CHAPTER 4

I forced a smile masking the rage burning through me.

"Of course," I said with a practiced smile. "I'd be happy to help our guest."

Selena smirked as I walked past her to the front door. Outside, three large suitcases sat by her car, as if she was planning to stay for months rather than weeks. I grabbed the smallest one first, not wanting to strain myself in my condition.

One by one, I carried the heavy suitcases up the stairs and down the hall to the blue guest room. My arms ached by the time I finished, but I refused to show weakness.

"Is there anything else you need?" I asked pleasantly as Selena entered the room.

"I think I can manage from here," she replied, making a dismissive gesture with her hand. "You can go now."

I nodded and closed the door behind me, but I didn't leave. There was something very suspicious in her bag, and I trust my Instinct.

Instead, I listened, hearing the click of the lock. Perfect. I waited in the hallway, counting seconds until I heard the shower turn on in the bathroom.

Silently, I unlocked the door using my master key and slipped back inside. I moved quickly to the largest suitcase and unzipped it carefully.

The zipper slid open silently, revealing neatly folded clothes on top .I pushed them aside and froze. There, carefully wrapped in cloth, was a large bundle of dried purple flowers—consecrated wolfsbane, the most potent form that could weaken even an Alpha. Beside it lay a silver dagger, its handle inscribed with ancient runes known to cause excruciating pain to our kind.

My hands trembled as I reached deeper into the suitcase. Underneath a layer of silk scarves, I found it, a folded map of our territory. I spread it open carefully. Red circles marked strategic points—our guard posts, patrol routes, and most alarming of all, the underground tunnels known only to pack leadership.

"What are you planning?" I whispered, quickly pulling out my phone to snap pictures of everything. I sent them to Mira with a simple text: Found these in Selena's luggage. She's planning something. It's worse than we thought.

Her response came seconds later: Not surprising. Keep watching. Stay safe.

From my pocket, I retrieved the tiny listening devices and cameras Mira had given me. I worked swiftly, placing one under the nightstand, another in the closet, and a third behind the mirror. Just as I finished, I heard the shower turn off.

I froze, my heart pounding in my chest. There was no time to reach the door. I dove under the bed, tucking myself into the shadows just as the bathroom door opened. Selena's bare feet padded across the hardwood floor. She moved to the suitcase I'd just searched, and I held my breath, certain I'd been discovered.

But she merely grabbed some clothes and returned to the bathroom. I didn't waste the opportunity. I slipped out from under the bed and out the door, closing it silently behind me.

My next stop was Dominic's study. I planted devices in the bookshelf, under his desk, and inside the small clock on the wal l.As I finished, I heard footsteps approaching. I quickly positioned myself at the desk, pretending to organize papers as Dominic entered.

"What are you doing in here?" he asked, his voice sharp with suspicion.

I looked up innocently. "Just organizing your schedule for the week. I wanted to make sure you had time for the border patrol reports tomorrow."

He seemed to accept this, his posture relaxing. "Always so thoughtful," he murmured, but there was no warmth in his voice. "Dinner should be ready by seven, right?"

"Of course, Alpha," I replied.

*******

Dinner was a masterclass in pretense. I sat at my usual place at the end of the table, while Dominic and Selena engaged in their conversation about pack politics, old friends, and shared memories. They barely acknowledged my presence except when they needed something passed to them.

"The venison is excellent, Reina," Selena commented, her tone suggesting surprise that I could accomplish something so basic.

"Thank you," I said, smiling. "It's Dominic's favorite."

"Oh, I know," she replied with a knowing look. "He always did prefer his meat rare and fresh."

The double meaning wasn't lost on me. I maintained my smile even as my wolf snarled within me.

"More wine, Selena?" I offered.

"Please," she replied, holding out her glass. As I poured, her free hand slipped beneath the table to rest on Dominic's thigh and he didn't move away.

After dinner, I excused myself, claiming a headache. Neither seemed particularly disappointed by my departure.

In our bedroom, I changed into my nightgown and sat at my vanity, brushing my hair with precise strokes. The door opened, and Dominic entered.

"Is your headache better?" he asked, not quite meeting my eyes.

"Much," I lied. "How is our guest settling in?"

"She's comfortable," he said, removing his watch. "I'll be working late in my study tonight. Don't wait up."

I nodded, watching him grab clothes from the dresser before disappearing into the bathroom. When he came closer, he kissed my forehead and left.

I waited thirty minutes before retrieving my tablet from its hiding place in my drawer. I connected my tablet to the hidden cameras, and hit play.

I was about to give up for the night when Selena's phone rang. She answered it immediately with her voice barely whispers.

"Yes, everything is in place," she said. "The Luna suspects nothing."

I leaned closer to my screen, straining to hear.

"He actually bought the lie about me being pregnant ," she continued with a laugh. "He believes it. Men are so easily fooled when they want something to be true."

My hand instinctively moved to my stomach, where my own secret grew stronger each day.

"Once I'm officially announced as his new mate, we'll implement the next phase," Selena continued. "The pack will be ours by the full moon. My father's warriors are ready."

There was a pause as she listened to whoever was on the other line.

"And the Luna?" Selena's voice turned cold. "If she becomes a problem, I'll handle her personally. No one will question if she has an... unfortunate accident.

I turned off the tablet, my heart hammering in my chest. They weren't just planning to humiliate me or push me aside, they were planning to kill me if necessary. And they weren't just after my position ,they wanted the entire pack.

As I set the tablet down, a floorboard creaked behind me. I whirled around to find Selena standing in the doorway, her eyes fixed on the screen showing her room.

"So," She said, her voice deadly calm as she closed the door behind her. "You've been spying on me."

CHAPTER 5

I slipped out of bed at dawn, leaving Dominic sleeping soundly. His arm had been across my waist all night, though his dreams had called out Selena's name twice.

The kitchen had always been my sanctuary. I prepared a hearty breakfast—eggs, bacon, and fresh blueberry pancakes that Dominic loved. My hands worked automatically while my mind plotted.

"Playing housewife so early?" Selena's mocking voice broke the silence.

I didn't turn around. "Good morning, Selena." I said pleasantly, turning back to the gas cooker. "Sleep well?"

She came closer, wearing nothing but one of Dominic's shirts that barely reached mid-thigh. My claws threatened to emerge, but I forced them back.

"Terribly," she sighed dramatically. "The guest room bed is so uncomfortable. Maybe I should ask Dominic if I could sleep somewhere more... suitable."

My hand tightened around the spatula. "I'm sure we can find you a better mattress."

She moved closer, her honeysuckle scent invading my space. "Don't pretend you don't know what's happening, Reina. I've seen the way you look at us."

I kept my focus on the eggs. "I'm not sure what you mean."

"Dominic doesn't love you," she said bluntly. "He never has. You were just convenient after I left."

The spatula clattered against the pan. "You need to stop."

"Why?" she challenged. "Because you can't handle the truth? That your marriage is a sham? That your mother was right to betray—"

The sound of my palm hitting her cheek echoed through the kitchen. Selena's eyes widened in shock, then narrowed with malice.

You little bitch," she hissed, her hand flying to her reddening cheek just as heavy footsteps approached.

Dominic appeared in the doorway, his expression darkening as he took in the scene. "What the hell is going on?"

Before I could speak, Selena burst into tears. "I was just trying to be friendly," she sobbed. "I told her how much I appreciated her hospitality, and she attacked me!"

Dominic's eyes flashed dangerously as he turned to me. "Is this how you treat our guests? Our allies?"

"She's lying," I said, my voice surprisingly steady despite my racing heart. "She was insulting our marriage."

Selena hid her face in his chest, her body shaking with false sobs. "I thought we were friends, Reina. I don't understand why you hate me."

Dominic's arm tightened around her. "Apologize to Selena. Now."

I felt my wolf raging inside me, demanding we challenge them both. But the tiny life inside me needed protection more than my pride needed satisfaction.

"I'm sorry, Selena," I managed, the words tasting like ash. "I misunderstood the situation."

Dominic nodded curtly. "Finish breakfast. We have pack business to discuss."

He guided Selena to a seat at the table, his hand lingering on her lower back. I turned back to the stove, my hands trembling with rage.

****

Later that afternoon, I slipped away to Mira's cabin, passing through the woods unnoticed by Dominic's patrol guards.

"It's worse than we thought," Mira said after reviewing the photos I'd taken. "These marks on the map ,they're planning an attack through the northern border."

"When?" I asked.

"A day after the full moon. Fifteen days from now." She pointed to a date marked on the map. "They need Dominic weakened before then."

"The wolfsbane," I realized. "She's poisoning him slowly."

Mira nodded. "You need to be careful. The dose that weakens him could kill your child."

I placed a protective hand over my stomach. "What should I do?"

"Continue gathering evidence," she advised. "But we need to make contact with Alpha Mark of the Northern Crescent. He's been sheltering your mother and he's also our strongest potential ally."

She handed me a small vial of clear liquid. "This will protect your baby from any wolfsbane that might find its way into your food."

As I left Mira's cabin, my phone buzzed with a text from the pack's Beta: Emergency meeting called. All council members required.

I hurried back to the pack house, slipping in through the kitchen entrance.

______

After the emergency meeting, I made my way to the pack archives housed in the basement of the main building. The elderly archivist, Joel, looked up in surprise as I entered.

"Luna Reina," he greeted me warmly. "What brings you here today?"

"Research," I replied. "I need information about pack law regarding Luna succession."

His eyebrows rose. "An unusual request. May I ask why?"

"Just refreshing my knowledge," I said smoothly. "Could you also pull the records from five years ago? Particularly regarding my mother's trial?"

Joel hesitated. "Those are sealed by Alpha's orders."

I leaned forward. "Joel, how long have you known my mother?"

"Twenty years," he replied softly. "She was a good woman ,right?."

"Then help me now," I whispered. "Please."

He studied my face before nodding slowly. "Wait here."

Joel disappeared into the stacks then he returned, placing an ancient leather-bound book and a sealed folder before me. "Be careful, Luna," he murmured. "These are dangerous waters."

I opened the book to find the answer I needed—and something else entirely. Inside was a handwritten confession signed by Dominic, detailing exactly how he and Selena had framed my mother for treason.

CHAPTER 6

I woke up gasping for air, my hands clutching my stomach. Something was very wrong.

A sharp pain radiated through my abdomen .My nightgown was damp with sweat as I stumbled to the bathroom, careful not to wake Dominic who slept soundly, oblivious to my distress.

Once inside, I locked the door and sank to the floor, my vision blurring as another wave of pain hit me. Was I losing the baby? Panic surged through me as I fumbled for my phone.

"Healer Elena," I whispered when she answered, my voice strained. "Something's happening. The baby—"

"Where are you?" she asked sharply.

"Bathroom. Can't let Dominic see me like this."

"I'll be there in fifteen minutes .I'll use the servants' entrance." She hung up without another word.

I managed to pull myself up, splashing cold water on my face. In the mirror, my reflection was frightening—pale skin, dark circles under my eyes. I changed into fresh clothes and slipped out of the bathroom.

Dominic hadn't moved. I crept past our bed and down the back stairs, each step sending fresh waves of pain through my body.

The night air was cold against my skin as I made my way to the servants' entrance. Elena was already waiting with a medical bag in hand.

"Inside," she whispered, helping me through the door. "The examination room. Quickly."

We moved through the silent house, pausing at every creak and groan of the old floorboards. Finally, we reached the small room where Elena treated minor pack injuries.

"Lie down," she instructed, closing the door behind us.

I obeyed, wincing as she pressed her hands against my abdomen. Her brow furrowed in concentration as she worked, mixing herbs and checking my vitals.

"What's happening?" I asked, my voice breaking. "Am I losing the baby?"

Elena's expression was grim. "Not naturally, no."

"What do you mean?"

"There's wolfsbane in your system," she said quietly. "Not enough to harm you significantly, but enough to threaten the ..." ,gesturing to my baby.

My blood ran cold. "Wolfsbane? How?"

"It was in your food or drink. Diluted and carefully administered." She mixed something in a small cup. "Drink this. It will counteract the effects."

As I took the bitter liquid, realization dawned. "Selena served us tea this afternoon. Said it was a special blend from her territory..."

Elena asked,. "Does she know you're ~?."

"No? I've been taking the concealment potion—"

Elena checked my pulse again. "The baby should be safe now, but you need to be more careful. Don't consume anything she offers you."

I closed my eyes, anger replacing fear. "She wants to kill my baby."

"Or she wants to expose your pregnancy before you're ready," Elena suggested. "Either way, you're in danger now."

A soft knock at the door made us both freeze. Elena motioned for me to stay silent as she approached the door cautiously.

"Who is it?" she called softly.

"It's Mira," came the whispered reply.

Elena opened the door just enough for Mira to slip inside. One look at my face told her everything.

"I saw your call, what happened?" she demanded.

Elena explained while I struggled to sit up. Mira's expression darkened with each word.

"This changes everything," she said once Elena finished. "We need to move up our timeline."

"I'm not ready," I protested weakly. "I don't have enough evidence against him yet."

"You don't have a choice anymore," Mira insisted

______________________________

DOMINIC POV

I wasn't asleep when Reina slipped out of bed.

My eyes remained closed, but every sense was alert as I tracked her movements through our bedroom. Her heartbeat was too rapid, her breathing shallow and pained. Something was wrong.

For weeks now, she'd been different. Subtle changes that most wouldn't notice, but I was her Alpha, her mate. How her smiles never quite reached her eyes anymore. The strange scent that sometimes clung to her clothes—someone outside our pack.

She locked the bathroom door. Unusual. In five years of marriage, she'd never once locked a door between us.

I strained to hear through the thick wood, catching fragments of a whispered conversation.

"...something's happening..."

I heard the shower turn on, but the water pattern sounded wrong. She wasn't standing under it, she was using it to mask her movements. A trick I'd taught her years ago.

When she emerged fifteen minutes later, I regulated my breathing to mimic deep sleep. Through barely-opened eyes, I watched her change clothes and slip out of our bedroom without a backward glance.

The moment the door closed, I was on my feet. I followed her scent through the house, staying far enough back that she wouldn't detect me. The servants' entrance? At this hour?

Outside, I caught another familiar scent that made my wolf bristle. Elena, our pack healer. What was she doing here in the middle of the night?

I circled around to the side of the house, finding a window where I could see into Elena's examination room without being spotted. Through the gap in the curtains, I watched as the healer pressed her hands against Reina's abdomen, her expression concerned.

Their voices were muffled, but I caught fragments that sent ice through my veins.

"...wolfsbane in your system..."

But wolfsbane? Who would dare poison my mate?

"...Selena served us tea this afternoon..."

My head snapped up at the mention of Selena's name. I moved closer to the window, desperate to hear more.

Then a new scent approached the room—Mira, my former Beta's mate. The woman who'd fallen from pack hierarchy after her mate questioned my leadership years ago. What was she doing with my Luna?

I heard footsteps approaching from inside the house and quickly retreated into the shadows. One of the night guards was making his rounds. I couldn't be discovered eavesdropping on my own mate.

I raced back to our bedroom, slipping between the sheets just minutes before Reina returned. I kept my breathing deep and even as she eased into bed beside me, careful not to wake me.

My mind raced with questions as she settled into an uneasy sleep beside me. Wolfsbane poisoning. Secret meetings with the pack healer and a former Beta's mate.

Whatever game she was playing, I needed to end it quickly. I grabbed my phone and spoke in a low tone. 'I need everything on Reina's activities for the past month. She's hiding something that could ruin us all. And if she is plotting against me... I want her eliminated. "