REESE POV

Shards of ice went flying through the air, slamming against the acrylic glass walls surrounding the rink. Down below, the Frostbite Paws weren't just losing—they were being slaughtered.

A pang of sadness hit me. Ryan would be devastated tonight. His hockey team was being crushed by the Wavehowl Rangers, an opponent clearly in a whole different league.

I pushed my wolf instincts deep down, suppressing my scent so Ryan wouldn't sense me. I was afraid that knowing I was here would only distract him further.

I'd deliberately come alone and in secret, just to support Ryan Simmons—my husband and the Frostbite Paws' new star player.

I was never actually supposed to attend his games. To the public, Ryan was a single Alpha adored by countless shewolves. And I had to accept that because Ryan had signed an important contract that could make or break his career.

So yes, I was the wife in the shadows. The secret he had no choice but to keep, no matter how bitter it tasted.

Then, all of a sudden, I caught a familiar mix of pheromones mingled with the sweet scent of someone who had just taken the seat beside me. She dropped her designer bag between us.

“Brutal beatdown, huh?” The high-pitched, sugary voice was directed at me.

I glanced at her.

The woman sat there like she owned this VIP seat. Beneath the heavy perfume she wore was a scent I knew all too well—Ryan's.

Linne, my wolf, immediately went on high alert.

Could it be?

“I should've gotten here sooner. Looks like my instincts were right. My boyfriend's team is getting steamrolled by the other side,” she complained.

I didn't turn toward her. My eyes remained fixed on the ice below, where my husband's team was being mercilessly torn apart.

“I've seen worse,” I said.

“Really? Do you seriously think this is a fair fight? We all know that team is in a completely different league.” The blonde flicked her chest-length hair over her shoulder. “The Frostbite Paws may have potential, but that doesn't mean they should've been thrown straight into the deep end against a team this experienced.”

I simply nodded, letting her ramble.

“The Frostbite captain looks absolutely terrible tonight,” she muttered.

My hand curled into a fist before I could stop it. Insulting Ryan felt like a slap straight across my own face.

“But he's incredible in bed.”

Excuse me?

This time, I slowly turned to look at her. I wasn't paying the slightest attention to the game anymore.

Was she seriously joking?

Because the Frostbite Paws' captain was my husband.

Linne was already snarling with rage, ready to tear this woman apart at any second. I struggled to keep my wolf under control.

Ryan always told me that even though he belonged to the public outside our pack, he had never betrayed me. We were mates, and he respected our bond.

Even if Ryan kept me hidden to protect his public image, he had always been faithful.

Or had I been a fool all this time?

Was this woman telling the truth?

Or was she just another shameless fan pretending to be Ryan's lover?

“I'm Mabel Cox.” She smiled at me condescendingly. “And you?”

“Nobody,” I answered flatly.

“Well, anyone sitting in a VIP seat has to be someone important. Are you sure you're nobody?”

I nodded. “I'm just filling in for someone who couldn't make it.”

“Oh. I see.”

Inside my head, Linne was already preparing to rip this woman to pieces. For Moon Goddess' sake, even the faint trace of Ryan's scent clung to Mabel's clothes.

“Grab her and beat the crap out of her, Reese. Why are you just sitting there?” Linne growled impatiently.

I took a deep breath. “You know she might not actually be Ryan's girlfriend. To the public, Ryan doesn't have anyone. He's focused entirely on his career. Plenty of women claim to be his lovers when they're just making it up.”

“You're only lying to yourself! I can smell Ryan on her!”

“No, Linne. I trust Ryan. He's my husband. He's my mate.”

I tried desperately to hold on to the trust I'd placed in Ryan, even as it was beginning to crumble right in front of me.

My hands were already trembling, cold from the shock. I kept denying what was right in front of me because there was no way Ryan could be that cruel to me.

We had seven years of history together. Sweet memories. Hard times. Everything we'd been through. We had loved each other through it all.

How could Ryan throw all of that away after everything we'd shared?

Then I saw it.

Mabel's coat sleeve had slipped back, exposing something around her wrist.

A white-gold bracelet shaped like a crescent moon.

I knew that bracelet.

Ryan had given it to me when we exchanged our vows as mates at the altar. He'd told me he'd had it specially made for me and that there was only one in the entire world.

So how could there be a duplicate?

My fingers curled tightly in my lap.

“That’s a beautiful bracelet,” I said.

“Oh, this?” She ran her fingers over it proudly. “Yeah. My boyfriend gave it to me last night. He said it was for his future Luna. You know, he's about to become Alpha of his pack.”

My eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?”

“My boyfriend is waiting to become Alpha. He said the current Alpha is dying, and he's just waiting for him to finally kick the bucket. Sounds cruel, but what's the point of keeping an Alpha around when he's useless, right?”

Wait.

Was she really telling the truth?

Was Mabel actually Ryan's lover?

My father was sick.

And yes… he was dying.

Because he had no son, they still hadn't decided who would inherit pack leadership. It could be me, or it could go to another qualified pack member.

But my father had already told me he wanted Ryan to lead the pack.

This… this couldn't just be a coincidence.

“Let me tell you a little secret,” she whispered. “My boyfriend isn't even trying to find a cure for the Alpha. He just gives him medicine that won't heal him—cheap herbs and useless potions—to make sure the old man dies faster.”

“Why would your boyfriend be that cruel?” My voice caught in my throat.

“Because he wants to make me his Luna as soon as possible. And getting rid of the old Alpha faster is the quickest way to make that happen.”

I clenched my jaw, still struggling to contain my fury. I was right on the edge, still desperately trying to figure out whether this was real or just another lie.

“How could your boyfriend do that to his own father?” I asked.

“Oh, no. He's not the Alpha's son.” She gave a careless shrug. “My boyfriend just lives in the pack of an Alpha who has only one daughter. That pack would fall apart if she took over.”

“What does your boyfriend have to do with the Alpha's daughter?”

“Nothing. He just feels sorry for her. I've already told him that once he officially becomes Alpha and I become Luna, he should kick that stupid woman out. She's useless, as far as I'm concerned.”

My father…

The man who had raised me. The man who had trusted Ryan to protect me.

He was being slowly poisoned to death by my own husband.

And Ryan thought I was nothing.

He was promising another woman the position of Luna, even though I was the one who had brought Ryan into our pack in the first place—after his own pack had cast him out.

I shot to my feet and ripped the bracelet from Mabel's wrist. She let out a startled scream.

“What the hell are you—”

SLAP!

I slapped her before she could finish.

Her face snapped to the side, and she froze in shock for a few seconds. Then she clutched her reddening cheek and stared at me in horror.

“What the hell did you just do, bitch?”