Betrayal at the Gala

Blood pooled beneath Eloise's head just moments after she discovered the truth about her husband. The man she built her world around wanted nothing more than to destroy her. He stole everything, her company, her pride, her future, and left her to die. But as the darkness closed in on her, fate offered a second chance. ** Now she is back, with bloodstained memories and a thirst for revenge. Desperate and broken, she made a deal with the devil, a man powerful enough to hand her the weapons. But his help comes at a price. To be owned by him. For four months. A strict deal with no strings or feelings attached. But nothing about him is simple. He's infuriating, intoxicating, and every second with him chips away at her control. What starts as business quickly spirals into a dangerous game of possession, secrets, and desire. And when hearts get involved, the real cost becomes something more than she bargained for. He’s the last man she should trust… and the only one who makes her lose control.

Chapter 1 It was their seventh wedding anniversary. Carolyn found the divorce agreement in Roger’s nightstand. The pages were covered in scribbles and corrections, as if he’d agonized over them for years. *"If, during the marriage, I fall in love with another person, I voluntarily relinquish all assets and leave with nothing. Asset details as follows…"* His first impulse had been to walk away empty-handed. But the asset section told a different story—a mess of revisions. First, he’d crossed out the property he intended to give her. Then, the fifty million earmarked for her was scratched out and replaced with five hundred thousand. Finally, as if in penance, he had written a single line. *"Better to have Carolyn leave with nothing. No choice, Catherine is pregnant."* … Carolyn sank onto the bed, disbelief washing over her. On the agreement, Roger’s signature was clean and decisive, without a hint of hesitation. And the document had been drafted seven years ago—the very year they married. That year, Roger had been willing to give up everything for her. Yet every year after, he had crossed out another piece of their shared life. Now, seven years later, the one leaving with nothing would be her. Her phone buzzed abruptly. A message from Roger. *"Urgent business. Won't be back."* She called, only to find his phone already switched off. Another notification flashed—a screenshot from a friend. Catherine, the student she sponsored, had posted on social media. *"Wow, got praised! To commemorate my first period without a leak, the big boss said we should celebrate properly!"* In a nine-photo collage, Roger gazed at her, eyes crinkling with affection as he fastened a dazzling gemstone necklace around her neck. The post was tagged at a couples-themed hotel. Carolyn’s breath caught. He couldn’t remember seven years of marriage, of weathering storms together—but he could find the energy to celebrate Catherine’s… leak-free period. And that pendant… she’d seen it at an auction just last week. It was her mother’s lost heirloom. She’d been ready to bid when her bank card was frozen. She’d asked Roger why. A long time later, he finally texted back, telling her not to waste money on such impractical things. Clutching her bidding paddle, she’d sat helplessly in the auction hall. In the end, she resolved to sell one of her own designs to raise the funds. But someone on the phone swooped in with an unbeatable offer and took it. For weeks afterward, Carolyn hated herself—hated that she couldn’t protect her mother’s last keepsake. She never imagined the one who snatched it away was Roger. He knew exactly how much that pendant meant to her. Yet he gave it to Catherine. Even on their seventh anniversary, Roger had lied about being busy with work, while wining and dining the girl she’d sponsored. The anniversary gift he left her was a divorce agreement demanding she leave with nothing. Seven years of marriage. Seven years of infidelity. And Carolyn had known nothing. She’d even introduced the other woman to him herself. Catherine was the impoverished student Carolyn sponsored. The first time Catherine came to their home to give thanks, Roger found her intrusive and disliked her on sight. *"That girl has no manners. Tracked mud all over my cashmere rug."* *"If her grades aren’t up to par, cut the sponsorship."* Back then, Carolyn had teased him, saying not to be jealous—it was good the girl had a grateful heart. She never once suspected Roger and Catherine. For seven years, everyone in their circle believed Roger never played around. That he loved only Carolyn. But by their next meeting, Catherine had become Roger’s personal assistant. Roger explained, *"The girl’s had it tough. You’ve sponsored her for years. Giving her a job is just helping you out."* Carolyn had laughed it off. Now, hands trembling, she opened Catherine’s social media feed. Catherine had always hidden her posts from Carolyn. Now, she seemed desperate to flaunt everything. While Carolyn drank until her stomach bled to secure a deal for Roger, Catherine was using Roger’s card to buy her first Louis Vuitton. While Carolyn changed bedpans for Roger’s bedridden grandmother, Roger was taking Catherine to a perfume atelier for a blending class—calling it a business trip. Catherine had even complained online. *"Your wife is such a pampered princess. Can't handle the tiniest thing without you running back. Can she not live without a man?"* And Roger had replied beneath it. *"If she were half as independent as you, I’d have an easier life."* But that day… Carolyn’s mother had lost her battle with cancer. She’d cried until her heart felt shredded, scrambling to handle the arrangements. All the while, Roger kept checking his phone impatiently, eager to leave. Not for work, she realized now—but because he was desperate to get back to Catherine.

I smoothed down the front of my traditional Luna ceremonial dress, the silver embroidery catching the light as I moved. Three years. Three perfect years with my mate, and tonight I wanted everything to be perfect. "Do you think he'll like the surprise?" I asked my reflection, adjusting the moonstone pendant that had been my mother's. It was the last thing she'd given me before passing, and I wore it only on special occasions. My wolf, Aria, purred with satisfaction. *He'll love it. You've prepared his favorite meal.* I glanced at the dining room table, set with our finest china and candles. The roast was resting, vegetables steaming, and a bottle of aged red wine—Tyson's favorite—hidden in the car for the final touch. "He should be home any minute," I murmured, checking my phone.

On Dominic's birthday, I found myself alone, staring at a table filled with dishes. I waited for Dominic to return with our daughter, Noelle, but instead, I got another taunt from his assistant, Melina. The video showed Dominic and Melina in matching outfits, passionately kissing in his downtown apartment. By now, I'd grown used to such videos. What crushed me was hearing my five-year-old daughter's voice at the end. "Aunt Melina is so pretty and talented, not like my mom. I want Melina to be my mom," Noelle said. In that moment, I lost the will to pretend this already broken marriage could be saved. When I handed Dominic the divorce papers, he thought I was overreacting. "Dominic, let's get a divorce," I said.

The morning sun streamed through the tall windows of Crescent Academy's grand hall, casting golden light across the polished wooden floors. I sat in the front row, my heart swelling with pride as I watched Zander cross the stage. Three years of sacrifice, late nights, and endless support had led to this moment. "Ladies and gentlemen," the headmaster announced, his voice echoing through the hall, "our valedictorian, Zander Campbell, has demonstrated extraordinary leadership skills and tactical brilliance throughout his time at Crescent Academy." Zander stepped forward, his tall frame commanding attention. His dark hair was perfectly styled, and his ceremonial Alpha robes fit him like they were made specifically for him—which, considering how much I'd invested in his education, they practically were. "Today marks not just an ending, but a beginning," Zander's voice carried confidently across the hall. "A beginning where we will build stronger packs, forge unbreakable alliances, and lead with both strength and wisdom." My fingers traced the intricate patterns on my dress as I listened. Those words—they were from the strategic frameworks I'd developed and shared with him during late-night study sessions. The pride in my chest expanded. This was our victory, our future.

My daughter Mallory’s condition worsened suddenly, and she desperately needed her parents with her. Yet, at that moment, Alpha Leo decided to leave to attend the birthday party of Beta Marina’s daughter, Brynleigh. I didn’t stop him, letting him go. In a past life, I had kept him home with our daughter. Meanwhile, Beta Marina and her daughter were left waiting for him on the street and became the target of kidnappers. After her child was taken, Marina was so distraught that she took her own life. Alpha Leo blamed me, vowing I should experience the pain of separation. He began locking Mallory and me in separate rooms during her episodes, forcing me to watch her in distress from a distance. Occasionally, he demanded that we kneel at his beloved Marina’s grave as an act of atonement. Eventually, Mallory succumbed to her illness, and I slipped into depression.