Chapter 3

My phone rang with Liam's special ringtone.

I hesitated for a moment, but ended up picking up.

His voice was tight, fury simmering below the surface. "You think having Silas pretend to be your boyfriend will make me jealous?

"Remember when you twisted your ankle on that pack mountain run? I carried you for miles. Olivia, you can't live without me."

I stayed silent.

Suddenly, Emma's sugary voice cut through the line. "Liam, hurry. Everyone's waiting for us to toast."

"Okay," Liam replied.

Then he was back to me, his tone unexpectedly softening. "The show Emma and I filmed is premiering soon.

"This whole relationship thing is just a PR stunt. Once promotions wrap, we'll clear things up. Don't cause a scene.

"Stay home and wait for me. I'll be back after the party. I picked up your favorite dessert."

I listened, my thoughts drifting to the past.

Back in college, we were barely scraping by. For my birthday, Liam had wanted to get me a famous viral cake, so he'd picked up a delivery job over break.

One day, while dropping off an order at a production studio, a talent scout spotted him. That was how he got his start in showbiz.

I'd fought him on it. Once he stepped into showbiz, he put himself in the public eye, basically putting his own life, and even his whole pack's safety, on the line.

But Liam signed the contract behind my back.

When I found out, he pulled me into his arms, his voice thick with emotion.

"Olivia, I can't watch you struggle with me. I'm gonna make enough money to give you the life you've always deserved."

Since then, he threw everything he had into making it in showbiz.

But with so many pretty faces in the industry and no support from his company, he never got his big break.

So I jumped into the entertainment world too, starting out as an assistant. I hustled every way I could, slowly getting him what he needed.

After years of grinding together, he became A-list, and I became an ace agent.

Over the years, there were plenty of rumors linking him to all kinds of actresses.

Every time, he'd call me right away to explain, saying it was tabloid gossip and I shouldn't let it get to me.

He'd sworn over and over that I was the only one he loved, and that I'd always be his Luna.

Everything changed when Emma came into the picture.

At a business dinner, an investor got her drunk and tried to force himself on her. She managed to escape, stumbling out of the room in a panic.

Liam happened to be passing by and stepped in to help.

Her pretty face was filled with fear, her eyes red, clothes disheveled as she curled up in Liam's arms.

Someone took a photo of it, and that night it went viral.

But that night, Liam didn't say a word to me about any of it.

By the time I snapped back to reality, Liam had already hung up.

It hadn't been easy for us all these years. A stupid, small part of me still hoped he'd come home so we could talk, maybe end things gently.

So I waited, all day, through the night, and into the early morning hours. But Liam never came home.

I kept calling until it finally connected. But then, I heard Emma's syrupy voice on the other end.

"Liam's in the shower," she said. "Did you need something? I can pass along the message."

"No need," I said, and hung up, my nails digging deep into my flesh.

Using the darkness as my cloak, I fled back into the embrace of the forest, howling out the pain within my heart.

I climbed up into the big tree where I used to hide as a kid whenever the other wolves bullied me, staring at the moon, empty-eyed.

When the first rays of sunlight peeked over the horizon, I reached out to Silas.

"I'll join Goldendawn Media," I said, my voice hoarse.

Silas was so excited, he even offered to come pick me up right away.

I shook my head with a smile. "I still have three days left on my contract at Horizon."

After sorting out the onboarding details with Silas, I went home to grab some files and then headed out again.

Liam had a variety show shoot today, and the producer had already scheduled a work meeting with me.

After finishing up with the producer, I bumped into Liam—as expected. He called me into the makeup room.

The second Emma saw Liam, she wrapped her arm around his and peeked at me, acting all cute and careful.

"Olivia, I was so hungry last night that I ate the cake Liam brought you," she whispered. "You don't mind, do you?"

Liam smiled and ruffled her hair. "It's just a cake. Why would she be upset about it? I'll buy her another one."

He turned to me, his tone casual. "Emma's makeup artist called out sick. You're good at that kind of thing. Can you help her out?"

I stared at him in disbelief, my whole body trembling as my inner wolf snarled low in my chest.

Liam cheated on me. And now, less than twenty-four hours later, he expected me to primp the Omega he'd chosen over me?

"The show has a full makeup team, doesn't it?

"And even if they didn't, she has two hands," I said coldly.

Liam's face tightened into a frown. "Since when have you been so petty?"

I breathed in deep, forcing my wolf to settle. "Yeah, I am petty. If you care so much, why don't you do her makeup yourself?"

Liam paused, realizing I wasn't acting like my usual self. He eased up. "Alright, I'll go get the show's makeup artist."

As soon as Liam left, Emma's sweet, helpless mask shattered completely.

She gave me a taunting look. "Olivia, you're past your prime. Let Liam go already. He couldn't keep his hands off me last night. He said I was delicate and irresistible."

Her Omega pheromones thick and cloying in the air, sweet like overripe fruit, sickening to my senses.

I stared her down, my inner wolf growling low in my chest. "Do you realize Liam and I are bonded mates?"

Emma scoffed, her tone dripping with disdain. "Of course I know. You blackmailed him with your agent status, forcing him into the bond. But he can dump you whenever he wants."

Fury boiled in my veins, hot and unrelenting, so intense I couldn't form a single word.

I'd foolishly thought she was a clueless Omega he'd charmed. Turned out, she knew I was his Luna, and yet she didn't care.

I couldn't hold back any longer. I stepped forward and slapped her hard across the face.

Just then, Liam arrived at the door with the makeup artist and heard Emma yelp in pain.