My intended mate's Omega aide stole my ancestral Bloodmoon Jade Charm.

When I confronted her to reclaim it, she smashed it into fragments right before my eyes. Then, in front of the entire pack hall, she humiliated me, claiming I had only received such a treasure by warming the furs of some aging Alpha.

Fury burned through my veins. I produced proof that the Bloodmoon Jade Charm belonged to my bloodline and immediately called for the pack trackers. Their scent-reading confirmed she had stolen the charm.

I demanded pack-law judgment against her for slander and den-theft.

My intended mate only chuckled, reaching over to pat my head like I was a confused pup. "She's young and new to pack politics. She doesn't understand these things yet. When she sees something beautiful, naturally she wants it. Can't you just let it go?"

The Omega aide smirked at me, her expression dripping with arrogance as she made a crude gesture behind his back.

I responded by having her dragged before the Pack Elders for formal correction.

Yet my intended mate showed no anger toward me. Each day, he sent me lavish den treasures and spoke eagerly of hastening our pre-bond ceremony.

Until the night of the gathering itself.

I arrived in my finest ceremonial gown, only to be seized like a common thief. They pulled a missing Moonstone timepiece from the folds of my dress.

My intended mate emerged with his Omega aide draped against his side. "Tsk. Seal the den doors. Don't let the thief find a chance to escape. She may have stolen from others as well. Perhaps we should strip her gown and search her properly."

——

The words had barely left his lips before a swarm of pack sentries surrounded me, forming an impenetrable wall. The gathered wolves pointed at me, their voices thick with contempt.

"She wears a pretty face, but who would have thought she'd be bold enough to steal from the Alpha Patriarch's own collection?"

"These days, you never know what kind of creature walks among us. Her clothes look fine enough!"

"Ha! Those garments probably came from spreading her legs for some old Alpha. I thought it strange—I've never seen this female among the noble bloodlines of the Northern Territories."

"They already said she climbed into some elder's furs to get here. A scheming little she-wolf like that would naturally grow greedy around precious relics."

The humiliation made my fists clench until my claws threatened to break through. My whole body trembled as I turned toward Kael Hartwell, hoping he would speak up and clear my name.

"Kael, tell them. I'm not a thief or a scheming she-wolf. I'm your intended mate—tonight's honored female."

But Kael only gave me a mocking smile. "My intended mate? You?"

"Perhaps you should find a still pool and look at your own reflection. A gold-digging she-wolf with a passable face dares call herself my intended mate?"

"What a delusion. I am the heir to the Hartwell Pack's Alpha seat, the next in line for leadership. How could a creature like you ever be worthy of my claim?"

With that, he hurled his goblet at my face. The shattered pieces caught the edge of my eye.

Pain lanced through me. I squeezed my eyes shut, feeling them burn and sting.

When I opened them again, tears slipped down my cheeks—which the crowd took as proof of my guilt.

I stared in disbelief at the male I had loved for years. Just last night, he had been gentle and attentive in my presence.

Now he would destroy me to please his Omega aide.

Ah. So that explained his sudden generosity with gifts.

That explained why he hadn't been angry when I had Lily Hartwell brought before the Elders. His calm had been a mask. All along, he had been planning how to exact revenge on her behalf.

Now he refused to acknowledge our bond. Instead, he presented Lily Hartwell to everyone as his rightful intended mate while treating me like a common criminal.

Every wolf in attendance pointed at my face, sparing no breath in their rush to shame me.

"Tsk, a gold-digging she-wolf dreaming of mating into a noble pack. Have you been reading too many moonlit tales?"

"Tsk tsk tsk, she's ruthless—only steals the most valuable relics!"

"She has working paws and a strong body, yet she won't earn her place honestly. She'd rather sell her flesh and steal to gain wealth."

"Ha! With a pretty face, she just lies back in the furs and waits for tribute to spend."

Kael Hartwell pulled Lily Hartwell close. "Beloved, tonight is the surprise I prepared for you. However she humiliated you that day, return it tenfold."

"Everyone, the one standing beside me is my true intended mate. Don't make the mistake of confusing her with anyone else."

"As for this female? She's nothing but a filthy gold-digger and a den-thief."

"Sentries, seize her."

In an instant, pack guards rushed forward and pinned me in place, their grips like iron shackles. I couldn't move an inch, and fury tightened my brow.

Kael Hartwell released Lily Hartwell's hand and lunged toward me, snatching the pouch from my grasp. He dug through it and pulled out a moonstone ring, its gem as large as a dove's egg.

That ring—he had asked me to bring it tonight. He said it was for the bonding ceremony.

I never imagined I had walked straight into his trap. Now he was accusing me of stealing his own ring.

"See? I haven't wronged you at all."

"You even dared to steal the ring I prepared for my intended mate's bonding."

Lily Hartwell's face twisted into a cunning smile as she approached. Her palm cracked across my cheek.

"Serena Nightveil, you're the shameless gold-digger and thief here. How dare you accuse me of stealing your worthless jade charm back then?"

Another slap landed on my other cheek.

The humiliating whispers from the gathered pack members buzzed in my ears, mixing with Lily's blows. I must have looked utterly wretched.

"Ha! Serena, however you shamed me that day, I'll repay you a hundred times over tonight."

"Did you enjoy receiving those gifts recently?"

"Kael set that trap just for you. There's more hidden in your ceremonial gown, you know."

Lily raised her hand and patted my face mockingly, her laughter sharp and cruel.

Kael stood with his arms crossed, sneering at me. "Why are you looking at me like that? We haven't falsely accused you of anything."

"You've been caught with the evidence right on you."

"You've also damaged my timepiece relic and cracked the bonding ring. Have you figured out how you'll pay for that?"

Lily grabbed a fistful of my hair and yanked hard. "Pay? What could she possibly offer?"

"The only skill she has worth mentioning is what she does in the mating den!"

I glared at this scheming, treacherous she-wolf. I wanted nothing more than to break free from the sentries and tear into her.

But I never expected Kael to go even further to cement my reputation as a thief. He began searching through my ceremonial gown.

He ripped the fabric apart, exposing my bare legs.

Every male in the hall let out low whistles and growls. From the torn cloth, he pulled out an emerald ring and a limited-edition necklace worth tens of millions in tribute value.

I had no idea when those items had been planted on me.

Only Kael had been close enough to touch me, close enough for me to lower my guard and trust him.

"Whose necklace is this? And this ring?"

The moment he spoke, two older males shoved their way through the crowd.

"The necklace belongs to me."

"The emerald ring was meant as a gift for my mate."

"Filthy gold-digger! You dared to steal from me? You're asking for death!"

One of the elder wolves rushed forward, snatched up the ring, and examined it. His face contorted when he found a crack running through the stone.

"This is my prized emerald! You disgusting little thief, you've damaged it!"

"And my necklace—it's broken!"

I opened my mouth to explain. I had never even seen these items before, let alone damaged them.

But before I could utter a single word, both elder wolves struck me across the face, one after the other.

Burning pain flared across my cheeks, and my heart plummeted into an abyss.

In all my years, I had never suffered such humiliation. No one had ever dared treat me this way.

Yet here I was, in this unfamiliar territory, betrayed by the male I loved most, drowning in shame and injustice.

What Kael Hartwell didn't know was this—if tonight's pre-bond ceremony had proceeded smoothly, he would have gained wealth and power beyond anything his pack had ever known.

So the one truly suffering loss wasn't me. It was him. Because I was never some scheming fortune-hunter trying to claw my way into a powerful bloodline.

If not for him, I would never have lingered in this territory for three long years.

The disappointment and crimson fury burning in my eyes meant nothing to Kael. He dismissed them with a curl of his lip.

"Why the tears? If you knew this day would come, why steal in the first place? Of all things you could have done, you chose to be a thief."

"You've damaged everyone's relics tonight. Have you figured out how you're going to pay for them?"

"I didn't steal those things. You gave them to me."

I ground my teeth and glared at Kael, but no one believed me.

"Ha! Do you even know who Kael Hartwell is? And who are you?"

"Why would he ever gift a timepiece relic worth millions to someone like you?"

"As if you're worthy?"

I wrenched myself free from the wolves holding me and stalked forward, grabbing Kael's wrist with a fierce grip.

"Tell me. Why are you doing this to me? Why set this trap?"

Kael's expression darkened instantly. "What do you think you are? You're not even worth the effort of trapping."

"You thought being with me for a few years gave you the right to act however you pleased? You knew I cared for Lily. You knew how much I treasured her. Yet you deliberately sent her away to be humiliated."

I said nothing. I just stared at him coldly, my gaze catching on the bite mark hidden beneath his collar—a mating mark, fresh and deliberate.

We hadn't shared heat in a long time. So where had that mark come from?

My eyes drifted to Lily. She smiled back at me, bold and shameless.

The truth hit me then. Kael's heart had already shifted.

He was no longer worthy of my love.

I released his wrist and stepped back, a cold laugh escaping my throat.

"You've bedded her, haven't you?"

Kael stood there with that distant coldness, not answering directly. But the heated glances he exchanged with Lily told me everything.

My hands clenched into fists. I slowly closed my eyes.

No wonder Grandfather had warned me not to rush bringing Kael home. He'd insisted I court him for three years first—a test of his true loyalty.

I never expected to discover his betrayal right as that three-year trial ended.

"Hey! Gold-digger!"

"You broke our things. You owe us tribute!"

"Stop standing there feeling sorry for yourself."

"Exactly. If you can't pay what you owe, you're finished."

Hearing those words, I turned to face the gathered wolves with ice in my veins.

These so-called precious relics? I could easily afford to replace them all. But the items weren't stolen by me—they'd been planted on me deliberately.

I had no way to prove my innocence. No one would believe me.

Was I supposed to accept being branded a thief? I pulled out my Moonstone Comms Sigil, preparing to summon the pack authorities.

I would let proper investigation clear my name.

But before I could activate the connection, Lily kicked the sigil from my hands.

"You want to call for help?"

"Let me tell you something—even if enforcers come, they can't save you. Everyone here knows who holds power in this den. They know exactly whose side to take."

"If anyone's making a report, it'll be us. Because you're the thief. When they arrive, you'll be the first one seized."

The moment she finished speaking, everyone regarded me with contempt and disdain, as though I were some ignorant pup who didn't understand how the world worked.

But their scorn couldn't touch me.

Because my precious comms sigil—priceless beyond measure—had just been shattered by Lily.

"What a worthless device. It's barely breaking. Someone bring me a hammer to smash it properly."

I tried to stop her, but it was too late. The sigil was destroyed.

That wasn't an ordinary communication device. The enchantments and moon-crystals embedded within it—the pack artificers had poured years of effort into crafting them.