Chapter 3

The emergency department fell silent after Katie's accusation, and every doctor and nurse nearby turned toward Alpha James. Katie stood with her shoulders straight despite the tears burning her eyes, refusing to let him crush her in front of the people who had respected her for years.

Alpha James's jaw tightened as he glared at her. “Lower your voice, Katie. This is a hospital, not a place for you to create another scene, and I won't allow you to embarrass Belle in front of everyone.”

Katie stared at him in disbelief. “Embarrass Belle? Your wife is standing beside you while my mother is fighting for her life, and somehow you're more concerned about her feelings than your longtime mate?”

Belle suddenly covered her mouth and turned pale. “Alpha, I feel sick again. The smell of the medicine is making me nauseous, and I don't think I can stand much longer.”

Alpha James immediately turned toward her. “Belle, sit down. Someone get her some water and call the nurse.”

Katie's fingers curled into fists as several nurses hurried around Belle. James glanced back at her and said coldly, “Belle's carrying my child, Katie, and I have a responsibility to protect her and our pup.”

Belle lowered herself into a chair and softly whispered, “I'm sorry, Katie. But I can't control how sick I've been feeling.”

Katie's eyes narrowed at the performance. “You seem perfectly capable of controlling when you need attention, Belle.”

“That's enough,” Alpha James snapped, stepping between them. “Katie, you need to stop attacking her. Belle has done nothing to you.”

A nurse approached Belle with the blood-drawing equipment, and Alpha James immediately followed her. “I'll stay with you during the test,” he told Belle gently. “You don't need to be frightened.”

Belle gave him a grateful smile and reached for his hand. “Thank you, Alpha. I don't know what I'd do without you.”

Katie watched them from several steps away, feeling as though another piece of her heart had been torn away. The man who once promised to protect her as his mate was now holding another woman's hand in front of everyone.

Amari stirred restlessly inside her mind. Katie, don't let their behavior make you forget who you are. You are still the strongest healer in the Moon Crest Pack.

Katie swallowed her pain and silently answered, I know, Amari. But knowing doesn't make this hurt less.

The blood draw finished, and Belle leaned against Alpha James's shoulder while several staff members fussed over her. He gently rubbed her back, completely ignoring Katie standing only a few feet away.

One of the nurses smiled and said, “Luna Belle, you should rest more. Pregnancy can be difficult, especially during the early months.”

Belle immediately glanced at Katie before lowering her eyes. “I know, but Alpha James has been so worried about me. He keeps telling me that I shouldn't push myself.”

Alpha James smiled at her. “Everyone should call Belle Luna now. Belle, once we have our child, I'll give you a proper home where you and our pup can live peacefully.”

Katie froze.

The words struck her harder than she expected.

A proper home.

For eight years, she had believed the home she shared with Alpha James was supposed to become their family home. She had helped build it, paid for its renovations, and maintained it while standing beside him through every difficult period.

Now Alpha James was promising another woman the future Katie thought belonged to her.

That night, Katie returned to the mansion alone.

The familiar doors opened, but the warmth she once associated with the place was gone. As she stepped into the living room, she immediately noticed a folder placed neatly on the table with Alpha James's name printed across the front.

Katie picked it up and opened it.

Her eyes widened when she read the title.

HOUSING ARRANGEMENT AGREEMENT.

Alpha James entered the room behind her and spoke without emotion. “You need to sign that tonight, Katie.”

Katie slowly looked up. “What is this?”

“It concerns the living arrangements,” Alpha James replied coldly. “Belle is pregnant, and she needs the master bedroom. You will move into one of the guest rooms.”

Katie stared at him. “You want me to give up my bedroom?”

“Yes,” Alpha James answered. “Belle is my wife now, and she's carrying my pup. She needs comfort and privacy.”

Katie slapped the folder against the table. “This house has been my home for five years. I paid for all the renovations when it was almost ruined after the rogues attacked.”

Alpha James's expression remained indifferent. “The property is under my name.”

“And you think that gives you the right to erase everything I contributed?” Katie demanded, her voice shaking.

Belle walked into the room wearing a soft robe, one hand resting over her stomach. “Alpha James, maybe Katie doesn't have to move immediately. I don't want her to feel like I'm taking everything from her.”

Katie turned toward her. “Stop pretending to be generous. You already took my mate, my home, and my place beside him.”

Belle's eyes immediately reddened. “Alpha James, she's angry at me again. I don't understand why she hates me so much.”

Alpha James moved closer to Belle and placed an arm around her shoulders. “Katie, enough. Belle doesn't deserve this.”

Katie stared at his arm around Belle. “You really don't see what you're doing, do you?”

Alpha James sighed impatiently. “I'm trying to protect my pregnant wife.”

“Then what am I?” Katie asked quietly. “After eight years as your mate and fiancé, what am I to you?”

Alpha James placed another document on the table. “There's something else you need to understand. Your mother's dialysis arrangements are being reviewed.”

Katie immediately looked at him. “What does my mother have to do with this?”

“If you cooperate, nothing will change,” he replied. “But if you continue causing problems, I'll have to transfer your mother to a regular ward first.”

Katie's face went completely pale. “Are you threatening me with my mother's life?”

Alpha James's expression hardened. “I'm reminding you that your actions have consequences. I control the pack's resources, and I can decide how medical arrangements are handled.”

Katie stared at him, unable to believe the man standing before her was the same man who once swore that he would protect her and her mother.

“You're using my mother to force me to obey you,” she said, her voice trembling with rage. “You know exactly how vulnerable she is, and you're willing to use her illness against me.”

Alpha James crossed his arms. “Then don't make me do it. Move out of the master bedroom, stop confronting Belle, and apologize to her.”

Belle lowered her head as if she were uncomfortable with the demand, but Katie caught the faintest curve of satisfaction at the corner of her lips.

“You planned this,” Katie whispered.

Belle's eyes widened innocently. “I don't know what you're talking about.”

“You knew exactly what would happen,” Katie said, her voice growing stronger. “You're using my mother to push me out of my own home.”

Alpha James slammed his hand against the table. “Enough, Katie! You will not accuse Belle again.”

Katie flinched but didn't step back. Instead, she slowly closed the agreement and placed it on the table.

“You want me to kneel and apologize?” she asked quietly. “You want me to surrender my home because another woman claims she's carrying your child?”

Alpha James's eyes hardened. “Yes. If that's what it takes to keep the peace.”

Katie looked at him for several long seconds, then wiped away the tear that had escaped her eye.

“Fine,” she whispered.

Belle smiled faintly.

But Katie's next words wiped that smile away.

“I'll remember every word you said tonight, Alpha James. Every threat, every document, and every time you used my mother's life against me.”

Amari growled inside her mind. Don't forget this moment, Katie. This is where everything changes.

Katie's expression slowly hardened. She had spent eight years loving James Hamilton, but that woman was gone now, buried beneath every betrayal he had given her.

She walked toward the bedroom without another word, but instead of crying into her pillow, Katie opened her laptop and began creating a new folder.

She named it Proven Evidence.

Bank transfers went inside first. Then mortgage payments, renovation receipts, medical expenses, messages, hospital records, and every document connected to her mother's treatment.

Katie stared at the growing list, her tears finally drying.

“If they want to play this game,” she whispered, “then I'll play by the rules.”

Amari's voice became stronger inside her mind. And when the truth comes out?

Katie's fingers stopped above the keyboard. A cold smile slowly appeared on her face.

“Then James will pay for every choice he made, and Belle will pay for every lie she told.”

She saved the final file and closed the laptop.

For eight years, Katie had protected Alpha James, his family, and the Moon Crest Pack.

Tomorrow, she would start protecting herself.

And this time, she would not stop until they had nothing left to use against her.