The Beta’s Betrayal and the Luna’s Retribution

That evening, I fabricated an excuse to leave, telling him my best friend was dealing with a shattered mate bond and considering something drastic. I quickly packed my clothes and valuables, my movements brisk and determined.

Baylor’s brow furrowed, his Alpha aura flickering with confusion. "Aren’t you just going to comfort her for a few days? Why are you packing as if you’re leaving for an entire year?"

"Oh, well," I said, forcing a light tone, "my friend wants me to help her relive the good times from the past year, as if that rogue were still around. I’m just getting into character, you know."

"But they severed the bond," he countered, his voice laced with skepticism. "Why revisit the past?"

"She has to go through the sweet memories to find the bitter truth," I replied, my words sharp despite the casual delivery. "Once she feels the sting, she’ll finally be able to move on, right?"

I left without giving him a chance to respond, my heart pounding with a mix of anger and resolve.

---

Back in the werewolf academy, I noticed him first. His commanding presence, his broad shoulders, and the undeniable Alpha aura he carried were everything I found irresistible. Charming, magnetic, and full of life, he seemed like the perfect mate. Just as I was planning to make my move, he surprised me by approaching me first.

Back then, I was over the moon, feeling like I’d found my fated mate. I thought he was the one, and I was ready to stand by his side as his Luna. That certainty stuck with me until I discovered his betrayal with Dakota Rivera, a Delta warrior from his own pack. All those sweet memories shattered into pieces that cut deep into my soul.

This hurt, I vowed, I would return tenfold.

---

The next day at noon, I dressed in my finest designer clothes and accessories, my aura radiating confidence as I made a grand entrance at the Williamson Pack’s ancestral home. As soon as I stepped inside, Alpha Barrett and Luna Janelle greeted me warmly, their smiles masking the deceit I now knew lurked beneath.

"Layla, it’s been ages since you visited. I’ve missed you," Luna Janelle said, her tone warm and kind. I couldn’t help but marvel at the acting skills of this family.

In the past, she’d always treated me with kindness, making me believe Baylor came from a respectable pack. It made me trust him even more.

At that moment, Baylor sat beside me, his Alpha aura palpable as he eyed my outfit. Shocked, he exclaimed, "Your outfit today must have cost a fortune!"

With a playful grin, I confessed, "Oh, you’ve caught me. Actually, I’m Layla Cruz, heiress to the Cruz Pack, one of the most prestigious and wealthiest packs in the region."

Their expressions froze in shock at my revelation, their auras flickering with unease.

Feigning surprise, I asked, "What’s the matter? Aren’t you supposed to be taken aback? Why do you look like you already knew?"

Baylor was the first to recover, slapping his knee in mock frustration. "Layla, why hide this from me for so long? Do you think I’d care about your pack’s wealth? I’m so let down."

His parents quickly added, their auras shifting to feigned hurt, "Layla, keeping us in the dark like this—is that how you see our pack?"

Their performance nearly had me laughing out loud.

Isn’t this just like a scene from a novel, where the heroine reveals her identity and the hero pretends he’s not interested in wealth? Reminds me of the story I read last night, where the girl spends lavishly to win the guy back.

Right on cue, Dakota chimed in, her Delta warrior tone sharp, "Just because you say you’re a wealthy heiress doesn’t mean I believe you."

"So what would it take to convince you?" I asked, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Buy me a sports car, and we’ll see."

I nearly choked on my tea, spraying some onto Baylor’s face.

His face turned red, then pale, his Alpha aura flaring with irritation. "Your deceit truly disappoints me. Don’t I deserve at least an apology?"

Their dramatic performance was commendable. My previous love-struck self might have bought him a car, maybe even a dealership. But today, I refused to play their game.

Pretending to wipe away tears, I dabbed at my eyes. "What should I do then, Baylor? I’ve hurt your feelings, your parents think I look down on your pack. Maybe we should sever the bond?"

Their faces twisted in shock at my suggestion, especially his parents, who forced themselves to smile.

"Layla, that’s not what we meant," Alpha Barrett said quickly, his tone strained. "We just worry that a prestigious pack like yours might see our Baylor as not good enough for you."

I considered their words seriously, then nodded.

"Well, now that you mention it, that does make sense."

Luna Janelle’s expression changed, and she shook her head emphatically. "No, no, that’s not what we meant."

Feigning confusion, I frowned and asked, "Then what did you mean?"

"Oh dear," she said, her voice syrupy sweet, "since you love our son so much, pack status shouldn’t matter, right?"

I immediately played the obedient role, nodding and smiling. "Absolutely, you’re right."

"Now that everyone knows my background," I said, my tone light but my words cutting, "why don’t Baylor and I move into my family’s mansion today?"