Chapter 1 A Silver Betrayal

AVALINE

"Congratulations on your pregnancy, Olivia." My best friend's eyes widened at the praise, her hand rubbing over her belly slowly as she smiled.

Jealousy coursed through me as I watched her. I was still happy for her though.

She was in love.

Although I had never met her so called fiancee before, she always spoke about him with that dreamy smile women wore when they thought they'd found the one.

My husband, Adam, stood beside me, his arm loosely draped around my waist as we watched Olivia laugh with the other guests. The whole garden was decorated in soft pinks and whites, balloons tied to chairs and ribbons.

Everything seemed perfect.

Just then my phone buzzed.

"Excuse me," I murmured, stepping outside to take the call.

The phone call was my Aunt, checking in from our home territory, reminding me to rest and keep my wolf calm as the full moon approached. I laughed softly, promising I would before I hung up. I turned to leave when I heard them whispering.

"...she really doesn't know?"

The voice came from behind the hedge near the patio. Two female wolves, both from our pack. Their chuckles rang out loudly as they spoke, unaware I was there.

"I heard Olivia's pup isn't her fiancé's at all," one said with a quiet laugh. "It's Adam's."

My heart froze.

"Are you serious?"

"Poor Avaline. Imagine being mated to a wolf who breeds your best friend and you have no clue. She's still playing the best friend role." They laughed.

For a moment, I couldn't breathe. The scent of roasted meat, flowers, and wine turned sour in my nose. My vision blurred as tears filled my eyes.

No. That couldn't be true. Adam would never-

I took a step back, my claws pricking at my fingertips. My wolf paced restlessly beneath my skin, growling low.

Their words hit harder than I expected. I froze where I stood, the noise of the party fading into a dull echo. My fingers trembled as I adjusted my purse strap, pretending not to hear as I walked away.

No. That couldn't be true. Olivia would never... and Adam-

My throat tightened. I forced a shaky breath and pushed past the door, my heels clicking against the tiled floor as I searched for him.

It didn't take long to find them. I followed the faint trace of his scent through the house. Walking through the hallway, I stopped in front of the slightly opened door. My heart froze as her scent hit me too. They were together.

"...you should have told me earlier, Olivia. I deserve to know about my child."

My heart stopped.

"I was scared," Olivia whispered, her voice trembling. "She's your fated mate, Adam. I was afraid that you won't abandon her for me."

I walked closer, my eyes landing on them as Adam rested her head against his chest.

" Don't say such nonsense. You and our pup are the most important thing to me. After all, she is just a new moon Omega. I've long wanted to end this stupid bond between us." Adam said, his hand gently patting Olivia's head.

I pushed the door open and stepped inside.

Olivia froze, her eyes going wide as if she'd just seen a ghost.

"Ava..." she whispered, voice trembling, but I didn't look at her.

My gaze was locked on Adam.

"What did I just hear?" My voice shook, anger and disbelief twisting inside me. "Tell me it's not true. Tell me you two aren't-" My throat cracked before I could finish. "How could you do this to me?"

"Ava, please, let me explain," Olivia murmured quickly, glancing at Adam like she needed him to save her. "Adam and I-" She stopped, letting out a soft, shaky sigh, her lashes fluttering as if the weight of guilt was too much for her.

It was her favorite performance. Sweet, helpless Olivia who was as fragile as glass, pretending she couldn't hurt a soul. But I knew better. I'd seen how she played him, how she used that innocent face to twist things her way.

I should have noticed it sooner. Or maybe I just turned a blind eye. I was the one who stood by him when no one else would, the one who believed in him.

He said he wasn't ready for children. That we needed time. That the pack's affairs came first.

Yet here she stood, carrying his child.

"Stop, Avaline," Adam said, his tone sharp. He turned toward Olivia, eyes softening. "Olivia is pregnant. She might be human, but I love her. There's nothing left to say. Move on."

My heart stopped. "Move on? Adam, I'm your wife. Your fated mate."

His eyes hardened. "And I reject you."

The words hit like a blade to the chest.

"I, Adam Rhineheart of the Duskpaw pack, reject you, Avaline Ross as my fated mate. Olivia carries my child now. Our bond is broken."

My breath hitched. "You said you didn't want a baby yet," I whispered, trembling. "You said it was too much responsibility... that you wanted to focus on your duties as Beta."

He scoffed. "Do you know how many times I've been mocked for being mated to a traitor's daughter? You embarrass me, Avaline. How can I let you carry my child?"

My throat tightened.

" Do you think I will just let this slide? Forming a wolf bond with a human is forbidden by the laws of the Wolf Lord. I swear you will regret this! Both of you!" I yelled before turning around to leave.

Tears blurred my vision as I made my way to the door.

"Adam, stop her." Olivia whispered. "If she says anything, you will be in trouble."

Her voice echoed in my ears but I didn't care. My hand reached out for the doorknob when suddenly I felt a sharp pain course through me. I gasped as I as I looked down, seeing the glint of silver buried deep in my abdomen.

Suddenly, the world went still.

Breath left my lungs as I stared at the dagger's hilt protruding from my stomach, its cold metal catching the faint light of the arena torches. Silver. My wolf hissed as I touched the blade, smoke curling faintly from the wound. My knees gave out and I dropped to the floor with a strangled cry.

Behind me, I heard Adam's slow, deliberate footsteps.

"You should have just walked away, Avaline. But you never knew when to stop, did you?" Adam asked coldly.

I tried to speak but my throat burned. Every breath felt hard to take.

I was dying.

"You... stabbed me," I whispered, my voice trembling. "Adam, you-"

He crouched beside me, his eyes empty of the warmth they once had. "Don't look at me like that. You brought this on yourself."

I blinked through the pain, trying to focus on his face. The man I had once loved, the man who once promised me forever was gone. What stood before me now was a stranger in his skin.

"Adam, please..." My words came out barely a breath. "Don't do this. I beg you-"

He smirked, straightening as he wiped his hand on his trousers. "Silver burns slow, doesn't it? Maybe in your next life, you will finally know your place."

My vision blurred. The room tilted, spinning into darkness. Blood pooled beneath me, warm and sticky, seeping through the fabric of my dress. My wolf howled weakly, fading.

He turned his back on me, his voice fading as he walked away. "Consider it mercy, Avaline. I could've made it worse."

Mercy.

The word echoed in my mind as I lay there, trembling, the life draining from me. All I could think was how blind I had been. I had even planned their baby shower.

How stupid.

As the darkness finally pulled me under, one thought clawed its way to the surface.

If I survived this, I would never love again.

Not him.

Not anyone.