*Dad, I need to leave him.*

I projected the thought through our mental link, keeping my body entirely still on the mattress. Beside me, Ethan’s breathing had leveled out into the steady rhythm of sleep. Sophia lay tangled against his chest.

*Olivia?* Victor’s voice echoed in my mind, sharp and instantly awake. *Did he strike you? Tell me right now.*

*Worse,* I replied, staring into the dark shadows of the bedroom ceiling. *He is sleeping with Sophia. They are in my bed right now. And Dad... he just told her he plans to arrange a terrible accident for me tomorrow.*

Silence stretched across the telepathic connection. The sheer force of my father’s Alpha aura pushed through the link, making my temples throb.

*I am ending this marriage,* I added, my mental voice trembling. *I want to come home.*

*You do not need to explain yourself to me,* Victor stated, his tone leaving no room for argument. *The Ashbourne family protects its own. I am booking the jet right now. It will wait for you at the private airfield on the edge of town.*

*What if he stops me?*

*He will not have the chance. Play along until morning. Smile. Act like the perfect wife. Then walk out the door and never look back.*

*Thank you, Dad.*

*We are your pack, Olivia. We always have your back. Be at the airstrip by noon.*

The link severed. I lay frozen next to the two monsters who wanted me dead, counting the seconds until dawn.

***

Sunlight spilled across the kitchen island. I flipped a strip of bacon in the cast-iron skillet, letting the grease pop and sizzle.

Footsteps approached from the hallway. I forced my shoulders to drop, pasting a bright, easy smile on my face before turning around.

Ethan strolled into the kitchen, adjusting the cuffs of his tailored suit. He looked well-rested. Radiant, even.

"Morning, beautiful," Ethan said. He leaned in and pressed a kiss to my cheek.

My stomach churned at his touch. I gripped the handle of the spatula tightly. "Good morning. Breakfast is almost ready."

He pulled out a barstool and sat down, drumming his fingers on the marble counter. "My Beta mentioned you stopped by the hospital yesterday afternoon. Is everything okay? You aren't sick, are you?"

He was testing me. Trying to see if his nightly doses of sleeping pills were causing side effects I might complain about.

I swallowed the lump forming in my throat. "I feel fine. It was just a routine checkup. The doctor says I’m in perfect health."

"That’s a relief," Ethan replied smoothly. He reached out and tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear. "You know how much I worry about you, Liv. You need to take better care of yourself."

"I will," I said, keeping my tone perfectly flat.

"Good." He checked his gold wristwatch. "I have a massive board meeting tonight. We’re discussing the new territory expansion. I’ll probably be at the office until midnight, so don't wait up for me."

"I understand," I answered, sliding a plate of eggs and bacon in front of him.

Right on cue, Sophia sauntered into the kitchen. She wore a tight silk robe that barely covered her thighs.

"Morning, you two," Sophia chirped, pouring herself a cup of black coffee.

"Sleep well?" Ethan asked her, not missing a beat.

"Like a baby," Sophia smirked, locking eyes with him over the rim of her mug. She turned her attention to me. "Oh, Liv, I almost forgot to tell you. I’m heading to a friend’s party tonight. A bunch of us girls are getting together. I won't be coming home."

"Have fun," I told her, turning back to the stove so they couldn't see the disgust twisting my features.

A board meeting. A girl's night out.

They weren't even trying to be creative. They were just changing locations so they could screw without worrying about me waking up.

"I should get going," Ethan announced, pushing his half-empty plate away. He stood up and grabbed his briefcase from the hall table. "I love you, Liv. Stay safe today."

"Bye, Ethan."

Sophia set her coffee down. "I need to go get my nails done before the party. See you tomorrow, Liv!"

"See you," I echoed.

The front door clicked shut.

Silence descended on the massive house. I stood in the center of the kitchen for a long time, listening to the distant hum of the refrigerator.

They were gone.

I dropped the spatula onto the counter. My hands immediately flew to my flat stomach. I pressed my palms against the fabric of my shirt, feeling a sudden, fierce surge of protective instinct.

"Mommy is taking you to your real home," I whispered to my unborn pup. "They will never hurt us."

I didn't bother going to the master bedroom to pack clothes. Ethan had bought all those dresses. I didn't want anything that belonged to him.

Instead, I walked straight to my small study down the hall. I pulled open the bottom drawer of my desk and grabbed my passport, my identification cards, and a small stack of emergency cash. I shoved them into my leather purse.

Nothing else mattered.

I walked down the main hallway, passing framed photos of our wedding day. Ethan smiling at the camera. Me looking up at him with pure adoration.

Three years of my life, built on a mountain of lies.

I opened the front door and stepped out into the crisp morning air. I didn't look back at the sprawling estate. I just kept walking down the paved driveway toward the main gates.

A sleek black town car waited at the curb, sent by my father.

The driver stepped out and opened the rear door for me. "Miss Ashbourne. We need to leave immediately."

I slid into the backseat. The door slammed shut, sealing me inside the tinted interior.

"Take me to the airstrip," I instructed.

The engine roared to life. As the car pulled away from the curb, my phone buzzed violently in my purse.

I pulled it out and stared at the glowing screen.

*Ethan: Hey honey, my Beta just called. The brakes on your SUV are completely shot. Do not drive it today. I’m sending a mechanic over right now.*

My blood turned to ice.

He wasn't trying to warn me. He was establishing an alibi.

Suddenly, a heavy thud echoed from the roof of my hired car. The vehicle swerved sharply, tires squealing against the asphalt.

"What was that?" I shouted, grabbing the back of the driver's seat.

The driver didn't answer. He slumped forward over the steering wheel, a silver dart protruding from the side of his neck.

The car veered wildly toward the steep embankment at the edge of the road, picking up speed.

Three years.

It had been exactly three years since I crawled out of a shattered town car, boarded my father's private jet, and left my entire life behind.

Now, the sterile fluorescent lights of New York International Airport glared down at me. The terminal buzzed with the chaotic energy of thousands of travelers rushing to their gates.

I adjusted the leather strap of my travel bag on my shoulder. My other hand kept a firm grip on my three-year-old daughter.

"Mommy, it's too loud," Lily complained, pressing her small body against my leg.

"I know, sweetheart," I murmured, scanning the overhead signs for the exit. "We just need to find our driver."

A towering figure stepped directly into our path, blocking the automatic sliding glass doors.

Fingers clamped around my wrist like a steel trap.

I jerked my arm backward, but the grip held firm, digging into my skin.

"Olivia."

The raw, hoarse voice scraped against my eardrums. I snapped my gaze upward.

Ethan.

He stood blocking the exit, wearing a sharp charcoal suit. But shadows bruised the skin beneath his eyes, and the perfectly groomed Alpha I remembered looked frayed at the edges.

"I looked for you for three years," Ethan rasped, his jaw muscles jumping as he stared down at me. "Where the hell have you been?"

I stared at the hand gripping my wrist, then dragged my eyes back to his face. No panic flared in my chest. No tears pricked my eyes. The girl who used to cry over him had died in that rigged car.

"Let go of me," I commanded, keeping my tone perfectly flat.

He ignored the order, his fingers tightening. "The car was found at the bottom of a ravine. Your driver was dead. I tore the entire territory apart looking for your body."

"You mean you searched for proof that your problem was permanently solved," I countered.

Before he could argue, a small body wedged itself between us.

"Let go of my mommy!"

Lily shoved her tiny hands against Ethan’s knee, glaring up at him with fierce green eyes.

Ethan’s head snapped down. The anger in his expression vanished, replaced by total shock. He stared at her dark curls and stubborn chin. Then, his gaze swept over me, his nostrils flaring as he tried to catch a scent.

His expression darkened into a thunderous scowl.

"Whose child is this?" he demanded, his voice dropping into a dangerous, rumbling growl. "Olivia, you actually betrayed me?"

A cold laugh punched its way out of my throat. I wrenched my arm with all my strength, finally breaking his hold. I rubbed my reddened skin, refusing to break eye contact.

"Betrayed you?" I asked, tilting my head.

"She's three years old," Ethan snarled, pointing a heavy finger at Lily. "You ran away and immediately spread your legs for another Alpha? Is that why you faked your death?"

"Three days after I left your house," I said, cutting through his rage with absolute ice, "my wolf collapsed. I spent forty-eight hours screaming in a hospital bed while the agony of our mate mark tearing apart ripped through my chest."

Ethan stiffened. His hand dropped to his side.

"Do you know what a forced severing feels like, Ethan?" I pressed, stepping closer. "It feels like someone taking a serrated blade to your soul. I bled. I seized. The doctors thought I was going to lose my pup."

He broke eye contact, staring at a baggage carousel in the distance.

"You were the one who initiated the bond-breaking ritual," I stated. "You severed the tie to make room for your mistress. Don't you dare stand in this airport and accuse me of betrayal."

The guilt flashed across his features for a fraction of a second before his arrogant Alpha pride buried it completely.

"It was complicated," Ethan muttered, finally meeting my gaze again. He squared his shoulders, puffing out his chest. "But you will always be my Luna. Every adult Alpha has moments of impulse. It meant nothing."

I stared at him, genuinely amazed by the sheer scale of his delusion.

"An impulse," I repeated. "You drugged my milk every night. You plotted to have me killed."

"A Luna is supposed to be forgiving!" he snapped, running a hand through his dark hair. "You are supposed to stand by your Alpha, not run away like a coward. I gave you everything—wealth, status, a pack."

"You gave me a cage and a daily dose of poison," I replied.

"I never actually gave the final order for the crash!" he insisted, his voice rising over the terminal noise. "And Sophia... Sophia will never threaten your position. She’s just a distraction. A plaything."

I shook my head gently. Pity curled in my stomach, cold and bitter.

"She didn't threaten my position, Ethan," I said softly. "She destroyed your future."

His upper lip curled into a vicious sneer. "Sophia was right about you. You're just playing disappearing games to make me bow my head. You want me to beg."

He stepped into my space, using his height to try and intimidate me.

"I am hosting a massive business banquet tonight," Ethan said, lowering his voice to a harsh, demanding whisper. "The entire East Coast alliance will be there. If you don't show up and fulfill your Luna duties by my side, I will officially sever our relationship in front of every Alpha in the state. I will strip you of your title. No more games, Olivia."

He didn't wait for an answer. He spun on his heel and strode away, his broad shoulders disappearing into the sea of travelers.

I stood in the middle of the terminal, the rush of passengers flowing around us like a river.

Lily tugged on the hem of my coat.

I crouched down, bringing myself to eye level with my daughter. I brushed a stray curl from her forehead, studying her bright eyes.

"Baby," I began, keeping my voice steady. "If your father is a complete bastard, do you still want to claim him?"

Lily didn't even blink. Her eyes narrowed with a fierce intelligence that surpassed her three years.

"Of course not," she said, shaking her head without hesitation. "That would be the biggest stain on my life."

A genuine smile finally broke across my face. I stood up and took her small hand in mine.

"Good girl," I said. "Come on. We have a dress to buy."

Ethan wanted me at his banquet. He wanted his obedient Luna to smile for the cameras and validate his power.

Tonight, I would give him exactly what he asked for, but he wouldn't survive the gift.