3

Chapter 3

Finn's efficiency always exceeded my expectations.

When I told him I wanted to infiltrate Mira's gallery for further evidence gathering, he said, "I've arranged it. Tomorrow you'll enter Silver Moon Gallery as a contract cleaning staff member. Someone will be there to assist you. Remember to suppress your pheromones so other wolves won't detect you."

Silver Moon Gallery.

The gallery my father had poured tens of millions into, yet refused to invest a single dollar in me.

Now I would personally step inside to see what kind of stage they'd built with my life.

The next afternoon, I took pheromone suppressants, put on a baseball cap and mask, changed into gray work clothes, and arrived at the gallery's back entrance following the address.

As soon as I pushed open the door, a young Omega girl approached with a smile.

"You must be the new temp worker? I'm Lily, follow me."

I followed behind her. The gallery's interior decoration stopped me in my tracks.

Moonstone marble floors, silver-threaded curtains custom-ordered from Europe, air filled with sacred wolf incense, walls adorned with intricately carved lunar phase relief frames...

Everything screamed my mother's aesthetic.

She'd always favored ancient wolf pack styles.

She'd even once said, "Lyra's paintings aren't mature enough to deserve display in venues showcasing pack glory."

But now—

She'd devoted all this top-tier decoration to Mira's gallery.

My fingertips tightened slightly, my inner wolf growling low.

As Lily led the way, she chirped enthusiastically, "You don't know how sweet Alpha Damon and Luna Mira are together! Damon comes every week to help her with gallery business, always lending a hand. We all say he's the perfect Alpha mate."

My chest stabbed with pain, but I remained silent, desperately suppressing my pheromone fluctuations.

Lily continued sharing eagerly, "And Mira's parents come often too! The family is super harmonious. Her mom is so caring toward Mira, helping her select artworks, adjust arrangements, personally involved in everything. I heard after Mira cured her beast control issues at Moonshade Sanatorium years ago, she's now the most stable Luna around."

I took a deep breath, swallowing the tearing pain in my chest. "I'll... go clean the counter area first."

Lily nodded. "Okay, call if you need anything."

I'd barely started working when I heard the glass door being pushed open.

Familiar Alpha pheromones rushed over—cedarwood and storm scent.

It was Damon.

My heart nearly stopped. My inner wolf struggled, wanting to respond to my mate's call, but reason made me suppress it fiercely.

And another sickeningly familiar voice followed close behind.

"Just wait until you dissolve the mate bond with her. I'm sick of her occupying the Luna position." Mira's voice was gentle but couldn't hide her disgust. "I should be the Northern Territory's Luna. Her little bit of Silver Moon bloodline doesn't qualify her."

Damon was silent for several seconds. "Mira, I know, but you need to wait a bit longer. Now isn't the right time. The pack council has strict procedures for dissolving mate bonds. I need to find suitable grounds."

My hand gripping the cloth tightened fiercely, knuckles white beneath the glove, as I continued wiping the display case edge.

Just then, I could feel Damon's gaze falling on me.

An Alpha's perception was too sharp. Even though I'd suppressed my pheromones, he seemed to sense something.

His footsteps slowly approached.

"You." Damon's voice suddenly sounded above me, carrying Alpha authority. "Look up. Remove your mask. Let me see your eyes."

In wolf culture, eyes are hardest to disguise—they reveal the wolf nature's essence.

My throat constricted until I could barely make a sound.

Just as I was about to be cornered, hurried footsteps rushed over.

"Alpha Blackwood! Sorry, she just recovered from silver powder allergy, her eyes are still very sensitive, the doctor said she can't be exposed to bright light! I was just about to move her to the warehouse!" Lily burst over, blocking me.

She quickly grabbed my arm and pushed me toward the break room.

Once completely out of their sight, Lily finally breathed a huge sigh of relief.

"God, you nearly scared me to death just now! The Alpha's perception is too keen. Why were you so nervous? Your pheromones almost broke through suppression."

I clutched my chest, palms soaked with sweat.

"Sorry... I was just afraid... the Alpha's authority is too strong."

Lily didn't suspect anything, just patted my shoulder. "It's okay now, you're safe. Remember to take more suppressants."

I nodded. After leaving the gallery, I took a deep breath.

I found a human-run restaurant to meet Finn—no wolves would be there.

I told Finn everything.

Finn cursed, practically grinding his teeth, Beta anger flashing gold in his eyes. "From your tone alone I could tell they're even more disgusting than you thought."

I smiled bitterly. "Finn, I originally thought the most painful part was Damon's betrayal... but now I think the most painful part is actually my parents."

He was silent for several seconds, voice low. "I found the financial transactions between your parents and Mira. The money your father transferred wasn't just those few amounts you saw. For four full years, they've been funneling money to that gallery."

My hand gripping the phone tightened.

Finn continued, "And I found something you need to know. Damon has monthly prescriptions for a potent sedative mixed with silver powder—drugs specifically used to suppress wolf nature and force wolves into hibernation. He's been buying them from black market pharmacies."