Chapter 2

He was likely stunned when I cut the connection, making him send a message to explain himself again.

I refused to take the bait, replying with a single, cold word. "Understood."

My lack of emotion clearly provoked him.

[Frank, I have no interest in this discussion.] I typed, then muted his contact.

Just then, a follow request arrived.

The profile picture was an icon of a cute cat. I accepted it.

The new contact was silent after I approved.

When I viewed her latest post, it all snapped into place. It was a selfie of the she-wolf from Frank’s screen. She posed with his laptop, the caption reading: [Oops, I interrupted my Alpha during his big meeting, but he wasn't mad at me at all.]

Her game was clearly designed to provoke me, but I didn't block her. Instead, I watched in silence.

The post that cut the deepest was from the night of my last birthday. Frank, who had claimed urgent pack business, was in a picture with her. They sat at the center of a rowdy group, the she-wolf wearing a crown of flowers, looking euphoric. One of Frank's Betas commented: [You two look happy. Our Alpha has forgotten all about the rest of us.]

Frank replied: [Shut it, asshole.]

I could feel his joy radiating through the screen. I suddenly remembered my own birthday, waiting in our empty home for him, calling his number again and again.

When he finally picked up, his voice was sharp with irritation, telling me to just go to sleep. My call must have shattered his perfect moment.

I couldn't stop a bitter laugh from escaping my lips.