Bound by hatred and betrayal

I woke up feeling worse than the night before.

Jack hadn’t come to bed. That wasn’t unusual. Sometimes he stayed in his office late, going over pack matters. But last night, after what I’d seen, it felt different.

I had to talk to him.

My stomach churned as I got ready. I tried to ignore the sinking feeling in my chest. Maybe there was an explanation. Maybe I’d misunderstood what I saw.

But deep down, I knew better.

When I walked into the kitchen, pack members were already buzzing about the ceremony. They greeted me with smiles, their excitement obvious.

“Luna Caroline,” one of the younger wolves said, bowing slightly. “Last night was incredible. Alpha Jack is so lucky to have you.”

I forced a smile. “Thank you.”

The words felt hollow.

I made my way to Jack’s office. The door was closed, but I didn’t bother knocking. I pushed it open, stepping inside.

Jack sat at his desk, papers spread out in front of him. He looked up, his face calm, but there was no warmth in his eyes.

“Caroline,” he said, leaning back in his chair. “What is it?”

I closed the door behind me. My hands trembled, but I clenched them into fists to steady myself. “We need to talk.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Can it wait? I’m busy.”

“No,” I said firmly. “It can’t.”

His jaw tightened. “What’s this about?”

I took a deep breath. “Last night, I saw you. In the hallway. With Clara.”

Jack froze for a split second, but then he sighed and shook his head. “Caroline, that’s not what you think.”

“Then what is it?” I demanded.

He stood up, towering over me. “Clara had a question about the ceremony. That’s all. You’re reading too much into this.”

“Really?” I said, my voice shaking. “Because I heard you. I heard what you said to her.”

Jack’s expression darkened. “You were eavesdropping?”

“I had to,” I snapped. “You’ve been avoiding me for weeks. Acting distant. And then I find you whispering to Clara, telling her she’s the one you want?”

“That’s enough,” he said, his voice sharp.

“No, it’s not!” I yelled. “You owe me an explanation!”

Jack sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. “Caroline, I don’t have time for this right now. The pack needs me.”

“What about me?” I asked, my voice cracking. “I’m your mate. Your Luna. Do I mean anything to you?”

He didn’t answer.

The silence cut deeper than any words could.

Jack turned back to his desk, picking up a stack of papers. “We’ll talk about this later. I have work to do.”

“Of course you do,” I muttered bitterly.

I waited, hoping he would say something. Anything. But he didn’t even look at me.

The pressure in my chest grew heavier. Without another word, I turned and walked out of the office.

The hallway felt colder than usual. I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to hold back tears.

This wasn’t how things were supposed to be. Jack and I were supposed to be a team. We were supposed to trust each other.

But now, everything felt wrong.

I wandered aimlessly through the packhouse, trying to clear my head. My feet led me back to Jack’s office door.

I hesitated, my hand hovering over the doorknob. Part of me wanted to leave. But another part, the part that refused to be ignored, pushed me forward.

I stepped inside. The room was empty.

Jack must have left to check on the pack.

I glanced around, my eyes falling on his desk. Papers were scattered everywhere, his handwriting scrawled across them.

I knew I shouldn’t. But I couldn’t stop myself.

I walked over and picked up the first sheet I saw. It was a list of patrol schedules. The next was a financial report.

Then I saw it.

A folded piece of paper tucked under the edge of his desk.

I pulled it out, my heart racing.

It wasn’t like the other documents. It was personal.

My hands shook as I unfolded it.

The handwriting was delicate, slanted, and familiar.

Clara Sinly.

Her name was signed at the bottom, but it wasn’t just her name that caught my attention.

The words on the page sent a chill down my spine.

“Jack, I can’t wait forever. You promised me things would change. I’m starting to lose faith in you. Prove that I matter to you before it’s too late.”

My chest tightened.

I stared at the note, my mind racing.

This wasn’t just a misunderstanding. Clara wasn’t just another pack member.

She was something more. Something I couldn’t ignore.

The door creaked open behind me, and I froze.

“Caroline?”

I turned quickly, shoving the note into my pocket. It was Beth.

She frowned, stepping inside. “What are you doing in here?”

“Nothing,” I said quickly. “Just…thinking.”

Beth’s eyes narrowed. “Are you okay? You’ve been acting strange all morning.”

I forced a smile. “I’m fine. Just tired.”

She didn’t look convinced, but she didn’t press further. “Everyone’s asking for you. They want to know when the Luna will make an appearance.”

I nodded absently. “I’ll be there soon.”

Beth hesitated, then left the room.

I leaned against the desk, my legs feeling weak.

The note burned in my pocket like a hidden secret, too heavy to ignore.

I had proof now. Proof that Jack was lying to me.

But what was I supposed to do with it?

My role as Luna was starting to feel like a title without meaning. I was supposed to be Jack’s partner, his equal. But he didn’t treat me like one.

He treated me like an afterthought.

The mate bond ached, a continous display of what I was supposed to feel for him.

But now, all I felt was anger.

And heartbreak.

I straightened, taking a deep breath. I couldn’t let this break me. Not yet.

There were still questions that needed answers.

And I wasn’t going to stop until I found them.