Georgia's POV

I stood frozen, my eyes fixed on the black lace panty in my hand.

Benjamin's suit jacket lay on the bed and I had been arranging it for our anniversary dinner but now, my world was crumbling, I just stood in shock as tears streamed down my eyes.

I just found another woman's pants in my husband's pocket on our anniversary dinner.

"Benjamin! What is a woman's thong doing in your suit pocket?" I demanded, my voice trembling.

Benjamin stepped out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist. "What’s wrong, love? I heard you scream."

I held up the panty. "This! How did it get in your suit pocket? So you've been cheating on me, Benjamin! Six years of loyalty, and this is what I get ? Infidelity? Why would you do this to me?”

Benjamin's face turned calm. "Oh, that? It must have been a mix-up from the laundry service."

I narrowed my eyes. "A mix-up? Do I look like a fool to you? How can you call this a mistake? Benjamin, your suit smells like a woman's cologne!"

Benjamin shrugged. "These things happen. If you think I'm lying, go ahead and call the laundry company to file a complaint. How can you accuse me of cheating, you don’t even trust me? I'm disappointed in you, Georgia!”

"Benjamin, that's not what—" but he slammed the door in my face, leaving me bewildered.

At the Alpha's ball, I couldn't shake the feeling of dread. My best friend, Zoe, picked up on my unease.

"What's wrong? You've been acting strange, and everyone is starting to notice," she said, pulling me into a corner of the hall.

I leaned closer, whispering, "I found a woman's panty in Benjamin's suit pocket. He says it was just a laundry mix-up."

Zoe's eyes went wide, but before she could say anything, a woman entered the hall, holding a young boy's hand. She approached Benjamin on stage and snatched the microphone from him.

What is happening? I was about to call the beta to deal with the disrespect and have her thrown out when she began to speak.

"Hello, everyone," Julia said, her voice steady. "I'm Julia Henchet, Alpha Benjamin's secret wife. We have a child together, and I'm done hiding."

Benjamin's face flushed with anger. He tried to take the mic back from Julia, but she held on firmly.

"Let me finish!" Julia shouted, her voice resonating throughout the hall.

"Benjamin and I have been together for four years. He told me he was tired of his wife, that she was disgusting and couldn't give him children. He promised to leave her for me, but it's been four years now, and I'm exhausted. I'm here to claim my place as Luna."

The room erupted into chaos. I felt as if I had been punched in the stomach; this had to be a nightmare. Someone, please wake me up!

My wolf growled with jealousy, and without thinking, I kicked off my shoes and charged at Benjamin, tears streaming down my face.

"How could you, Benjamin? How could you do this to me?"

I slapped him, and he pleaded for forgiveness. I grabbed his shirt, ripping it apart.

"You're cheating on me? After everything I've done for you? I picked you from the gutters, you foolish rogue, made you Alpha, even gave you my kidney when you were sick. And this is how you repay me?"

Benjamin's face contorted with rage. “I need a mate who can provide me with an heir, not a barren wife!”

I repeated his words over and over until I picked up the knife from the table, ready to strike. But Julia stepped in, shoving me away.

“Don’t you dare touch my man! I’m a very possessive she-wolf, and he belongs to me now!”

We clashed, fighting and screaming. The little boy cried, begging me to leave his mom alone. “Leave my mommy! Stop pulling mommy’s hair, daddy do something!”

Hearing the child call my mate "daddy" and knowing I would never have children of my own again fueled my rage, and I began to hit her harder and harder.

“So you think you can just waltz in here and take my mate from me, huh?”

Punch.

“Do you have any idea of the sacrifices I've made for him?”

Punch.

“By the time I'm finished with you, you won't even recognize your own face.”

Punch.

But tragically, the last punch struck the child’s head. He fell, hitting his head on the floor, and then he stopped breathing.

I trembled as I scrambled off Julia's body, desperate to explain. "I didn't mean to... I'm so sorry."

But Benjamin turned away from me, his eyes filled with disgust.

"You're a murderer, Georgia! You killed my son! Your jealousy and rage has consumed you! You're a monster Georgia, I hate you so much! I reject you, Georgia Phillips, as my mate and Luna!”

Julia picked up the knife, her eyes blazing with fury, and before I could react, she plunged the knife into my chest, stabbing me repeatedly.

I felt my body growing cold, my heart slowing as Julia's knife continued to pierce my skin again and again.

The sound of my own laboured breathing was the last thing I heard before everything went dark.

Georgia's POV

I slowly opened my eyes, my mind foggy as I tried to make sense of my surroundings.

The room was a blur of white, with a hint of disinfectant lingering in the air.

A soft beeping sound from a nearby machine filled the silence, and a persistent ache throbbed in my chest.

"Thank God you're awake!" Zoe exclaimed, her voice trembling with relief. "Can you hear me, Georgia?"

I turned my head, and Zoe's anxious face came into focus. Her eyes were puffy, and her complexion looked drained, as if she hadn't slept in weeks.

"Zoe?" My voice came out raspy and weak. "What... What happened? Am I still alive? I thought I was dead!"

Tears brimmed in Zoe's eyes. "You've been in a coma for three months, Georgia. I thought I'd lost you!"

As I scanned the room, my gaze fell on the IV pole next to my bed, the clear tube running into my arm.

Memories of Benjamin's betrayal flooded back, and I felt a wave of anger wash over me.

"What about Benjamin?" I demanded, my voice shaking with rage. "Please tell me that monster isn't still out there after everything he did!"

Zoe's expression turned somber. "Sadly, he is. He married Julia, his mistress, and the child survived; he only fainted that day."

My eyes narrowed, my mind racing with thoughts of revenge.

But before I could respond, the door swung open, and Theophilus Rylan, the ruthless Lycan king of the Nightshade pack, strode into the room.

His intense gaze met mine, sending a chill racing down my spine. "Georgia," he said, his voice deep and authoritative. "I see you're awake. How are you feeling?"

Zoe immediately lowered her head in respect, which left me bewildered. "Zoe, why are you bowing to him? Why are you showing respect to the enemy?" I demanded, my anger bubbling over.

Zoe's eyes flicked nervously between Theophilus and me before she spoke. "Alpha Theophilus saved your life, Georgia. Benjamin was going to... he was going to burn your body because we all thought you were gone, but— while I was pleading, Alpha Theophilus showed up."

I turned my gaze back to Theophilus Rylan, fury igniting within me.

This man, this monster, was responsible for my parents' deaths. I would never forgive him.

"Listen, you monster!" I shouted, my voice quaking with rage. "I don't care if you saved my life; I want you to leave! Just leave me alone!"

Theophilus Rylan remained calm, yet a spark of mischief danced in his eyes. "You can't chase me away, Georgia. This is my pack, and you are my mate."

I squinted, bewildered. "Mate? What are you saying?"

A voice echoed in my mind, my wolf's voice, bubbling with excitement. "We have our second chance mate! We have our second chance mate! Theophilus is our mate!"

I shook my head, attempting to dispel the confusion. "No, this can't be true. You're a killer. You took my parents' lives. I can't be bonded to you!" I shouted in fury, ripping the IV from my wound, blood seeping from the injury.

Theophilus Rylan's expression hardened. "I am not a killer, Georgia. Your parents broke the law, and they faced the consequences."

I let out a harsh laugh, tinged with bitterness. "You think I'll buy that? You're just trying to rationalize what you did."

Theophilus Rylan's gaze bore into mine, fierce and unwavering. "You don't know the whole story, Georgia. Until you do, reserve your judgment."

I shot him a furious look, my heart racing with rage. "The truth doesn't matter to me. What matters is this: you are not my mate, and I reject—"

But his next words froze me in place. "You bear my mark, Georgia! I'm stronger than you, a Lycan, and as you know, wolves cannot reject Lycans without facing death!"

"No! I hate you! You can't be my mate! This is all wrong! You had no right to mark me without my consent!" I shouted, my voice echoing through the room.

Theophilus Rylan's expression turned calm, his voice dropping to a whisper.

"Just give me one year, Georgia. Be with me for a year, and let me show you that I'm not the person you think I am. If you still don't love me after that, you can reject me then."

I glared at him, my heart seething with anger.

"Let me reject you right now!" I spat, my voice venomous. "Why would I ever fall for you after a year?"

Theophilus Rylan's gaze never wavered. "Because I want to help you get revenge. You don't deserve what Benjamin did to you."

My eyes narrowed, my mind racing with skepticism. "What do you know about Benjamin?"

Theophilus Rylan's voice dropped to a whisper. "I was there in the hospital that day, Georgia—"

"What— are you saying?" I stammered, my breath catching in my throat.

Theophilus Rylan's words sent a shiver down my spine.

"I was in the hospital on the day of your IVF insemination. I had a checkup and overheard Benjamin talking to the doctor."

My heart skipped a beat. "What did you hear?"

Theophilus Rylan's eyes locked onto mine. "To you, Julia is just Benjamin's mistress, but she was also your surrogate."

I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. "W—What do you mean?"

Theophilus Rylan's voice was barely above a whisper. "The child that Julia says is hers—is yours."

Georgia's POV

I stood there, paralyzed, my eyes fixed on the elder's lips as he spoke the words that would determine my destiny.

"Georgia, do you accept Theophilus Rylan as your mate and Alpha, pledging to love and honor him until death?"

Did I really have a choice?

Whether I said yes or no wouldn’t alter the reality that this union was a farce, a snare.

Theophilus had claimed it would be a one-year marriage, but that year loomed ahead like an endless stretch of time.

“Yes, I do,” I replied, and the crowd erupted in cheers. Theophilus beamed, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.

Once I exact my revenge on Benjamin, Theophilus would be next for the role he played in my parents' deaths.

I didn’t trust him at all; his motives for aiding me were a mystery, especially since he was supposed to hate me.

I wouldn’t hesitate to take him down before he could turn the tables on me.

“Alpha Theophilus Rylan, do you take Georgia Lector as your mate and Luna, pledging to love and protect her until death?”

“Yes, I do.”

The atmosphere was thick with tension, the fragrance of blooming flowers mingling with the soft murmur of chants, creating an almost dreamlike setting.

I nodded, my heart heavy with the knowledge that I was ensnared.

I felt no affection for Theophilus; in truth, I could barely stand him. But I needed his power and position to fulfill my quest for vengeance.

“With the authority granted to me as the first elder of this pack, I declare you husband and wife. You may now present your rings before the initiations,” the elder announced, and the crowd cheered once more.

Just as we were about to exchange rings, chaos erupted at the edge of the clearing.

Benjamin charged in, his face wild and his hair a disheveled mess.

"Stop! You can't go through with this, Georgia!" he shouted, pushing his way through the throng.

Theophilus growled, rage flashing in his eyes. "Benjamin, do you have any idea whose pack this is? You're ruining my mating ceremony! Guards, seize him!”

Benjamin paid him no mind, his focus solely on me as he fought with the guards.

"Georgia, you need to listen! I know you hate me but please, Theophilus is manipulating you! He's been around for centuries and has made a deal with a demon to prolong his life. You're the key to his survival! He's going to kill you, just like he did your parents!"

A wave of confusion washed over me, my thoughts spiraling with the weight of his words. What was Benjamin saying?

Theophilus snarled, his teeth bared in rage. "You're nothing but a fool! Is this the best you can do? Gosh, I even thought you were smart. So, you really got nerves huh? I'll make you pay, Benjamin, and I'll tear you apart!"

The guards moved in to subdue Benjamin, but he fought against them fiercely.

"Georgia, don't trust him! He's just using you! Use your head! You're his next target, I know you don't want to die, but you'll have to kill him first! Grab the sword of authority from the table and stab him! You've always wanted revenge for what he did to your parents! You don't have time! Do it now before it's too late!”

My heart racing wildly, I seized the sword, feeling its reassuring weight in my grip. Theophilus's gaze was fixed on mine, his demeanor calm and soothing.

"Don't let him get to you, Georgia. He's just trying to mess with your head. How would you believe a man who betrayed you over a man who is trying to save you? He is just exploiting your vulnerability, don't pay him any heed”

But I was already in motion, my wolf's instincts roaring a warning in my mind. I lifted the sword, and with a swift motion, I drove it into Theophilus's chest.

His blood splattered across the pristine fabric of his suit, and he staggered back, gasping for breath. "No...Georgia...why?" Theophilus murmured, his eyes brimming with betrayal.

I stood there, frozen, the sword still embedded in him. "I don't love you," I hissed. "I don't want you. You're a vile monster!"

Suddenly, the pack warriors rushed forward, grabbing my arms and forcing me to the ground. I fought against their grip, but they overpowered me effortlessly.

As the pack members began hurling objects at me for killing their Alpha, Benjamin's voice rang out across the clearing, filled with mockery and triumph.

"Since you decided to show your stupid face in my life again! I manipulated you to take a life with your own hands. Enjoy your time in prison for the rest of your wretched existence for killing a Lycan."

The roar of his car speeding off was the final sound I registered before the guards seized me, tossing me into a cold, shadowy cell.