Chapter 1

At the pack gathering, my mate, Alpha Liam, came back smelling like a scent that didn’t belong to me.

And my best friend, Jade, sat in the corner with a fresh bite mark on her neck.

Everyone tried to brush it off, calling it a "training accident."

I smiled and pretended to believe them.

I should have felt his betrayal through our mate bond, but the connection had been strangely foggy lately.

As it turned out, out of the twenty people in the room, I was the only fool left in the dark.

Since you love putting on a show, let me build you a stage.

"Luna Serena, don't be mad! It was really just an accident!"

The tension in the living room of the massive villa was suffocating.

Alpha Liam stood in the middle of the room, that strange, foreign scent still clinging to him.

Jade sat on the couch in the corner, a fresh bite mark glaringly obvious on her neck under the bright lights.

A dim light, an awkward silence.

The man was Liam—my boyfriend of five years, and my fated mate for two.

The woman was Jade—my best friend of ten years, the girl I used to share everything with.

Just minutes ago, Liam and Jade had walked back in together.

They claimed they went outside to grab some drinks, but when they returned, Liam was covered in a scent that wasn't mine.

Dead silence.

It lasted for a painful ten seconds.

Then Chad, a Beta who hosted the party, burst into a loud, forced laugh.

"Hahaha! What's with those faces? They just used the same cologne, that's all!"

He slapped his thigh and turned to me. "As for the wound... Serena, did it scare you? During group training yesterday, Jade accidentally got nicked! Look at how tense you all are!"

As soon as Chad spoke, the frozen pack members came back to life.

"Yeah, Luna Serena, don't take it seriously!"

"Accidents happen during training. Look at the angle, it was obviously a mistake!"

"Chad's right! Just a minor accident. Look how pale Serena is, we really scared her!"

Jade sat across from me, her face even paler than mine.

She bit her lip, avoiding my eyes, fidgeting with her hem. Her voice trembled. "Luna Serena... please don't be mad. It was just an accident during training..."

Then, Liam walked over.

He saw everyone's faces, noticed the bite mark on Jade's neck, and realized what was happening.

He rushed over and wrapped his arms tightly around my shoulders.

"Babe, I'm so sorry. I didn't watch her closely enough during training yesterday, and she got hurt." Liam sounded perfectly panicked and apologetic, his warm breath brushing my ear. "Don't be mad. I'll be more careful next time."

His embrace was tight, smelling of the familiar scent I used to love.

But right now, it made my stomach churn with pure disgust.

I looked around.

Chad's fake smile, Jade's teary eyes, the guilty, dodging looks of the pack members.

They were good actors.

Their coordination was flawless.

I should have known if he was lying through our mate bond, but the connection felt like it was wrapped in a thick fog.

Then, I caught a faint whisper on the mind link.

It was Liam and Jade.

"Did she believe it?" Jade's voice flickered in my mind.

"Yeah. Don't worry, she's too stupid to notice. She hasn't suspected a thing this whole time, she won't start today," Liam replied.

I froze.

Looking at Liam's "sincere" face, I suddenly smiled.

I gently pushed him away, let out a long breath, and patted my chest as if relieved.

"Oh my god! You guys are so mean! How can you make a training accident sound so scary?"

I grabbed a throw pillow and tossed it at Chad. "Chad, that was a terrible joke. No beer for you tonight!"

The tension in the room instantly evaporated.

Everyone let out a massive sigh of relief.

"I knew Serena was the best!" Chad cheered, grabbing a beer. "My bad, my bad! I'll drink to that! Let's party, guys!"

Liam relaxed too. He kissed my forehead. "You're the best, babe. Let me get you some food."

Jade came over, wrapping her arm around mine. "Serena, you're not mad at me, right? I was so scared."

"Silly girl, why would I be mad at you?" I squeezed her hand, smiling warmly. "We're best friends."

But as she relaxed, a cold dread coiled in my chest like a venomous snake.

Best friend.

Beloved Alpha.

Trusted pack.

I had been living in a giant lie.