Chapter 1

When Eliot returned to the villa after his late department lecture, I placed his favorite truffle pasta on the table.

I wanted to tell him that my mother had finally relented and agreed to our marriage.

Instead, he tossed his car keys onto the table and wearily tugged at his tie,

"I married my young Omega yesterday."

"What?" My fork paused mid-air.

"Lila, the grad student I'm supervising, is pregnant with my child. She asked me to give her the status of my Luna."

"So, I went and registered our marriage with her yesterday afternoon."

My voice trembled uncontrollably:

"Then what about these eight years I dedicated to you?"

Eliot looked up at me, a slight smirk on his lips.

"If you're willing, we can still be family. You'll always be the person I trust most."

I didn't cry.

I simply picked up that steaming bowl of truffle pasta, walked to the kitchen, and poured it into the trash can.

Eliot frowned, his Alpha aura instinctively intensifying.

"Seren, I hate it when you're silently accusing."

"I'm already exhausted today, can't you be more understanding?"

I turned to face him, deliberately ignoring the oppressive feeling.

"When did you register?"

He rubbed his temples, speaking calmly:

"Yesterday afternoon. Lila didn't have classes, and the Elder Council was less busy, so we just went along."

"Just went along."

Yesterday afternoon, I was with my mother at the medical center for her check-up.

She lay on the hospital bed, clutching my hand, saying:

"Seren, I've thought it through. If you truly want Eliot, then get married.

Even though he comes from an ordinary background, he's looked out for us all these years."

I almost teared up then, quickly texting Eliot:

"Mom agreed to our marriage, I've already booked the wedding for next week."

He didn't reply.

Turns out, he had already registered his marriage with another woman.

I asked, "Does she know about me?"

Eliot was silent for two seconds.

"She knows, but she doesn't mind.

She's young, insecure, and I wanted to give her a proper title, to let her stand proudly by my side."

Hearing his words, I felt my wolf inside me howling madly.

"I've been with you for eight years, helped you handle the dissent within the Pack, supported you in becoming the Alpha,

All these years, what have I been to you?"

Eliot looked up at me, his eyes showing his usual arrogance.

"Seren, you weren't at a disadvantage either these past eight years."

"And even if I have a Luna, I'll still give you some compensation.

You can continue to live in this villa, and I'll continue to provide you with academic resources. Surely, you're satisfied with that?"

I finally understood.

His so-called compensation was

to let me live in his villa, clean his house, and help him organize his research materials.

My identity would just shift from a partner of eight years to his and Lila's free housekeeper.

I went into the bedroom to pack my things, and my hand stopped when I opened the closet.

A row of unfamiliar girl's clothes had appeared inside.

Pink knitwear, lace-trimmed dresses, and a pile of erotic lingerie.

I picked one up and asked him, "Is she moving in?"

Eliot stood in the doorway, his tall figure blocking the hallway light.

"Lila can't sleep alone in the dorm, so she'll sleep in your master bedroom from now on. You can stay in the guest room for now."

I took off the engagement ring he had given me and placed it on the table.

It was a silver ring he bought the year he first became Alpha, with our initials engraved on the inside of the band.

He said that once things in the Pack settled down, he'd replace it with a bigger, shinier diamond ring.

Later, when his power was stable, he said he'd marry me after securing the key research project.

But now, he already had another Omega.

I pulled out my suitcase, ready to leave.

Eliot suddenly panicked.

He hugged me from behind, the familiar scent of cedarwood enveloping me.

"Seren, I don't want to lose you. I'm just settling Lila in first, she's a child and can't be without me.

You're different; you're mature, steady. You don't need me to protect you every second."

Held by him, I only felt a wave of physiological nausea.

The doorbell rang.

Lila stood at the door, wearing a man's cashmere coat.

I had waited in line for three hours to buy that for Eliot last winter.

"Eliot, I'm here to pick up our marriage certificate."

Then, she looked at me and smiled, revealing her sharp little canines: "Seren, you're here too."

I didn't speak.

She walked into the bedroom as if she owned the place, pulling open the drawer of my bedside table.

The marriage certificate was pressed under an old photo album.

On top of the album, there was also a letter.

A letter my mother had written to Eliot.

She had just finished it yesterday and asked me to pass it on.

The first line of the letter read:

"Alpha Eliot, I entrust Seren to you from now on. May you protect her life's peace and stability, and guard the White Pack well."

Lila picked up the letter, blinking.

"Is this from your mother to both of you? Oh, I'm sorry, should I not be looking?"

I reached out to take it.

But Eliot snatched it away first.

A corner of the letter was torn.

Watching him shield Lila, I suddenly felt he was a complete stranger.