“Aurora, you're going to take the train to the Harvest Moon Festival. Cassie is in town, so I went ahead and cancelled your plane ticket for her.”

I shot up from my chair as if I had been burned.

I couldn't believe what I had just heard; surely this was some kind of joke, one of Thane's expensive pranks.

I started to laugh, but his intense glare quickly silenced me. It was clear he was serious, and my amusement faded instantly.

"Wait, you're not kidding, Thane? You really expect me to take the train to the Harvest Moon Festival? Have you forgotten I'm a Lycan? I'm an Alpha, for crying out loud! It would be humiliating for me to travel by train as your wife, especially at that low-class expense. What's her name again? Cassie?"

"Don't you dare disrespect Cassie! I won't tolerate that from you! She's my best friend, and you need to learn to respect her! What's so wrong with taking the train? You wouldn't be the first Lycan to do so. Besides, I'm your mate now, and you should respect my choices, whether they're convenient for you or not."

I bit my lip, tears welling in my eyes, threatening to spill over.

I couldn't believe my mate had the audacity to humiliate me in front of his family like this.

Where did I go wrong?

I do not want to believe my father was right all along. When I discovered Thane was my mate, he was adamant about not marrying an omega, believing we were too different in status.

But Thane was my fated mate, and I couldn't imagine life without him.

I fought hard to convince my father, who was notoriously hot-tempered and wanted the best for me as his heir.

I ignored his warnings and went ahead to mark Thane as my mate, elevating his status within the pack.

I transformed his life from that of an ordinary omega to an Alpha, and in doing so, my father severed ties with me.

He left instructions with the elders' council that I could only return to the pack if I came to my senses—essentially rejecting Thane as my mate and returning home to reclaim my position as Alpha and marry the wealthiest Alpha in the country, the one from the Dark Moon pack.

“You expect me to show respect to another woman in my own home? Just a reminder, Thane, you’re going to this event because of me. I was the one who received the invitation and chose to reserve spots for everyone. This is incredibly important—”

“Save your breath, Aurora. I don’t need your explanations. If I say Cassie is going, then she’s going. I’ve already sent the train tickets to your WhatsApp. Check the details and get in the kitchen; I’m starving!”

My phone buzzed with a notification, and I couldn’t hide my shock as I looked at the electronic ticket he sent.

It was for a grueling 72-hour train ride from Toronto to Alberta.

“So, you used my money to buy plane tickets for your best friend or whoever she is while I’m stuck on a train for 72 hours?” I asked, incredulous.

“And what’s wrong with that? You’ve always wanted to try a train ride; this is your chance! You should be thanking me instead of acting like a crazy person!” he shouted, and I recoiled in disbelief.

Did Thane just call me crazy for voicing my frustration over his thoughtless decision?

I glanced at my in-laws, and my father-in-law immediately stood up and headed to the kitchen, completely ignoring me.

My mother-in-law, however, tried to console me.

“Aurora, please listen to your mate. This isn’t a big deal. Cassie and Thane have been best friends since childhood. You know them both well in the pack, and they haven’t seen each other in five years. This is a great chance for them to reconnect. Just endure it for now; we’ll catch up when you arrive, okay?”

My sister-in-law, Kathryn, chimed in with a mocking tone. “Aurora, what my brother and mother are trying to say is that Cassie has a health issue and gets sick on trains. You wouldn’t be cruel enough to let that happen, would you? You’re strong; you’re a Lycan Alpha, so you can handle it.”

I let out a bitter laugh. “So, who exactly is Thane’s mate, me or Cassie? Because it sure seems like Cassie is your daughter-in-law!” I shouted furiously at my mother-in-law, who merely rolled her eyes and hissed in response.

Thane frowned deeply. “Stop being so unreasonable; you’re not a child anymore. This is really quite simple. Cassie is practically family—she is family. She was part of the picture long before you and I became mates. Why can’t you just accept that and stop throwing these childish fits?”

At that moment, the doorbell rang. It was Cassie.

“Wow! You look absolutely stunning! Welcome! I've been eagerly anticipating your arrival!”

Kathryn exclaimed with enthusiasm, pulling Cassie's three hefty suitcases into the house.

“Oh Cassie, I’ve missed you dearly! If only you hadn’t gone abroad for your studies, you and my brother would have tied the knot by now, and we could all be together!” She said, wrapping Cassie in a warm embrace.

I struggled to find the right words, feeling a lump in my throat.

Kathryn had never shown me this level of affection during all the years I had been with her brother.

Her kindness always seemed to surface only when she needed money for her extravagant shopping sprees and lavish lifestyle.

Meanwhile, my mother-in-law gently cupped Cassie's face.

“You’ve become even more beautiful since our last meeting. I’ve always believed you and Thane were meant to be. In my heart, I’ve wished for you to be my daughter-in-law. No one else can hold a candle to you.”

I was taken aback by her words. Did she just subtly insult me?

I had noticed the signs before—their desire for material wealth and how they seemed to use me for their own interests—but I always brushed those thoughts aside, blinded by love and convinced that I was reciprocating the same affection for my mate towards his family.

It’s clear now that they were simply biding their time, waiting for the perfect moment to cast me aside after using me for their own gain, only to welcome Cassie back into the fold, the one they’ve always cherished.

Cassie and Thane were childhood sweethearts long before I entered the scene.

In fact, I had just returned home after living abroad when Cassie left for her studies on a scholarship.

Thane and his sister were among the omegas assigned to help clean my room, and that’s when I met him.

It was then I realized he was my mate, and that’s how our love story began.

I truly believed he cared for me. Looking back, I see how naive I was.

I never anticipated the level of disrespect they would show me after all I had done for them.

I elevated their status within the pack, cleared their debts, and even provided them with a monthly allowance of ten thousand dollars.

I chose to do all the household chores myself, wanting to demonstrate my humility and ensure they felt valued.

Instead, I only succeeded in making them think I was a fool.

I didn’t seek anything in return; all I wanted was genuine love. But what did I receive?

Cassie approached me with a self-satisfied grin that made me want to wipe it off her face.

“It’s such a pleasure to finally meet you, Alpha Aurora. I apologize for joining the family trip to the harvest moon festival on such short notice. I had planned to skip it due to the flight ticket shortage, but Thane was concerned about me taking the train. So, I suppose I owe you my gratitude for switching places with me. You’re incredibly generous.”

Kathryn wrapped her arm around Cassie with warmth.

“Guess what? My brother is going to be announced as the Alpha of the Crescent Moon pack at the event! Aurora is passing her title to him since he’s her mate. I can hardly contain my excitement!” They both erupted into giggles, sharing the joy of the moment.

Noticing the frustration etched on my face, Thane's voice softened.

“I understand this arrangement isn’t ideal for you, but it’s for the greater good. Remember those shoes you were admiring at that high-end boutique? You could treat yourself to them.”

“Right, ten thousand dollars.”

“That’s outrageous! What on earth do you need a ten-thousand-dollar pair of shoes for? I already said you could buy them, so why are you asking me for cash?”

“You're utterly shameless and foolish,” I retorted, causing gasps to ripple through the room, but I was just getting warmed up.

“Since when do I need your approval to spend my own money? You can’t even pull out your wallet to buy your wife a gift? You want to use my money for that? It’s pathetic that you couldn’t even secure a position in my company and have to rely on me. Aren’t you embarrassed?”

His face turned crimson with humiliation as he shot me a fierce glare.

He had no retort because he knew I was speaking the truth.

I crossed my arms, ready for a response, as I had plenty more to say. I was done pretending to be a naive fool.

If they cherished Cassie so much, they could welcome her as their daughter-in-law instead.

“Aurora, can you please hurry? It’s dinner time, and I’m sure Cassie is starving. I need you to whip up something for us right now!” my mother-in-law insisted, tapping my shoulder with impatience.

“Don’t touch me! You’ve made it clear that Cassie is the perfect choice for a daughter-in-law. If that’s the case, let her handle dinner,” I shot back.

With that, I plopped down on the couch and switched on the TV, ignoring the glares directed at me while I focused on the show playing in front of me.

Inside, I felt a sting of hurt, but I was determined to maintain a strong front. I wouldn’t let them see how much their words affected me. If they wanted to play games, I could play them even better.

After more than two hours, dinner was finally ready.

As I made my way to the dining table, I heard the clatter of utensils, but Kathryn quickly pulled Cassie aside to take my place at the table.

I felt my anger boil over as I clenched my fist and bit my lip, the primal instinct of my wolf clawing to break free.

The urge to tear Cassie apart was overwhelming; she was pushing me to my limits.

I half-expected Thane to intervene, but who was I kidding? He acted as if nothing had happened, casually serving food to Cassie, something he had never done for me.

“Mom, what’s going on? Why is Cassie sitting in my place at the table?” I demanded, my voice laced with fury as she rolled her eyes.

“You should be working, but instead, you’re acting like a child. There’s leftover food in the kitchen; help yourself. And by the way, the kitchen is a mess—clean it up when you’re done.”

I let out a bitter laugh. “You never fail to surprise me. So, after all these years of cooking for this family, the one time I’m too exhausted, you leave me scraps? Alpha Aurora of the Crescent Moon Pack reduced to eating leftovers! This is the ultimate insult! Enjoy your meal; I’ll be dining with my friends.” I slammed my fist on the table and stormed out, seething.

But honestly, food was the last thing on my mind; my anger consumed me. I was focused on finding a way to teach these ungrateful people a lesson.

The memories of all I had endured for love ignited a fire within me.

My father had been right all along—Thane was the worst mistake of my life, just as he had warned me when I first introduced him as my mate.

I hopped into my car and dialed the account manager, instructing them to freeze all accounts and transfer the funds to me.

Thankfully, I was the primary signatory on all of them, making the process a breeze.

Feeling pleased with my manager's swift action, I headed to a trendy new restaurant in town.

I indulged in a feast of delicious food and fine wine while attempting to reach my father.

However, the beta informed me that he was away and suggested I call back tomorrow.

I returned home late, hoping Thane would at least check in on me.

But as I glanced at my phone, I found no calls, no texts—absolutely nothing. It was clear I meant nothing to him.

Not even my mother-in-law or sister-in-law bothered to see how I was doing?

What if something had gone wrong? They would likely just carry on as if I had never been a part of their lives.

I wiped away the tears streaming down my face and slipped my phone into my bag. I can't tell how much longer I can endure their indifference before I completely fall apart.

Entering the house, I made my way to the bedroom.

Using my wolf senses, I detected a foreign scent mingling with my own, heightening my instincts and preparing me to confront the woman who dared to intrude.

As a Lycan she-wolf, jealousy ran deep, and my Alpha status only intensified my territorial nature. Just as I was about to flip on the lights, I heard a woman moan, followed by the unmistakable sound of kissing.

So Thane had the audacity to betray me while we were still mated?

Fury surged within me as I switched on the light, revealing Cassie and my mate, both completely naked, their faces frozen in shock as they scrambled to cover themselves.

At that moment, I transformed into my wolf.