Chapter 1

The sterile scent of the pack hospital clung to everything—the thin sheets, the scratchy gown, even my own skin. I shifted uncomfortably in the narrow bed, my hand instinctively moving to rest on the small swell of my belly where our pup grew. The pregnancy complications had been getting worse, but Trevor insisted it was normal for an Omega carrying an Alpha's child.

His phone buzzed on the bedside table, forgotten in his rush to leave for another "urgent pack meeting." The screen lit up with a notification, and my heart stopped.

The preview showed a photo—Trevor's hands tangled in familiar auburn hair, his mouth pressed against bare skin that definitely wasn't mine. My fingers trembled as I reached for the device, knowing I shouldn't look but unable to stop myself.

Photo after photo filled the screen. Trevor with Brielle Murphy, his so-called "pack advisor," in positions that left nothing to the imagination. The timestamps showed they were taken just days ago, while I'd been confined to this hospital bed, worried sick about our unborn child.

But it wasn't just Brielle. There were others—including the red-haired warrior who'd been in the bed next to mine just yesterday, smirking every time Trevor visited. The same warrior who'd watched with knowing eyes as my mate barely touched my hand before pulling away in disgust.

My wolf whimpered deep inside me, a sound so broken it made my chest ache. Six years. Six years of believing our weak mate bond was somehow my fault, that my scent repulsed him because I wasn't strong enough, wasn't worthy enough to be his true mate.

The phone slipped from my numb fingers, clattering to the floor. The sound echoed in the empty room like a gunshot, final and devastating.

"Well, well. Finally figured it out, did you?"

I looked up to find Trevor standing in the doorway, his expression cold and calculating. Gone was any pretense of the concerned mate, replaced by something that made my skin crawl.

"The photos—" My voice came out as barely a whisper.

"Were bound to surface eventually." He stepped into the room, closing the door behind him with deliberate care. "I was wondering when you'd stop being so pathetically naive."

The casual cruelty in his tone hit me like a physical blow. "How long?"

"How long what, Mia?" He pulled on a pair of latex gloves from the dispenser by the door, the same ones he always wore when forced to touch me. "How long have I been with Brielle? Since before our mating ceremony. How long have I found your scent revolting? Since the moment I first caught it."

Each word was a knife twisting deeper. "Then why—"

"Why did I claim you?" Trevor's laugh was harsh, devoid of any warmth. "Alliance benefits. Your father's pack territory. The political advantages of having an Omega mate while keeping my real relationships private."

I struggled to sit up straighter, my hand protectively covering my belly. "Our child—"

"Was conceived through artificial insemination." His voice was matter-of-fact, as if he were discussing the weather. "Did you really think I'd contaminate myself by actually mating with you? The very thought makes my skin crawl."

The sacred bond between mates, the natural conception that was supposed to strengthen our connection—all of it had been a lie. A violation of everything our kind held sacred.

"You're sick," I breathed, finally finding my voice. "This goes against every law, every tradition—"

"Laws are for those too weak to make their own rules." Trevor moved closer, and I caught the scent of Brielle's perfume clinging to his clothes. "You've served your purpose, Mia. Gave me legitimacy, access to your father's resources, a convenient cover for my real relationships."

My wolf stirred weakly, trying to surface despite years of suppression. "The pack will never accept this when they find out."

"Who's going to tell them?" His smile was predatory. "You? The weak little Omega who can barely maintain a mate bond? Who do you think they'll believe?"

The red-haired warrior appeared in the doorway, her expression smug. "Having trouble with your pet, Alpha?"

"Nothing I can't handle." Trevor's dismissive tone made it clear exactly how disposable he considered both of us. "Though I should mention, Mia—Brielle's been quite creative with your meal preparations lately. Amazing what a little silver can do when administered in small, consistent doses."

The room spun as the full scope of their betrayal hit me. Not just emotional manipulation, but actual poisoning. They'd been slowly weakening my wolf, making me sick, all while I blamed myself for our failing bond.

"You tried to kill me," I whispered.

"Kill you?" Trevor's eyebrows rose in mock surprise. "Of course not. Just... weaken you enough that when our bond inevitably breaks, it'll look natural. Tragic, really. Poor little Omega just couldn't handle being mated to a powerful Alpha."

The casual way he discussed my destruction, the complete absence of any remorse or recognition of my humanity, finally shattered the last of my illusions. This wasn't love gone wrong or a mate bond that needed work.

This was pure, calculated evil.

And I was carrying his child.