Chapter 3 No.3

Alvera POV

The morning sun did nothing to warm the chill that had settled in my bones since last night. I sat in the back of the Alpha's SUV, watching the sprawling, ancient oaks of the Dawson Ancestral Manor blur past. The estate was a fortress of grey stone and history, smelling of damp earth, woodsmoke, and the heavy, crushing weight of old power.

In the front seat, Kassie was chattering, her hand resting possessively on Brennan's forearm. She was dressed in a white designer dress that looked too bright, too modern against the somber backdrop of the Pack's heartland. Her scent-that cloying, synthetic sakura-was already warring with the manor's natural aroma of primrose and age.

"I can't wait to see Elder Stella," Kassie chirped, adjusting the rearview mirror to check her lipstick. "She always adored me when we were pups. I'm sure she'll be thrilled about the... reunion."

Brennan remained silent, his jaw set in a hard line. His golden eyes flicked to mine in the mirror for a split second, cold and unreadable, before returning to the road. He was still simmering from my refusal last night, his wolf agitated by the denial of what he considered his property.

We pulled up to the main entrance, where two Warriors stood like statues. As we exited the car, the heavy oak doors groaned open. It wasn't Elder Stella who stepped out, but Caelan, the estate's majordomo. He was an older wolf, his hair silver, his posture stiff with formality.

"Alpha Dawson," Caelan bowed deeply, then offered a polite, tight-lipped nod to Kassie. "Miss Warren."

"Caelan!" Kassie beamed, stepping forward as if expecting a hug. "Is Grandmother inside? We have so much to catch up on."

Caelan didn't move aside. He clasped his hands behind his back, his expression impassive. "I am afraid that is impossible, Miss Warren. Elder Stella entered the Moon Shrine last night for a spiritual cleansing. She has given strict instructions that she is not to be disturbed for the next fortnight."

Kassie's smile faltered. "Two weeks? But... Brennan brought me here specifically to-"

"The Moon Goddess's call cannot be rescheduled," Caelan interrupted smoothly, his tone brooking no argument. It was a calculated snub. Everyone knew a "cleansing" was the polite way for an Elder to say they wanted nothing to do with you.

Brennan let out a low sigh, clearly not surprised. "Very well. Tell her we stopped by."

He turned to leave, but Caelan took a step forward. "One moment, Alpha."

The majordomo's gaze shifted past the couple, landing directly on me. The frost in his eyes melted instantly, replaced by a genuine warmth that made my stomach twist with unease.

"Miss Dalton," Caelan said, his voice carrying clearly in the crisp morning air. "Elder Stella specifically asked me to convey her regards to you. She mentioned that your handling of the quarterly archives was impeccable."

I froze, clutching my tablet to my chest. "Thank you, Caelan. Please tell her I am honored."

Caelan nodded, then looked pointedly at Brennan. "She also wished to remind you, Alpha, to cherish the true value standing right beside you. Rare loyalty is hard to find these days. Far harder than... returning guests."

The silence that followed was deafening. Kassie's face flushed a blotchy red, the insult landing like a physical slap. Brennan frowned, his eyes narrowing as he looked between Caelan and me, sensing the undercurrent but missing the source.

"Let's go," Brennan growled, ushering a fuming Kassie back into the car.

I followed, keeping my head down, but my heart was hammering against my ribs. Stella knew. She didn't know I was his rejected mate, but she knew I was the one holding his world together while Kassie had been off living hers.

*

By the time we returned to the Apex Packhouse, the tension had morphed into a cold war. Brennan disappeared into his office immediately, slamming the heavy oak door. I retreated to my desk in the open-plan area outside, trying to bury myself in the safety of spreadsheets.

It didn't last long.

A shadow fell over my desk. I looked up to see Kassie standing there, her arms crossed, her perfectly manicured nails digging into her biceps. The humiliation at the manor had clearly curdled into a need for control.

"Alvera, isn't it?" she asked, though she knew my name perfectly well.

"Yes, Miss Warren. How can I help you?" I kept my voice professional, the perfect mask of the beta-level employee I pretended to be.

She leaned over my desk, invading my personal space. "I need Brennan's full schedule for the next month. Including his private meetings and security details. Forward it to my phone."

I didn't blink. "I'm afraid I can't do that, Miss Warren. The Alpha's security protocols are classified. Only sworn Pack administration and his marked mate have access to that level of detail."

Kassie's eyes flashed. "I am his *chosen* mate. I will be his Luna."

"Then once the Marking Ceremony is complete and your biometrics are in the system, you will have full access," I replied calmly. "Until then, Pack Law forbids me from sharing that data."

She stared at me, her nostrils flaring as she took in my scent-or lack thereof. To her, I was just a wolfless Omega, a piece of office furniture that was suddenly speaking back.

"You're very rigid for an assistant," she sneered, straightening up. "Fine. Keep your little secrets. Just make sure you keep him happy in the meantime. I'd hate for him to be stressed when he comes home to me."

She turned on her heel and sashayed away, leaving a trail of artificial sakura in her wake. I stared at her retreating back, a bitter taste in my mouth. *Keep him happy.* If only she knew.

I needed air. I grabbed a stack of files that needed archiving and headed for the lower levels. The corridor near the Pack Archives was dim and quiet, smelling of old parchment and dust. It was usually my sanctuary.

But not today.

"Alvera!"

The hiss came from the shadows. Before I could react, a hand shot out and grabbed my arm, yanking me into a blind spot between two tall filing cabinets.

It was Gina, my brother's wife. Her eyes were wide, frantic, and greedy.

"Is it true?" she demanded, her grip painful on my forearm. "Is she back? That Warren girl?"

"Let go of me, Gina," I whispered, trying to pry her fingers off. "Yes, she's back. Now keep your voice down."

"Keep it down?" Gina's voice rose to a shrill pitch. "Do you have any idea what this means for us? For Jarred? If she becomes Luna, she'll audit the staff housing. She'll cut the extra rations you've been sneaking us!"

"I haven't been sneaking you anything," I hissed. "I pay for those out of my salary."

"Your salary won't be enough if she fires you!" Gina's face twisted with a mixture of panic and malice. She shoved me back against the cabinet, her voice echoing dangerously in the quiet hall. "You've been warming his bed for three years, Alvera! Three years! Are you going to let it all go to waste for some Alpha's daughter who abandoned him?!"

My blood ran cold. The air left my lungs.

"Shut up!" I gasped, looking frantically down the corridor. "Gina, are you insane? If anyone hears you-"

"Let them hear!" she spat, though she lowered her voice slightly. "You have a hold on him. Use it. Get us a guarantee, get us a better house, before that bitch takes everything. Don't be a fool, Alvera. You're the one he sleeps with, but she's the one with the ring. Fix it."

She released me with a shove and stormed off, leaving me trembling in the dark. The secret I had guarded with my life had just been screamed in the hallway. The walls of my cage were closing in, and for the first time, I wasn't sure I could keep the roof from collapsing.