Chapter 2

••• Victoria’s POV ••• I didn’t hurt Evelyn. My wolf, Leia, was gone, and I couldn’t release my Alpha pheromones. I was certain this was just another one of Evelyn’s traps. She couldn’t wait to get rid of me, desperate to take the Luna’s seat. I didn’t care about being Luna. She could have it. But I would take back my Alpha title. Now, I had to leave. The pitying looks from the rest of the pack stung like slaps across my face. I didn’t need their pity. I would fight back. I would reclaim everything that was mine. I walked to the driveway, opened the car door, and slipped inside. The moment all those eyes were shut out, a single tear fell onto the back of my hand. I kept trying to tell myself Elijah didn’t deserve my love, but two years of marriage and the love I’d poured into it still coiled around my throat like vines, strangling me. How many sleepless nights had I spent in the lab perfecting perfume formulas, just to make our pack stronger? And Elijah—he had no leadership. I could admit he had strength, yes, but no strategy. He was impulsive. Yet when you dealt with packs, every Alpha was arrogant. To do business with them, you had to know when to bow your head. I had given everything. And Elijah wanted to strip me of it all, cast me out, leave me with nothing. I would never submit. Back at the packing house, the mark on my neck exploded with pain again. My stomach clenched like a fist had punched through it. I rushed to the toilet and vomited. Why was the Moon Goddess so unfair? Why was the betrayed one punished by the bond? When I opened my eyes again, morning light was filtering in. I’d fainted from the pain last night. Now I looked like a wreck. Elijah could return any time—I couldn’t let him see me defeated. I showered, put on makeup, and the mirror reflected once again a confident woman. I had to try calling Leia again. “Leia?” “Leia?” I called once more, but still no response. Panic gnawed at me. Had Leia abandoned me? Because of Elijah’s betrayal? I clenched my fists. I had to face Elijah. I didn’t need to ask anyone—I knew he’d be at the hospital. I prayed Evelyn’s child was safe. No matter how she had hurt me, the child was innocent. At the hospital, I pushed open her room’s door. Elijah wasn’t there—only Evelyn. She looked radiant, untroubled by pain. When her eyes met mine, there was not the slightest trace of surprise. “Oh, Victoria, you’re here. Come see the designer bracelet Elijah bought me.” She flaunted her victory without restraint, twisting her wrist so I could see better. “You’re not jealous, are you? After all, Elijah said he never gave you gifts.” I laughed coldly inside. That bracelet was a fake. Evelyn couldn’t even see the obvious flaws. I sneered, “I almost pity you, Evelyn. If you take that to an authentication agency, you’ll be in for a surprise.” “What do you mean?” she screeched. I covered my mouth, feigning shock. “It looks like life hasn’t been kind to you these past two years. You can’t even tell such a blatant counterfeit. Don’t worry—I’ll send you a real one.” Her expression quickly smoothed, her hand drifting to her belly. “It doesn’t matter. You know you’ll be thrown out in the end. I’m sure Elijah was just careless, that’s why he didn’t realize it was fake.” She shot me a glance, then added, “Besides, my pup is healthy. He’ll be the next heir of this pack. And you—soon you’ll be thrown out like a mutt.” Her words dripped venom. That would never happen. Without my warriors, my Betas and Gammas, without my inheritance, the Golden Claws would never have grown so powerful. I would never let a useless Alpha lead my pack. “Then try me,” I shot back. I didn’t believe Elijah had that much sway. I had earned the trust of every pack. Getting my rightful share wouldn’t be hard. Elijah wasn’t here, and I had wanted to discuss divorce with him. With him absent, I had no reason to waste words on Evelyn. But she wouldn’t stop trying to provoke me. “I hope this is the last time we meet, Victoria,” she taunted. “After all, what woman with any pride would stay by a husband who spat on her?” “You’re right,” I said coolly. “A woman with pride wouldn’t tolerate her lover gifting her counterfeit jewelry—unless, of course, he sees her as cheap. Evelyn, you’re truly cornered, aren’t you? And are you so sure Elijah will actually agree to divorce me?” “Why not? He loves me. You heard it yourself, how much he despises you,” she sneered. My heart was already too numb from the pain. “Our marriage has to go through the pack council. If the elders judge Elijah at fault, then perhaps he’ll be the one cast out of the pack.” My voice was icy. I trusted the council to make a fair decision. The air froze solid. In that silence, Evelyn suddenly cried out and flung herself into Elijah’s arms. She buried her face in his chest, shoulders trembling, playing the perfect victim. “Elijah, I’m so scared…” Her voice quivered, tears dripping down his shirt. “She just slapped me. Look…” She lifted her face, revealing one flushed cheek, pitiful and fragile. “I didn’t!” I roared, fire surging in my chest. “You did that to yourself!” But Evelyn didn’t even acknowledge me. Instead, she clung tighter to Elijah’s sleeve, sobbing, “She insulted you too. She said you had no leadership, that the whole pack only stands because of her…” My heart lurched. It was the truth—but out of her mouth, it became venomous slander. Elijah’s face darkened instantly, fury blazing in his eyes. “Victoria!” He ground my name between his teeth like it was something to be crushed. “How dare you belittle me?” I opened my mouth to explain, but Evelyn cut me off, voice sharp and trembling. “And… she threatened me. She said she’d kill my baby!” The air split open. Every eye swung toward me. “Bullshit!” I roared, my chest heaving. “I never said that!” But Elijah’s expression had turned to steel. He lowered his head, stroked Evelyn’s stomach with a tenderness that was cruel in itself, then lifted his gaze to me—sharp as ice blades. “You dared to threaten my child? Then you have no right to remain here.” His voice was the sound of judgment. “Put her in the dungeons.”