Chapter 2

I returned to my study that evening, my humiliation from the Council meeting still burning like acid in my veins. The room—once my sanctuary—now felt compromised, violated. Someone had accessed my files, altered my work, and made me look incompetent in front of the entire Pack leadership. I wouldn't let it happen again.

I pulled a small package from my purse, a tiny webcam I'd purchased online using cash at an electronics store outside Pack territory. My psychology training had taught me to trust evidence over emotion, and right now, I needed proof more than anything.

"Let's see who's been making themselves at home in my absence," I murmured, carefully positioning the device between two books on my shelf, its lens offering a perfect view of my computer.

Next, I connected an encrypted external drive to my laptop. My fingers flew across the keyboard as I created duplicate copies of every report, budget, and proposal I'd worked on. I'd been naive before, trusting the Pack's systems, believing my position as Luna offered some basic protection. That illusion had shattered completely.

As I worked, my pendant—the Luna insignia—felt suddenly heavy against my skin. I removed it, placing it on the desk beside me. For the first time in years, I allowed myself to remember who I was before: Dr. Annabelle Hale, psychology researcher, a woman with goals beyond being someone's mate.

"I'm still here," I whispered to my reflection in the darkened computer screen. "I'm still here."

---

The next morning, I glimpsed Clara through the glass walls of the conference room. She wore a fitted navy dress that complemented her sleek blonde bob, her Beta scent carefully masked by an expensive perfume that seemed to grow stronger with each passing day. I ducked into a side corridor, not ready for another confrontation.

That's when I overheard her voice, low and concerned, speaking to someone around the corner.

"I'm just worried about her, Sarah. We all are."

I froze. Sarah Evans had been my assistant for three years, a loyal Delta who'd helped me navigate Pack politics when I first arrived.

"Luna Bella seems... different lately," Clara continued. "Damien's noticed it too. The paranoia, the accusations, the erratic behavior."

"She's been under pressure," Sarah replied, her voice uncertain. "The Foundation work means a lot to her."

"Of course it does," Clara's tone dripped with false sympathy. "But between us, the board is concerned about her mental state. Those mathematical errors weren't small mistakes—they were alarming oversights that could have cost the Pack millions."

"I didn't see any errors in the drafts she showed me," Sarah said, a note of confusion in her voice.

"Exactly my point. She's hiding things, even from you." Clara sighed dramatically. "Look, as her assistant, you're in a unique position. If you notice anything... unusual, you should report it directly to me. For her own good, of course."

I pressed myself against the wall, my heart hammering. Clara was isolating me systematically, turning even my closest ally against me.

When I finally glimpsed Sarah's face later that day, I saw the doubt in her eyes, the slight hesitation before she greeted me. Another small piece of my world crumbled away.

---

Three days later, Damien called an emergency executive briefing. I arrived five minutes early, taking my seat at the far end of the table—my new place since being removed from my Council position. The room filled quickly with department heads and senior Pack members, their expressions grim.

Damien entered last, Clara two steps behind him. His face was carved from stone, his Alpha presence filling the room like a storm cloud. He didn't look at me as he took his seat.

"We have a security breach," he announced without preamble. "Confidential Pack strategies have been shared with the Silvercrest conglomerate."

Murmurs rippled through the room. Silvercrest was our main competitor in the pharmaceutical sector.

"We've traced the leak," Damien continued, his voice dropping to a dangerous timbre. He pressed a button, and emails appeared on the projection screen—emails with my name and Pack credentials attached.

My blood turned to ice. "That's not possible," I said, rising from my seat. "I never sent those—"

"Silence!" Damien's Alpha command hit me like a physical blow, forcing the air from my lungs. He turned to the room, his eyes never meeting mine. "As of this moment, Luna Bella's access to all Pack systems is revoked."

With a flick of his hand, he activated the mute function on my conference microphone. My protests died in my throat as he continued speaking, loudly detailing my supposed betrayal while I sat there, voiceless, watching my life disintegrate before my eyes.