Chapter 1

The alarm blared at 4:30 AM, jolting me from a fitful sleep. I silenced it quickly, not wanting to wake Karen in the next room. She hated early mornings and would make her displeasure known for days if disturbed. I slipped out of bed, my bare feet meeting the cold, uneven floorboards that Thomas had promised to fix three summers ago.

Lyra, my wolf, remained quiet as she always did in the mornings. Sometimes I wondered if she slept more deeply than I did, or if she simply had nothing to say about our daily routine of sacrifice and service.

"Another day," I whispered to myself, pulling on my worn jeans and faded sweater.

The kitchen table became my battlefield as I spread out the week's bills alongside the $300 Thomas had transferred. The math never changed, yet I always hoped for a miracle. Rent for our modest den consumed half the amount. The remaining $150 needed to stretch for groceries, Karen's "necessities," Jason's training equipment, and the herbs for the upcoming full moon ceremony.

I made my calculations with practiced precision, allocating $20 for patching the den's leaking roof. Karen would complain, but at least we wouldn't have water dripping onto her bed during the next rainfall.

"Ellie!" Karen's voice pierced through the thin walls. "Is the coffee ready?"

I glanced at the clock—5:15 AM. She was up early.

"Coming right up," I called back, quickly putting on a pot.

Karen appeared in the doorway, her silk robe a stark contrast to my threadbare clothes. "I need you to pick up Jason's protein supplements today. The ones from the central territories, not the cheap local brand."

"Karen, I've only got enough for—"

"Thomas expects his Beta's son to be properly prepared for training," she cut me off. "You wouldn't want to disappoint your Alpha, would you?"

I swallowed my protest. "I'll make it work."

"Good." She took the coffee I handed her. "Oh, and while you're in the central territories, get those special herbs for the full moon ceremony. Thomas mentioned they're important."

I nodded, recalculating my budget. The herbs would cost at least $40, and Jason's supplements another $30. The roof would have to wait.

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The bus to the central territories was crowded with workers and shoppers. I clutched my worn purse, feeling the weight of responsibility inside—$70 for the herbs and supplements, plus $10 for emergencies. I couldn't afford to lose a single dollar.

As the landscape changed from our modest territory to the gleaming buildings of the central area, I felt the familiar pang of wonder and alienation. This world of wealth seemed to belong to a different species entirely, not just different packs.

The herbalist's shop was tucked between a high-end clothing boutique and a gourmet food store. The contrast was jarring—people spending on a single meal what would feed our pack for a week.

"The ceremonial sage is $35," the shopkeeper informed me. "And the moonflower essence is another $10."

I handed over the money, carefully counting out each bill. As I tucked the herbs into my bag, something shifted in the air. A scent—familiar yet unexpected—drifted through the open door.

Pine and cedar. Thomas.

My head snapped up, my nostrils flaring. It couldn't be. Thomas was handling territory disputes three counties away. He'd told me he wouldn't be back for days.

Yet there it was, his unmistakable scent, now mixed with expensive cologne I'd never smelled on him before.

I stepped outside, following the scent trail like a thread pulling me through the crowded street. It led me to a parfumerie with crystal chandeliers and marble counters. Through the window, I saw him.

Thomas—my mate, my Alpha—stood laughing, his arm around a stunning she-wolf with glossy black hair and designer clothes. Between them, a young boy, no more than seven, gazed up at a display of colognes.

My heart stopped. My lungs refused to work. I pressed myself against the building, out of sight, as they exited the store.

"Daddy, can we get ice cream now?" the boy asked, tugging at Thomas's sleeve.

"Of course, champ," Thomas replied, ruffling the boy's hair with an affection I'd rarely seen him show our daughter.

I followed them at a distance, moving on autopilot. My mind refused to process what I was seeing. They climbed into a gleaming Range Rover—a vehicle worth more than our entire den—and drove toward the affluent northern district.

I hailed a taxi, spending my emergency money without hesitation. "Follow that Range Rover," I instructed, my voice surprisingly steady.

The taxi dropped me a block from where the Range Rover had stopped—a magnificent alpha residence with manicured gardens and security gates. Thomas punched in a code, and the gates swung open. They drove in as if they belonged there. As if this was home.

"Excuse me," a friendly voice said beside me. "Are you lost?"

I turned to see a petite woman with kind eyes. From her scent, I could tell she was an omega.

"I'm just..." I struggled to find words.

"Oh, are you visiting someone in the Alpha King's residence?" she asked, glancing at the gates. "I'm Lily, by the way."

"Alpha King?" I echoed, the words feeling foreign on my tongue.

Lily nodded enthusiastically. "Alpha King Thomas. Everyone knows his territory. He has the most beautiful family, doesn't he? His chosen mate Vanessa is always so elegantly dressed, and their son is adorable."

The world tilted beneath my feet. Alpha King Thomas. Chosen mate. Their son.

Ten years of sacrifice. Ten years of believing we were struggling together. Ten years of lies.

For the first time in years, I felt Lyra stir within me, a low growl rising from the depths of my soul.