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I’ve never been more proud of Noah than in this moment. They always said the truth burns. And tget were right.

Because tonight, it burned everything.

From the way he got all of their numbers to the synchronized dropping... I owe that man some flowers.

The pack went dead quiet at first. Then it erupted like a storm.

Phones lit up in every hand.

Shocked gasps.

Whispers.

A woman dropped her drink.

Someone cursed.

And Elias froze.

His eyes locked on the picture on his phone.

The flash drive the Elder Rogue left behind contained some very interesting information--like the paternity of the Alpha’s son.

The truth was visible on everyone’s screens.

Vela’s son stood beside a man who wasn’t Elias.

Anyone with eyes could see the resemblance.

“You stupid whore!” Elias’s voice cracked as he stood. “Whose child is that?!”

Sheila stood still, pale and trembling.

“What are you talking about?” she said.

“Whose goddamn child have I been raising?” he roared, raising his phone for her to see.

“That picture....it’s fake. Someone’s...”

“Don’t you dare. Don’t you dare lie to me right now!” he shouted. His face turned red. “He’s not mine!”

“I... I thought you were cheating,” she whispered.

“You were never home. I was lonely.”

A low, angry growl rippled through the group of people that had quickly gathered.

“You’re disgusting,” someone muttered.

“I gave you everything!” Elias roared. “I trusted you!”

“I made a mistake...”

“No. You made a choice.”

“That’s enough.”

King Damian’s voice calmly sliced through the noise.

Elias turned to him, chest heaving.

“Please break the bond between us, Your Highness.”

“Now wait just a bit, Alpha. She said she was sorry,” Beta Solice cut in sharply.

Elias turned so fast I thought his neck would pull away from his body.

Without saying a word, he studied Beta Solice and began shaking his head.

“You’re not surprised,” he said, now visibly trembling. “You knew.”

“It had to be done,” my father shrugged, unconcerned.

“My mate got pregnant by another man and you're telling me th....Wait a bloody minute... those father and daughter trips you kept taking her on. You planned this.”

“Like I said, Alpha. It had to be done.”

Elias shook with rage as he turned back to the King.

“Break the bond. Now.”

Damian stood tall. “No.”

“What do you mean no?!”

“You chose her. You marked her. You mated her. I won’t tear that apart.”

“She betrayed me!”

“That’s not any of my concern. The cost of breaking that bond is death. Maybe hers. Maybe yours.”

“I don’t care,” Elias spat.

“Well, I do.”

Vela dropped to her knees. “Please… I’m sorry…”

But no one was listening to her anymore.

I felt the King behind me as we walked down the corridor. I opened the door to my room, but before I could shut it, he swiped his way right in and locked the door behind him.

“What are you doing?! They’ll think we’re doing something else!” I shrieked.

“You did that,” Damian said. His voice was soft—but he wasn’t guessing.

“What are you talking about?”

He matched my pace. “The picture. The timing. You did this.”

“I wanted to go to my room. The fallout isn’t my fault.”

“I should be very angry,” he said. “But I’m not.”

I glanced at him. “Because you have better things to do.”

He didn’t deny it.

“Vela isn’t the only one with secrets,” I muttered.

“She’s a master manipulator,” he hissed. “She lied to all of them.”

“Vela?” I asked.

He nodded. “I spoke to the former Luna. She told me how guilty she felt for never being able to love the boy.”

“She couldn’t because he wasn’t her son’s.”

My heart hurt for Luna Jonathan. That woman had always been kind to me—even when my parents weren’t.

She and her mate gave me the very first and only birthday gift I’d ever gotten in my life.

A pair of matching slippers for me and my cat. I wonder if she ever thought of me. How would she feel like if she finds out who I am?

I thought of how excited she’d always been to have a grandchild. And then she finally got her wish.

And he wasn’t even Elias’s.

He folded his arms and pinned me with a heated, knowing gaze.

“Revenge never feels as good as people think.”

I stepped closer. “It does if you’ve waited long enough.”

He studied me for a beat. “You’re dangerous.”

I smiled coldly. “That’s rich coming from you.”

He leaned closer. “You know what I think?”

“I don’t care.”

He smirked. “You pretend not to care. But I see you.”

“No, you don’t.”

“I do.”

“You don’t. Now, if that’s all, you can see yourself out, Your Highness.”

He smirked again. “One thing that’ll really serve you well with me is remembering that I know everything. Every single thing.”

Then he was gone. And my heart was pounding.

My hand shook all night as I did my nightly routine.

Sleeping, on the other hand, was another war on its own.

No matter what position or side I slept on, I wasn’t comfortable.

I would say it’s because I’m in a bed that’s not mine... but I know better.

I can’t sleep because the King’s ring no longer smells like him.

And it’s driving me crazy.

But I’d rather kiss an iguana’s butt than tell him that.

So I forced my eyes shut.

I turned one more time... every cell In me froze in that moment.

There's someone else in my bed.

His cold hands forced my thighs apart and positioned himself between them.

I drew my knife out on instinct and aimed at at his stomach. He grabbed the knife and we we wrestled for a bit. Gaining the upperhand in a slight second,I drove it into his chest.

He fell over, panting and yelling out in pain.

I rolled away from him and leapt to the light switch.

I couldn’t believe my eyes.

Because right there on my bed...

was Alpha Elias.