Lynam rubbed his temples as Michelle leaned casually against the doorframe of his office. She had invited herself in after a brief "coincidental" encounter in the lobby. Her soft laughter grated against his nerves.
"Why so tense, Lynam?" Michelle asked sweetly, her tone dripping with false concern. "Marital troubles?"
Lynam's sharp gaze shot toward her. "Get to the point, Michelle. I don't have time for your games."
Michelle sighed dramatically and slid her phone across the desk. On the screen were blurry photos of her standing suspiciously close to Lynam during a previous business trip.
"These have already been sent to Xanthe," Michelle said with a sly smile. "You can't blame me if she jumps to the wrong conclusion."
Lynam clenched his fists. "You're pathetic," he hissed.
Michelle chuckled. "Oh, Lynam. I'm just revealing the cracks that were already there." She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Maybe you should ask yourself why Xanthe doesn't trust you."
She left the room with a triumphant smirk, leaving Lynam seething.
Xanthe stared at the photos on her phone, her hands trembling. She had returned home after a long day of pack duties, hoping for a moment of peace only to be greeted by Michelle's message.
Xanthe sat on the edge of her bed, her phone screen glowing faintly in the dim light. Her breathing was shallow, and her chest ached with a mix of fury and despair.
This can't be happening again.
She recalled the countless misunderstandings and tense silences that had marked the last few months. Seeing Michelle's smug face in those photos with Lynam felt like a final blow.
Her wolf stirred within, restless and growling.
Confront him. Tear her apart. Show them who you are.
But she couldn't. Not yet. Not when her family and the world knew nothing of her true self. Not when her own emotions were a storm she couldn't tame.
Instead, Xanthe opened her messages and typed:
Xanthe: We need to talk.
She hesitated, then deleted the message. A confrontation in her current state would only escalate things. With a heavy sigh, she tossed her phone aside and curled up on the bed, fighting the urge to cry.
The next day, Xanthe was jolted awake by the sound of hurried footsteps outside her door. She quickly got dressed and stepped into the hallway to find Caleb, one of the pack's senior members.
"Luna," he said urgently, his face pale. "There's been an attack near the border. Rogue wolves."
Xanthe's heart dropped. "Casualties?"
"Two injured, none dead yet. But they're relentless."
Her personal anguish faded into the background as her instincts took over. "Summon the enforcers," she ordered. "We'll intercept them before they can advance."
Minutes later, Xanthe led a group of warriors into the dense forest. The rogues were already waiting, their snarls echoing through the trees. Without hesitation, Xanthe shifted into her wolf form and launched herself into the fray.
The battle was brutal but swift. Xanthe's strategy and combat skills shone as she directed her pack with precision. By the time the last rogue was driven off, the pack's morale was high, but Xanthe felt the weight of another looming threat: someone had to be coordinating these attacks.
Meanwhile, Lynam was in his office, staring at his phone. Xanthe hadn't responded to his calls or messages since the night before, and the silence gnawed at him.
He decided to dig deeper into Michelle's recent activities, certain she was behind the photos. His assistant, Daniel, walked in with a folder.
"I traced some of Michelle's contacts," Daniel said. "She's been in frequent communication with Elias Redwood."
Lynam's jaw tightened. Elias?? Xanthe's supposed brother?? He had always been antagonistic toward him, but this alliance with Michelle was more than personal. It was calculated.
"Keep digging," Lynam said, his voice cold.
Daniel hesitated. "Sir, if I may... you should talk to Xanthe. Clear the air before things spiral further."
"I will," Lynam replied, his tone softer. "But first, I need proof."
Elias sat in his lavish home, sipping a glass of whiskey as he read over the reports Michelle had provided. The photos had done their job; he had no doubt Xanthe was questioning her marriage.
"Lynam won't last long," Elias muttered to himself. "And once Xanthe's distracted, the pack will fall apart. Then I'll take what's rightfully ours."
Michelle sat across from him, a satisfied smile on her face. "You're confident she won't see through it?"
"She's too consumed by her emotions," Elias replied. "And Lynam's pride will keep him from coming clean. They'll destroy each other, and we'll pick up the pieces."
Neither noticed the shadow that flitted across the window—Caleb, who had been sent by Xanthe to investigate her brother's recent behavior.
That evening, Xanthe returned home, her body aching from the fight with the rogues. She found Lynam in the living room, a glass of scotch in his hand.
"You're home," he said, standing as she entered.
"I had to deal with an attack," she replied tersely, brushing past him.
"Xanthe, wait," Lynam called after her. "We need to talk."
"About what?" she snapped, turning to face him. "About how Michelle is suddenly everywhere you are? Or how she conveniently has photos to send me?"
Lynam's frustration boiled over. "You think I wanted any of this? Michelle is trying to manipulate both of us!"
"And you're letting her!" Xanthe shot back. "How am I supposed to trust you when you won't even tell me the truth about what's going on?"
Lynam froze, guilt flashing across his face. He couldn't tell her—not about his heritage, not about the threats brewing around them.
"Fine," Xanthe said bitterly when he didn't respond. "Don't say anything. But don't expect me to keep pretending this is a marriage."
She stormed upstairs, leaving Lynam alone, his drink untouched.
Xanthe sat on her bed, staring out the window at the moonlit forest. Her wolf stirred restlessly, sensing the chaos in her heart.
Meanwhile, Caleb returned to the packhouse, his face grim as he handed Xanthe a file containing photos and records of Elias and Michelle's collaboration.
"What is this?" she asked.
"Proof," Caleb replied. "They're working together to bring you down."
Xanthe's grip tightened on the file as she realized the betrayal went deeper than she thought.
"I'll handle this," she said, her voice steely. "But first, I need to protect the pack—and myself."