A Perfumer's Scent of Lies

My assistant’s voice crackled over the intercom, announcing Juliana’s arrival.

She appeared before us, holding a painting.

Looking at her, my mind drifted back three years.

Back then, Grayson had just rejected the advances of all the noble she-wolves in the pack, declaring to everyone that I was his one and only fated mate.

Then, he rescued this “harmless” human painter from a street accident.

My own compassion had been my undoing; I’d agreed to let him keep the seemingly fragile girl by his side.

I even arranged for her to work at a gallery owned by the Group.

I took the painting she offered and turned toward the wall.

In the smooth glass surface of the picture frame, I saw it.

Juliana’s pale, slender hand snaked around Grayson’s neck.

Before I could react, she quickly kissed his cheek.

And Grayson didn't push her away.

Instead, he glanced at my reflection, then gently pushed Juliana back. His touch held no anger, only a deep, casual familiarity.

As if chiding her for being mischievous, his hand lingered on her slender waist for a moment before giving it a light squeeze.

They’d been doing this for a long time. The realization was a knife to the gut, and I scoffed at my own foolishness.

Pretending to feel dizzy, I told them I was going to the study to rest.

But I slipped into the study and activated the surveillance program on my tablet.

A screen lit up before me, showing me a live feed of the art room.

I had once used this technology to monitor business rivals.

Now, I was using it to watch my mate betray me.

The moment I was gone, Grayson pushed Juliana against an easel, his voice low and hoarse. “Didn't I tell you to restrain yourself in front of Elara?”

Juliana just giggled, her fingers hooking his tie. “I missed you,” she whispered. “You’ve spent so many nights with her already.”

She breathed against his ear, but her gaze seemed to pierce through the walls, landing right on me—she knew I was watching.

“Grayson,” she purred, “isn't this place special? You built this art room specifically for your fated mate. Every piece in here is something she loves. Doesn't that just make things more... thrilling?”

With that, she tore open her skirt, revealing the delicate lace underneath.

Grayson’s eyes darkened. His wolf took over.

With an urgency I once thought was reserved only for me, he kissed her fiercely.

I listened to their tangled breaths, their gasps and moans a symphony of my betrayal.

My breathing grew ragged. A cold sweat broke out on my skin.

A pain so sharp and relentless it stole my breath pierced through my heart.

This man—the man who had sworn to love only me, who had sworn he would never betray me—was now devouring another woman in the very space I had so carefully curated.

The truth was undeniable. Grayson had betrayed me.

Under the weight of it all, my knees buckled. I clung to the wall, refusing to let them see me so broken. My pride wouldn’t allow them the satisfaction.

When Grayson finally left, Juliana didn't.

Instead, she walked to the door of the study where I was hiding.

She looked down at me, a slow, triumphant smile spreading across her face.

“Elara,” she said, “you saw everything, didn't you?”

She paused, savoring the moment.

“And, I'm pregnant with his child.”