Betrayed by My Alpha Mate

The grandfather clock in the hallway struck midnight as I slipped through the darkened corridors of the packhouse. My footsteps were silent—three years of moving like a human hadn't erased my Lycan grace. The Alpha's office door loomed ahead, cracked open just enough for a sliver of light to escape.

I hesitated, my hand hovering over the polished wood. Snow stirred restlessly within me.

*Go on. You deserve answers.*

Taking a deep breath, I pushed the door open.

Jonas sat behind his desk, papers spread before him. He didn't look up when I entered.

"I can smell her on you," I said quietly.

His head snapped up, eyes narrowing. "What are you doing here?"

"I said I can smell her on you." I stepped closer, inhaling deeply. "That perfume... it's not natural, Jonas."

"What are you talking about?" He stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor.

"Leilani's scent." I moved around the desk, my nose twitching as I detected something beneath the cloying sweetness. "There's a chemical undertone. It's not a real wolf scent."

Jonas's face darkened. "You're just jealous because she's everything you're not."

"Everything I'm not?" The words stung more than they should have.

"A powerful she-wolf. A worthy Luna." He stepped closer, his breath hot against my face. "Not a wolfless nobody who can't even shift."

I flinched as if he'd slapped me. "Jonas, please. Just listen—"

"No, you listen." His voice dropped to a dangerous growl. "Hand over the keys to the master bedroom. Leilani's moving in tomorrow."

The request hit me like a physical blow. "You can't be serious."

"Deadly serious." He held out his hand. "You've had three years to prove yourself useful. Now it's her turn."

I backed away, my fingers curling into fists. "This isn't you."

"This is exactly who I am." His eyes gleamed with a cruelty I'd never seen before. "Now get out."

---

The basement vault was cool and dimly lit, the air heavy with the scent of old paper and metal. I'd come here dozens of times over the years, always careful to cover my tracks. Tonight was different—tonight I was searching for betrayal.

The financial records were kept in a locked cabinet behind the emergency supplies. My fingers trembled as I dialed the combination—Jonas's birthdate, ironically enough.

"No trade deals," I whispered as I flipped through the ledger. "None at all."

The pages showed a very different story than the one Jonas had told the pack. No new alliances. No Southern Pack agreements. Just withdrawals—large, frequent withdrawals from the emergency fund.

My emergency fund.

I traced the numbers with my fingertip, each one representing a piece of my dowry that I'd secretly funneled into saving this pack. Fifty thousand here. Twenty thousand there. All gone.

"The Black Diamond necklace—fifty thousand dollars." My voice cracked as I read the entry. "The ruby earrings—another thirty thousand."

Bonding gifts. For Leilani.

Snow howled in rage within me. *They're stealing from us! From YOU!*

I slammed the ledger shut, my hands shaking with fury and betrayal. Three years of sacrifice reduced to nothing more than a shopping spree for his new mistress.

---

"Scrub harder, human."

Leilani's voice cut through the steam rising from the kitchen floor. I kept my head down, focusing on the stubborn stain I'd been attacking for the past hour.

"I said scrub harder!" She kicked the bucket beside me, sending dirty water splashing across my jeans.

I looked up slowly, meeting her gaze. "I am."

"Pathetic." She leaned against the counter, arms crossed over her chest. "Do you know how amusing it is to watch you? Playing house with a man who could never truly want you."

My scrub brush stilled. "What?"

"Jonas." Her lips curled into a cruel smile. "He's so easy to manipulate. So desperate for validation that he'd believe anything I tell him."

"Like what?"

"Like I secured trade deals." She laughed, the sound like breaking glass. "Like I'm worthy of being Luna while you're just... this." She gestured dismissively at my soaked clothes and red hands.

"You find him pathetic?" I stood slowly, the brush dripping water onto the floor.

"Useful." She stepped closer, her eyes glittering with malice. "But pathetic nonetheless."

Something snapped inside me then—a leash breaking, a cage door swinging open. Snow surged forward, and I felt my eyes burn silver.

"Is that so?" My voice was deeper than usual, laced with a growl that made Leilani step back.

For a split second, fear flashed across her face as she stared into my eyes.

"What are you?" she whispered.

I said nothing, letting the silver glow fade slowly as I resumed my scrubbing.

Leilani retreated, her confidence shaken. "This isn't over," she hissed before fleeing the kitchen.

I watched her go, Snow's satisfaction rumbling through my chest.

*Soon,* I promised her. *Soon we won't have to pretend anymore.*