I was almost nine months pregnant when one simple notification shattered my peace.

I’d just settled into bed, my hand resting on my belly, feeling my baby kick, when my phone chimed. The screen lit up with an unexpected message from the pack’s accounting system: Transaction report attached.

Curious, I opened it, expecting the usual monthly statements. But this one was... different. I’d always trusted Drake with the pack’s funds; he handled all the finances, sparing me from the constant oversight. He’d insisted it was easier that way—“Leave the numbers to me,” he’d say, assuring me everything was under control.

But something in me, maybe just a feeling, nagged at me that night. That’s why, on a whim, I’d decided to link my phone to the pack’s accounting system, so I’d get monthly reports automatically. I’d chalked it up to instincts—pregnancy, maybe—but now, seeing that report, I realized there was more to it.

Drake, my Beta, had made a pretty hefty purchase! Actually, more than hefty—thousands of dollars spent on something extravagant.

I squinted at the screen, rereading the item description. “Wolf pendant with pure moonstone.” And that was just the first item. Every month, for the last three years, there was a new item: gold-banded wolf rings, silver cuffs with carvings, sapphires for protection, diamonds and many more to mention.

Altogether, it was enough to secure our entire pack for a decade. Why would Drake spend that kind of money on jewelry? And, more importantly, who was it for?

Then, as if on cue, another message popped up.

Melanie Harlow wants to connect with you on PackLink.

I froze, staring at it.

Accept request?

I swallowed, hovering over the screen before pressing ‘accept’. No sooner had I accepted than a message from her appeared.

“Alpha Cassandra. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you…”

My heart pounded. It felt like a trap—like the walls were closing in. Ignoring the message, I went straight to the sender’s profile.

The first picture I saw was of a woman, wearing that exact wolf pendant. She’s beautiful, dark hair flowing as she posed under the full moon, the pendant glowing around her neck. Beside her, a tall figure leaned close, hand resting on her shoulder. It was unmistakably Drake!

I felt a tightness in my chest, like a betrayal too deep to put into words. 3 years? He’d been sneaking off to see her for 3 years?!

I kept scrolling. She had all the pieces of jewelry: the rings, the earrings, the cuffs, the sapphires, diamonds—each with a smug caption:

“My mooncake is so generous.” A photo of a night sky, the caption taunting: “Love those moonlit dates.”

I clenched my fists, anger swirling through me. Every caption, every picture was like another twist of the knife! I had trusted him, confided in him, relied on him to keep the pack strong—especially after we lost our first child!

The memory hit me hard. The last time I was this far along, carrying our first child, things were so different. I’d been so excited, counting down the days and planning everything in meticulous detail.

But then, that awful night came. I remembered how I’d called Drake, desperate for him to be with me as everything started going wrong. The pain had hit suddenly, and when I reached for my phone, I thought he’d be there in a heartbeat. But he wasn’t. He said he was too busy handling “urgent pack business.”

The pain of losing our child was like a storm I thought I’d never survive. I’d leaned on him afterward, needing his support more than ever. He’d said all the right things, promised he’d always be there. I clung to his words, believing he cared just as deeply!

But now, as I stared at the screen in front of me, my stomach twisted. Melanie’s posts—each one with a date and timestamp—had been right there the whole time, but I’d never thought to look.

And there it was, a photo from that same night. Drake and Melanie, out together, celebrating their ‘one-year anniversary.’ She’d posted a picture of them clinking glasses, the full moon in the background, captioned with, ‘Lucky to have my Beta by my side tonight.’

I felt sick! The betrayal is fresh all over again. While I was suffering, while I lost our pup alone, he’d been with her, laughing and celebrating? Wow.

My fists clenched, anger bubbling up! Each photo, every caption, felt like another punch to the gut. I’d trusted him, leaned on him! He had been the one to hold me up, but I guess his support didn’t last.

Another notification pinged, making me jump. It was from the same unknown number.

“Does he still tell you he’s working late at the packhouse? Or that he’s securing territory? Guess what, Cassandra? He’s with me.”

My blood ran cold. Was he there right now? While I was alone, carrying his Alpha’s unborn child, he was off with this… this woman from the Riverview Pack?

I closed my eyes, forcing myself to stay calm. My hands shook as I put down the phone. But then, another notification popped up.

Image received.

With a shaky hand, I opened it. It was a picture of Drake, sitting close to her, that same pendant in his hand as he smiled at her. They were in a forest, deep in our territory. How long had he been bringing her here?

Another message:

“Look familiar? Thought you’d want a close-up.”

I felt the anger simmer, bubbling beneath the surface.

Just then, a soft knock sounded at the door.

“Cassandra?” Drake’s voice was gentle, as if he didn’t have a care in the world.

I quickly slid my phone under the pillow, forcing a calm expression as I called out, “C-come in.”

Drake walked in, smiling warmly as he knelt in front of me, reaching out to place his hand on my belly. “How’s our little warrior today?” His voice was soft, affectionate.

I forced a tight smile. “Kicking up a storm,” I said, keeping my tone even.

“Good,” he chuckled, running his hand over my stomach. “Strong, just like you.”

I swallowed back the bitterness. “Did you have a good day, Drake?” I asked casually, watching his reaction.

“Oh, nothing special. Just the usual border checks,” he said too easily. “Everything’s under control.”

Control. The word felt like a joke.

I nodded, my fingers clenching slightly. “Good. I trust you to keep things in order.”

He smiled, totally oblivious to my anger. “You know I’d do anything for you and the pack, Cassandra. I’d never let anything come between us.”

The irony was almost too much. I took a breath, smiling as I reached out to squeeze his hand. “I’m glad, Drake. Really. The pack is lucky to have you.”

He grinned, squeezing back, and I forced myself to stay calm. I needed time to figure out exactly what he was planning, what he intended with that Riverview wolf.

As he stood, preparing to leave, I watched him closely. Every lie he’d told me over these months felt like a fresh cut.

He turned at the door, giving me a small wave. “Get some rest, Cassandra. I’ll check on the east border again tonight, just to be safe.”

My mind screamed, Liar! Border checks? You don’t even see the pack anymore. You only see her. I wanted to shout it, to make him face the truth. But I forced myself to stay calm.

“Thanks, Drake,” I replied, keeping my tone even. “Be careful out there.”

With a nod, he left, closing the door softly behind him. As the lock clicked, I finally let myself crumble, tears spilling over.

Drake left the house, and I knew he was heading to meet Melanie. Just the thought made my heart race. Instead of following him like a lovesick puppy, I took a deep breath and decided to dig deeper.

The room was dead silent, but my heartbeat was pounding so loud, I was sure I’d hear it echo. Drake’s backpack sat half-open on the floor, almost daring me to find out what he was hiding.

I reached in and started pulling things out. First, an old crumpled receipt. I squinted at it, noticing the name of a jewelry store. And then another receipt—this one from a high-end baby store. My pulse spiked. Baby items? Food supplements? Was he hiding… more than just a fling?

My fingers trembled as I dug further and felt a hard, flat edge. I pulled it out, my breath catching in my throat. It was an ultrasound report, Melanie’s name scrawled right across the top. I scanned the image, the tiny form barely visible, and yet it hit me like a ton of bricks.

“She’s pregnant?” The words slipped out in a horrified whisper.

I stumbled back, nearly dropping the report, and my heart twisted as the pieces clicked together. The note I’d found earlier flashed back into my mind. *Drake, you make my heart race. Can’t wait to see you again. Love, Mel.*

My stomach churned. Not only was he seeing her—she was carrying his child, the child he had never mentioned!

I quickly snapped photos of everything. I needed proof. This wasn’t just about me now; it was about our pup too. I couldn’t just sit around waiting to see how deep his lies went.

The front door creaked open suddenly, and panic shot through me. I stuffed everything back into the bag and bolted to the bedroom, throwing myself onto the bed and pretending to read. My hands shook, gripping the book, as I heard Drake’s footsteps coming closer.

“Hey, babe,” he called out, his voice casual, completely unaware of the storm he’d just unleashed in me.

I forced a shaky breath and looked up, trying to mask the hurt and fury in my eyes. “Hey.“

“What are you up to?”

“Oh, you know, just relaxing,” I said, forcing a smile. I could feel him moving closer, and I tried not to let my nerves show.

“Great! I need to grab something,” he said, and I knew he was going for his bag. My heart sank as he sat down on the bed next to me.

“Cassandra, you okay?”

I turned to look at him, forcing my expression to soften. “I just don’t feel well,” I lied, putting a hand on my belly. “It’s been a rough day.”

Drake frowned. “Do you want me to stay home? I can reschedule that meeting.”

My heart leaped at the thought. “Yes! Please, I’d feel so much better if you could just be here for me,” I pleaded, hoping he’d choose me over whatever he had planned with Melanie.

He hesitated, glancing at his phone on the nightstand. “I really can’t, Cass. This project is important.”

Those words hit me hard. I felt a lump in my throat as I fought back tears. “I get it,” I said, my voice shaky. “But I really need you. Can’t it wait just this once?”

He looked torn, and for a moment, I thought I saw guilt in his eyes. “I promise I’ll be back as soon as I can,” he said softly. “I just… I need to take care of this.”

“Fine,” I said, biting my lip to hold back tears. “But I really wish you wouldn’t go.” I turned my face away, trying to hide the hurt I was feeling.

As he walked out, it felt like all the air left the room. I flopped back onto the bed, the tears finally spilling over. How could he do this?

I buried my face in the pillows, letting them soak up my tears. I couldn’t believe he chose this “urgent meeting” over being with me?! The betrayal felt like a knife twisting in my heart.

After I gathered myself, I made my way outside, my mind racing. I had seen enough! I followed his scents to the sacred werewolf grove. I know he’s going there! It was one of those places we used to visit together, where the moonlight danced through the trees and made everything feel magical. But tonight, it felt more like a horror movie.

As I approached, I could hear their laughter cutting through the night air. My heart pounded louder with each step until I found a spot to hide behind a thick oak tree.

And there they were! Drake stood under the silver light, his arms wrapped around Melanie. They looked so cozy together, and my heart shattered as I watched him shower her with the love he used to give me.

“Mel, you look beautiful tonight…” his voice oozing affection.

“Thank you, Drake! I’ve missed you so much!” she replied, leaning into him and kissed him.

My breath caught in my throat.

How dare she kissed him?!