Chapter 2

Late that night, in my small cabin.

I sat on the floor, sorting through an old wooden chest.

My phone lit up in the dark.

It was a Snapchat notification. Rose had posted a new story.

It was a picture of Marcus holding her tight. The caption read: *So grateful for Alpha Marcus's trust. I will gladly stand by his side as his Luna!*

I shut off my phone and pulled a thick photo album from the bottom of the chest.

The first photo was from when I was eighteen.

That was the year my wolf emerged, and I joined the Pack defense team.

Standing next to me was twenty-six-year-old Marcus, his hand draped casually over my shoulder.

He had just become the Alpha back then.

He had told me, "Lillian, you're the most capable she-wolf I've ever met. Stay with me, and we’ll make this Pack stronger together."

And I believed him.

From that day on, my entire world revolved around him and the Pack.

I flipped through the pages.

There were so many memories.

Me staying up late to organize the pups' training schedules, and him bringing me midnight snacks.

The first time I organized a Pack gathering by myself, and him giving me a thumbs-up from the crowd.

The Pack hunt, where he blocked a rogue wolf's attack for me and murmured, "Be careful..."

Every captured smile now felt like a cheap coat of paint covering rotten wood.

I flipped to the last few pages.

There were fewer photos.

The most recent one was from two years ago, at a bonfire party celebrating a newly conquered territory.

Marcus had held up his glass, thanking everyone, the elders, and fate.

That night, he got drunk, pulled me into his arms, and whispered in my ear:

"Once the expansion is complete, I will make you my Luna. I want the entire shifter world to know that half of my success belongs to you."

I believed him then, too.

I even thought that the sleepless nights of planning, the stolen credits for my hard work, and the lonely walks back to my cabin at night were just the sacrifices I had to make for our "future."

How pathetic.

My phone buzzed again. It was a text from Marcus.

*I'm not coming back tonight. Rose needs help adjusting to her new duties. Get some sleep.*

*I was harsh today, but you have to understand. Rose is just a better fit to stand by my side.*

*About the photos—as long as you behave, no one else will ever see them. You know how much I value my reputation.*

Looking at the words "better fit," my stomach churned.

I stood up, reached under a pile of old clothes, and pulled out a cold piece of metal.

It was a silver Pack badge Marcus had given me himself, symbolizing my honor as a member of his elite guard.

I squeezed it until the sharp edges cut into my skin.

I closed the album and turned off my bedside lamp.

In the darkness, I whispered to myself:

"Marcus Hart. The expansion you care so much about, the Alpha image you worked so hard to build, and your precious Rose..."

"I won't waste my time trying to ruin you. A regular wolf can't bring down an Alpha anyway."

"But I will survive. And I will live a much better life than I ever could by your side."