Chapter 3

I put Grayson and Isabella to the back of my mind as I started on my plan.

Switching to my work phone—my Beta line—I called the region’s most reliable messengers and pack information brokers. My voice was sharp, calm, practiced.

“I need you to spread something,” I said. “Word of Grayson rushing Isabella into the healer’s den, carrying her in his arms like a mate protecting what’s his.”

There was a pause.

“Beta Nora… are you sure you want us to do this? What if—” the lead broker asked hesitantly. His name was Corin, a wiry omega who survived by sniffing out danger and opportunity.

“Are you questioning me?” I asked coolly.

He wasn’t wrong to ask. I had once been the first to quash rumors like these—anything that could hurt Grayson’s image, our pack’s image. As Beta, and his bonded mate, I had done my duty.

But not this time. I was going to sever my bond with Grayson and I was going to do it my way.

“Spread it,” I insisted.

A murmur rippled through the group. Corin’s eyes glittered with greedy excitement. Nothing sold better than a scandal involving the Alpha and his supposed true mate.

“One condition.” I stopped them before they got too excited. “I want fifty percent of all profits made from this story. Seal it with a blood pact, and I’ll feed you more. Direct from the source.”

“Consider it done.” Corin promised.

By morning, the territory buzzed with the news as it spread like wildfire. Grayson and Isabella. The pack’s whispers and speculations reached every corner of the territory, fueling the flames. Mates, true love and destiny.

My name—Nora, his true mate—was nowhere in the whispers. Just how I wanted it.

Grayson may have been Alpha by title, but I had kept this pack’s bones from breaking during his weakest hours. I’d held us together while he spent his time trying to gain favour from others.

That night, while I interviewed potential candidates for my replacement. I felt him return.

Grayson had come back earlier than expected, his energy radiating dominance. But beneath his usual powerful aura, I detected something else—frustration.

The moment he stepped into our quarters, the scent of Isabella’s floral perfume clung to him like a brand.

He stepped into our shared quarters, eyes burning silver. Not glowing with power. Burning—like he’d just walked through hell and came out angry I hadn’t followed.

“Nora,” he growled, voice rough like gravel dragged across stone. “Don’t you have anything to say?”

I didn’t rise. I reclined lazily on the couch, tossing dried berries into my mouth, the flames from the fireplace warm against my skin.

“What is there to say?” I asked. “The pack’s thrilled. They’ve never believed in you more. After all, the new Alpha passionately falling in love with the daughter of the former Alpha. It's really romantic.”

His fists clenched. “I didn't ask you to do any of this, Nora. You're acting strange and out of line here. Now, the pack members are hounding Isabella to tell them when I'll claim her as Luna. You know that can't happen. I'm already bonded to you!”

I raised a brow. “Isn’t this what you wanted? A strong Alpha protecting his delicate mate? I can't see what's so difficult there.”

Grayson stiffened. Those were the same words he had thrown at me two years ago.

Back then, Isabella had been given her first role in the pack’s annual ritual hunt—a momentous occasion meant to showcase the warriors' skills.

Just before the hunt began, she clung to Grayson, trembling. “I can’t do it, Grayson. The wolves out there… I’m afraid they’ll hurt me,” she whimpered.

To preserve her reputation and keep the event from being delayed, Grayson had made a choice. “Nora will take your place.”

Without hesitation, he had ordered me to don Isabella’s cloak and enter the hunt in her stead.

“But Grayson… the rogue wolves—” I tried to protest, my instincts screaming at me.

His gaze had been cold, unyielding. “Stop making excuses, Nora. Are you questioning my decision?”

I had bitten my tongue, knowing that refusal would bring consequences. So, I had gone in her place, only to be ambushed. That night, I had fought for my life against a pack of rogues, barely making it out alive. My leg had been shattered, and I had spent months healing, all while Isabella received praise for her supposed courage.

During all that time, Grayson had only visited me once—and that was because Isabella had gotten a small scratch while playing with a pet fox, and he had accompanied her to the healer. I could still hear his voice when I told him how much pain I was in.

“It's just a wound, Nora. You're used to it. I don't see what's so difficult there.”

Tskeing advantage of the silence, I stood up, and walked to the desk. I pulled open the drawer and retrieved the parchment I had spent weeks preparing.

I laid it gently on the table. His eyes fell to it then snapped back up to me, narrowed.

“What is this?” he asked, voice low and dangerous.

“You know what it is,” I said softly. “Grayson, let’s sever the bond.”