HIS APOLOGIES CAME TOO LATE

CHAPTER 4

I forced a smile masking the rage burning through me.

"Of course," I said with a practiced smile. "I'd be happy to help our guest."

Selena smirked as I walked past her to the front door. Outside, three large suitcases sat by her car, as if she was planning to stay for months rather than weeks. I grabbed the smallest one first, not wanting to strain myself in my condition.

One by one, I carried the heavy suitcases up the stairs and down the hall to the blue guest room. My arms ached by the time I finished, but I refused to show weakness.

"Is there anything else you need?" I asked pleasantly as Selena entered the room.

"I think I can manage from here," she replied, making a dismissive gesture with her hand. "You can go now."

I nodded and closed the door behind me, but I didn't leave. There was something very suspicious in her bag, and I trust my Instinct.

Instead, I listened, hearing the click of the lock. Perfect. I waited in the hallway, counting seconds until I heard the shower turn on in the bathroom.

Silently, I unlocked the door using my master key and slipped back inside. I moved quickly to the largest suitcase and unzipped it carefully.

The zipper slid open silently, revealing neatly folded clothes on top .I pushed them aside and froze. There, carefully wrapped in cloth, was a large bundle of dried purple flowers—consecrated wolfsbane, the most potent form that could weaken even an Alpha. Beside it lay a silver dagger, its handle inscribed with ancient runes known to cause excruciating pain to our kind.

My hands trembled as I reached deeper into the suitcase. Underneath a layer of silk scarves, I found it, a folded map of our territory. I spread it open carefully. Red circles marked strategic points—our guard posts, patrol routes, and most alarming of all, the underground tunnels known only to pack leadership.

"What are you planning?" I whispered, quickly pulling out my phone to snap pictures of everything. I sent them to Mira with a simple text: Found these in Selena's luggage. She's planning something. It's worse than we thought.

Her response came seconds later: Not surprising. Keep watching. Stay safe.

From my pocket, I retrieved the tiny listening devices and cameras Mira had given me. I worked swiftly, placing one under the nightstand, another in the closet, and a third behind the mirror. Just as I finished, I heard the shower turn off.

I froze, my heart pounding in my chest. There was no time to reach the door. I dove under the bed, tucking myself into the shadows just as the bathroom door opened. Selena's bare feet padded across the hardwood floor. She moved to the suitcase I'd just searched, and I held my breath, certain I'd been discovered.

But she merely grabbed some clothes and returned to the bathroom. I didn't waste the opportunity. I slipped out from under the bed and out the door, closing it silently behind me.

My next stop was Dominic's study. I planted devices in the bookshelf, under his desk, and inside the small clock on the wal l.As I finished, I heard footsteps approaching. I quickly positioned myself at the desk, pretending to organize papers as Dominic entered.

"What are you doing in here?" he asked, his voice sharp with suspicion.

I looked up innocently. "Just organizing your schedule for the week. I wanted to make sure you had time for the border patrol reports tomorrow."

He seemed to accept this, his posture relaxing. "Always so thoughtful," he murmured, but there was no warmth in his voice. "Dinner should be ready by seven, right?"

"Of course, Alpha," I replied.

*******

Dinner was a masterclass in pretense. I sat at my usual place at the end of the table, while Dominic and Selena engaged in their conversation about pack politics, old friends, and shared memories. They barely acknowledged my presence except when they needed something passed to them.

"The venison is excellent, Reina," Selena commented, her tone suggesting surprise that I could accomplish something so basic.

"Thank you," I said, smiling. "It's Dominic's favorite."

"Oh, I know," she replied with a knowing look. "He always did prefer his meat rare and fresh."

The double meaning wasn't lost on me. I maintained my smile even as my wolf snarled within me.

"More wine, Selena?" I offered.

"Please," she replied, holding out her glass. As I poured, her free hand slipped beneath the table to rest on Dominic's thigh and he didn't move away.

After dinner, I excused myself, claiming a headache. Neither seemed particularly disappointed by my departure.

In our bedroom, I changed into my nightgown and sat at my vanity, brushing my hair with precise strokes. The door opened, and Dominic entered.

"Is your headache better?" he asked, not quite meeting my eyes.

"Much," I lied. "How is our guest settling in?"

"She's comfortable," he said, removing his watch. "I'll be working late in my study tonight. Don't wait up."

I nodded, watching him grab clothes from the dresser before disappearing into the bathroom. When he came closer, he kissed my forehead and left.

I waited thirty minutes before retrieving my tablet from its hiding place in my drawer. I connected my tablet to the hidden cameras, and hit play.

I was about to give up for the night when Selena's phone rang. She answered it immediately with her voice barely whispers.

"Yes, everything is in place," she said. "The Luna suspects nothing."

I leaned closer to my screen, straining to hear.

"He actually bought the lie about me being pregnant ," she continued with a laugh. "He believes it. Men are so easily fooled when they want something to be true."

My hand instinctively moved to my stomach, where my own secret grew stronger each day.

"Once I'm officially announced as his new mate, we'll implement the next phase," Selena continued. "The pack will be ours by the full moon. My father's warriors are ready."

There was a pause as she listened to whoever was on the other line.

"And the Luna?" Selena's voice turned cold. "If she becomes a problem, I'll handle her personally. No one will question if she has an... unfortunate accident.

I turned off the tablet, my heart hammering in my chest. They weren't just planning to humiliate me or push me aside, they were planning to kill me if necessary. And they weren't just after my position ,they wanted the entire pack.

As I set the tablet down, a floorboard creaked behind me. I whirled around to find Selena standing in the doorway, her eyes fixed on the screen showing her room.

"So," She said, her voice deadly calm as she closed the door behind her. "You've been spying on me."