Chapter 3 Chapter 3 BEHIND THE MASK

OLIVIA'S POV

Evelyn's words had given me hope.

If she cleared my name, my pup might be accepted-even if I had to watch her live in my home, sleep in my bed, and love my mate.

I'll endure this.

"For the pack's prosperity," Elder Alyosha had whispered to me five years ago, holding me as I wept. "You must be strong."

And I had been. For five years. Without Dominic's love, without a wolf, without even the pack's respect. But now? Now I had my child. I had James. I had my adoptive father, the Beta.

That was enough.

It had to be.

The kitchen timer chimed. Herbal steam curled from the pot as I poured Evelyn's medicine, the bitter scent clinging to my skin.

I pushed open her bedroom door-

And froze.

Dominic cradled her against his chest, his hands-those cruel, beautiful hands-stroking her hair like she was made of moonlight.

"I was so scared I'd never see you again," Evelyn sobbed.

"Shh." He kissed her tears away. "Your love kept me alive, too."

The bowl nearly slipped from my grip.

Dominic's head snapped up. Gold eyes locked onto mine, all tenderness vanishing. "Stop gawking. Bring it here."

I moved mechanically, handing Evelyn the medicine. Every cell in my body screamed to run.

But Evelyn caught my wrist. "Thank you, Liv." Her fingers were ice. "After everything. you're still here for me."

I wish I could say something. Yet there I stood-watching another woman curled against my husband's chest like she belonged there, while I remained on the sidelines like some unwanted servant. The sight tore through me sharper than any claw.

I had no right to jealousy.

The prophecy had bound Dominic to me, ripping apart his happiness with Evelyn-even if I never wanted it that way.

But gods, I hadn't expected it to hurt this much.

Dominic snatched the bowl. "Drink. Then sleep." His voice softened only for her.

"Dominic." Evelyn batted her lashes. "Can I talk to Olivia alone? Just ten minutes?"

"No." His glare sliced through me. "She's done enough damage."

The words shouldn't have hurt anymore. They did.

Evelyn pouted, tugging his sleeve. "Please? Girl secrets?"

A beat. Then-

Dominic smiled. A real one, warm and reluctant. "Ten minutes." He ruffled her hair like she was a pup before striding out.

The door clicked shut.

Evelyn's sweetness melted like sugar in fire.

"Thank you, Olivia." Her whisper was a serpent's tongue. "For making this so easy."

My pulse stuttered. "What?"

"I'll take everything." Her nails dug into my arm. "Just like I should've had from the start."

"I never wanted-"

"SHUT UP!" Spittle hit my cheek. "Because of you, I lost five years with him!"

"That's not what happened-"

"Don't play innocent!" She glared at me. "This all should have ended five years ago. Now I'm back, and don't try to stop me."

"Evelynn-"

"GET OUT." She pointed at the door, face twisted.

I stumbled into the hallway, my heart a lead weight.

It didn't matter what the truth was.

To Evelyn, I'd always be the thief who stole her life.

I couldn't sleep well all night. I didn't know what Evelyn was planning, but it felt like my life would continue to be a living hell, perhaps even worse.

Dawn came so soon. My door exploded inward. Two warriors hauled me from bed, their grips bruising.

"What's happening?!" I thrashed, but they dragged me down the hall-past gawking pack members, through the grand archway-

Into the judgment hall.

Dominic stood at the center, jaw set. The elders flanked him. And there-Evelyn, her eyes red-rimmed, playing the victim perfectly.

My stomach dropped.

"Evelyn," Dominic commanded. "Tell them."

The hall fell deathly silent as every gaze locked onto her. Tears glistened in her eyes-perfectly timed-as she began her tale.

"Five years ago, rogues attacked me." Her voice broke on cue. "I was taken. Forced into hiding. Barely surviving. But I remember..." A dramatic pause. "I remember who orchestrated it all."

Then she turned to me, her face a masterpiece of practiced anguish.

"Olivia."

A collective gasp ripped through the room.

My breath vanished. 'What?'

Even I could hardly believe the audacity of her lie. As if I could ever-

"She was jealous," Evelyn continued, her voice cracking like shattered ice. "Hated how close Dominic and I were. Hired those rogues to eliminate me. The Moon Goddess spared me for one purpose-to expose her true nature."

My head shook violently. This wasn't happening.

"No!' The word tore from me. 'Evelyn, why are you-"

CRACK.

Grace's palm split across my cheek before I could finish. Pain exploded as I staggered back.

'You wretched girl!' she spat, eyes blazing. 'I knew you were unworthy of my son-but this? This is unforgivable!'

I whirled toward Dominic, searching his face for doubt, for hesitation-

Nothing.

Only glacial indifference.

"Dominic, you know this isn't true," I choked out, my voice raw with desperation. "You know I would never-"

"Enough." His command cut through the air like a blade-final, absolute. "Take her away."

My world shattered.

Everything was going exactly as Evelyn had planned. No one cared about the truth. Just like five years ago, I was being forced to pay for crimes I didn't commit.

Back then, without evidence, my life had become a living hell.

Now, with Evelyn's return, her lies had cemented my guilt. What fresh torment awaited me this time?

I wanted to rush to Dominic, to beg for mercy. But the warriors didn't hesitate, their grip iron-tight as they dragged me away.

Through my tear-blurred vision, I caught Evelyn's face-her pitiful mask slipping, replaced by a smirk of triumph.

I wanted to scream. To fight. To demand justice.

But what was the point?

No one would believe me. Dominic had never believed me. A few pretty words from Evelyn were all it took to destroy everything.

As they hauled me through the pack grounds, the whispers followed like a death march:

"Murderer."

"She never deserved to be Luna. That prophecy was a lie..."

"Five years ago we just spat at her. Today, we throw stones."

THUD.

A rock struck my forehead. Blood trickled into my eye, but I barely felt it-I was already numb.

The confinement room swallowed me whole, its darkness thick and suffocating. My knees hit the stone floor, pain radiating through my battered body.

Then-

A sharp twinge in my abdomen.

My trembling hand flew to my stomach. No. Not my pup.

Dominic might hate me, but our child was innocent. He needed to know.

"I DEMAND TO SEE THE ALPHA!" My voice cracked, but didn't waver. This was my last card. And I hope I can win this time.