Chapter 1It was Julian's birthday. At noon, I received a text from him. [Come home quick. I have a surprise for you.]
My heart soared. I spent every penny I had on a platinum watch for him.
For five years, because of what happened between our parents, I had lived in his pack house. On the surface, we were strangers. But in truth, we shared a secret, just between the two of us. Every Friday night, I would sneak into his bedroom, and we would spend a few hours tangled up together. Now, if he would just confess and mark me as his true mate, I could become his Luna.
And besides the watch, I had another surprise: I was pregnant with his pup.
With my heart fluttering, I walked into the living room, and saw Julian with his arm around a beautiful girl. He barely glanced at me, then turned to the people gathered in the room, a smirk curling his lips. "You know, every Friday night, someone sneaks into my bed. She thinks she's sleeping with me, but really, I have a friend take care of it. Someone who needs to relax."
The room went dead silent. Then laughter exploded. "This is the most shameless omega I've ever seen," Julian drawled. "She drugged me once, tried to get me to mark her. Another time, she tried to hold my hand. I had to wash three times to feel clean after that."
He reached over and ruffled the girl's hair. "Happy now, dear Lila?" Lila leaned in and pressed a kiss to his cheek. The crowd howled with approval. A few of them glanced sideways at me.
I clutched the velvet box, my whole body going cold.
I never drugged him. That night, I was just following Luna Sterling's orders, bringing Julian warm milk. I knocked. No one answered. The room was dark. Suddenly, a burning hot hand grabbed me and pulled me inside, and then his lips came down hard on mine. My wolf knew him immediately. I thought he liked me. I thought we were fated.
Afterward, he held me tight and whispered, "Mia, come to me every Friday. My wolf needs you." I believed him. I did it, night after night.
But now, he had thrown his lie in my face without mercy. He had played me.
I stepped forward, desperate to explain. But before I could speak, Julian's eyes landed on the watch box in my hand. "What's that trash?" He nodded toward the corner. "Just put it there."
I followed his gaze. That corner was already piled high with everything I had ever given him: handmade scarves, sketches, a moonstone necklace, little trinkets I thought he might like. He called them trash.
"If you hate them so much, why keep them?" My voice was raw and hoarse.
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Chapter 2
Lila pouted and pressed against his chest. "Yeah, Julian, why keep trash? Throw it away."
Julian shrugged. "You're right. Whatever you say."
His friends laughed. "Take it easy, Alpha. Don't break the poor girl's heart."
Julian looked at me like I was gum on his shoe. "Mia Carter doesn't have a heart. If she did, she wouldn't have spent five years begging at our door."
Their laughter cut through me like knives. I clenched my jaw so hard it hurt. How could he say that? He knew exactly why I stayed. My father died saving his father's life. After my grandparents passed, I had nowhere to go, and his father, the old Alpha, took me in. Julian was the only one who stood up for me back then. He protected me from his mother's cruelty, telling her, "If it weren't for Mia's father, your mate would be dead."
For years, I held onto that memory. I fell for him without realizing it.
And now.
I picked up the watch box. "This isn't trash," I said softly. "It cost fifty-eight thousand dollars. Every cent I had."
Julian blinked, caught off guard for a second. Lila whimpered and tugged at his arm. "Stop talking to her. Not tonight. Or I won't talk to you for a week."
Julian smiled and pulled her close. "Don't worry, sweetheart. She's not worth being jealous over. I don't even see her."
I took a deep, shaking breath and ran back to my room. I started packing. Tears blurred my vision. I thought about all the times after college I tried to move out, only to have Julian stop me. "Why leave, Mia? Stay with me." I thought he cared. I thought maybe he loved me, too.
Now I saw the truth. In his eyes, I was just a stray wolf the pack had to tolerate.
An hour later, someone knocked. Julian leaned against the doorframe, his expression unreadable. "Mia, are you mad?"
"If I sounded harsh earlier, I'm sorry," he said, his tone softer than before. "I didn't mean it."
His eyes, his sincere voice… my heart stirred. Maybe…
"How sweet," Lila's voice rang out from the hallway. "Is she buying it? Does she really think you care?"
Julian grinned and wrapped an arm around her waist. "You should have seen the dumb look on her face. She actually thought I wanted her."
I couldn't listen anymore. I shoved the door shut, my hands trembling. Julian caught it with his hand. "Mia, before you go, clean up the living room. Consider it rent for the last five years."
My stomach turned. They always trashed the living room—broken glass, spilled drinks, plates scattered everywhere. He knew I hated messes.
"No," I said through my teeth.
His smile faded. "Mia, your father left you a final message before he died. Do as I say, or you'll never know what it was."
I froze.
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Chapter 3
He knew exactly where to hurt me, and he didn't hesitate.
"You bastard!" I slapped him hard across the face, my hand shaking.
Julian's head turned with the blow. A flash of cruelty crossed his eyes. He licked the corner of his mouth. "Fine. Just don't come crying later."
In the end, Julian's men marched me to the living room. Surrounded by the wreckage, people whispered and stared at me while I stood there. "Do what you're supposed to do." Julian pushed me down against the coffee table.
I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and picked up the broom. One by one, people drifted away. Until only I remained in the living room with one other person.
Ethan Cole. He was an Alpha too, tall and quiet. His gaze burned into me. I looked away, uncomfortable.
Julian walked over. "Ethan is staying over tonight. You two will share a room."
I gripped the broom tighter. "No."
Julian's smile turned cruel. "What's the problem, Mia? You've been sleeping together for a year. Don't act like some innocent virgin."
Ethan stepped between us. "That's enough, Julian."
Julian snorted. "What, you're defending her now? You were part of this prank too."
I touched the pregnancy test in my pocket. I had meant to share it with him as happy news. Now it was just another problem I didn't expect.
Ethan cleared his throat. "Mia, from the first day I saw you following Julian around, I've wanted you. My wolf likes you. You're my fated mate."
I felt nothing but deep, hollow pity. Of course, as an Alpha, he thought I would just let it go. That all he had to do was confess, and I would accept him.
I pulled out the pregnancy test and pressed it against his chest. "I'm pregnant."
Ethan's face broke into a smile. "I'll take care of you both."
"I don't want it," I said coldly. "Pay for the procedure. And compensate me for my time."
Ethan's smile vanished. Before he could answer, the front door opened. Julian's parents were home early from their trip. Lila rushed over to greet them with open arms. Julian introduced her naturally. I stood off to the side, like a stranger.
Luna Sterling wrinkled her nose at me. "Making a mess again. Do you think this is your house?"
I didn't say anything. I had stopped explaining myself to her years ago.
Then Luna Sterling gasped, pointing behind the couch. "What is that?"
A small vibrating toy buzzed loudly on the floor. "Is that yours? Did you do that?" She advanced on me. "How dare you!"
Ice-cold dread washed over me. "I… I didn't…" I stammered, turning to Julian. "Tell them. You know it's not mine."
"Don't lie," Julian said flatly. "I've seen it in your room before, Mia."
Luna Sterling sneered. "Disgusting. No wonder you're always throwing yourself at my son."
I clenched my fists. "Check the security cameras. Check my purchase history. This isn't mine."
But no one moved. I looked at Julian again. He turned his face away.
Everyone stared at me, smirking. Eventually, they all went back to their rooms. I stayed behind, numb, wrapping the toy in a tissue and throwing it in the trash. Of course. Not one person in that room had ever truly been on my side.
Back in my room, Lila was lounging on my bed, scrolling through her phone. She looked up and gave me a sweet smile. "All cleaned up? I should thank you, Mia. That thing was mine. Julian… likes to use it with me. I couldn't stand it anymore, so I left it there."
"I didn't think anyone would find it," she added with a shrug. "But oh well. Julian had to protect my image in front of his parents. You understand." "And," she said, smiling at her pink nail tips, "I was the one who texted you to come home early. I sent one to the Alpha and Luna, too. Surprised?"
I closed my eyes and silently hit the record button on my phone. I had to keep some evidence. I had already made that decision while I was handling that toy.
The loved ones never have to explain themselves. The unwanted ones swallow every bitter pill alone.
I lay down, exhausted. Lila immediately jumped up and backed away like I had the plague. "I'm not sharing a bed with you," she snapped. "Get out."
"This is my room," I said coldly. "You should be the one to leave."
To my surprise, she actually did. No argument. Just left. I was confused. That wasn't like her at all. Sure enough, a moment later, she came back with Julian.
His brow was furrowed. "Enough, Mia. You owe Lila this. Because of you, she's had to suffer. She knows I gave my first time to you. It's affected our bond. As compensation, you have to give her your room."
He tossed five crumpled bills onto my bed. "Enough for a hotel. Don't come back until noon tomorrow."
I lowered my head and slowly picked up the money. "Okay."
I swore to myself. I would never come back.
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