Luna Rejects Cheating Alpha

The security room hummed with the low drone of equipment as I leaned closer to the monitor, my eyes burning from hours of reviewing footage. The clock on the wall read 2:17 AM. Ryan had insisted I learn every aspect of pack management, and tonight's task was reviewing border patrol recordings—a tedious job that usually yielded nothing but deer crossings and the occasional lost hiker.

My hand froze mid-reach for my herbal tea—the bitter concoction Ryan preferred—when a familiar silhouette appeared on the grainy night-vision screen. The mug trembled in my grip as I recognized my mate's broad shoulders, his distinctive stance.

"That can't be right," I whispered to myself, quickly checking the timestamp. This footage was from last night—when Ryan had claimed to be conducting emergency territory negotiations with the Silver Creek Pack.

I leaned forward, my heart thundering against my ribs as another figure entered the frame. Female. Slender. Moving with a confidence that spoke of familiarity. The moonlight illuminated her features for just a moment, but it was enough.

Madison Clarke.

My wolf, Victoria, whimpered inside me, the sound echoing through my mind with piercing clarity. I hadn't seen Madison since she'd abandoned the pack years ago—before Ryan had chosen me as his mate. His second choice.

I increased the volume, my fingers shaking as I adjusted the controls.

"I need you," Madison's voice trembled through the speakers, intimate and urgent.

Ryan's response shattered what remained of my composure. "I could never be happy without you."

The mate bond connecting us—already weaker than it should have been after three years—seemed to fracture further. The pain was physical, a tearing sensation beneath my breastbone that left me gasping.

I watched, unable to look away, as Ryan pulled Madison against his chest, his hands tangling in her hair with a desperation he'd never shown me. Their silhouettes melded together in the moonlight, a perfect fit that mocked every night I'd lain beside him, wondering why our bond never strengthened.

Now I knew.

* * *

The front door opened just after dawn, and I tensed at my place by the kitchen window. I'd been standing there for hours, watching the sunrise paint the mountains in hues that normally would have taken my breath away. Today, they barely registered.

"Victoria?" Ryan's voice carried from the entryway, casual and light. "You're up early."

I turned slowly, my face carefully composed into the supportive expression I'd perfected over our years together. "I couldn't sleep. How was border duty?"

"Exhausting." He ran a hand through his dark hair—the tell I'd never noticed before today. "Nothing exciting. Just standard patrols."

He crossed the kitchen and pressed a perfunctory kiss to my forehead. That's when I caught it—the scent clinging to his jacket. Not just any scent, but a distinctive blend of wild florals and herbs that had never belonged to our pack.

Madison's scent.

My wolf growled, the sound reverberating through my mind with uncharacteristic aggression. *Betrayal*, she snarled. *He reeks of betrayal*.

"I