Drake didn’t wait long to strike again. He used the fallout from the leaked business strategies to launch his most public attack yet. The board meeting was supposed to be a chance for me to reassure everyone that we were still strong, that the leaks were just a hiccup. Instead, Drake turned it into a full-blown ambush.

I should’ve known when he walked into the room with that smug look on his face, Melanie right on his heels. She had this irritating habit of standing just close enough to be noticed but far enough to play innocent.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Drake said, standing up during the discussion about our quarterly projections. His voice carried the kind of fake sincerity I’d grown to despise. “I think it’s time we address the elephant in the room. Cassandra’s leadership is… well, let’s just say it’s spread a little thin these days.”

My jaw tightened, but I stayed silent, waiting to see how far he’d go.

Drake turned to the investors, his expression somber, like he was doing this out of concern for everyone involved. “She’s juggling too much—her pack, this company, her personal life. It’s no wonder cracks are starting to show. We’ve lost key staff, investors are pulling back, and now we’re dealing with leaks. If we don’t act now, this empire will crumble.”

He paused, letting his words sink in, then gestured to Melanie. “Thankfully, there’s a solution. Melanie and I have proven we can work together effectively. I believe it’s time for a leadership change. Someone who can focus solely on what’s best for both the pack and the company.”

Melanie stepped forward, her smile all teeth and no warmth. “Cassandra has done an admirable job, but let’s be honest. She’s distracted. She’s emotional. Running an empire requires balance, and frankly, that’s something only a strong, decisive leader like Drake can provide.”

I couldn’t take it anymore. I stood, my chair scraping loudly against the floor. “Are you done?” I asked, my voice sharp enough to cut through the tension.

Drake leaned back, crossing his arms. “Just stating the obvious, Cassandra.”

“The only thing obvious here,” I said, “is how desperate you are. You think aligning with Melanie and throwing a tantrum in front of the board is going to make you look like a leader? All it does is show how little you understand about what it takes to run this empire.”

The room fell silent. Drake smirked, but I could see the flicker of anger in his eyes.

Later that evening, things got worse. My mother called for a family meeting. I walked into her sitting room, hoping for some semblance of support, only to find her sitting next to Drake like they were allies.

“You need to listen to reason, Cassandra,” she said, her voice stern. “Drake has valid points. The pack is divided, the company is struggling. Maybe it’s time to step back and let someone else take charge—for the good of everyone.”

For a second, I couldn’t breathe. My own mother, siding with the man who’d betrayed me? Wow.

“You can’t be serious, Mom.”

“I am,” she replied. “You’re too focused on proving yourself. That’s not leadership—it’s pride. Drake can bring stability. Think about the pack, Cassandra. Think about your legacy.”

“My legacy?” I snapped, the words bitter on my tongue. “I built this legacy! Not Drake. Not Melanie. Me. And if you think I’m going to hand it over to them, you’re out of your mind.”

She sighed, shaking her head like I was a child throwing a tantrum. “This isn’t just about you.”

“You’re right,” I said, standing. “It’s about all of us. And that’s why I’m not backing down.”

The next morning, I made the announcement: I accepted Drake’s challenge to a duel. It wasn’t a physical fight—it was a battle of business acumen and leadership, to be decided at the International Alpha Summit. The winner would take control of both the pack and the company.

Drake thought he had it in the bag. He’d been playing this game longer, had more connections, more experience. But he underestimated me.

When the summit began, I walked in with Rafael at my side, his steady presence grounding me. Drake and Melanie were already there, mingling, their laughter grating on my nerves.

The duel was intense—negotiations, strategic pitches, and a final presentation in front of a panel of investors and pack leaders. Drake tried to play dirty, throwing subtle digs about my “emotional decision-making” and “lack of focus.” Melanie chimed in, echoing his points with a sugary smile.

But I didn’t let them rattle me. I tapped into everything that made me who I was—my intelligence, my resilience, my ability to read a room and adapt. I countered every point they made, turning their arguments into opportunities to highlight my strengths.

By the end of the day, the panel’s decision was unanimous.

—

Drake’s face was a picture of fury as the announcement was made. Melanie tried to mask her disappointment, but her clenched jaw gave her away.

I stepped forward, addressing the room. “This isn’t just a victory for me—it’s a victory for every leader who’s ever been told they’re too ambitious, too emotional, or too distracted to succeed. I will continue to lead with strength and integrity, and I will not tolerate betrayal within my pack or my company.”

After the summit, I expelled Drake and Melanie from both. They were no longer part of my pack, my company, or my life.

I got home, feeling like I’d just won a war. Sure, the summit went my way, but I wasn’t delusional enough to think it was over. I could feel the tension still hanging in the air, thick as smoke.

I was just about to kick off my heels when my mother stormed in. She didn’t even knock.

“You think you’ve won?” she hissed, “You’ve made a huge mistake, Cassandra!”

Before I could even respond, her hand shot out and slapped me across the face. The sting burned, but the anger it ignited in me was worse.

“What the hell, Mom?” My hand instinctively going to my cheek.

“You’re throwing your life away. Drake is your mate, Cassandra. He was always meant to be yours.”

I blinked. Was she serious? Was she really standing here, siding with the guy who had betrayed me like it was nothing? I couldn’t even speak, I was so stunned.

“Mom, stop,” I finally managed though the anger was bubbling under the surface. “Drake is not my mate anymore! He’s nothing but a liar and a cheat. I’m done.”

She narrowed her eyes, and her jaw tight. “You think you’re in control, but you’re not. I’ve already made arrangements. Another family, another beta. It’s time for you to do your duty. You will marry someone who can bring stability.”

“What?!” My heart was hammering in my chest. “I don’t care who you’ve set up. I’m not marrying anyone just to make you happy. I’m not a pawn, Mom!”

But she wasn’t listening. She turned on her heel and left without another word, leaving me standing there, fuming and heartbroken all over again.

I slammed the door behind her and let out a long, shaky breath.

I ignored everything. I ignored the ringing phone, the endless texts, the emails that were flooding in. But there was no escaping the aftermath.

Walking into my room, I froze. His stuff was everywhere. Drake’s scent, his presence, his mark on my life—it was all too much. His jacket hanging on the back of the door, the stupid framed photo of us from our anniversary that I had never even liked, the cufflinks he left on my dresser…

I didn’t even hesitate.

I started grabbing everything and tossing it in the trash. His stupid things were nothing but reminders of a past I wanted to burn.

His cologne bottle? In the trash. The fancy watch he gave me for Christmas? You guessed it—in the trash. I wasn’t going to keep anything that had anything to do with him.

When I finally finished, my room was empty of all his traces. It felt like I could finally breathe again. I collapsed onto my bed, exhausted, staring up at the ceiling.

But my mind wouldn’t shut off. Memories crept in like an unwelcome guest, dragging me back to the beginning.

I remembered how sweet Drake used to be. He wasn’t rich when we started dating. The gifts he bought me weren’t expensive, but I didn’t care. It was the thought that counted, right? He used to surprise me with little things—a bracelet he saved up for, my favorite snacks when I had a bad day, a handwritten note tucked into my bag.

“Happy anniversary, baby. Sorry it’s not much, but one day I’ll give you the world.”

Back then, I believed him.

And the dates—simple, perfect dates. A picnic in the park with food he made himself, movie marathons where he fell asleep halfway through, even just sitting in the car, talking for hours. He made me feel special, like I was his entire world.

“Three years, Cassandra,” he’d said once on my birthday, holding out a cupcake with a single candle. “Three years, and I still can’t believe I get to call you mine.”

God, I was stupid.

Then Melanie showed up. She walked into his life, applying to be his secretary, and suddenly everything changed. At first, I didn’t want to believe it. She was always around, always finding excuses to call him, text him, spend extra hours in his office.

But I acted blind. I told myself I was overthinking it. Drake would never betray me. I loved him. I trusted him.

“Babe, you know you’re the only one I care about,” he’d say when I voiced my doubts. And I believed him. Again and again.

I let it slide when he forgot our next anniversary. When he skipped my birthday dinner because ‘work was crazy.’ When he started coming home late, smelling like her perfume.

Five years. Five fucking years I wasted on him. And it took me that long to finally see the truth.

I pulled out my phone, hoping for some peace, but of course, there was no such thing.

Drake. Melanie. Both blowing up my inbox with a barrage of angry messages. I couldn’t help but laugh. It felt good.

“Do you really think you can get away with this?”

“You’ll regret this, Cassandra. You belong with me.”

“We’ll ruin you.”

I stared at the screen, shaking my head. I used to cry over messages like these. Not anymore.

I tossed my phone onto the nightstand.

They were delusional. I blocked both of their numbers in one swift move. No more of their lies, no more of their bullshit. I was done.

I thought that would be it. I thought I’d won. I thought I could relax.

But then, my phone buzzed with an email. The title read: Urgent: Investors Pulling Back.