Rejected by My Alpha, Poisoned for His Mistress

Iris called three days before the Summit.

"Access secured," she said without preamble. "Silverfang tech delegation has credentials for the ceremonial display system. You'll have control of the main screens for approximately ninety seconds before Summit security overrides the feed."

I sat at the cabin's small table, Cooper's head resting on my foot. The USB drive sat in front of me like a loaded weapon.

"Ninety seconds," I repeated.

"It's enough. The file's already sequenced. Jemma's journal entries, toxicology report, audio clips, financial records. Everything timestamped and cross-referenced. Once it starts playing, every wolf in that hall will see it. The Lycan Council representatives. The Alphas. The media cameras."

"And Victor?"

"Front row center. Alpha delegation seating. He'll have the best view in the house."

My wolf stirred. A low, satisfied rumble.

"When do I get the access codes?" I asked.

"Tomorrow morning. Memorize them. Don't write them down."

"Understood."

There was a pause. Then Iris said quietly, "How's your wolf?"

I closed my eyes. Reached inward. Found her there, coiled and ready. Stronger every day without the poison dulling her.

"She's awake," I said.

"Good." Another pause. "Nora. Once you do this—"

"I know."

"No. Listen." Her voice was firm. "Once you reject the bond publicly, in front of the Council, there's no reversing it. The mate bond will sever. You'll feel it. He'll feel it. Every wolf in that hall will feel it. It's going to hurt."

"I know," I said again. My voice was steady. "I'm ready."

She was quiet for a moment. Then: "I'll be in the Silverfang delegation section. Third row. If anything goes wrong—"

"Nothing will go wrong."

"If it does, you run. Straight to Silverfang territory. We'll handle the rest."

"Okay."

"I mean it, Nora."

"I know. Thank you."

She hung up.

I sat in the silence. Looked at the USB drive. Inside it was everything. Six years of Jemma's obsessive documentation. The toxicology report proving systematic poisoning. Audio of Victor's voice admitting he'd paid for the raid. Financial records connecting him to the rogue band.

Every piece of evidence I needed to destroy them.

I picked up the drive. Held it in my palm. It was small. Light. Unremarkable.

It felt like a grenade.

My wolf purred.

---

The next two days blurred together. I memorized the access codes Iris sent. Rehearsed the rejection words until they felt like breathing. Packed a single bag with documents, cash, and Cooper's leash.

I didn't sleep much. When I did, I dreamed of the Summit hall. The screens lighting up. Victor's face as he realized what was happening.

I woke each morning before dawn. Made coffee. Fed Cooper. Felt my wolf stretch and settle inside me, patient and deadly.

On the morning of the Summit, I stood in front of the cabin's small bathroom mirror for the first time in weeks.

The woman looking back at me was different.

Sharper. Harder. Her eyes burned with something that hadn't been there before. Something cold and focused and utterly without mercy.

I touched the mate mark on Victor's side of my neck. The skin was still slightly raised. Still bore the shape of his teeth.

This was the last time I would ever touch it.

I dropped my hand. Turned away from the mirror.

Cooper waited by the door, his tail wagging slowly. I clipped his leash on. Grabbed my bag. Walked outside into the cold morning air.

The sky was gray. Overcast. The kind of day that felt like it was holding its breath.

I loaded Cooper into the car. Set my bag on the passenger seat. The USB drive was in my jacket pocket. I touched it once. Felt its weight.

Then I started the engine and drove toward the amphitheater.

The Summit was being held at the Eastern Seaboard Pack Alliance headquarters—a massive complex on neutral territory, built specifically for gatherings like this. I'd been there before. Stood beside Victor at formal events. Smiled for photos. Played the role of devoted Luna.

Today I would play it one last time.

The drive took ninety minutes. I didn't turn on the radio. Just listened to the hum of the engine and Cooper's steady breathing in the back seat.

My wolf was quiet. Not dormant. Not absent. Just... waiting.

*Soon,* I told her.

She didn't answer. Didn't need to.

The amphitheater appeared on the horizon. A sprawling structure of glass and stone, surrounded by parking lots already filling with cars. Wolves in formal clothes moved toward the entrance in streams.

I parked in the back lot. Far from the main entrance. Close to the service roads.

Just in case.

I checked my phone. One message from Iris.

*In position. Tech is ready. You?*

I typed back: *Yes.*

Then I turned off the phone. Slipped it into my bag.

Cooper whined softly from the back seat.

I turned. Met his eyes. "Stay here," I said. "I'll be back."

He settled onto the seat. Trusting.

I got out of the car. Locked it. Walked toward the amphitheater.

The cold air bit at my skin. My breath misted in front of me.

My wolf stirred. A low, quiet snarl of readiness.

I touched the USB drive in my pocket one more time.

Then I walked through the service entrance, past the security checkpoint with my Summit credentials, and into the hall where every Alpha on the Eastern Seaboard was gathering.

Where Victor sat in the front row, smiling.

Where Jemma stood near the back, wearing a dress that looked like victory.

Where the ceremonial screens waited, dark and ready.

I found my seat in the Luna delegation section. Sat down. Folded my hands in my lap.

And waited for the opening ceremony to begin.