Chapter 3

MARCU

The party was loud, pretty loud. People were smiling, laughing and congratulating me for reasons that made my stomach turn. To everyone here, I was the Alpha who had everything.

A strong Pack, a successful business, and a beautiful fiancée by my side. They saw a man at the top of his world. But the truth was much darker than anyone realised. I glanced across the room and saw Lily standing near the back. She looked nervous, her eyes searching for me.

But for now, I had to pretend none of it mattered. I had to reject her, hurt her, push her away. My gaze shifted to Selena who was laughing with some Pack members. She was good at hiding her true nature, playing the role of the sweet, doting fiancée. But I knew better.

I'd learned the hard way that she and my brother were involved in the accident that nearly killed me.

They'd wanted me out of the picture, to take control of everything- my Pack, my company, my life. I couldn't let them know I was onto them, not yet. I needed more proof, and until I had it, I had to play the game. Pretending to love Selena, pretending to ignore Lily. All of it was part of my plan to protect the woman I truly cared about. But every time I saw the hurt in Lily’s eyes, it tore me apart inside. "Marcus, are you ready for the announcement?" It was Selena. I turned and forced a smile.

"Yeah, let's get this over with." The crowd quieted as I stepped up to the stage. My heart was heavy with guilt. She was watching me, hopeful. But I had no choice. If I showed any weakness, if I let my enemies know how much she meant to me, they would use it against us.

They would destroy her. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to sag the words I loathed. "I've chosen Selena Monroe as my mate and future Luna." The room erupted into applause, but all I could hear was the sound of my own heart breaking. I dared to glance at Lily, and the look on her face was something I'd never forget. Shock, pain, betrayal- it was all there, clear as day.

But I couldn't stop. As the crowd celebrated, I saw Edith drag her into the spotlight where she humiliated Lily in front of everyone while Selena grinned like a Cheshire cat beside me. I finally asked Edith, gently, to let her go and asked Lily to get out of my sight. Watching her run out of the room shattered my heart even more. That night, I couldn't sleep. The picture of her tear-streaked face haunted me. I had to know she was safe, that Selena and Lucas hadn't gotten to her. I ordered one of the guards to keep an eye on her, just until I figured out what to do next. "Watch her. Make sure no one goes near her," My voice was hard.

"Yes, your Grace," he replied, bowing before leaving to follow my orders. I couldn't believe what I'd become. Pushing away the woman I loved, pretending to care for someone I despised- it was all too much. But it was the only way. If I didn't gather enough evidence to bring down Selena and Lucas, they would destroy everything I'd worked for.

They'd ruin my Pack, my business and my future Luna, Lily. Just as I was about to head to bed, the guard burst into my office. "Alpha," he stammered, "Lily... she's gone." My heart stopped. "What do you mean, she's gone?" "She... she left. I couldn't find her anywhere. I searched the whole Packhouse and the boundary guards said they saw her leaving." A cold chill ran down my spine. Had my enemies enemies her? Had they figured out my plan? My mind raced with worst-case scenarios each one more terrifying than the last. I grabbed the guard by the collar, resisting the urge to vent my spleen violently.

"You were supposed to watch her! How could you let this happen?" "I-I'm sorry, Alpha. She left something behind... a letter." He handed me a folded piece of paper, and I snatched it from his hands, tearing it open. The words written on it made my blood run cold. "Marcus, don't look for me. I'm leaving, and I don't want you to follow. I can't do this anymore.

You've made your choice, and I need to move on. I'll be fine on my own. Stay with Selena. Forget about me. Goodbye." My heart was hammering in my eyes when I was done reading. This couldn't be happening. She couldn't be gone, not like this. "Find her," I ordered the guard.

"Search the entire Pack if you have to. Don't come back until you know where she is." "Yes, Alpha," he said, bowing before rushing out. I collapsed into my chair with my head in my hands. What have I done? The room was spinning.

I'd pushed her away, thinking it was for her own good, but now she was gone. And if something happened to her, it would be my fault. The days that followed were a blur of regret and self-hatred. No one had been able to find Lily, and I was starting to lose hope. Every time I closed my eyes, all I could see was her face, the hurt in her eyes when I rejected her. The more I thought about it, the more I realised how badly I'd messed up. But there was no giving up now. I needed to gather more evidence, more proof of their involvement in the accident. Once I had it, I could take them down and bring Lily back.

That was the plan. It had to work.

It was the only thing keeping me going. And while that was happening, I had to make sure I had people looking for her secretly. Right now I had to keep her to make it look like I heeded her words. That was the only way to protect the woman I loved.