Chapter 2

I sat rigid beside Marcus at the morning pack meeting, my face a carefully crafted mask of serenity. Every cell in my body screamed to flee, to howl my anguish to the moon, but I remained poised—the perfect Luna everyone expected me to be.

Lyra paced restlessly within me. *How can you sit next to him? I can smell her on him.*

*We need to be strategic,* I replied silently. *We need to know everything before we act.*

Marcus's voice boomed across the meeting hall as he addressed the gathered pack members. "The Northern territory expansion is proceeding as planned. Beta Liam will oversee the construction of the new training facilities."

I nodded and smiled at appropriate moments, my jewelry designs spread before me as if I were fully engaged in planning the upcoming ceremonies. Inside, I was numb, replaying yesterday's scene in an endless, torturous loop.

As the meeting concluded and pack members began to disperse, Marcus leaned toward Beta Liam and Gamma Rhys, lowering his voice. "I need to speak with you both about the ceremonial necklace."

My pencil stilled against the paper. The ceremonial necklace—the one I'd been expecting for our fifth anniversary, the one I'd been sketching designs for just yesterday.

"Is it ready?" Liam asked, his voice hushed.

"The craftsman delivered it yesterday," Marcus replied, a hint of excitement in his tone that twisted the knife in my heart. "It's exquisite—exactly what I wanted for the occasion."

"Your Luna will be pleased," Rhys commented, and I detected an odd tension in his voice.

There was a pause—brief but heavy.

"It's not for Victoria," Marcus said, his voice dropping even lower. "I'm giving it to Amber. It's time to make changes around here."

The pencil snapped between my fingers. The sound, though small, drew their attention. I quickly gathered my sketches, avoiding their eyes.

"Excuse me," I said, my voice miraculously steady. "I just remembered an urgent design issue I need to address for the Blackwater Pack's ceremony."

Marcus nodded dismissively, already turning back to his confidants. "Of course, dear."

The endearment, once treasured, now felt like acid on my skin.

I walked—didn't run, walked—from the meeting hall, maintaining my composure until I reached the corridor. Then my steps quickened, my breath coming in shallow gasps as Lyra's growls grew louder in my mind.

*He commissioned a sacred mate necklace for her,* she snarled. *The ultimate desecration.*

I leaned against the cool stone wall, fighting for control. The necklace was more than jewelry—it was a symbol of eternal commitment, blessed by the pack elders, infused with ancient magic. For Marcus to give such a sacred item to his mistress...

"Luna Victoria?"

I straightened immediately, schooling my features. Beta Liam stood before me, concern evident in his eyes.

"Are you unwell?" he asked, studying my face.

"Just a momentary dizzy spell," I lied smoothly. "Nothing to worry about."

Liam shifted uncomfortably, not meeting my eyes. "I... I wanted to make sure you were alright after leaving so suddenly."

Something in his demeanor—a mixture of guilt and unease—caught my attention. Did he know? Of course he knew. He was Marcus's Beta, his closest confidant.

Lyra's voice was calculating in my mind. *He's uncomfortable. Use it.*

"Liam," I said softly, touching his arm. "You've always been loyal to this pack—to both your Alpha and Luna."

He swallowed visibly. "Always, Luna."

"Then perhaps you can help me with something," I continued, my mind racing ahead. "I've been conducting an audit of our ceremonial archives. Some... inconsistencies have emerged."

His brow furrowed. "Inconsistencies?"

"Nothing alarming," I assured him with a gentle smile. "But I need access to the security records to verify some details. For the protection of the pack's assets, you understand."

Liam hesitated, conflict clear on his face.

"I would ask Marcus," I added, "but he's so busy with the territory expansion. I wouldn't want to burden him with administrative concerns."

After a long moment, Liam nodded. "I can lend you my credentials for the archive system," he said quietly. "Just... be discreet."

"Of course," I replied, my heart racing with grim triumph. "This is about protecting what matters most to all of us."

As Liam walked away to retrieve his access card, I felt Lyra's savage satisfaction merge with my own growing resolve. The sacred mate necklace was meant to be mine—a symbol of our unbreakable bond. Instead, it would become the first piece of evidence in my carefully constructed revenge.

And Marcus would never see it coming.