Bound by hatred and betrayal

The gathering was in full swing. The packhouse buzzed with laughter, conversations, and the sound of clinking glasses. I stood near the edge of the room, my heart heavy.

Jack moved through the crowd like a true Alpha. Confident. Commanding. Everyone seemed drawn to him.

But I couldn’t shake the memory of the note I’d found. The words replayed in my mind like a broken record.

Clara was here. I’d seen her earlier, standing close to Jack, laughing at something he said. Too close.

I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms.

Beth nudged me from the side. “You’re awfully quiet tonight,” she said.

“I’m fine,” I replied, forcing a smile.

But I wasn’t fine. I couldn’t just stand here and pretend everything was normal. Not when I knew what I knew.

Jack caught my eye from across the room. He smiled at me, but it felt hollow. Forced.

I took a deep breath and started walking toward him.

As I approached, Clara stepped into view. She was by his side again, her hand brushing against his arm.

My stomach turned.

“Jack,” I said firmly, stopping in front of them.

He looked at me, his smile faltering. “Caroline. Enjoying the party?”

“I need to talk to you,” I said, ignoring Clara.

His brow furrowed. “Now?”

“Yes. Now.”

Clara smirked, stepping back but not far enough. She was still close, her presence irritating.

“Fine,” Jack said, his tone sharp. “What’s so urgent?”

I glanced around. Everyone was watching. The pack had stopped their conversations, their eyes fixed on us.

“Are you going to tell me what’s going on?” I asked.

Jack frowned. “What are you talking about?”

I looked at Clara. “Her. Why is she always by your side? Why is she in your office, leaving notes?”

Gasps rippled through the crowd. Clara’s face turned pale, but she quickly recovered, her lips curving into a smug smile.

“This is ridiculous,” Jack said, his voice loud enough for everyone to hear.

“No, it’s not,” I shot back. “I found her note, Jack. I know something is going on.”

Clara stepped forward, her voice dripping with mock innocence. “Luna, I think you’ve misunderstood. I would never—”

“Don’t lie to me!” I snapped, my voice shaking. “I saw you with him. I heard him tell you—”

“Enough!” Jack interrupted, his voice booming.

The room fell silent.

Jack turned to face the pack, his expression cold. “Caroline has been under a lot of stress lately,” he said. “She’s imagining things. There’s nothing between me and Clara.”

I stared at him, disbelief washing over me. “Imagining?” I repeated.

“Yes,” he said firmly. “You’re being delusional.”

The words hit me like a slap.

A murmur spread through the crowd. I could feel their eyes on me, judging. Doubting.

“Jack,” I whispered, my voice breaking. “How can you say that?”

“Because it’s the truth,” he said.

Clara stepped closer to him, placing a hand on his arm. “Luna, I understand if you’re feeling insecure, but I assure you, there’s nothing inappropriate happening here.”

I opened my mouth to respond, but no words came out.

Jack had turned the pack against me in an instant.

He had humiliated me.

I turned and walked out of the room, my vision blurry with tears.

The cool night air hit my face as I stepped outside. I gasped for breath, my chest tight.

This wasn’t real. It couldn’t be real.

Jack had called me delusional. In front of everyone. He had chosen Clara’s side.

I wandered into the forest, needing to be alone. The trees offered a comforting silence, but it wasn’t enough to stop the ache in my chest.

I sat on a fallen log, staring at the ground.

The mate bond tugged at me, a cruel display of the love I was supposed to feel for Jack. But how could I love someone who treated me like this?

Footsteps behind me broke the silence.

I turned, half expecting Jack to come and apologize.

But it wasn’t Jack.

It was them.

Jack and Clara.

They stood a few feet away, their backs to me. They didn’t see me.

I froze, my heart pounding.

Clara leaned closer to Jack, her voice soft. I couldn’t hear what she said, but the way she looked at him made my blood boil.

Then it happened.

Jack cupped her face and kissed her.

Under the moonlight, with no hesitation.

My breath caught in my throat.

I couldn’t move. I couldn’t think.

The bond between us shattered into pieces.

Tears streamed down my face as I turned and ran.