Chapter 3
No wonder Celeste Armstrong, an Omega with nothing to lose, would go to such insane lengths—even faking her own mother’s death to frame me. It turns out the entire ordeal was a charade orchestrated by her desperate hands.
I texted Frank Tucker, Beta of the Blue Moon Pack: "Celeste’s mom isn’t dead. Check the email I sent you for the truth." Whether he reads it or not is no longer my concern. My heart, once tied to him, had hardened like ice under the weight of his betrayal.
Alpha Josiah Hicks personally arranged my flight for three days later. When Frank returned, he found me packing. Half of my clothes were strewn about; some were earmarked for New York, the territory of the Crimson Fang Pack where Josiah ruled.
"Why are you packing?" Frank asked, his tone tinged with suspicion, though his Beta aura couldn’t mask the unease in his voice.
"I’m just relocating," I replied casually, refusing to let him see the cracks in my composure.
He paused for a moment, not grasping the reality, and continued, "The pack’s business is in New York. We’ll need to settle there after the mating ceremony, so it’s good to get a head start."
Finishing his statement, he shot me an intense look. "You should apologize about Celeste’s mom soon. Don’t put me in a tough spot—how about doing it on the mating day?" With that, he tossed his phone onto the table and went off to find his ID; he and Celeste were getting their mating license today.
He didn’t return until late that night. When I checked my phone, there was already a message from Celeste. She’d sent a picture of her and Frank in matching outfits, lying side by side in bed, her Omega scent lingering in the air even through the screen.
I shut my eyes, trying to suppress the ache in my heart. My wolf whimpered softly, a reminder of the bond I once thought was unbreakable. I suppressed the surge of emotions and switched off the phone. All night, it buzzed every hour with Celeste sending videos of her and Frank, each one more mocking than the last.
The next morning, Josiah messaged me. "Addison, the flowers have bloomed. You can return whenever you wish." Attached was a photo of two mating licenses next to a vibrant red rose. I hadn’t expected him to keep the plant I’d given him so long ago, a symbol of a bond we hadn’t yet acknowledged.
A strange emotion bubbled up inside me. I replied with a simple, "Okay."
As I set my phone aside and began organizing my work files, Frank showed up again, packing his everyday essentials. "I’ll be staying with Celeste for a few days to help with mating preparations. She’s swamped, handling it all by herself. Make sure you’re prompt for the ceremony the day after tomorrow."
After talking, he launched into a long explanation, insisting he was just going to assist and asking me not to cause any trouble.
"I won’t be attending," I said, my gaze lowered, my voice steady despite the storm inside me.
After last night, any lingering affection I had for him had evaporated entirely. Seeing my composed demeanor, an inexplicable panic swept over Frank. He hesitated, his Beta aura flickering uncertainly. But recalling Celeste’s insistent pleading, he relaxed his grip on the phone.
How could Addison, who loved him so deeply, ever let something go off track? Feeling assured, he breathed a sigh of relief and disappeared from my view without further argument.
Watching his back as he left, I dialed a number. That evening, a helicopter landed in the town square. A Delta from the Crimson Fang Pack approached me, bowing slightly in respect. "Luna Addison, your helicopter is ready. It will transport you safely to New York in half an hour."
I nodded, handing him an envelope. "Deliver this to the mating ceremony tomorrow. It’s my gift to the bride and groom."
As the helicopter lifted off, I felt a strange sense of liberation. The bond I once thought defined me was now a distant memory, and the future—with Josiah and the Crimson Fang Pack—awaited.