Chanel’s POV

Two nights later, Miranda’s welcome party arrived. Every influential wolf from our allied packs was present, all eager to witness the official introduction of Daniel’s chosen mate. While she was the woman everyone believed had always been meant for him, no one knew about me, and I was only the one he kept in the shadows.

I had no business being here, but Daniel had insisted.

“You understand why you need to be here,” he had said earlier. “The pack must see stability. They can’t suspect anything.”

And like a fool, I had agreed, because our families were friends, and they would smell something fishy if I was a no-show.

I stood alongside my family, wearing the mask of a Beta’s daughter, a neutral guest, while he basked in the admiration of the pack, his hand resting possessively on Miranda’s waist. The woman smiled at him with the confidence of someone who had never doubted her place. She didn’t need to fight for him. He had been hers from the start.

However, the night turned darker when the doors to the grand hall slammed open, and a rival Alpha from the Redfang pack barged in. His gaze swept the room before landing on Miranda, and a slow, cruel smile spread across his face.

“Well, well,” he drawled with mockery. “If she isn’t the one destined to rule alongside the great Alpha heir, I must say, it's amusing seeing you here, all dressed up like a queen when not too long ago, you were nothing but my little whore."

A shocked gasp rippled through the hall. Eyes widened, lips parted in scandalized murmurs, and the air turned thick with tension. Miranda’s face drained of color as whispers spread like wildfire.

The Redfang Alpha chuckled darkly. "What? You thought no one would remember?” He leaned closer. "Tell me, does your future Alpha know how well you used to beg in bed?"

Daniel’s roar cut through the air, shaking the very foundation of the hall. In a blur of movement, he lunged at the Redfang Alpha, grabbing him by the collar and slamming him against a pillar with bone-cracking force. "You will shut your filthy mouth!" Daniel’s eyes burned with fury, his wolf barely restrained. "You dare insult my mate in my own territory?"

The Redfang Alpha coughed, smirking despite the chokehold. "Oh, I dare because it’s the truth, isn’t it? She was mine first."

Daniel’s fist connected with his face, and the sickening crunch of bone echoed through the silent hall. It was followed by blood splattering against the marble floor. "Take him!" Daniel barked.

His warriors surged forward, restraining the Redfang Alpha as he laughed, spitting blood onto the floor. "I wonder if she misses me. Or maybe she imagines you as me.”

“You son of a bitch!” Daniel’s hands trembled with rage, but Miranda grabbed his arm, pressing her body against his as if she were the wounded party.

"Please, don't let him ruin this night."

Daniel inhaled sharply before turning to his warriors. "Lock him up. I’ll deal with him later."

The warriors dragged the laughing Alpha away. The guests, on the other hand, stood frozen, eyes bouncing between Daniel, Miranda, and the bloodstained floor. The scandal had already taken root. No matter how much damage control they attempted, the rumors would spread.

“Are you alright?” Daniel murmured, intimate in a way that made my stomach churn.

She nodded, pressing closer to him. The delicate damsel was protected by her powerful mate.

I watched, invisible as ever. He had defended her with unrelenting rage. He had shed blood for her. When I had been insulted, mocked, and dismissed, he had let me stand alone. But for her, he would kill.

By midnight, the party had shifted into something more intimate.

Trying to avoid people, I retreated to the terrace, letting the cool air calm my nerves. But then a smooth, saccharine voice penetrated the air. I turned, finding Miranda standing behind me, a flute of champagne in hand, her lips curled into a smirk.

"Enjoying the view, Chanel?"

I rolled my eyes. "What do you want, Miranda?"

She laughed, waltzing closer. "Oh, don’t act so cold. We were practically sisters once, weren’t we? Though, I have to admit, seeing you sulking here alone is satisfying."

I clenched my fists. "Sisters don’t steal each other’s mates."

Her smirk deepened. "Steal? Sweetheart, you were never meant to have him. Daniel was always mine. He just got distracted and played around with the lesser girl before coming back to where he belongs."

Anger coiled inside me, but I refused to let her see how deeply her words cut. "If he was always yours, why do you sound so threatened?"

Her eyes darkened, the mask slipping for just a moment before she scoffed. "Threatened? Please. Unlike you, I don't need to beg for scraps of affection. I don’t need to be pitied."

I tilted my head, meeting her gaze. "No, you just need to ruin lives to feel secure."

Her grip on her champagne glass tightened. "You're already on thin ice, bitch. If I were you, I'd leave this pack before you embarrass yourself any further."

I laughed bitterly. "Embarrass myself? You mean before you and Daniel finish whatever scheme you're planning against me? Before you try to erase every trace of me from his past?"

Her expression twisted into something ugly. "You were never more than a mistake to him. That’s why he let you go so easily."

A sharp pain lanced through my chest, but I held my ground. "Funny, because he sure seemed torn up about it when he was still in my bed while calling you his mate."

Her nostrils flared, and in the next instant, her palm struck my cheek with a stinging slap. And then a familiar scent filled the space, and I realized too late that Daniel had arrived, standing just beyond the terrace doors.

"Miranda!" His voice was calm, but his gaze flickered between us.

My cheek burned, but I lifted my chin, waiting for him to acknowledge what had just happened.

But he didn’t. Instead, he sighed and placed a hand on Miranda’s back. "Come on, let’s go."

He didn’t spare me a glance. He didn’t even ask if I was okay before walking away with her.

Chanel’s POV

The morning after the party, I woke up to a soft knock on my door. I knew who it was before I even opened it.

Daniel stood there. He looked tired, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "I’m sorry about last night. Miranda was only drunk."

"Which part? The part where I was just a distraction? Or the part where you were waiting for Miranda, like I was nothing more than a way to pass the time?"

He exhaled, his jaw tightening. "You know it’s complicated."

I let out a cold laugh, shaking my head. "No, Daniel. It’s not complicated. It never was. You always knew exactly where you stood. You had Miranda—your perfect, untouchable mate. And you had me, hidden in the dark, convenient whenever you needed someone to hold onto."

His silence told me everything I needed to know.

I stepped closer, my arms uncrossing as I tilted my chin up, refusing to look away. My nails dug into my palms, the sharp sting grounding me, fueling the fire inside me. "Tell me, Daniel. Did you ever even feel guilty? Did it ever cross your mind what it felt like to be nothing more than a secret? Or was it just easy? Easy to have me when you were lonely and push me away when she came back?"

His hands clenched at his sides, but he didn’t answer. He didn’t fight for me. He never had.

I swallowed the ache in my throat and took a step back. "Save your apologies, Daniel. They mean nothing to me now."

---

That afternoon, I traveled to the Deathfang Pack alone to meet with Alpha Kios. As I walked through the territory, I noticed the warriors nodding at me in acknowledgment.

When I reached the packhouse, Kios was waiting for me outside, his arms crossed over his broad chest. His silver eyes, sharp and calculating, met mine. "So, you came. I thought you might change your mind."

I lifted my chin. "Of course not. I have my word of honor."

He studied me for a long moment before speaking. "You understand what this means? Once the bond is sealed, there is no turning back. You will be my mate. My Luna. No half-measures."

I frowned. "I never agreed to be your Luna. I don’t want that title."

Kios arched a brow, a slow smirk curving his lips. "That’s not how the world works. I’m an Alpha. You’re going to be my mate. That makes you Luna by default."

I stiffened. "And what if I refuse?"

His silver eyes gleamed with amusement, but there was an unmistakable edge of challenge beneath them. "Refuse? That’s cute, Chanel. But let’s be clear. I don’t ask."

A chill ran through me, but I lifted my chin, refusing to back down. "So that’s it? No choice? Just forced into it?"

His smirk widened. "I’m giving you the choice to walk away. But let’s be honest—you won’t. Because you know what happens if you do. Daniel wins. Again. You remain his second choice, his afterthought. You keep watching him put her first. You keep living in the shadow of their perfect love story."

My stomach twisted. He knew exactly what buttons to push, and damn it, he was pressing them hard.

"This isn’t about love," Kios continued, his voice a low murmur. "This is about power. About never being discarded again. You understand?"

I clenched my fists. "I understand."

His smirk widened as he closed the space between us with unhurried steps. "Do you? Because I don’t entertain doubts, Chanel. I don’t tolerate weakness."

His voice dropped to a near whisper, yet it carried an undeniable weight. "You want my protection? My strength behind you? Then you don’t get to hesitate. You don’t get to waver."

I swallowed hard, my heart hammering against my ribs. "I don’t need your protection. I need an alliance."

Kios chuckled darkly. "Is that what you tell yourself? That this is just a strategic move? That it’s not about making him suffer? That it’s not about proving to Daniel, to Miranda, to every damn person who ever doubted you, that you are not someone to be cast aside?"

My breath caught. The way he peeled back my motivations, exposing them raw and unfiltered, sent a slow, insidious chill curling through my veins. He wasn’t wrong. And that terrified me.

He lifted a hand, brushing a loose strand of hair from my face, his fingers barely grazing my skin, making my pulse stutter. "Say the words, Chanel. Say that you are mine."

I stared at him as my throat went dry.

"Say it," he pressed, his thumb tracing the edge of my jaw before settling at my chin, tilting my face up to meet him. "Because once you do, there’s no going back. No regrets. No second chances."

Power radiated off him, daring me to recoil. But I didn’t. I met his gaze, saying, "Alright, Alpha. I'm all yours."

"Make no mistake. You are mine now. And I do not share."

Before I could react, Kios sealed the agreement with a swift, deliberate kiss on my lips. Brief, almost impersonal—yet to me, it felt anything but. My breath hitched as he pulled away, leaving me stunned.

---

That night, the scent of blood filled the air when I returned to our pack.

I had just stepped into the main hall when snarls erupted, followed by the heavy thud of a body hitting the ground. The doors crashed open, and rogues poured in like a tidal wave. Warriors met them head-on, but they were outnumbered.

"Everybody, get ready!"

I turned, spotting Daniel. He was standing protectively in front of Miranda, shielding her as if she were the only one in danger.

A rogue lunged at me, and I dodged, my body moving on instinct. Claws raked the air where my throat had been seconds before. I retaliated, my nails elongating into sharp points as I slashed across his chest, sending him stumbling back with a pained howl.

Another came at me from the side. I twisted, landing a kick to his ribs before driving my fist into his jaw. The fight blurred into movement—strikes, dodges, the sharp scent of iron coating my tongue.

Daniel was still with Miranda. Even as warriors fell around them, he never left her side. He parried every attack that came too close, his focus unshakable.

Meanwhile, a rogue caught my moment of hesitation, tackling me to the ground. My head slammed against the cold marble, stars bursting behind my eyes. His claws dug into my shoulders, pinning me beneath his weight. I struggled, but he was stronger, his breath hot and rancid against my face.

Panic clawed at my chest. I needed help.

“Daniel!”

I screamed his name with desperation. For a split second, I hoped he’d turn, that instinct would pull him toward me. But he didn’t. Not even a glance.

Miranda screamed, and that was all it took. Daniel surged forward, cutting down the rogue near her with a single, brutal swipe.

Rage and grief surged through me. Snarling, I shifted partially, my claws raking across the rogue’s chest as I drove my knee into his gut. He recoiled, but I didn’t give him a chance to recover. With a swift, predatory lunge, I sank my fangs into his throat, tearing through flesh and muscle. He gurgled, choking on his own blood, before collapsing in a lifeless heap at my feet.

The battle ended as quickly as it had begun. The rogues that remained were either killed or forced to retreat.

I was shaking. Not from exhaustion, but from the cold realization searing through me. Daniel had rushed to Miranda, who bore no wounds. His hands hovered over her as if she were fragile porcelain.

Then, just as his eyes briefly met mine, Miranda smirked at me.

Chanel’s POV

Even though the battle was over, the scent of blood still hung thick in the air. The packhouse halls bore the scars of the fight—injured warriors groaning, bodies being carried away.

Daniel was alive. Miranda was unharmed. And I had fought for my life alone.

I had no business saving him after that and had no reason to care whether he lived or died. But I refused to let the pack suffer because he was only prioritizing his precious mate.

So I called Kios.

The moment his voice echoed through the mind-link, my body relaxed, as if my wolf had already recognized where true strength belonged.

“Chanel, what happened?”

I swallowed the lingering anger in my throat. “Rogues attacked. There were too many. Daniel is injured, the pack is weakened, and I—” I paused, my fingers curling against my palm. “I need your warriors.”

There was a beat of silence. When he spoke again, his voice was calm, almost lazy. “Are you asking me to protect your former lover?”

My chest tightened. “I’m asking you to protect the pack. They are vulnerable, and if another attack comes, they won’t survive it.”

Kios hummed, as if weighing the situation, and then I heard the smirk in his voice. “You impress me, Chanel. You ask for my help, not for love, but for duty.”

“Are you sending them or not?”

A low chuckle rumbled through the link. “My warriors are already on their way.”

Even as dawn broke, the scent of blood lingered. Deathfang warriors arrived, moving like shadows through our lands. Our warriors tensed, uncertain if they were allies or a new threat. But Kios’s men carried themselves with absolute control, their sharp eyes sweeping every corner, hunting for danger.

Daniel, despite his injuries, pushed himself to his feet as he watched them spread through the territory. His face was pale, blood dried along his temple, but his expression darkened as he mindlinked me. “You called them here?”

I met his gaze from afar without flinching. “Yes.”

His jaw tensed, his eyes narrowing. “You let Kios’s pack walk onto our lands?”

“They’re here to keep you alive, Daniel. You should be thanking me.”

His nostrils flared as he stalked closer, his frame towering over me. "Why him, Chanel? Why Kios?"

I held my ground, lifting my chin. “Because he was the only one willing to help.”

His fingers curled into fists. “Do you trust him?”

“More than I trust you.”

His jaw clenched. "How do you even know him?"

I arched a brow, refusing to give him the satisfaction of an explanation. “Does it matter?”

His silence told me it did.

His expression darkened, but he said nothing. Without a word, he turned and retreated to his packhouse office.

—

Days passed, and Daniel healed quickly, but something had shifted between us.

He watched me more often now, his eyes following me when he thought I wasn’t looking. When we crossed paths, his shoulders tensed, and his mouth parted as if he wanted to speak, but he never did.

I didn’t give him a chance to reach for it. I had spent years waiting for Daniel to fight for me, and he never had. I would not waste another second hoping for what would never come.

I made sure he felt the distance between us. I stopped looking for him in a crowded room. I stopped acknowledging his presence when he entered. I no longer spoke his name with the softness I once did. I was polite, distant, indifferent.

When Kios arrived at the Luna’s party, the atmosphere shifted. Conversations faded, heads turned, and a silent acknowledgment rippled through the room. Clad in a dark suit tailored to perfection, he exuded effortless dominance. His silver eyes locked onto mine, making my breath hitch before he strode over. Without hesitation, he wrapped an arm around my waist, pulling me to his side.

"Among the women here, you look the most stunning tonight," he murmured. "You stand out even among royalty. I wonder if you even realize how much attention you command."

"Thank you," I whispered, faking a smile so the crowd could see.

Daniel saw it all. His gaze burned into me every time Kios leaned in, every time his fingers grazed my skin. He stood stiffly across the room, watching, seething, his hands clenched at his sides. For years, I had been his secret, his convenience. Now, I was standing beside a man who did not need to hide me. And Daniel hated it.

And it drove him insane.

That night, he cornered me in the empty corridor outside the ballroom.

"Is there something between you and Kios?" he demanded, his voice laced with something close to desperation.

I crossed my arms, tilting my head. "Are you jealous, Daniel?"

His jaw tightened, but he said nothing. His silence was louder than any answer he could have given.

I scoffed. "You don’t get to ask me that. Not after everything."

"I just need to know."

I met his gaze, unflinching. "Then you don't have the right to know anything about me."

Before I could turn away, Daniel grabbed me, his arms wrapping around me tightly. "I don’t want to lose you," he whispered, his breath warm against my skin.

I laughed, shoving at his chest, but he was strong. Too strong. I thrashed in his hold. "Let me go, Daniel. Are you not content with one woman? You are so greedy."

But he wasn’t listening. His grip tightened, his gaze intense as he searched my face. "Let’s get engaged at the full moon."

My heart twisted painfully in my chest.

I knew this was a trap. I knew Daniel too well—his sweet words, his smile, his desperation were all part of his game. He wanted to pull me back into his grasp, to crush me just to satisfy Miranda’s ego.

Tears burned my eyes, but I forced them back. I wanted to slap him, to tear him apart for thinking he could manipulate me again.

But if Daniel wanted to play a game, then I would play it better!

“But what about Miranda? Everyone knows that you two are the real mates. You have introduced her to the public, remember?”

Daniel shook his head, his grip tightened around me. “I don’t care, Chanel. I don't care about the world anymore. But I can’t let you go. God, I can’t even look at you with someone else. You are mine, always mine, understood?”

He was a big fat liar! My wolf growled, and I agreed.

I lifted my chin, my lips curling into a small, unreadable smile. "Then I want to be engaged to you."

Daniel seemed surprised at how quickly I accepted, but after a brief pause, he smiled, satisfied. "I can’t wait."

Daniel's arms were still wrapped around me when his body tensed. His hold on me loosened just slightly. A flicker of distraction crossed his face, as if he were suddenly somewhere else.

I knew that look. Someone was mind-linking him, and I already knew who it was.

"What is it?" I asked, tilting my head slightly, pretending I couldn't see right through him.

Daniel's jaw tightened, his fingers releasing me completely as he stepped back. "My Beta just informed me that some of the patrol teams need assistance. I should go check on them."

Liar. I knew it was Miranda. "Go, then. Your pack needs you." I nodded.

Daniel hesitated as if expecting me to push for the truth, but when I didn’t, he let out a quiet breath and turned away.

That night, when I returned home, I wasted no time.

I walked straight to my closet and pulled out everything Daniel had ever given me. Dresses, jewelry, little trinkets that once held meaning. Every gift he had used to keep me tied to him, to make me believe I was something special to him, now felt like nothing more than shackles.

I stuffed them all into a large bag and handed it to my omega, instructing her to deliver it to the local shelter. I wanted nothing to do with any of it.

As she left, my phone vibrated. I reached for it absentmindedly, expecting another meaningless message, but when I saw the notification, my breath caught in my throat.

It was a screenshot of a group chat.

Daniel’s name was there, along with a few of his closest friends. My vision blurred as I read the messages, and I had to control my hand to stop it from trembling.

"Just release it already, man."

"She deserves to be humiliated after what she did to Miranda then."

"She won’t be so confident once everyone sees what she’s been hiding."

And then Daniel’s reply, sitting there like a dagger waiting to be plunged into my back.

"Relax. I’ll send the slideshow soon."

I forced myself to inhale, steadying the fire in my chest. If Daniel thought he could destroy me, if he thought he could rip me apart and watch me crumble at his feet, he was about to learn just how wrong he was.