Chapter 1

On my marking day, Nicholas, my mate, was found with my sister, Kailani, in the pack lounge, and I became the laughingstock of the entire Silverfang Pack. That was when Gianni Russell, my childhood friend and the pack’s Beta, stepped forward in front of the entire pack and proposed to me, his voice loud and clear as he promised to protect me.

After we completed the marking ceremony, he treated me with care and respect, his aura gentle and reassuring. Unfortunately, it seemed he couldn’t fully consummate our bond. It wasn’t until this year, after a sacred fertility ritual, that I finally became pregnant. Since then, he pampered me even more, his wolf’s protective instincts in full force.

I thought he was my true mate, my destined partner, until the day I overheard a conversation between him and his friend, Travis, another Gamma warrior in the pack.

"Beta Gianni, that’s too much. Gamma Maxine has been nothing but loyal to you. How could you swap the embryos so she’d carry Kailani’s child just because Kailani didn’t want to endure childbirth?" Travis’s voice was low, tinged with disbelief.

There was a pause before Gianni let out a sigh. "Once the pup is born, I’ll give it to Kailani, fulfilling her wish. As for Maxine, I’ll tell her the pup didn’t survive. I’ll spend the rest of my life with her, making it up to her."

So that’s how it was.

The tenderness and care I thought were meant for me were all meant for her. My wolf stirred within me, a low growl of betrayal echoing in my mind. I turned around and scheduled a procedure with the pack healer. I wouldn’t keep this tainted pup, and I wanted out of this sham of a bond.

"Are you worried Gamma Maxine will discover what you’re doing?" Travis asked, his voice cautious.

Gianni was quiet for a moment before speaking. "She won’t find out. She trusts me. As long as I say it, she won’t question it."

Travis’s voice dropped lower. "Just don’t regret it."

Gianni laughed, dismissing the concern with a casual, "I won’t."

Standing outside the door, my fingers dug into my palms so tightly, the pain barely registered. I had come to bring him a jacket, worried he wasn’t dressing warmly enough for the cold weather. But right then, it felt as if a knife had plunged into my chest, a bitter cold slicing through me.

I staggered back to our den, barely having the strength to turn on the lights, collapsing onto the sofa, shivering uncontrollably from the chill. My stomach lurched, my head spun, and tears silently flowed from the corners of my eyes, too drained to brush them away.

The sound of the door unlocking echoed, marking his return. The tap of his boots grew closer until he stood beside the sofa, bending over, his voice tender and filled with concern.

"Why are you sitting in the dark? The pack healer said you hadn’t eaten, that your stomach was acting up again." He reached out, gently moving hair from my forehead, his brow furrowed with worry. "Maxine, what’s the matter?"

He knelt down, placing his hand over mine, his voice soft and comforting. "You shouldn’t skip meals; it’s not good for the pup."

I looked at him, at the facade of gentle care he presented. Turns out a wolf’s affection could be mere performance.

Four years ago, on what should have been my marking day, my mate was caught with my sister. My parents, desperate to maintain the pack’s reputation, pressured me to let go of Nicholas, insisting that family must protect one another and that outsiders shouldn’t witness our discord. They announced Kailani as his chosen mate in front of the entire pack.

Back then, Gianni stepped up, dramatically proposing to me. At that moment, I thought he was the one pulling me from the abyss.

After we marked each other, I stayed by his side, quietly supporting him. Using my sharp instincts in the financial markets, I helped him invest and strategize. In just a few years, his status in the pack rose from a low-ranking Beta to one of the most influential figures in the Silverfang Pack.

This year, when we underwent the fertility ritual and finally conceived, everything seemed perfect. He held me close, saying this pup was a long-awaited blessing, his smile and gentle gaze almost pulling me in.

But this, too, was just another lie.

If he could pretend, why shouldn’t I?

I blinked softly, my lips curling into a faint smile. "Nothing, just feeling a bit worn out."

My voice was gentle, touched with fatigue, revealing nothing unusual.

He sighed with relief, gently urging me, "Rest early, dear."

Alright, I’ll keep up the act for three more days.

In three days, this farce will end.