Faking It with the Billionaire Alpha

Freya's POV

The Grand Ballroom of the Pack House glittered like a jewelry box had thrown up everywhere. Crystal chandeliers. White roses. Too much gold trim. Five years of marriage to Caleb, and I still couldn't get used to the excess.

"Freya, darling, you look absolutely stunning!"

I turned to find Mrs. Whitmore, one of the Pack elders, beaming at me. Her eyes swept over my emerald silk gown with obvious approval.

"Thank you." I smiled, touching the diamond pendant at my throat. Caleb's anniversary gift. Five carats. Because apparently, five years warranted five carats.

"Caleb certainly knows how to treat a woman." She leaned closer, lowering her voice conspiratorially. "Most Alphas would have found their fated mate by now. But him? He chose you. Twice, really. Once when he pursued you, and again every day since."

My heart did that stupid fluttery thing it always did when someone reminded me of Caleb's devotion. Ten years we'd known each other. Five years married. He'd chased me relentlessly since we were eighteen, back when I was just a human girl who'd wandered into Pack territory by accident.

Back when I had no idea werewolves existed.

"I got lucky," I said softly.

"Lucky?" Mrs. Whitmore laughed. "Honey, in what parallel universe does an Alpha choose a random mate over his fated mate? That's not luck. That's love. Pure and simple."

Other women crowded around me now, their faces bright with admiration. Pack wives. Daughters of visiting dignitaries. All of them envious of what Caleb and I shared.

"The Moon Goddess must have just forgotten to mark you two," someone offered. "Soul mates don't need a mystical bond. Everyone can see that."

I nodded, warmth spreading through my chest. Caleb and I had never worried about fated mates. Why would we? What we had was stronger than some supernatural tether. We'd chosen each other. Every single day. That meant something.

"I should find Caleb." I touched my empty champagne glass. "Thank you all for coming."

They dispersed with well-wishes and knowing smiles. I slipped through the crowd, nodding at familiar faces, accepting congratulations. The ballroom was packed. Everyone who was anyone in werewolf society had come to celebrate our milestone.

Five years. No fated mate had ever appeared to tear us apart.

I felt invincible.

The main hall was separate from the ballroom, connected by heavy oak doors. Caleb had mentioned he needed to speak with the visiting Alpha from the Northern territories about some border dispute. Boring Pack politics. He'd promised to find me the moment he was done.

I pushed through the heavy oak doors.

My smile was still in place. Happy. Content. Secure in my perfect little life.

The smile froze.

Cracked.

Shattered into a million irreparable pieces.

Caleb had Mia pressed against the far wall. Her back pressed to the damask wallpaper. His hands bracketed her face. Their mouths fused together in a kiss so desperate, so hungry, it made my stomach turn.

Mia. Daughter of the Northern territory's Alpha. Twenty-two years old. Gorgeous in that classic werewolf way. All long limbs and golden hair.

She was also, apparently, Caleb's fated mate.

The bond had snapped into place. I could see it in the way they touched. Frantic. Uncontrollable. The way only fated mates touched.

The ballroom chatter died behind me as guests realized something was wrong. They filtered into the hall, stopping short when they saw the scene.

Gasps. Murmurs. Someone whispered my name.

Caleb broke the kiss, turning sharply. His eyes, dark with desire, cleared when they landed on me. Horror flooded his features.

"Freya—"

I held up a hand.

Don't. Don't you dare say my name like that. Like you're the victim here.

The humiliation crashed over me in waves. Five years. Five years of loving him, trusting him, believing I was enough. And now I stood here, in front of half the Pack, watching my husband's world collide with someone else's.

Someone destined for him.

Someone who wasn't me.

My eyes burned. My throat tightened. I wanted to crumble. To scream. To ask him how he could do this. Here. Tonight of all nights.

But I'd learned one thing from being an Alpha's wife.

Never let them see you bleed.

So I straightened my spine. Lifted my chin. And somehow, impossibly, I smiled.

"Well." My voice carried through the silent hall. "Isn't this convenient?"

Caleb stepped away from Mia. His expression crumpled with guilt. "Freya, I didn't—this wasn't—the bond just—"

"Oh, I know what the bond did." I waved my hand dismissively. "Congratulations, by the way. You found your fated mate. Guess the Moon Goddess didn't forget about you after all."

Mia had the decency to look ashamed. She adjusted her dress, not meeting my eyes.

Good. She should be ashamed.

The crowd watched with bated breath. This would be the scandal of the decade. The human wife, publicly replaced by the fated mate.

But I wasn't going to give them a tragedy.

I was going to give them a show.

"Actually, Caleb, this works out perfectly." I crossed my arms, leaning back on my heels. "I found my fated mate too."

Caleb's head jerked back. "What?"

"Three months ago." I shrugged, making my voice casual. Like I'd been waiting for this moment. "I didn't say anything because, well. I thought we had something special. Clearly, I was wrong."

"You have a—" Caleb's voice cracked. "You met your fated mate and didn't tell me?"

Oh, the irony. Rich and thick.

"Tomorrow works for me," I continued, ignoring his question. "We can do a double ceremony. You reject me. I reject you. Clean break. Everyone gets what they really want."

Mia's head snapped up. Caleb's face went white.

"And Mia?" I turned to the younger woman, letting venom coat every word. "Congratulations on the upgrade. Hope you enjoy dealing with his small cock. I've been faking it for years, so honestly? You can have that particular burden."

The crowd collectively gasped.

I smiled wider.

"Oh, and Caleb?" I met his shattered eyes one final time. "Tomorrow, after we're done with the rejection ceremony? I'm marrying my fated mate."

I turned on my heel and walked out of the hall without looking back.