Chapter 001:

Alicia's POV.

It was finally here; the one day of the year that always filled me with so much excitement and anticipation: our third wedding anniversary with my beloved husband, Alpha Andrew Wright.

I had spent weeks preparing for this moment, wanting to look perfect for him with the little I had. My heart raced with a mix of eagerness and anxiety.

I hoped that tonight, he would see me as more captivating than ever and be unable to look away from me. I hoped he wouldn't give me the cold shoulders as always.

As I sat before the mirror in the Silver Fang Pack beauty salon, my hand holding a magazine that I barely glanced at, I forced myself to maintain a bright, hopeful smile.

The salon's meticulous attention to my fur and skin had left me glowing, but the excitement was tinged with a sharp edge of longing.

My thoughts were entirely consumed with Andrew, imagining the moment we would finally be together.

Each brush of the beautician’s hand felt like a promise of the night to come, but with every passing second, the burden of my expectations and the lingering uncertainty gnawed at me.

I was caught between the thrill of anticipation and the painful fear that this night might not live up to the dream I had so carefully crafted in my mind.

“You are beautiful, Luna Alicia… I bet that's why Alpha Andrew would stop at nothing to have you. He really loves you!” the fair-skinned lady with her blonde hair pulled into a ponytail said, making me tsk.

Every member in our pack thought so as Andrew and I appeared like a lovely mate couple on the TV. How could I blame them for believing what I pretended to be?

Seeing she was done, I stood up gently with a smile, “My pleasure. Thanks for your service and appreciation... I'll be leaving now.” I was trying hard to grab tonight’s opportunity to let what they believed to be true.

I couldn’t lose today’s opportunity.

“Wish you have a lovely night with our Alpha.”The staff smiled and truly felt happy for me.

“I will. Wish you have a good night too.” I extended my hand to shake hers, and she was stunned for a moment, not expecting me to do that.

I gave out a smile to relieve her. Before marrying Apha Andrew, I was an ordinary pack member. I came from a normal family, my parents have no Beta or Warrior position in the Silver Fang Pack. So I truly understand and respect every member's role in the pack.

I grabbed my bag and walked towards the exit of the salon, ready to leave, but the sudden whispers from behind me made me halt abruptly.

“She’s so friendly and warm-hearted... No wonder Alpha Andrew will never take a second look at another woman,” one of the girls in the salon said.

“I know, right? She’s so lucky to have someone like Alpha Andrew. I wish to be like her someday—to have a man who adores me before everyone and is never ashamed of me.”

As I heard the whispers, a smile twisted on my lips, but it was filled with nothing but pain. I left the salon and rushed to my car, gripping the steering wheel tightly with my fingers.

“Lucky to have him?” I sighed deeply, trying hard to mask the hurt churning inside me. “If only they knew what it was like to be in my place.”

My whole life, I had loved only one person: Alpha Andrew Wright, who was my mate. He had publicly claimed me, and I knew many envied my life. They longed to have a man like Andrew, but they had no idea it was all just a show, a facade that hid the reality of our marriage.

Andrew used to shower me with love and care when we first discovered we were mates. He never considered my family's background. He was always attentive and never wanted to lose me while we were dating.

But his attitude changed so suddenly in the first year we entered the college. His warmth turned into a Chilling scary presence. I asked him a million times why he treated me so cold. Did I do something wrong? But I never got an answer.

No longer later I learned that his mother died. I convinced myself that it was due to the loss of his family changed him.

I hoped that once we were married, our new little family would warm him. But I was wrong. The distance only grew.

He never showed any interest in having sex or being intimate with me; it felt as though my presence repulsed and disgusted him as if being close to me would make him sick.

Our daughter, Elisa, was a result of a mistake he made; his own words, never mine. He was drunk that night and has regretted it ever since. He always referred to it as a mistake, and his regret was evident.

As these painful memories washed over me, a heavy sigh escaped my lips. I found myself praying and wishing for an end to this heartache.

Despite everything, I still loved Andrew deeply and yearned for things to be different, hoping against hope for a change that might never come.

I wanted him to treat me right on the inside, just as he did in public. But it never happened.

With one last glance at the salon, I turned on the engine of my car, and without hesitation, I zoomed out, heading back to Andrew's mansion. After what felt like an eternity, I finally arrived at the pack's mansion.

“Welcome, Luna Alicia,” Gamma Luke greeted the moment I climbed out of the car with my bag, my red heels meeting the ground first.

“Thank you, Luke…” I faked a smile, but just as I was about to walk into the mansion, I halted briefly before turning around to look at him.

“Is Alpha Andrew back?” I asked, focusing intently on him.

“I’m sorry, Luna Alicia, he isn’t back yet,” he said and I nodded.

It was still early after all; I only had to prepare and wait for him.

Without hesitation, I spun on my heels and headed into the mansion. The moment I got into my room, I dropped my bag on the bed.

I pulled off my dress and made my way into the bathroom. I made sure I had a thorough bath just to look good for Andrew. Who knows? Maybe he’d want to touch me tonight.

Walking out of the bathroom, I dressed in red net lingerie. I was trying my best to look hot and sexy for him, too.

.Even if he only stayed for my body, it was acceptable for me at least it was a good signal.

“Now all I have to do is sit and wait for him to return,” a smile formed on my lips as I sat down on the bed, my thoughts filled with Andrew.

Seconds turned into minutes, and minutes into hours, but still, I didn’t catch a whiff of his scent in the mansion.

Andrew was nowhere to be found near the mansion. He wasn’t back home, and looking at the time, it was pretty late for a married Alpha to be outside.

Did he forget about our anniversary again? No! He can’t… not when he… I shook my head, trying to push away the negative thoughts in my mind.

“It’s not possible. He still loves me; I’m sure he wouldn’t miss it,” I muttered abruptly, making excuses for him as always.

Soon, I climbed out of bed and kept pacing around the room, waiting for the right moment; waiting for the hour he’d open the door, walk in with a smile, kiss me on my lips, and apologise.

But to my dismay, it never happened. I looked at the time again; it was almost midnight. I couldn’t take it anymore.

I grabbed my jacket, determined to find Andrew and confront him. As I neared the door, the sharp, insistent beeping of my phone sliced through the quiet room, halting me in my tracks.

“It could be him!” I gasped, my heart pounding with anticipation. I reached for my phone, my hands trembling slightly as I unlocked it, hoping for a message from Andrew that might explain everything. But what I saw instead took my breath away and sent my heart racing uncontrollably.

On the screen was a picture that struck me like a brutal kick.

It was Andrew, lying naked and clinging to another woman whose face was blurred. The image was intimate and raw, and it felt like a cruel stab to my heart.

“Andrew…” I whispered, barely able to breathe as disbelief and shock overwhelmed me.

My eyes widened as I stared at the screen, this was definitely not what I wanted on my marriage anniversary.