The Alpha-Consort’s Betrayal:Her Stolen Nesting Grounds

And truly—what were the chances of a coincidence this exact?

The territory claim seal matched the location. The etching on the moon-gold matched too, rune for rune.

The carriage slowed to a halt before the market-den row.

I pushed open the door and looked up at the three connected storefronts built into the stone facade.

The warded glass of what had once been a textile den lay shattered across the cobblestones. Inside, workers were stripping the place bare, clearly preparing it for some kind of bloom-seller's stall.

My brow furrowed. The previous den-keeper had signed a ten-cycle lease—nowhere near its end. How could they possibly have been forced out?

And Kael had never breathed a word about changing tenants.

I quickened my pace and called out to one of the workers. "Who authorized this renovation?"

Before he could answer, a she-wolf in fine-spun silks emerged from inside.

She looked me up and down with open contempt. "It's my den. I'll renovate whenever I damn well please." Her voice was shrill, grating against my heightened senses. "Who the hell are you to question me?"

I stared at her face.

My heart slammed against my ribs.

It was her.

The she-wolf from the scry-post.

I locked eyes with her, jaw tight. "These three market-dens belong to me. What makes you think they're yours?"

She blinked, then let out a sharp laugh. "Yours? Honey, my mate gave these to me."

She fished a scrying mirror from her embroidered satchel and pulled up her glamour-stored images. "Open your eyes wide and look carefully—whose name is marked on these territory seals?"

Three claim certificates filled the reflective surface, lined up in a row.

Under "Holder," each one read: Raven Thornwilde.

My mind went blank.

How? A territory transfer couldn't happen without my consent and blood-mark. And I'd checked the vault before leaving—every seal, every certificate was still there. Only the moon-gold was missing.

Which meant these documents were almost certainly forged. Counterfeit scent-marks. Glamour-forgery of the highest order.

But forged papers alone couldn't evict a lawful den-keeper. Someone with authority over pack resources had made that happen.

Kael.

When I didn't respond, Raven drew out a long, mocking "Ohhhh."

"You're the owner of that textile den, aren't you?" She tilted her head, feigning sympathy. "My mate already told you—I wanted this space, and you were compensated. So why are you here making a scene?"

Her lips curled. "Unless the payout wasn't enough for you?"

I took a slow breath. Then I held up my own scrying mirror, pointing at the wolf whose image glowed on its surface.

"This is your mate?"

Raven leaned in to look.

The color drained from her face.

Then she screamed.

"How dare you keep my mate's image in your personal mirror!" She jabbed a finger at me, voice climbing to a shriek. "He's the Alpha of the Nightbloom Pack! You think a delusional little omega like you has a chance with him?!"

"I'm warning you—I just gave him a son! A strong, healthy pup! My bond-mother adores him!" Her chest heaved. "Give up already!"

Passersby stopped. Heads turned. A crowd of pack members and market-goers began to form.

And all I could feel was the sheer absurdity of it crashing over me like a wave.

I laughed.

The Nightbloom Pack was my father's territory—my bloodline's legacy. He'd only entrusted it to Kael to manage as Alpha-Consort. Since when did that make Kael the true Alpha?

And the real joke? Kael's doting mother—the she-wolf who smiled so sweetly at me, who played the perfect pack matron—she'd known about this affair all along.

Which meant she'd approved of my pup's moon-gold being handed over to Raven.

But spending my pack's resources to keep another she-wolf? That, I would not tolerate.

I snapped back to the present.

My hand moved before I could think.

Crack.

The slap echoed off the stone facades.

"Who are you calling a rogue omega?"

Raven stood frozen, palm pressed to her cheek, too stunned to react.

I looked down at her, eyes cold and wolf-bright. "You're the one warming another wolf's mate's bed, and you don't even have the self-awareness to be ashamed? You think that's something to be proud of?"

My voice hardened. "I'm ordering you to stop this renovation immediately. Or I'm summoning the pack enforcers."

The crowd swelled. Whispers rippled through the onlookers. Fingers pointed at Raven.

"Wait—so it's the bonded Luna confronting the mistress?"