Chapter 3

The pre-wedding party was supposed to be a celebration of love—a night where friends and family came together to honor the bond Alpha Damon and I shared.

It was held at the Shadow Fang Pack’s grand hall, an extravagant space filled with glittering chandeliers and walls draped in deep crimson silk.

The scent of roasted meats and aged wine filled the air, but it did little to soothe the knot twisting in my stomach.

I forced a smile, letting the chatter of the crowd wash over me. Damon was nowhere in sight. He had disappeared earlier, claiming he had "business matters to attend to," leaving me to play the perfect fiancée on my own.

Not that it surprised me.

I scanned the room, my heart sinking when I spotted him near the bar. And he wasn’t alone.

A tall shewolf with sleek black hair and a body made for sin clung to his arm, laughing softly at something he whispered in her ear. Her blood-red dress clung to every curve, the slit revealing far too much leg for a simple "friend."

Alpha Damon’s hand rested comfortably on her waist—too comfortably—his thumb brushing over her exposed skin in a way that sent a sickening twist through my gut.

As if sensing my gaze, Damon glanced up and met my eyes across the room. For a brief moment, something flickered in his expression—not guilt, not regret—indifference. Then, without missing a beat, he leaned closer to the shewolf, whispering something that made her laugh again.

I swallowed hard, reminding myself to breathe.

This was just another game to him. Another humiliation designed to break me little by little. But I wouldn’t let him see me shatter. Not tonight.

I plastered on a smile as he finally made his way over, the shewolf still clinging to him like a second skin.

“Sienna,” Damon greeted, his tone smooth and casual, as if nothing were amiss. “I want you to meet an old friend. This is Alina.”

Friend.

Of course.

Alina’s lips curled into a smirk as she extended her hand. “It’s so lovely to finally meet you, Sienna. Damon talks about you all the time.”

I took her hand, my grip firm as I met her gaze head-on. “Really? I can’t say he’s mentioned you.”

Her smile faltered for a brief second before she recovered, leaning into Damon just a little more. “Well, we go way back. He’s always been so... generous.” Her voice dripped with suggestion, and the way she looked at him made her true intentions painfully clear.

I felt every pair of eyes in the room on us—on me—waiting to see how I’d react.

I wanted to scream. To wipe that smug expression off her face and demand answers. But instead, I did what I had always done. I stayed silent.

Damon slipped an arm around my waist in what was supposed to be a loving gesture. But his touch was cold—a performance for the audience.

“You know how it is,” he murmured, his lips brushing against my temple. “I can’t help it if my friends adore me.”

A laugh bubbled up in my throat, sharp and bitter, but I swallowed it down.

I wouldn’t let him see me break.

“I’m sure they do,” I said coolly. “Enjoy catching up. I wouldn’t want to interrupt.”

I stepped out of his embrace, offering a smile that didn’t reach my eyes.

Let him play his games. I wouldn’t fall apart for him.

As I turned to walk away, I caught the barely concealed laughter from his friends at a nearby table. Logan, his Beta and best man, smirked as I approached.

“Damn, Sienna,” he drawled, tipping his glass toward me. “You’re really cool about all this. Most girls would be losing their minds by now.”

The others chuckled, exchanging knowing glances as if I weren’t even there.

I smiled sweetly. “I suppose it takes confidence to handle a man like Damon.”

Logan raised a brow. “Or maybe you’re just too naïve to know better.”

The words struck harder than they should have. They weren’t wrong. I had been too blind—too desperate to hold onto a fantasy that never existed.

Still, I refused to let them see how much it hurt.

I met Logan’s gaze, my voice unwavering. “Better naïve than pathetic.”

His smirk faltered, but before he could respond, a voice cut through the tension.

“Oh, don’t be too hard on her, boys,” Alina purred, stepping to Damon’s side once more. “Not everyone is cut out for this world.”

I clenched my jaw, willing myself to remain calm.

“Especially someone as... delicate as Sienna,” she continued, her eyes gleaming with malice. “I mean, it’s sweet how much you worship him. You’re lucky. Most women in your position would be left behind.”

A sharp, cruel silence followed her words. Even Logan raised a brow, as if surprised by how far she was willing to push.

I forced a polite smile. “It’s funny,” I said softly. “You talk like you’re an expert in being left behind.”

Alina’s smile slipped, just for a moment. Good.

Damon chuckled low under his breath, clearly entertained by the spectacle. He wasn’t even trying to hide it.

“You’re handling this so well, babe,” he murmured in my ear, his voice too soft for anyone else to hear. “But you always do, don’t you?”

My stomach twisted, but I refused to give him the reaction he wanted.

“Of course,” I said smoothly, stepping out of his touch. “I know my worth.”

I left him there, surrounded by his friends and his mistress, but I knew the damage had already been done.

The murmurs followed me as I slipped onto the balcony, the cool night air brushing against my flushed skin. My hands trembled as I gripped the railing, trying to steady my breath.

I had wanted to believe—so badly—that things would be different. That Damon still cared.

But tonight proved otherwise.

He wasn’t trying to hide it anymore.