When My Husband Turned Traitor, I Fought Back

The soft chime of my mind-link notification startled me from my task of organizing Victor's schedule for the upcoming pack meeting. Three years as Luna of the Moonstone Pack had taught me to anticipate these alerts—usually pack business or messages from Victor. This one, however, was different.

An unfamiliar group invitation flashed across my mind's eye: "Exclusive Luna Content."

I frowned, my fingers hovering over the virtual accept button. Perhaps it was a Luna support network? Victor had mentioned other Alphas' mates sometimes formed such groups. After a moment's hesitation, I accepted.

The flood of images that filled my vision made my blood run cold.

Me. It was me. In our private den. Sleeping. Bathing. Changing. Intimate moments I'd shared only with my mate.

My stomach lurched as I scrolled through the chat history, my hands trembling so violently I nearly dropped the mental connection.

"Fresh content from last night's run. Premium subscribers only."

"Worth every credit. When will there be more?"

"Can we get home delivery of the merchandise?"

Merchandise. The word echoed in my mind like a death knell.

I recognized the background in the most recent images—the secluded den where Victor had taken me during last week's pack run. He'd insisted we needed private time away from pack duties. I'd been so touched by his thoughtfulness.

The memory now turned to ash in my mouth.

With shaking fingers, I checked the admin's location. Moonstone territory. Our territory.

A wave of nausea hit me as pieces fell into place—Victor's insistence on those special teas before bed, the strange gaps in my memory, how he always knew exactly where I was.

The mate bond. He was using our sacred connection to... to sell me.

I slammed the mind-link shut and bolted from our bedroom, barely making it to the bathroom before my legs gave out. The half-moon cast silver light through the small window, illuminating my ashen face in the mirror.

I didn't recognize myself. The woman staring back at me looked haunted, hollow-eyed. How long had this been happening? How many strangers had seen parts of me that should have been sacred?

My trembling hands fumbled with the lock, sliding it into place with a decisive click. As if a simple bathroom lock could protect me from the monster I'd married.

I pressed my palms against my mouth to stifle the scream building in my chest. The cool metal of my Luna ring—Victor's mark of ownership—pressed against my lips, and I fought the urge to rip it off and throw it across the room.

"Grace?" Victor's voice, smooth as honey, called from the hallway. "Are you all right, my love?"

My love. The endearment that once made my heart flutter now made my skin crawl.

"Just feeling a bit unwell," I called back, forcing my voice to remain steady. "I'll be out soon."

"Take your time. I'll make you some tea."

Tea. The special blends he always insisted would help me sleep better, feel better.

Drug me better.

I bit down on my knuckles to keep from sobbing as I heard his footsteps retreat. My mind raced through every blackout, every "deep sleep" I'd experienced over our three years together. How many times had he violated our bond? How many strangers had paid to watch?

My inner wolf, dormant for so long, stirred with a growl of rage and betrayal. For the first time in my life, I felt her presence clearly—not weak or late, but watchful. Waiting.

"We need to be smart," I whispered to her, to myself. "We can't let him know we've discovered the truth."

I splashed cold water on my face, erasing the tracks of tears. In the mirror, something had changed in my eyes. The timid, grateful Luna who had been so desperate for love was gone.

In her place stood a woman with a single, burning purpose: survival.

As I smoothed down my hair and practiced my smile—the same smile I'd worn for three years of lies—I made a silent vow. Victor Hayes might be an Alpha, but he had just made a fatal mistake.

He had underestimated his prey.