Chapter 6

Ashley's POV

After leaving the Alpha Manor, I headed straight to my apartment-the one I'd bought before marrying Brian. Brian knew about the place but had never set foot in it.

There were no gardens here, no crystal chandeliers, and no swarms of servants. Just two simple rooms, a living area, and a kitchen, featuring a window that overlooked the city's neon lights. But it was mine. I no longer had to worry about what Brian wanted for dinner.

I threw myself into the soft sofa, finally able to breathe freely.

After a quick tidy-up, I began preparing dinner for myself. As the pan heated over the flame, I placed a steak inside. Subconsciously, I began timing it, preparing to sear it to medium-well-Brian's favorite. But the moment I realized what I was doing, I froze.

This time, I was going to have it my way: medium-rare, the way I actually liked it.

Just as I was about to enjoy the dinner I cooked for myself, there was a knock at the door.

"Ashley! Open up! It's me!"

Vicki burst in, the sharp smell of disinfectant following her. She hadn't even taken off her white coat.

"Vicki?" I stared at her, surprised. "What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be on shift?"

"That lying bitch!" She threw her Prada bag onto the coffee table with a loud thud. "And Brian-that brainless idiot thinking with his dick!"

She flopped onto the couch, still catching her breath. Seeing my puzzled expression, she quickly explained, "I was worried about you. All afternoon, I kept thinking-how are you holding up all alone? So I jumped in my car as soon as I got off. I was scared you'd... you'd do something stupid... or just suffer quietly by yourself."

Her words made my eyes sting. In this entire world, aside from the child inside me, maybe Vicki was the only person who truly cared about me.

"You idiot," I said softly, "skipping work just for me? What if someone notices?"

"I don't care about that!" Vicki gripped my hand tightly, her voice full of determination. "Ashley, you're my best friend. I can't just sit back and do nothing while you're hurting. Those jerks stomped all over your life! God, I swear, I wouldn't hesitate to take a scalpel to Silvia's two-faced, fake smile!"

Her concern brought a rush of warmth to my heart. "I'm fine." I pointed toward the kitchen. "I just made dinner. Want to join? I can cook another steak for you."

Vicki studied me closely, as if trying to see if I was really okay. "You... seem calmer than I expected."

I shook my head and replied honestly, "I made the logical choice, but you know how it is... emotionally, it's still hard. But time heals everything."

"You deserve so much better, Ashley. A thousand times better than that jerk."

We sat down together at the small dining table, and I cooked her another medium-rare steak. She complimented the simple meal, but I could tell her mind was more on me than the food.

"I know. Once the divorce with Brian is finalized, I'm leaving." I tried my best to stay composed and keep my emotions in check.

Vicki's face was full of worry. "But what's your plan after that? You're alone, and... you've got the baby too. I mean, you can't go back to your uncle's pack right now."

"I'm not alone, Vicki," I interrupted her, looking her straight in the eye. "And I'm not starting from nothing."

Her confused expression told me it was time to come clean. "Do you remember the Rose Gallery?"

Vicki's eyes widened instantly. "Of course! That's the most prestigious art space in the wolf community! They hold the 'Moonlight Salon' every six months, and even Alphas from the farthest territories compete for an invitation. Wait... what does that have to do with you?"

"That gallery belongs to me."

Vicki's mouth dropped open in shock, almost as if she could fit an egg in there. "What? But... Brian never allowed you to-"

"Yeah, he hated it when I put myself out there," I cut her off with a sharp laugh. "He wanted his Luna to be this obedient, flower-arranging, smiling little trophy. So, I used a fake name. All these years, I've been secretly using the gallery's profits to cover up for the pack's financial mess-a result of his ridiculous decisions. But now? I don't have to sacrifice for his outdated, macho nonsense anymore."

I stood up and walked over to the window, looking down at the busy city streets below. "Moonlight Salon, protected under the ancient Truce Accord, is the only place where wolf pack elites can safely exchange information, negotiate in secret, and even forge alliances. And I'm the one running the whole show. Leaving Brian? The only thing I lost was that meaningless title of being his Luna."

Vicki rushed over and threw her arms around me from behind, practically bouncing with excitement. "Oh my god, Ashley! You absolute genius! I knew it! I knew you weren't some helpless little damsel. This is... incredible!"

"Vicki." I placed a hand on my belly, my voice steady and full of resolve. "I'm going to make so much money, enough to make sure my pup grows up in a safe, comfortable, and abundant environment. He'll have nothing but the best. I swear it."

"You will." Vicki rested her chin on my shoulder, her voice soft but full of conviction. "You're going to be an amazing mom."

Just then, her phone rang-it was an emergency call from the hospital. She had to leave right away.

"Don't forget your checkups!" She gave me a quick peck on the cheek. "You're eating for two now, so take care of yourself! And hey, if anything comes up, call me anytime, no matter how late it is!"

After Vicki hurried off, my phone buzzed as well. It was the gallery assistant, Leo, a young, lively beta wolf.

"Good evening, Ms. Rebecca."

Rebecca was the alias I used for work.

His voice was bright and energetic over the line. "Sorry to bother you, but a package arrived for you-no sender info. It seems kind of important. Should I deliver it to the Alpha Manor for you?"

"No need, Leo," I replied immediately. "I'll come by myself. And while I'm at it, could you get started on the planning for the next Moonlight Salon? I've got some new ideas for that."

After hanging up, I changed into a sleek black outfit and drove over to the Rose Gallery.

The gallery, located in the priciest part of the city's financial district, was a striking blend of black steel and glass-modern, understated, but undeniably sophisticated. As I walked through the doors, the staff paused and nodded politely at me.

"Good evening, Ms. Rebecca."

Here, I wasn't someone's ex-wife. I wasn't the worthless one without a wolf spirit. Here, I was the boss.

Leo hurried over and handed me a thick kraft paper envelope. "This is it, ma'am. Feels like documents inside."

I took the mysterious package, and an uneasy feeling gripped my chest. I walked up to my top-floor office and tore the seal open.

What fell out wasn't a contract or papers I expected, but a few thin sheets.

They were hospital test reports.

The moment my eyes landed on the "Patient Name" section, my blood ran cold.

Silvia.

My fingers trembled as I read line by line. Injury assessments, chest CT analysis, immune system evaluations... Every line, every clinical term, every piece of data spelled out one irrefutable truth.

All of Silvia's test results were perfectly normal.

The whole "only six months to live" story, the "too frail to handle the cold" tale...

It was all a lie.

Author's POV

The Bloodmoon Pack

Inside the expansive office, Alpha Hebert stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows, overlooking the city's nightscape.

Behind him, Marcus, his Beta, leaned against the desk. "The package has been delivered to Luna Ashley's hands. Alpha, why not just go to her directly? You've been watching her for so long. You could walk right into that pack and take her back-no one would dare stand in your way."

Hebert didn't turn around. "She's not like other females. She doesn't need any charity. Unless she's in grave danger, I will not show my face."

Marcus shook his head. "If you keep this up, you'll never have her."

Hebert turned, a sharp, lethal smile flickering in his eyes. He walked back to his desk, his fingers rhythmically tapping the surface.

Ashley's image surfaced in his mind-the woman who had been trampled by the pack's gossip yet kept her spine perfectly straight. She had her pride, her secrets, and her own gallery empire. She wasn't a weakling in need of saving; she was a prize worthy of a conquest.

He had known about Silvia's little game for a long time. He was the one who arranged for those lab results to end up in Ashley's hands. He wanted her to see the truth with her own eyes. He wanted her to realize, in her most vulnerable moment, that Brian could never give her the freedom and respect she craved.

Only he could.

He wouldn't appear just yet. He would wait. He would wait for her to be utterly disillusioned with Brian, wait for her to face the pack's pressure alone, and wait for her to realize she needed a truly powerful Alpha. Only then would he appear before her in his most dominant form.

"No," Hebert's voice was resolute. "Soon, she will be mine."

He had seen through Brian's weakness, Silvia's lies, and most of all, through Ashley's proud but lonely heart.

"She will be mine," Hebert repeated. "No matter how long it takes, I will make her belong to me willingly. In the entire East Coast, no one can snatch her from my grasp."

Outside, the night grew darker, stretching toward the direction of Ashley's apartment. A cold, predatory curve pulled at the corner of his lips.

Soon, everything would go exactly according to his plan.