Faking It with the Billionaire Alpha

Freya's POV

The Grand Ballroom of the Pack House glittered like a jewelry box had thrown up everywhere. Crystal chandeliers. White roses. Too much gold trim. Five years of marriage to Caleb, and I still couldn't get used to the excess.

"Freya, darling, you look absolutely stunning!"

I turned to find Mrs. Whitmore, one of the Pack elders, beaming at me. Her eyes swept over my emerald silk gown with obvious approval.

"Thank you." I smiled, touching the diamond pendant at my throat. Caleb's anniversary gift. Five carats. Because apparently, five years warranted five carats.

"Caleb certainly knows how to treat a woman." She leaned closer, lowering her voice conspiratorially. "Most Alphas would have found their fated mate by now. But him? He chose you. Twice, really. Once when he pursued you, and again every day since."

My heart did that stupid fluttery thing it always did when someone reminded me of Caleb's devotion. Ten years we'd known each other. Five years married. He'd chased me relentlessly since we were eighteen, back when I was just a human girl who'd wandered into Pack territory by accident.

Back when I had no idea werewolves existed.

"I got lucky," I said softly.

"Lucky?" Mrs. Whitmore laughed. "Honey, in what parallel universe does an Alpha choose a random mate over his fated mate? That's not luck. That's love. Pure and simple."

Other women crowded around me now, their faces bright with admiration. Pack wives. Daughters of visiting dignitaries. All of them envious of what Caleb and I shared.

"The Moon Goddess must have just forgotten to mark you two," someone offered. "Soul mates don't need a mystical bond. Everyone can see that."

I nodded, warmth spreading through my chest. Caleb and I had never worried about fated mates. Why would we? What we had was stronger than some supernatural tether. We'd chosen each other. Every single day. That meant something.

"I should find Caleb." I touched my empty champagne glass. "Thank you all for coming."

They dispersed with well-wishes and knowing smiles. I slipped through the crowd, nodding at familiar faces, accepting congratulations. The ballroom was packed. Everyone who was anyone in werewolf society had come to celebrate our milestone.

Five years. No fated mate had ever appeared to tear us apart.

I felt invincible.

The main hall was separate from the ballroom, connected by heavy oak doors. Caleb had mentioned he needed to speak with the visiting Alpha from the Northern territories about some border dispute. Boring Pack politics. He'd promised to find me the moment he was done.

I pushed through the heavy oak doors.

My smile was still in place. Happy. Content. Secure in my perfect little life.

The smile froze.

Cracked.

Shattered into a million irreparable pieces.

Caleb had Mia pressed against the far wall. Her back pressed to the damask wallpaper. His hands bracketed her face. Their mouths fused together in a kiss so desperate, so hungry, it made my stomach turn.

Mia. Daughter of the Northern territory's