Chapter 1 Being Betrayed

••• Victoria's POV •••

Packing House

On our second wedding anniversary, I received a gift from my mate-

a sex tape of him and his lover.

He had her pinned against his office's cherrywood desk, slamming into her from behind. Every moan, every thrust, every whisper coiled around my throat like a vine, choking me. I pressed a hand over my mouth, disbelief flooding me. Tears carved down my cheeks like knives.

The French cuisine on the table reeked of cream, the scent suddenly nauseating. My stomach lurched, bile rising. I flung my hand, ordering the omega servant to dump it all. In that instant, I felt as if I, too, had been served up on a platter-picked over, tasted, and discarded.

My gaze locked on the club's insignia in the top right corner of the screen. As if someone wanted me to see exactly where this happened.

My chest tightened until I couldn't breathe. Suffocation. But suffocation didn't mean drowning. On the contrary-it ignited something inside me. If Elijah didn't respect me, then he would see who I truly was.

Dragging my heavy steps, I got into the car. The image of Elijah's betrayal hung before me like a ghost, impossible to erase. Shock clung to me. How could this even happen?

The bond between me and Elijah wasn't goddess-made. We were chosen mates. Even though my wolf pack was far stronger than the Golden Claw Lions, I still ensured he was the only alpha in our pack. My sacrifice, my devotion, convinced me we could be like true mates-bound soul to soul.

In two years, with my talent for business and strategy, I had led the Golden Claws into becoming the second-largest pack in the nation.

I even made everyone believe Elijah was the true leader.

Though Elijah never once showed me tenderness before the pack, I never doubted him-until his first love returned. The woman in his arms was her. Evelyn. And in that moment, the balloon of fantasy in my heart burst with a pop.

My heart shattered into ten thousand shards. I wiped my tears and stepped into the club.

Evelyn Madden's sickening voice rang out. "Aren't you worried if your wife finds out you're spending your anniversary with me, she'll be upset?" Her hand was on Elijah's dick, and she had the audacity to worry about me.

What a hypocritical bitch! She dumped Elijah, abandoned the pack. And now, hearing he'd grown strong, she dared to reappear.

Why could Elijah forgive the woman who betrayed him so easily?

"You're the one I want. That woman is nothing but a pathetic tool." Elijah's voice was cold as steel, slicing straight into my ears. "She's so damn stupid-give her a scrap of care, and she'll do anything for me."

Evelyn giggled, sickly sweet. "Elijah, you know, when I rejected our bond back then, I thought you'd never forgive me. I'm not the perfect mate."

Elijah crushed her lips with his, whispering with suppressed madness, "Baby, I'm glad you rejected me. Because now that you're back, it's time you understood one truth-only I can protect you, only I am worthy of you. I am the strongest Alpha!"

Evelyn's smile widened, fingers caressing his chest, voice dripping honey. "Of course, you are the strongest Alpha. I'm willing to kiss your toes. But your Luna. she's given so much to the pack. Compared to me, she's the perfect Luna. She has her father's pack behind her, while I." Her voice broke, trembling, "I only have you. I have nothing."

Elijah's eyes darkened. He cupped her face, kissing away her tears as if they were precious gems. "Perfect?" His laugh was cold, dripping with scorn. "Only if I loved her. But that will never happen."

His lips hovered against hers, voice low and cruel. "You're mine, Evelyn. Do you know? Even when I'm in bed with her, I wish that woman were you."

Hatred flashed in his eyes, venom seeping into my bones. "If not for her father's wealth and power, I'd never have tolerated marrying such a dull woman. Now-it's time to throw her away."

My teeth rattled uncontrollably. Every word Elijah spoke was a dagger stabbing into my heart, pinning me breathless. Evelyn's return didn't shame him-it inflated his pride. And that became his excuse to discard me.

The more perfect I acted, the more he despised me. I was a fool. Too arrogant. I thought Elijah only needed time to accept me-that Evelyn betrayed him, and he just needed time to accept a new woman. I was naïve, convincing myself with such pathetic reasons to endure the damage he inflicted in our marriage.

"Oh, Elijah, my strongest Alpha, let me reward your love," Evelyn's revolting voice purred again, and then she pulled down his pants, taking him into her mouth.

His whispers tangled with Evelyn's moans, painting a scene that made me want to vomit.

The mark on my neck burned with searing pain. My mate was screwing his lover in front of me. I braced against the wall, nails digging into my palms. Tears stung my eyes, but my heart was colder than them were.

That was when I saw a waiter passing with drinks. My lips curved faintly as I called him over.

"Miss, do you need-?"

I slipped a golden card into his palm, my voice soft but edged with command.

"Go. Trigger the fire alarm. Now."

He froze, then, catching the steel in my eyes, nodded quickly. Minutes later, the shrill siren split the air. Red lights flashed. Sprinklers rained down cold water.

The door burst open-

Elijah and Evelyn stumbled out, drenched, pathetic as drowned rats. His fly half open, Evelyn clung to him, deliberately flaunting her "victory" before everyone.

Guests in the club's hall gaped.

"Isn't that. Alpha's wife, Victoria?"

"Oh my god, she saw it with her own eyes!"

"So pitiful. Luna Victoria gave so much to our pack. I even heard the pack's strength is thanks to her."

The whispers slithered into Elijah's ears like snakes. His jaw tightened, his face black with rage.

I stepped forward slowly, heels striking the floor like judgment.

"Elijah?" I feigned surprise, voice clear and ringing, loud enough for all to hear. "Why are you. holding Evelyn?"

Air froze instantly. Only the alarm shrieked.

Elijah stiffened, humiliation dripping off him. His eyes seared into me like fire, furious and frantic.

"Victoria? Why are you here?"

No shame-only fury turned on me. "So you did this? You followed me?!" His voice interrogated me like a criminal, forgetting who the true traitor was.

Evelyn cowered in his arms, wet hair plastered to her cheek, but she still smiled, gentle and innocent. She whispered, soft enough for all to hear, "Victoria, I think you've misunderstood." As if giving me a way out, when she was in fact shoving me into disgrace.

I laughed. Cold. As if the curtain had finally lifted on this farce.

"It's over, Elijah." I lifted my chin, voice sharp and resolute. "I'll reject you. I'll take back my birth pack. And of course-I'll take half of the pack's wealth."

Gasps rippled through the hall.

"You delusional bitch!" Elijah roared. He shoved Evelyn aside and lunged at me, slamming me into the wall. Claws pierced my skin, blood scent filling the air. He glared at the others, snarling: "Everyone leave! If anyone dares tell another pack what happened tonight, they'll be corpses. Their families too."

I sneered, lifting my hand and slapping him hard across the face. "Only that. Otherwise, I'm not leaving."

Step by step, I advanced toward Evelyn. My eyes sharp enough to make her instinctively retreat. Even without my wolf, Leia, responding, I was still an alpha. But I didn't intend to strike her. Suddenly-

Evelyn's face twisted. She clutched her belly and screamed, "Ah-Elijah! My child!"

The hall froze.

I went rigid. Child?

My head exploded with a roar. Shards of realization pieced together into one brutal answer: no wonder my mate link had ached these past days, no wonder Leia never responded.

Elijah lunged to her, cradling her tightly. No hesitation. Only cold hatred in his eyes.

"Victoria," he ground out, every word like a verdict, "you will pay for tonight."