After My Mate Chose Mistress, I Vowed Revenge

The first light of dawn painted the kitchen in soft hues as I carefully sliced the venison into perfect cubes. My fingers worked with practiced precision, the knife gliding through the meat as I hummed a quiet tune. James loved my deer stew—it was the dish I'd made when we first became mates seven years ago, and the memory of his smile that night still warmed my heart.

I rubbed herbs between my palms, releasing their fragrance into the air. Rosemary, thyme, and a touch of juniper—James's favorites. The pack house kitchen was empty this early, giving me the solitude I needed to prepare this surprise. My hand instinctively moved to my slightly rounded belly, a smile spreading across my face.

"Little Moon will love this recipe too, someday," I whispered, using the nickname James had given our unborn pup during one of our rare quiet moments together. After years of heartbreak and multiple miscarriages, this pregnancy felt like the Moon Goddess had finally answered my prayers.

I added the vegetables and broth, adjusting the heat to let the stew simmer slowly. The rich aroma filled the kitchen, making my mouth water. James had been working so hard lately, barely coming home as he prepared for his potential promotion to Beta under the Lycan King. I understood his ambition—I always had—but I missed him. Today, I would bring a piece of home to him.

Three hours later, I carefully packed the still-warm stew into containers, tucking fresh bread alongside it. My heart fluttered with anticipation as I made my way through the pack house toward James's private office. Several pack members nodded respectfully as I passed, murmuring "Luna" with deference that still made me blush even after all these years.

"He'll be so pleased," I told myself, smoothing down my dress with my free hand. "A perfect lunch for my perfect mate."

As I approached his office door, I heard low voices inside. James often held meetings at this hour, so I slowed my steps, not wanting to interrupt something important. The door was slightly ajar, and I moved to knock when something made me freeze.

A woman's laugh—intimate, sultry, and unmistakably familiar.

My breath caught in my throat as I peered through the crack in the door. James stood with his back against his desk, his powerful frame relaxed in a way I hadn't seen in months. And there, pressed against him with her hands on his chest, was Vanessa Pierce, his Beta-ranked assistant.

Their heads were bent close together, her copper hair falling forward as she tilted her face up to his. His hand rested on her waist, fingers splayed possessively across the small of her back in a gesture that was achingly familiar to me.

"We should be more careful," she was saying, her voice a purr. "Your Luna might suspect something."

James chuckled, the sound cutting through me like a blade of ice. "Ellie? She's too busy with her pregnancy books and nursery plans to notice