Chapter 1

SASHA MOORE

The night before the Silver Moon Pack's mating announcement should have been the happiest night of my life.

As the son of the current Alpha and the future successor of our pack, Adrian had been raised to lead, and as his fated mate, I had always believed I would one day stand beside him as his Luna. We had not completed our sacred mate bond yet, but tomorrow's announcement was supposed to be the first step toward that future.

I sat beside my father's bed and carefully lifted a glass of water to his lips. My dad, Sandro Moore, had always been a strong wolf of the Silver Moon Pack, but sickness had taken much of his strength, leaving him dependent on the healing treatments provided by the Alpha's family.

“Slowly, Dad,” I whispered as he drank, then placed the glass back on the table. “Don't worry. Tomorrow, after the mating ceremony, I'll become the Luna of the Silver Moon Pack, and you'll receive the best treatment available. You'll get better. I promise.”

Dad smiled and nodded, but another painful cough suddenly shook his body. I quickly reached for his blanket and helped him settle back against the pillows.

“I'm fine, sweetheart,” he said weakly, trying to reassure me.

I forced a smile and replied, “You don't have to pretend with me. Just rest tonight, because tomorrow everything will change for us.” Before he could answer, my phone suddenly rang, and when I saw Jillian's name on the screen, I smiled and answered immediately.

“Sasha!” Jillian's voice came through the phone, but instead of sounding happy, she sounded panicked. “You need to watch the video I just sent you. Please, don't ask questions. Just watch it now.” My smile disappeared as I opened the message, and the moment the video loaded, my entire body went cold. I covered my mouth with my hand as I watched Adrian Blackwood, the future Alpha of our pack and my fated mate, carrying Vivian into a luxury hotel.

“Jillian...” I whispered.

“I don't know why they're together,” Jillian said quickly, “but I have a terrible feeling about this. Sasha, the video is already spreading through the pack. Everyone is talking about Adrian and Vivian.” I couldn't take my eyes from the screen as Adrian disappeared into the hotel with Vivian in his arms. “I need to talk to him,” I finally said, my voice trembling.

“Sasha, wait. Don't go alone.”

“I need to see him with my own eyes,” I replied. “Adrian is my fated mate. He has no reason to go to a hotel with another woman.”

I ended the call and looked at my father, who was watching me with concern. “What happened?” he asked weakly.

I swallowed my tears and said, “I need to talk to Adrian, Dad. I'll be back soon.”

He reached for my hand and warned, “Maybe Adrian can explain the situation. Don't judge him before hearing his side.”

I shook my head and answered, “I want to hear him, but I also want to see the truth for myself.”

I leaned down and kissed my father's forehead. “Rest, Dad. I'll be back.” Then I grabbed my coat and left the room.

During the drive, my hands remained tight around the steering wheel. I had heard the rumors before, even though I had always tried to ignore them. Vivian had been Adrian's first love, the woman he had once personally wanted as his mate before the Moon Goddess revealed that I was his fated mate instead. I had never asked him about it because I trusted him, but now those old rumors returned to haunt me.

When I reached the hotel, the staff immediately recognized me. Everyone knew me as the future Luna of the Silver Moon Pack, and they quickly bowed their heads respectfully as I entered. However, something felt wrong. The hotel seemed strangely empty, and several security guards stood near the entrance as if the entire building had been placed under lockdown.

I frowned and approached the manager. “Where is Adrian Blackwood?”

The manager's face became tense. “Miss Moore, I... I should call Alpha Adrian first.”

“Where is he?” I asked again, my voice becoming sharper.

“Miss Moore—”

“Where is he?!”

The manager lowered his eyes. “Room 609.”

I didn't wait for another word. I rushed toward the elevator and pressed the button repeatedly, my heart racing as the numbers climbed. When the doors opened on the sixth floor, I hurried down the hallway until I reached Room 609, then knocked hard enough to make the sound echo.

The door opened.

Adrian stood before me wearing only a dark robe, and the surprise on his face was impossible to hide. “Sasha?” he asked, staring at me. “What are you doing here?”

I fought back my tears. “I should be asking you that. Why are you in this hotel?”

Adrian's expression hardened. “You shouldn't have come.”

Before I could respond, a frightened voice came from inside the room. “Adrian, who is it?”

Vivian appeared behind him wearing nothing but a towel wrapped tightly around her body. Her eyes widened when she saw me, and she immediately covered herself while whispering, “Oh no... Sasha.”

My anger surged.

Adrian quickly stepped in front of her and pulled his robe around her shoulders. “Don't misunderstand this. Vivian was drugged. She called me for help, and I brought her here.”

“She doesn't look drugged,” I replied, staring at Vivian. “She looks perfectly capable of standing and talking.”

Vivian's eyes filled with tears. “Please believe me, Sasha. Adrian was only helping me.”

“Adrian isn't a doctor,” I snapped. “The Silver Moon Pack has an entire healing center. Why didn't you take her there?”

“She was afraid,” Adrian answered.

“Afraid?” I laughed bitterly. “Then why did you both come to a hotel? Why are you almost naked together?”

Vivian began crying. “Sasha, please. I didn't want this to happen.”

I took a step forward. “Don't pretend to be innocent!”

Adrian immediately blocked my path. “Sasha, enough!”

“No!” I shouted. “I'm going to tell your parents everything. I'll tell Alpha Joe and Luna Barbara exactly what I found here!”

Adrian's eyes suddenly became cold. “You won't!”

“Try stopping me.”

I turned toward the hallway, but Adrian caught me before I could leave. “Let me go!” I shouted, struggling against his powerful grip. “You're protecting her instead of your fated mate!”

“Sasha, stop fighting.”

“Let me go, Adrian!”

My wolf surged beneath my skin, but Adrian's Alpha strength overwhelmed me. He knocked, and my vision suddenly began to blur.

“What... did you do?” I whispered.

Adrian caught me as my knees weakened. His expression showed a trace of guilt, but he didn't release me.

“Sasha,” he whispered. “I can't let you expose Vivian and destroy everything tonight.”

“You chose her...” I murmured.

“Once this scandal is over, I'll still claim you as my mate,” Adrian said coldly. “Just stay quiet for now.”

My eyes struggled to remain open then I looked past Adrian.

Vivian was crying only moments ago but now her tears were gone. Her frightened expression disappeared, replaced by a cold, cunning smile.

She looked directly into my eyes as if she had been waiting for this exact moment.

My heart sank.

She was never helpless.

The darkness finally swallowed me, and the last thing I saw was Vivian's triumphant smile.