HIS APOLOGIES CAME TOO LATE

CHAPTER 2

I was walking toward the garden when I heard Dominic's voice from his study.

"I miss you too,"His tone was warm and intimate in a way it never was with me. "I can't wait to see you tonight."

My claws extended out but I forced them back. I took a deep breath, and pushed the door open with a bright smile pasted on my face.

Dominic turned quickly, his phone disappearing into his pocket. "Luna. I didn't hear you coming."

"Pack meeting reports," I said, holding up a folder I'd grabbed from my office. "Who was that?"

"Alpha Marcus from the Southern Ridge," he lied smoothly. "Pack alliance discussions."

I nodded as if I believed him. "How's it going?"

"Good," he said, coming closer to wrap his arms around me. "I need to head to their territory today for formal negotiations. I'll be back tomorrow night."

I leaned into his embrace and murmured. "Be safe."

"Always am." He kissed the top of my head. "I've got something worth coming back to."

After Dominic left, I waited exactly thirty minutes before making my move. I had to find evidence of the herbs he'd been taking, something concrete to prove his betrayal.

I entered our bedroom and went straight to his nightstand. Nothing in the drawers but books and a watch. His closet revealed nothing suspicious either. I moved to the bathroom, searching through his toiletries and medicine cabinet. Still nothing.

I returned to the bedroom and knelt beside the bed. There, underneath, was a small wooden box I'd never noticed before.

Inside were dozens of empty vials, each labeled with the same script: *Fertility Suppressant – Take Daily*. There was a single vial still half-full of liquid.

"Perfect," I whispered, slipping the half-empty vial into my pocket.

But I needed more than just this. The vial would prove his deception about our inability to conceive, but I needed evidence about my mother or Selena's betrayal of the pack.

As night fell, I got into my car and drove toward the outskirts of our territory, to a place I hadn't visited in years—the home of Mira, my mother's closest friend and the pack's former Beta female before my mother's banishment.

Before I could even knock, the door swung open.

"Reina," Mira gasped, her eyes widening as she took in my presence. "What happened?"

"I know the truth," I said simply. "About my mother. About what Dominic did. About everything."

She pulled me inside quickly, checking the darkness outside before locking the door behind us. "How much do you know?" she asked.

"Enough to destroy them," I replied. "But I need your help."

"You have it," she said. "I've been waiting for this day."

We spent hours huddled at her kitchen table. Mira still had connections—wolves loyal to my mother who had never believed the lies, warriors who had been forced out of the pack when they questioned my mother's banishment. She had names, locations and promises of support.

There's something else you should know," Mira said finally. "Your mother... she's alive."

"What?" I whispered. "But Dominic said—"

"Dominic lied," Mira cut in sharply. "After her banishment, she went to the Northern Crescent pack. They gave her sanctuary. She's been waiting and gathering support. Waiting for you to learn the truth."

Tears spilled down my cheeks—the first I'd allowed myself since discovering Dominic's betrayal. "Take me to her."

"Not yet," Mira cautioned, squeezing my hands. "It's too dangerous. Dominic has spies everywhere. But soon."

She released my hands and walked to a small drawer, extracting a sleek black phone. "Untraceable," she explained, handing it to me. "When you're ready, call the number saved in it. Your mother will answer."

I clutched it like a lifeline, this connection to the mother I'd thought lost forever.

Dawn was breaking when I left Mira's cabin with resources gathered and a network of allies at my disposal. But I made one more stop before returning home.

The pack healer's cottage stood silent in the early morning light. I didn't bother knocking. I pushed open the door to find Elena already awake, mixing herbs at her table.

“Luna Reina!" she gasped, nearly dropping her mortar and pestle.

"I know what you did," I said coldly. "The fertility suppressant herbs for Dominic and the treatments for him."

"I don't know what you're talking about," she stammered, but her hands shook.

I pulled the vial from my pocket. "This. You've been making this for years."

The healer's face paled. She set down her mortar and pestle with shaking hands. "I was merely following the Alpha's orders."

"And what about your oath to protect all pack members?" I stepped closer. "Did that mean nothing when you helped him keep me childless? When you helped Selena conceive his child?"

"What do you want from me?"

"Nothing," I said, raising my phone. "I just wanted you to admit it."

Her eyes widened as she realized I'd been recording our entire conversation.

"What will you do?" she whispered.

"That depends," I said. "Are you loyal to the Alpha... or to the mother of the true heir to Silver Moon pack?"

She blinked rapidly. "Wait—you're pregnant?"

"Apparently the Moon Goddess intervened," I replied coolly. "Or should I say, he got careless. So what's it going to be?"

She hesitated only briefly before kneeling. "I serve the true bloodline. Your child is the rightful heir."

"Then help me with a potion to mask my pregnancy from everyone—including Dominic until I'm ready for the truth to be known."

She moved to her shelves immediately, gathering ingredients. "It will be done, Luna."

I returned to the pack house just as the sun fully rose, hearing Dominic car in the driveway. He was back early. Perfect.

I smoothed my dress, applied fresh lipstick and positioned myself in the kitchen. The front door opened. "Luna?" he called out. "I'm home early. Missed you too much."

I smiled at my reflection in the kitchen window, watching the dangerous woman I was becoming.

"In here," I called back sweetly. "I've been waiting for you."