Chapter 1I finished wiping down my mate's mother and scrolled through my phone.
A post popped up: "What makes a mate PERFECT?"
Top comment, pinned by the blogger:
"Easy. Claim a doormat she-wolf to babysit your elders while YOU live your best life~"
She kept going:
*"My wolf's a genius. He marked this chick to care for his parents 24/7. Costs us nothing. His 50K pack salary? Straight to MY account. I just stay hot~"*
Wolves in the replies were dragging her. Calling her a homewrecker.
She clapped back with a mating bond certificate photo.
"LEGAL Luna, thanks! She's the side piece!"
My stomach dropped.
That profile pic - Darren. My claimed mate of seven years.
...
More from her:
"Mating price? Six grand. Literally what we paid for our pup's chew toy lmao"
"Her parents gave us 188K as a 'gift.' He bought me Chanel with it~"
188K.
The emergency Darren needed money for.
My wolf stirred. Claws pressed under my skin.
I dialed the number with shaking hands.
"It's me. Come get me."
"Move your tail! Get in that kitchen!"
Mallory stuffed her face with chips, grease staining her ratty shirt as she yelled.
Not this time. I walked straight to my room.
She went dead silent. Then she lost it.
"Vivian! You ignoring me now?!"
"And your mate's father shit the bed again! Clean him up instead of playing with your stupid suitcase!"
She kicked my luggage across the floor.
I didn't even look at her.
"It's Christmas Moon. I'm bringing Darren some presents. Thought I'd surprise him."
Her face went white. She stuttered.
"S-surprise? You're staying right here!"
"Taking care of us IS taking care of Darren!"
William's voice boomed from the other room.
"She's right! His pack company's crazy busy at Yule. Stop making trouble!"
I looked up at Mallory's panicked face.
They knew. They all knew Darren had another she-wolf out there living the dream.
The whole damn pack was playing me - letting those two have their perfect life while I rotted here cooking, cleaning, wiping old wolf ass every single day.
I grabbed my stuff and went straight to the Pack Council hall.
The she-wolf behind the desk looked at my mating bond certificate and frowned.
"Little wolf, this is fake. You're showing as unclaimed in our system."
My head exploded. Everything went fuzzy. My wolf let out a silent, pained howl inside my chest.
Ten years ago, Darren and I were both top students at Columbia.
We crushed every competition. Got funding from the biggest companies.
After we graduated, his parents got sick. I gave up everything so he could chase his dreams.
When he asked me to be his mate, he actually cried.
"Vivian, I promise I'll make you the happiest she-wolf in the world."
I believed every word. How did I end up here?
I stumbled out, wolves whispering behind me.
"She-wolves are so stupid these days. Getting used and don't even realize it."
"Bet she's the other omega!"
I couldn't take it anymore. Next morning before sunrise, I snuck out.
I was getting answers from Darren. Today.
But when I got to his Manhattan pack headquarters, the guards stopped me cold.
"Who are you? Show me your pack mark."
I stared him down.
"I'm Darren Lowell's mate."
Everyone around me burst out laughing.
"You? The Luna of Lowell? Have you seen yourself?"
"Sweetheart, every wolf in New York knows the Luna is Selena Lawrence, our pack director. Those two are all over each other. Already talking about pup number three!"
The guard blew smoke in my face, pointing inside.
"See her? That's the real Luna. Wearing more designer than you'll make in ten years. That necklace? Two hundred grand."
"Now get lost before I have you arrested, you broke little liar."
My wolf snarled. But I didn't say anything. Just stared at her back.
Then she turned around.
My heart stopped.
Selena Lawrence.
My old college roommate.
Chapter 2
Six years back, Selena broke her leg.
Darren said she was some cousin. Told me to take care of her.
I did everything. Washed her nasty underwear. Cooked her gourmet shit every single day. Kissed her tail for weeks.
Before she left, I shoved five grand in her hand. Didn't want some poor she-wolf getting screwed over in the big city.
Five years ago Selena popped out a pup. Three years ago the pup got sick. Both times Darren dumped them on me.
Said her mate died. Said she needed help.
Bullshit. The pup was his. Every word was a lie.
They'd been knotting behind my back the whole damn time.
So what was I? The pack omega? Free labor?
My claws dug so deep my palms bled.
Darren Lowell, go to hell.
My wolf howled inside my chest. Tears poured down my face. I shoved through everyone.
"Move. I'm seeing Darren. Now."
The guard cracked up.
"You? You're nuts! Side omegas really got balls these days!"
"Drag her out! Don't wreck Alpha Lowell and Director Lawrence's night!"
He yanked my arm.
"Wait, what's going on?"
That sickeningly sweet voice.
Selena strutted out in head-to-toe designer, looking like a goddamn Luna.
The guard practically licked her shoes.
"Director Lawrence! So sorry! This crazy bitch says she's Alpha Lowell's mate. Tossing her out right now!"
Selena put on that fake-ass smile.
"Oh Vivian! Sweetie, I know you've been obsessed with Darren forever, but crashing our pack party? That's kinda pathetic."
The guard looked confused.
"Hold up, you know this she-wolf?"
Selena's voice dripped honey.
"She's our pack maid. We pay her to babysit Darren's elders."
Everyone exploded.
"Holy shit, the help's trying to steal the Alpha! The Luna's standing right there!"
"These broke she-wolves always trying to sleep their way up!"
My wolf snarled. My chest felt like it was being ripped apart. I wanted to scream the truth, but my mating bond certificate was fake. What the hell could I say?
I tasted blood in my mouth.
Selena kept playing innocent.
"Wolves, relax. I trust Darren completely. He'd never do that to me."
One sentence. She turned me into the pack whore.
Everyone ate it up.
"For real! Alpha Lowell worships Director Lawrence! Some random trash can't compete!"
"She-wolf's straight-up delusional!"
I choked back the rage. Let out a low growl.
"Selena. My money. Where is it?"
"Excuse me?"
"My pack wages."
I locked eyes with her.
"You're calling me the maid, right? Seven years. Two old wolves. It's Christmas Moon. Pay up."
Her face went ghost white.
She grabbed me, voice dropping to a hiss.
"Vivian, shut your muzzle. Don't do this."
"Keep going and Darren's gonna hate your guts even more."
Her wolf flashed in her eyes. She'd already won.
"He's the liar! He screwed ME over!"
I shoved her hard.
Barely grazed her, but Selena shrieked like I'd clawed her and collapsed backward - straight into Darren's arms.
"Who the FUCK touched my Luna?"
His voice could've cut steel. His Alpha growl rattled the windows.
Then he saw my face.
All the color drained from Darren's skin.
"Vivian? Little wolf... why are you here?"
I stared him down. My wolf paced under my skin.
"Don't 'little wolf' me. Tell everyone what I am. The maid? The pack nurse? Your charity case?"
"And her? Is she your cousin? Or is she your Luna?"
Chapter 3
Darren looked guilty for like half a second. Then his Alpha mask slipped back on.
That's when it hit me. I meant nothing to him.
My wolf whimpered.
Selena hopped out of his arms, all fake-sweet.
"Alpha, I'm totally fine!"
"Vivian's just lonely, that's all. She wanted to see us for Christmas Moon."
"Oh! Vivian, you know David? Security wolf? His mate died a while back. You two should totally hook up!"
"I mean yeah, he's divorced, but he's got that head guard pack dues, you know?"
Everyone cracked up.
"Maid meets security wolf! Match made in heaven!"
"She-wolf, Director Lawrence is hooking you UP! Better say thanks!"
Their laughter made me want to puke. My wolf snarled. I lost it.
"A SECURITY GUARD?! Selena, what the hell is wrong with you?!"
Darren saw my tears. Something flickered in his eyes. Then he grabbed my wrist hard. His Alpha grip burned.
"Vivian. Stop. We'll talk at the den."
"Mom just had surgery. Dad can barely walk. And you're here making a scene? What kind of Luna does that?!"
He stared at me like I was rogue trash.
After everything he did - the lies, the cheating, ALL of it - he had the nerve to lecture ME about being a good Luna.
And there he was. Wearing a goddamn pup carrier. Playing Alpha daddy of the year.
When we bonded, I'd wanted pups. He'd said:
"Little wolf, the pack company's just getting started. I want us stable first. Just a few more years?"
I waited seven years. He knocked up some other bitch. Three times.
My wolf wanted to throw back her head and scream.
God, I was so fucking stupid. I lost my whole pack for this asshole.
I wiped my face and stared him down. Let my wolf flash in my eyes.
"I'm not here for a mate, Darren. I'm here for my pack wages."
"Two old wolves. Round-the-clock care. Ten grand a month."
"Seven years. That's 840K. Pack transfer or claw?"
Nobody said a word.
Darren's face went dark red. His wolf rumbled under his skin.
"Are you seriously doing this right now?!"
Doing what? Asking for what I'm OWED?
Was I supposed to just shut my muzzle forever? Be your pack's omega?
Selena jumped in again, voice all shaky.
"Vivian, you can't just... blackmail us like this! And after you STOLE from us? I could've called the Pack Enforcers!"
Everyone went nuts.
"Wait, she's a THIEF too?!"
"Lock her up!"
Selena pressed herself against Darren, fake-crying. Her wolf whined on cue.
"I just... I felt so bad for her... she has nothing... I couldn't just fire her..."
Everyone ate that shit up.
"You're such a good Luna!"
"Too good for her!"
Selena was soaking it all in when my wolf snapped.
I slapped her. Claws barely sheathed. Hard as I could.
"OW!"
Her face went bright red. Real tears this time. A thin scratch drew blood.
Two little pups ran over, hitting my legs.
"You hurt Mommy!"
"Daddy, make her go away!"
Everyone looked at me like I was a feral rogue.
"Poor Alpha Lowell. Stuck with this psycho."
"She's insane!"
Darren turned on me, face twisted up. His Alpha growl vibrated through the floor.
"Vivian. Say you're sorry. Right fucking now."
