Aliana POV:

The Silver Moon Park was a cacophony of lights and noise.

I stood on Lover's Point, overlooking the park. *It was the perfect vantage point.*

I pulled out my binoculars.

Inside the VIP suite, the party was in full swing. Ivan was playing the doting father. Kiera was preening.

I checked my watch. 7:15 PM.

My phone vibrated. It was Debi.

*"I'm in the server room," she whispered. "I bribed the night tech. He's got the feed queued up. Just say the word."*

"Wait for the box," I said.

Through the binoculars, I saw a beta guard enter the suite holding the package.

Ivan frowned. He took it.

He tore off the paper. He opened the lid.

I saw him freeze.

Inside, the audio player was rigged to start automatically.

*She smells of death already... Put the mule down, Ivan...*

I saw Kiera's face go white. My father stepped forward, shouting.

"Now, Debi," I said.

The giant screens in the park suddenly flickered. Static hissed, silencing the crowd.

Then, my face appeared. *Pre-recorded an hour ago.*

"My name is Aliana Hughes," the video-me said. My voice boomed across the park. "And today is my thirtieth birthday."

In the VIP suite, Ivan was frantically trying to find the remote. *But Debi had locked the system out.*

"For five years," the video continued, "I have been sick. My husband told you I was broken."

The crowd gasped.

"But I wasn't sick," I said, holding up the medical report. "I was poisoned."

"Lies!" I could almost hear my father screaming.

"Wolfsbane," I said. "Administered by my parents... and my mate."

A low murmur of growls started to ripple through the crowd.

"They did this to hide a secret. And a secret about him."

On the screen, the photo of the fake DNA test appeared, followed by the real one.

"Leo Reese is not the Alpha's son," I declared. "He is the son of a Rogue."

In the suite, Ivan shoved Kiera away.

"I am leaving," the video-me said.

I took a deep breath on the screen.

"I, Aliana of the White Wolf bloodline..."

The crowd screamed.

"...reject you, Alpha Ivan Hughes, as my mate."

The words hit the air like a shockwave.

Up on the hill, I felt it. The bond snapped.

Pain ripped through my chest. *It felt like open heart surgery without anesthesia.* I fell to my knees.

But in the VIP suite, it was worse.

Ivan collapsed. He clutched his chest, screaming.

"I reject my parents," I continued. "And I sever my ties to the Silver Moon Pack."

The video cut to black.

Silence.

Then, chaos.

I stood up. The pain was fading, replaced by a strange lightness.

I turned away from the park.

*My body began to shift. It wasn't painful anymore. It was a release.*

My vision sharpened. The night air smelled richer.

I didn't need a mirror. I knew my eyes were glowing.

*And somewhere deep inside, the White Wolf threw back her head and howled.*