Escaping the Alpha's Trap

I slipped out of bed at three in the morning, careful not to disturb the sheets too much. Ryan's side was empty—he'd been 'working late' in his study again. With Emma. The thought made bile rise in my throat, but I swallowed it down. Anger would fuel me; disgust would only slow me down.

The wooden floor creaked slightly beneath my feet as I grabbed a worn hoodie and sweatpants. For three years, I'd worn nothing but the delicate, feminine clothes Ryan selected for me—his broken doll to dress up and parade around. Tonight, I dressed for strength, not show.

*Hurry,* Lyra urged, her presence vibrating with anticipation. *We need to see what we can do.*

I crept through the silent pack house, my newly enhanced senses mapping every shadow, every scent. The guard at the back entrance was dozing, his chin dipping toward his chest in a steady rhythm. I waited for his breathing to deepen before slipping past, a ghost in the darkness.

The forest welcomed me like an old friend, the scent of pine and earth filling my lungs. I walked until the pack house lights disappeared behind the thick canopy of trees, then broke into a run. The sensation was exhilarating—muscles long dormant stretching and burning with sweet pain.

"Now," I whispered, stopping in a small clearing bathed in moonlight. "Let's try."

*Focus on your hand first,* Lyra instructed. *Remember how it feels.*

I closed my eyes, concentrating on the tingling sensation spreading from my core to my fingertips. The pain came first—sharp and biting as bones began to shift beneath my skin. I bit my lip to keep from crying out, tasting blood as my canines lengthened.

"It hurts more than I remember," I gasped, watching in fascination as dark fur sprouted along my forearm, my fingers shortening into powerful claws.

*Three years of poison will do that,* Lyra growled. *But we're stronger than his wolfsbane.*

I couldn't manage a full shift—not yet—but by dawn, I'd transformed each limb separately, flexing clawed hands and testing the power in wolf legs that could sprint faster than any human. The partial shifts left me drenched in sweat, trembling with exhaustion, but filled with a fierce joy I hadn't felt in years.

*We'll be ready soon,* Lyra promised as I forced my body back to its human form. *We just need time.*

"Time is the one thing they've given us plenty of," I murmured, washing my face in a cold stream before heading back. "They think they have forever to torment us."

I slipped back into bed just as the first rays of sunlight broke through the trees, arranging my face into the mask of peaceful sleep I'd perfected over the years.

---

The pack dining hall buzzed with morning conversation as I entered, leaning heavily on the walking stick Ryan had insisted I needed. His eyes found mine immediately, his smile perfectly concerned, perfectly false.

"There's my sleeping beauty," he called, loud enough for nearby tables to hear. "I didn't want to wake you—you seemed so peaceful."

I offered a fragile smile, the kind he expected from his damaged mate. "I'm sorry I'm late."

"Nonsense," Emma appeared at his side, her hand lingering on his arm a moment too long. "We saved you a seat."

I took my place beside Ryan, noting how Emma sat directly across from him, their knees touching beneath the table. The breakfast spread before us was elaborate—fresh fruits, pastries, and at the center of my plate, a small white pill.

"Your supplement, darling," Ryan reminded me, pushing a glass of water closer. "Doctor's orders."

I nodded meekly, picking up the pill. Three years of this poison, disguised as medicine. Three years of him watching me swallow it every morning, ensuring my wolf remained suppressed.

With trembling fingers—not entirely feigned—I fumbled the pill, letting it fall into my lap. "I'm sorry," I whispered, my eyes downcast.

"Still so clumsy," Emma said with a light laugh that made several pack members chuckle.

Ryan sighed, reaching into his pocket. "I always keep extras, just in case."

Of course he did. Always prepared, my Alpha.

As he handed me a new pill, I palmed the herb I'd gathered from the forest—harmless chamomile crushed into a similar size and shape. With a practiced motion, I switched them, placing the chamomile on my tongue while the wolfsbane disappeared into my sleeve.

"There," Ryan said approvingly as I swallowed water. "Don't you feel better already?"

"Much better," I agreed softly, meeting his gaze with wide, trusting eyes. "You take such good care of me."

Emma beamed at us both, the picture of a supportive sister. "Ryan has been so patient with your... condition."

I lowered my eyes, hiding the rage that flashed through them. "Yes," I murmured. "I don't know what I'd do without either of you."

They had no idea what was coming.

---

The formal gathering in the pack's great hall was a monthly tradition—a time for announcements and celebrations. I stood beside Ryan on the raised platform, the perfect picture of a dutiful Luna in the lavender dress he'd selected. My fingers played with the empty space at my throat where my grandmother's moonstone necklace should have hung—a family heirloom Ryan claimed had been lost during my "accident."

"Members of the Silver Ridge Pack," Ryan's voice boomed across the hall, his Alpha aura pulsing with authority. "Today marks an important transition for our leadership structure."

Murmurs rippled through the crowd as Ryan placed his hand on Emma's shoulder, drawing her forward.

"As many of you know, the position of Beta has remained unfilled since Robert's passing. Today, I am proud to announce that Emma Walsh will be stepping into this vital role as my personal assistant and second-in-command."

Gasps and whispers erupted. A Luna's sister becoming Beta was unprecedented—a clear statement about power dynamics within the pack. I kept my expression neutral, even as Lyra snarled within me.

Then Emma stepped fully into the light, and the breath caught in my throat. Around her neck gleamed my grandmother's moonstone pendant, its blue-white light catching the chandelier's glow.

"In recognition of her new position," Ryan continued smoothly, "I've gifted Emma with this token of the pack's appreciation."

The assembled wolves shifted uncomfortably, many eyes darting between the necklace and me. They recognized it—the heirloom that had been passed through generations of my family, meant to be worn only by those of our bloodline.

Emma's fingers caressed the stone possessively, her eyes finding mine with a flash of triumph.

*She wears our legacy while standing beside our mate,* Lyra growled. *This is the final insult.*

I lowered my gaze submissively, but inside, something hardened like steel. The necklace wasn't just jewelry—it was my heritage, my power. And watching it gleam against my sister's throat as she stood beside my mate, I made a silent vow.

I would reclaim everything they had stolen from me—my strength, my position, my dignity.

And I would make them pay for every moment of these three years.