Chapter 3

"You're insane," Marissa said, but she was already pulling strings.

Two days later, I had a fake ID, gray coveralls, and a cleaning job at Vale Gallery.

"You should just burn it down," she muttered, adjusting my wig.

"Not yet."

I needed proof of everything—their plans, their crimes, how deep this betrayal went.

The suppressants were wearing off, my senses sharpening daily.

I could hear conversations through walls now, smell lies in the air.

My wolf was waking up angry.

Vale Gallery gleamed with my mother's taste—expensive, cold, perfect.

The investment ledger showed Ward family companies on every page.

I pushed my cleaning cart past clusters of employees, invisible in my disguise.

"The Alpha's here almost daily now," a young woman whispered by the coffee station.

"I heard he's finally going to reject that weak Luna and claim Serena properly."

"About time. Helena Ward's an embarrassment—no wolf, no strength, just a pretty face."

My hands tightened on the mop handle.

Keep moving, I told myself.

Document everything.

The back office smelled like artificial Luna pheromones—chemical spray designed to mimic pack authority.

Serena had been faking it all along.

Footsteps approached, two sets, familiar.

I ducked behind a display, holding my breath.

"She's becoming a problem," Serena's voice dripped with irritation. "When can we finally handle Helena permanently?"

My blood turned to ice.

"Soon." Damian's Alpha rumble. "The Elders need to see her fail publicly first. Then we stage an accident—weak constitution, tragic but natural."

"And the inheritance?"

"Goes to Milo, through me. Frederick's already rewriting pack law."

They were planning to kill me.

Not reject, not divorce.

Murder, disguised as natural causes.

"You there!" Damian's command cut through my shock. "Cleaner. Take off your mask. Turn around."

My heart hammered against my ribs.

His footsteps came closer, predatory, suspicious.

"Now."

The administrative manager burst through the door, saving me by seconds.

"Sir! This employee has a cold, sent home by doctor's orders. I'll escort her out immediately."

She grabbed my arm, pulling me toward the exit.

Behind us, Damian inhaled deeply, wolf senses searching.

"That scent..." he started.

But we were already gone, disappearing into the parking garage.

In my car, hands shaking, I finally let myself breathe.

They weren't just replacing me.

They were erasing me.

I pulled out my phone, texted Marissa one word: Accelerate.

If they wanted Helena Ward dead, I'd give them a corpse.

Just not the one they expected.