Chapter 1I was doom-scrolling when I landed on a she-wolf's livestream. She was casually sharing the story of how she became the side piece.
I was about to swipe away when she turned to someone off-camera and purred, "Pup, did you check in with your mate yet? You're staying with me tonight."
The next second, my Alpha mate's familiar voice came through the stream.
At the same time, a text popped up from Lance Gibson: [Sweetheart, last-minute work dinner tonight. Get some rest.]
My brain short-circuited. My wolf went dead still.
Someone in the chat typed, "Aren't you afraid your mate will find out?"
Vivian Carter read it and smirked. "Her? She's just a trophy she-wolf living off my mate's money. What's there to be afraid of?"
She flipped her hair. "Besides, the villa my mate bought me is right next door to hers."
The second she finished, Lance grabbed her by the back of the head and kissed her like his life depended on it. In front of tens of thousands of viewers.
I scoffed, my claws curling into my palm.
He was bankrolling his side piece on my dime?
I pulled out my phone and punched in three numbers.
"I'd like to report a solicitation. My mate's paying for sex."
...
The enforcers showed up within minutes.
Vivian let out a terrified shriek. Lance let out a furious, disbelieving yell. Both of them got hauled into the enforcer cruiser half-dressed.
Then the notification popped up: Ashford's famous Alpha caught in late-night solicitation sting.
At 3 a.m., I was still asleep.
Someone started pounding on my door.
I opened it. Vivian's palm connected with my cheek.
"You bitch. You actually called the enforcers on me."
I frowned. No one had ever laid a hand on me. My wolf surged, claws itching to break free.
I raised my hand to hit her back.
Lance stepped in front of her, grabbed my wrist, and flung me aside. His grip was bruising. "Mandy, you've got a lot of nerve."
"Calling the enforcers on your own mate. You have no idea what people are saying about me right now."
I rubbed my wrist and let out a humorless laugh, my eyes flashing gold. "Bad things? Now you care about your reputation?"
"Where was that shame when you were cheating? Where was your conscience yesterday, in front of tens of thousands of people?"
Lance's jaw tightened. "Mandy, guys in my position? Half of them keep mistresses. I only have Vivian. What more do you want from me?"
I stared at him, stunned. My wolf whined in disbelief.
I couldn't believe he could spin cheating like it's something to be proud of.
I thought about our mating vows. ‘Forsaking all others.' What a joke.
"And thanks to you, her livestream got shut down," he snapped. "That was her job. But you wouldn't understand. You just stay home like a kept she-wolf while I cover everything."
"You wanna talk about hard?" I slapped the paper trail down in front of him.
"You've been using my company's money to buy her cars, houses, wire transfers. Over fourteen million dollars."
Vivian lunged forward and snatched the papers, then stomped on them with her heel. "Mandy, give me a break. You think joint mating assets belong only to you?"
"Lance works his ass off for that company. His money, his choice. And he wants to spend it on me."
She sneered. "You'd better wake up. Everything you have right now? You owe it all to Lance."
I owe him? Give me a break.
Without me, Lance Gibson would be less than nothing.
Chapter 2
Five years ago, he was just an ordinary wolf in a cubicle.
We fell in love and mated. I transferred some shares to him, slowly handed over the company for him to run.
But I still held the majority.
I ignored Vivian and locked eyes with Lance.
"Don't forget," I said, my voice low. "Everything you have, I gave you. And I can take it back anytime."
Lance's eyes flashed gold with mockery. "Mandy, this company became Ashford's biggest success story because of me. You? You're just a stay-at-home Luna who plays with cookware."
"Let me tell you the truth. I've been faking it for years. You really thought I loved you? That I wanted to mate you?"
"Every time I saw that entitled princess act of yours, it made my wolf sick."
"From the moment I met you, you were nothing but a stepping stone to success."
He wrapped his arm around Vivian and strode toward the villa next door without looking back.
I stood there, my body shaking. My wolf whimpered, pacing under my skin.
Five years of reliance. All a trap he'd carefully woven.
I thought about those nights he cooked for me. The way he stayed by my bed when I was sick. Now those memories cut like claws.
Deep inside, something shattered for good.
I shot a text to every shareholder: Tomorrow at two. Meeting.
Did he really think the company grew that fast on its own?
Every business partner only worked with us because he was the Bennett pack's son-in-law.
I was one day away from proving to my mother I hadn't made a mistake. That love didn't have to mean matching status.
One day away from telling Lance I was actually the sole heir of the Bennett Pack - one of the most powerful, private dynasties in the country.
My heart slowly steadied. I had misjudged him. Overestimated his worth.
The next day, I suited up and got to the office an hour early.
I swiped my keycard. Nothing.
Tried again. Same result.
I clenched the card so hard the edges bit into my palm.
Lance had revoked my access.
I walked to the front desk. "Swipe me up. Floor Fifty."
The receptionist didn't look up. "Sorry, we don't have that access."
Impossible. I'd set that rule myself when I founded the company. Every front desk had a building-wide card for exactly this.
"I'm Mandy Bennett, majority shareholder. I have the right to any floor. Get me an elevator. Now."
She barely lifted her eyes. A smirk tugged at her lips.
"Majority shareholder? Lady, did you forget your meds?"
She held up her gold badge and waved it in my face.
"Alpha Gibson gave strict orders. No Mandy allowed. Not even with a dog."
"But if you really want up, I'll do you a favor. See that fire exit stairwell? You can climb. Only fifty floors. Should take you an hour or two."
My wolf snarled inside. I hadn't expected Lance to sink this low.
A shrill voice cut from behind.
"Well, well, Mandy. Still standing here? What's the matter, can't get in?"
"Get on your knees and bow down to me ten times, and maybe - just maybe - I'll think about taking you up."
Vivian looped her arm through Lance's and waved her keycard.
Lance shot me a cold stare. "Mandy, you're overestimating yourself. A shareholders' meeting?"
"Fine. Today I'll show you exactly who owns everything now."
"If you'd just stayed home like a good little mate, I might've tossed you some crumbs. Let you keep playing the spoiled Luna."
I let out a dry laugh. "Pocket money?"
"Lance, you've got some nerve. If it weren't for me, you'd still be some low-level employee making minimum wage. You wouldn't even qualify to talk to me."
Lance snorted. "Is that right?"
He glanced around the lobby. "Anyone who swipes her up today without my say-so is fired on the spot."
Then he turned, arm still around Vivian, and stepped into the private executive elevator.
Everyone nearby scattered. Nobody wanted to be seen near me.
I glanced at my watch. Thirty minutes until the meeting.
I couldn't keep the board waiting.
I took a deep breath and walked slowly toward the fire exit.
Slipped off my heels and started climbing.
Fifth floor. Tenth. Twentieth.
Sweat ran down my temples. My calves screamed.
I pushed harder.
Floor Fifty. I made it.
My shirt was soaked. I looked wrecked.
Checked my watch. Two minutes left.
I ducked into the bathroom, fixed myself up as best I could, and walked out just in time.
I pushed open the boardroom door.
"Sorry to keep every - "
I froze.
The massive room was completely empty.
"Ha ha ha ha..."
A shrill laugh echoed behind me.
Lance walked in with Vivian on his arm.
"I can't believe you actually climbed the fire exit," he said.
Vivian stepped closer and fanned the air in front of her nose like she smelled rotting meat.
"Whew. All that sweat. You really reek."
Lance's mouth curled into a mocking smile.
"Surprised, Mandy? Not a single person showed up."
"Without my approval, you can't even get a janitor to listen to you, let alone the shareholders. No one takes orders from you anymore."
He pulled out his phone right in front of me.
"Call every shareholder. Tell them to get to the boardroom. Now."
Chapter 3
Within three minutes, the boardroom went from empty to packed.
"Good morning, Alpha Gibson," everyone said in unison. The sound rattled my eardrums.
Lance shot me a smug look. "Well, Mandy? Weren't you the one who called this meeting?"
I took a deep breath, clenched my fists, and walked slowly to the podium. My wolf bristled beneath my skin.
"As the majority shareholder of this company, I officially propose removing Lance Gibson from all his positions."
Lance leaned back and crossed his legs. "Then raise your hands if you agree."
Dead silence. No one raised a hand.
A shareholder spoke up from the crowd. "Luna Bennett, why don't you just stay home and be Alpha Gibson's mate? Let him run the company."
"Exactly."
"Alpha Gibson has doubled our revenue every single year. He's the only one we trust to lead this pack's business."
"That's right. Only Alpha Gibson," more voices chimed in.
My heart dropped. My wolf whimpered low in my chest.
This company meant nothing to the Bennett pack. But I had built it from the ground up with my own hands.
The wolves I once trusted, the ones I had helped along the way, just stared back with empty eyes.
I turned to Gage Hunter, hoping against hope.
"Gage... why?"
Five years ago, Gage's company went under. He was against the wall. I paid off all his debts and gave him a second chance.
He said he would never forget what I did for him.
Gage slowly lifted his head. "Mandy, this is a pack matter. There's no need to drag it into the office."
"I heard about what happened yesterday. An Alpha having a she-wolf on the side is completely normal. You need to cut him some slack."
"And on top of that, you called the enforcers. Did you even think about what would happen to this company if things got out of hand?"
"You're too emotional. Too soft. You're not fit to run a business."
The other shareholders piled on, voices sharper with each word.
"Luna Bennett, Gage has a point. You can't throw a tantrum and put food off everyone's table."
"You called the enforcers yesterday. Not only did you embarrass Alpha Gibson, but you caused a small stock dip. I heard he was up at six this morning calling every partner to smooth things over."
"I don't think this meeting is even necessary. Everyone here knows what Alpha Gibson has done for this company. Why don't you just go home and leave the real work to us?"
My heart turned to ice. My wolf paced, claws scraping against my insides.
Last night, a business partner called to ask if they should cancel our contracts. I told them no. That I would be taking control going forward.
Lance sat to the side, a smug grin plastered across his face, eyes full of mockery.
"See that, Mandy? The pack has spoken."
Vivian slapped a stack of papers down in front of me. "Time to face reality. There's no place for you in this company anymore. Sign and get out."
I looked down at the stock transfer agreement. It clearly stated I was supposed to hand over every single share to Lance.
I burst out laughing. My wolf howled with bitter amusement.
"Lance, your eyes are bigger than your stomach. Don't choke on it."
"I'm not signing anything."
Lance's face twisted with disgust and impatience. "Mandy, I'm letting you sign this as a courtesy. It's the last bit of dignity I'm offering you as my Luna."
"Sign the papers. Stay home like a good little mate. And I'll send you a monthly allowance so you don't end up begging on the street."
"Don't push your luck. Because if you do, I'll make sure you can't even survive in Ashford."
Vivian called over two security wolves. They grabbed my arms while she pulled a fountain pen out of her bag and shoved it into my hand.
"You don't call the shots here. You're signing today."
I clenched my jaw, enduring the pain in my arms, and stared at every single wolf in that room. My eyes flickered gold.
"Gage, remember who helped you when you had nowhere else to go?"
Gage turned his face away in annoyance. "Mandy, a smart wolf knows which way the wind blows. Alpha Gibson makes us money. You only hold us back."
Clyde Smith slammed his fist on the table and pointed right at my nose.
"Listen here, you stupid bitch. Nobody cares about your old sob stories. Sign the damn papers, or we'll make you regret it."
Everyone slowly closed in around me. The pressure was suffocating. My wolf snarled, ready to shift, ready to tear.
I held her back.
"Fine... I'll sign," I said, my voice trembling, barely a whisper.
Lance gestured for the guards to let me go.
He flashed a victorious, cruel smile. "See? Was that so hard?"
I looked at their ugly, greedy faces and scoffed.
"The second I sign this, this company has nothing to do with me anymore."
"I hope none of you regret this."
Lance laughed like I'd just told the funniest joke. "Regret it? Mandy, have you lost your mind?"
Vivian made an exaggerated scared face. "Oh no, Lance, I'm sooooo scared."
The shareholders below burst into ugly laughter.
"Regret it? Ha! As if. She's just a housewife."
"Luna Bennett, stop wasting our time. Just sign and get out so we can get back to business."
I ignored their mockery. In front of everyone, I signed my name on that stock transfer agreement.
This company meant nothing to me now.
My wolf quieted. She knew what was coming.
Then I picked up my phone.
"This is Mandy Bennett."
"Notify every single business partner. Cut all ties with this company effective immediately."
