Chapter 4

When Brianna’s phone started vibrating relentlessly again on the bedside table, she decided it was probably time to review them.

Still half-asleep, she reached for it and squinted at the screen.

There were hundreds of messages yesterday when she turned on her phone, but now she was staring at a thousand.

Looks like the shitstorm had finally arrived.

Brianna properly sat up on the edge of her bed in her villa, trying to keep her eyes open as she stared at the screen. Just then, another notification appeared.

This time, it was from Eleanor Howard. Her mate’s mother.

All traces of drowsiness left Brianna’s eyes as she instantly clicked on her messages.

“Brianna, what the hell have you done?”

“You have humiliated my son in front of the entire company!”

“How could you do something this disgusting to your own mate?”

“Pick up the damn phone!”

All her texts contained were rage. Not once had she asked why she posted the photograph.

Her mother-in-law didn’t even want to know if it was real or not. She was only angry that her precious son had been embarrassed.

And honestly, Brianna wasn’t that surprised. Eleanor had always been biased, most especially when it came to her.

When Brianna and Tristan newly started living together, Eleanor would often pay them a visit.

Nothing she ever did was good in her mother-in-law’s eyes. Eleanor forced her to take cooking classes because apparently, she was too clumsy in the kitchen.

All other Alphas’ mates were sleek, capable, formidable and Eleanor made sure Brianna knew she didn’t measure up.

Worse, Brianna couldn’t tell her mate. He was an Alpha wolf. She wanted to be better for him, instead of complaining.

So from then on, Brianna was left to stay quiet and live in discomfort whenever Eleanor showed up in their home.

But now, Brianna felt completely different. Past her would have been trembling all over being scolded by Eleanor. Now, she no longer had any reason to take her attitude.

Scoffing, Brianna locked the screen without replying.

By then, she no longer felt sleepy. As she was about to climb out of bed and go to the restroom, other notifications rushed in. She almost cackled when she saw it was from the Helion corporation team.

Without delay, she opened the group chat.

The messages were loading and stacking up so quickly that she had to wait for them to settle.

Then she started reading. The first message was from the deputy general manager.

Oliver Craig: Holy shit. Is that Alpha Tristan?

Maya: Wait. Doesn’t that look like Riley Monroe?

Ethan: Someone please tell me I’m seeing this wrong.

Oliver Craig: That’s definitely Alpha Tristan!

Maya: Why are they in the same bed?

Someone else: Oh my God.

Oliver Craig: Someone better explain this because just how?!

Brianna kept scrolling. The conversation had gone from confusion, to utter shocks and then complete chaos.

People who had been working with Tristan for years were suddenly dissecting his marriage as though it were some company scandal, a drama of the year that they had been waiting for.

And perhaps they had.

Brianna knew how people were. Especially about an Alpha.

Tristan had spent years building his reputation as the Alpha of the Dark Howl pack.

They saw him as the man who had transformed Helion Corporation from a small pack company into one of the most influential businesses in the territory.

Everyone admired him and wanted to be close to him.

And now they were all staring at a photograph of him asleep beside another woman who wasn’t his mate.

The mighty Alpha of Dark Howl had finally been caught with nowhere to hide.

Brianna herself was hooked. She knew she had to do her morning routine but she kept scrolling.

Then she saw a message from Lucas, Riley’s ex-mate.

Lucas Bryant: That’s it. I’m leaving this group.

A second later, a notification appeared; ‘Lucas Bryant left the group.’

Brianna’s eyebrows lifted in surprise.

Interesting. Riley’s abandoned ex, probably jealous and even more heartbroken, apparently didn’t want no part in the mess.

Brianna groggily climbed out of bed and went to get her toothbrush. When she finished brushing, and had a refreshing bath, she returned to the bed.

Leaning back against the headboard, she continued reading.

Then ‘Tristan Howard’ the name that had been making her skin crawl with spite for the past few days appeared.

The chat went silent for approximately three seconds.

And then…

Tristan: Brianna. Delete the photo.

Tristan: Right now.

Brianna’s fingers tightened around the phone, irritation blurring her vision.

Why did he think he had the right to command her? And why did he assume she cared enough to protect his and his mistress’s reputation?

Her anger was already beginning to boil when someone reacted to Tristan’s last message with a laughing emoji.

That somehow made everything worse for everyone in the chat.

Tristan: Whoever did that, remove it.

A message appeared from Oliver.

Oliver: I think that photo already did enough damage, Alpha.

The tension lifted from Brianna’s chest immediately. Oliver’s sarcasm was so satisfying that a smile tugged at her lips.

But she wasn’t the only one reacting to his response. Tristan clearly didn’t find it funny and his temper flared.

Tristan: Oliver, shut the fuck up.

Just like that, the group exploded again.

Ethan: Oh shit.

Oliver: I was just saying…

He tried to explain himself but Tristan’s message cut him off.

Tristan: You don’t get to say anything.

Tristian: You’re fired.

Oliver’s reply was frantic.

Oliver: You’re firing me because I commented on a picture?

Tristan: I’m firing you because you clearly don’t understand who you’re speaking to.

There it was. The Alpha rage.

The abuse of power he had always relied on whenever things didn’t go his way.

Brianna could almost picture him standing in his office, pacing back and forth, his wolf pushing against his skin as his temper spiraled.

Oliver: typing…

But the three bubbles only remained on the screen for barely a second.

Then, another notification followed. ‘Oliver Craig was removed from the group.’

At that point, Brianna couldn’t hold back her laughter.

Tristan was losing it. Completely.

More messages poured in. Some of the employees were advising each other to stop talking about the topic.

Satisfaction flashed across Brianna’s face. Her stomach began to growl with hunger so she decided to order some food.

The call had barely ended when a new message popped up on her phone. This time, it wasn’t from Tristan but the employees.

Maya: Does anyone know where Riley is?

Nobody answered for a while.

Ethan: Isn’t she in the group?

Brianna’s interest was piqued. She sat up straighter and scrolled through the member list.

Riley’s name was still there. But it was only for a moment. Before Brianna could blink, the notification of Riley exiting the group appeared.

Riley had quietly removed herself from the group chat, all but confirming the affair.

And somehow, that felt like an answer all on its own.