The endless flattery of Alaric and Lilith, hailed as the perfect golden pair of the pack, rang sharply in my ears. Alaric’s eyes swept over me, indifferent, as though I were nothing more than a shadow passing through the clearing. I felt utterly invisible, a ghost among wolves.

As I stared at the male I had devoted five years of my heart to, I finally understood why my parents always said my judgment was flawed. They had been right—I had been blind, hopelessly blind.

I hadn’t realized that Lilith, Alaric’s ever-loyal mate-in-waiting, had been entwined with him all along, hiding in plain sight.

Being the daughter of the Ashcrofts had never made me incapable of maneuvering within the upper echelons of the pack. I had the claws to lift him to power, and just as easily, I could tear him down from the heights he now claimed.

Clutching the resignation scroll in my hand, I made my move to leave this suffocating den of deceit.

But as I took my first step, Mr. Webb from the pack’s administration blocked my path, a false smile plastered across his face.

“Raven, there’s no need to hurry away just yet,” he said, adjusting his glasses, the tone of his voice laced with authority and a thin veneer of civility. “Before stepping down, you must sign a declaration confirming that your actions while under our pack’s roof have no ongoing influence over our affairs. You’ll also need to sign a binding non-compete clause—ensuring you cannot use your connections to poach clients or allies once you leave.”

Not long ago, I had been Alaric’s mate, respected and feared in equal measure, my ability to secure powerful alliances earning me the utmost courtesy from the pack.

Mr. Webb had fawned over me then, bowing his head and addressing me with the reverence due to “Mrs. Thorne.” That time had passed. Now, he looked down at me with a self-satisfied smirk, as though diminishing me might somehow restore his own sense of significance.

I studied his pathetic display and replied, voice ice-cold, “A declaration? A non-compete? And what makes you think I would ever sign either of them?”

His smile evaporated instantly, replaced by a hard edge. “Because of your dirty little schemes! The pack has already shown mercy by not pressing charges—do not mistake our restraint for weakness!”

I laughed, bitter and unrestrained. “Dirty schemes? Evidence? Or are you simply referring to those conveniently misinterpreted images?”

Lilith strutted forward, heels clicking against the stone floor, manicured finger jabbed toward my pack communicator. “Isn’t the proof right there in your device? Who knows how many contacts you’ve hoarded? Step out of here, and who’s to say you won’t seduce one by one to secure a new alliance?”

Before I could react, Mr. Webb lunged for my communicator. My fingers grazed it—and then it was gone.

“Give it back!” I snapped.

Lilith snatched it from his hands with a triumphant smirk, retreating just enough to mock me fully. “Look at you, so nervous now. Clearly, there’s more you don’t want anyone to see.”

She turned to Alaric, prompting him for the passcode. They tried his birthday, mine, even the day we first claimed each other under the full moon—but the device stayed locked. Alaric’s patience snapped. He yanked the communicator from her hands and barked at the security wolves to restrain me.

He attempted the facial recognition feature—but multiple failures forced the system to default to passcode entry.

“What is the password?” he demanded, voice like a growl.

Since the day we bonded, the passcode had always been the date he first admitted his feelings. I could almost smirk at the irony—he had forgotten. Not surprising.

Failing to access my device before his pack only fueled his humiliation. His pride crumbled, his face darkening with a storm of rage, every second deepening his fury.

“You keep insisting the photos were a misunderstanding—so why change your password?” he spat, the accusation heavy with irritation.

“It’s the date you first confessed to me,” I said calmly.

Alaric froze, struggling to remember that moment. His expression twisted, a chaotic swirl of confusion, anger, and something dangerously close to regret—a ruined masterpiece of emotion.

I wrenched free from the guards’ grip, snatching my communicator back. Alaric watched in silence as I unlocked it effortlessly. His lips parted, as if he wanted to speak—but no words emerged, and the tension hung between us, heavy as a winter storm over the pack.

Without any warning, Alaric ripped my communicator from my hands. His thumb flew across the screen, movements frantic and aggressive as he searched for proof of the betrayal he had already decided was real. Then, suddenly, he froze.

His body went rigid as his eyes locked onto a close-up image—me and my brother, shoulder to shoulder, faces clear beneath the moonlight. A heartbeat later, the tension snapped, and his rage exploded.

“Oh, Raven,” he sneered, holding the device up like a trophy. “Isn’t this perfect? The proof is staring us right in the face. So tell me—what excuse are you going to crawl out with now?”

“I’ve already told you the truth—that wolf is my brother!” I shouted, struggling against the hands gripping my arms. “Give me back my communicator! This is outright theft. You’re slandering me—and violating my privacy!”

Before I could finish, Alaric’s hand lashed out.

The impact cracked against my cheek, sharp and blinding. Pain bloomed instantly, but I barely had time to register it before he lifted my communicator and slammed it viciously into the stone floor. The screen shattered on impact, fragments skittering across the ground like broken ice.

My cheek burned as I clutched it, fury roaring through my veins. I surged forward, ready to tear into him—but security wolves seized me again, locking my arms tight.

My reaction only fueled him further. His lips curled into a cold, vicious smile.

“Don’t put on that innocent act,” he said, voice dripping with contempt. “Do you honestly think you climbed that high without spreading your legs? And don’t insult me by claiming you did it for my sake—that’s revolting.”

I lifted my eyes to his, disappointment crashing over me like a tidal wave.

“Alaric,” I said hoarsely, “do you really need to degrade me like this?”

He gave a slow, mocking laugh. “Degrade you? You should be grateful I’m even wasting breath on you. Do you honestly think you deserve dignity?”

The weight in my chest grew unbearable—anger, humiliation, helplessness all twisting together.

“Fine,” I said through clenched teeth. “If you refuse to hear the truth, then let the enforcers handle it. We’ll see who’s truly filthy here—you, with your lies, or me, with the sins you invented.”

“The enforcers?” He stepped closer, eyes glinting with disdain. “You still think you have any leverage left?”

He sneered. “You might not care about your name, but I care about mine.”

Then his voice dropped, cruel and final. “Thank the moon we were never bonded. If you had become my mate, you would’ve been the greatest stain on my life.”

My gaze fell to the shattered communicator at my feet—and something inside me finally snapped.

“After everything you’ve done,” I said coldly, “you can forget about your ascension tomorrow, Alaric.”

The clearing erupted in laughter.

“Have you lost your mind?” Lilith clutched her stomach, laughing so hard she nearly doubled over.

Alaric shook his head, smirking. “Do you hear yourself? Who do you think you are? You honestly believe you have the power to stop our pack from rising?”

His eyes glittered with mockery. “What, do you think you’re some kind of Queen Wolf of the Elite Circles? That one word from you could bring my ascension ceremony crashing down?”

I raised my head and met his gaze without flinching.

“That’s exactly who I am,” I said evenly. “And the wolf in those images? That’s my brother—Alistair Ashcroft.”

The laughter didn’t stop. It swelled.

Mr. Webb slapped the table, wheezing. “She’s gone completely mad!”

“If you’re the Queen Wolf of the Elite Circles,” he cackled, “then I must be Arthur Ashcroft himself!”

“Yes! That’s right!” others chimed in eagerly.

“If she’s the Queen Wolf, we’ll eat dung right here under the full moon!”

I swept my gaze across them slowly, lips curling into a cold, disdainful smile. “Arthur Ashcroft is my father—not a title for ignorant mutts who bark without thinking.”

Their laughter stuttered—but I continued.

“You don’t believe me? Of course you don’t. Wolves like you—who follow the loudest voice and spew filth without thought—must be used to swallowing garbage every single day.”

My words struck hard.

The clearing erupted into fury and chaos.

“Believe you?” someone shouted. “You’re nothing but a she-wolf who slept her way to power!”

Mockery rang out from every side, howls of laughter drowning the night.

Alaric shook his head, his expression a blend of disgust and false pity. “Enough. Get out, Raven. You’re polluting my territory. Never associate yourself with me again.”

My fists clenched so tightly my claws bit into my palms. The rage inside me threatened to tear free—but I forced it down.

“Fine,” I said quietly. “I’ll go.”

I looked at them one last time, my voice steady and sharp as steel. “But remember this—every humiliation you poured on me tonight will be returned a hundred times over.”

More laughter exploded.

“Payback? Seriously?” someone scoffed.

Lilith clung to Alaric’s arm, laughing breathlessly. “Raven, have you been watching too many drama serials? Talking about revenge like you’re the heroine of some fantasy.”

Alaric waved his hand dismissively. “Enough theatrics. Get lost. We have a celebration to enjoy.”

I didn’t respond. I turned and walked away.

Behind me, insults and laughter chased my steps—but they no longer mattered.

Outside the grand hall, beneath the cold night sky, I bought a new communicator and dialed a familiar number.

“Before the market opens tomorrow,” I said calmly, “I want Alaric destroyed.”

There was a brief pause.

Then a deep voice answered, unwavering. “Understood, Miss Ashcroft.”

I ended the call and looked up at the moon, a slow, frost-cold smile spreading across my lips.

Alaric—you thought you’d won.

Too bad.

The real game had only just begun.

And since you showed me no mercy—

Don’t expect any in return.