildfire. Suddenly, I had a roster of clients eager to pay for premium gossip about their Alpha and his precious white moonlight. But I wasn't satisfied with just mind-link fees. There were other opportunities to exploit in this twisted love triangle, and I intended to maximize my profits.

The next morning, I sat in my private study, leather-bound ledger open on my desk as I drafted a carefully worded message to Haley. My fingers hovered over the screen of my phone before I typed: 'I know you want time alone with Atticus. His morning run schedule and routes. Complete access. 50,000 credits. Today only. No negotiations.'

I hit send and waited, my pen poised above my ledger. Silver, my wolf, purred with satisfaction in my mind. 'We're going to need a bigger book,' she murmured.

The response came within minutes—a terse 'I'll transfer now. Send the details.' No haggling, no hesitation. Haley's desperation was showing, and I intended to charge her for every moment of it.

As the confirmation pinged on my account, I meticulously recorded the transaction in my ledger. Fifty thousand credits. Not bad for five minutes' work. I sent her the detailed schedule—times, routes, even his usual rest stops—information I'd gathered over three years of watching my mate from a distance.

'Another satisfied customer,' I murmured to Silver, closing the ledger with a satisfied snap. 'And another step toward our freedom.'

Three days later, I found myself at the regional pack summit, representing the Black Moon Pack alongside Atticus. He'd barely spoken to me since Haley's arrival, his attention fixed on his chosen mate like a compass finding north. I didn't mind. It gave me freedom to observe, to plan, to build my escape fund.

As I navigated the grand hall of the Crescent Moon Hotel, I turned a corner and froze. Lycan Prince Douglas Matthews stood before me, his imposing frame blocking the corridor. My breath caught as his aura—powerful, ancient, and distinctly Lycan—washed over me like a physical force.

'Douglas,' I acknowledged, keeping my voice steady despite the sudden thundering of my heart. 'I didn't expect to see you here.'

His dark eyes studied me with an intensity that made my skin prickle. 'Luna Raelyn,' he replied, his deep voice carrying a weight that seemed to vibrate through my bones. 'Our paths cross again.'

Then it hit me—his scent. Earthy, rich, with notes of pine and something wild that I couldn't name. It crashed into me with the force of a physical blow, setting off alarm bells in my mind. This wasn't just any scent. This was the fated mate pull.

My fingers instinctively tapped against my wrist—two quick taps, a nervous habit that Julia had teased me about for years. I forced my face to remain impassive, though Silver was howling inside me, desperate to respond to the call.

'The summit is going well,' I said, taking a careful step back. 'If you'll excuse me, I should find my Alpha.'

Douglas's lips quirked in what might have been amusement. He gave me a highly respectful nod, his eyes never leaving mine. 'Of course, Luna. Until we meet again.'

As he walked away, his powerful aura receding, I leaned against the wall, my heart racing. 'Not now,' I whispered to Silver. 'We can't afford distractions.'

The next afternoon, I was organizing medical supplies in the pack infirmary when Haley cornered me. She blocked the doorway, her arms crossed and a triumphant smile playing on her lips.

'I just wanted to thank you,' she said sweetly, her voice dripping with false warmth. 'For the schedule. Atticus and I had such a beautiful run together yesterday.'

I continued sorting bottles, refusing to give her the satisfaction of seeing me rattled. 'I'm glad you found it useful.'

She stepped closer, pulling something from her pocket. 'He gave me this,' she said, dangling a silver necklace before me. 'Isn't it lovely? Said it reminded him of my eyes.'

I finally looked up, examining the piece with clinical detachment. 'It's nice,' I said flatly. 'Though the craftsmanship is a bit...cheap for an Alpha's gift, don't you think? The clasp is already showing signs of wear.'

Haley's smile faltered. 'It's the thought that counts.'

'Of course,' I agreed, turning back to my task. 'That'll be five thousand credits for my time, though. I don't discuss personal matters for free.'

Her face flushed with anger. 'You—'

'Pay up, Haley,' I interrupted, my tone pleasant but firm. 'Or I'll be forced to share some rather unflattering observations about your taste in jewelry with the rest of the pack.'

As I walked away, leaving her sputtering with rage, I felt a small, cold smile form on my lips. One more payment logged, one more piece of my freedom secured. And somewhere in the distance, I could feel Douglas Matthews watching, waiting, his fated mate scent calling to me like a siren's song.