Chapter 2

Early the next morning, word arrived from the council hall.

The Lich Pack was calling off their alliance with us.

The Lich Pack was one of the most powerful packs in the region, and their Alpha, Jennifer Quinn, was a close friend of mine. I had spent six months negotiating this treaty, pulling countless all-nighters to finalize the terms. We were just days away from signing. Why would she suddenly pull out?

Suspicious, I hurried to the council hall.

There stood Lily, shedding her usual meek facade. She had cornered Jennifer, speaking with condescending arrogance.

"Well, well. If it isn't the Alpha of the Lich Pack. What brings you to Blackwell territory so bright and early? Must be something desperate."

She stuck out her belly—though she was barely showing—as if carrying the crown jewels, murmuring, "I'm carrying the Blackwell Alpha's bloodline, you know. Outsiders would do well to know their place."

Jennifer's brow furrowed. Ignoring Lily, she looked straight at me. "Olivia, is this how your pack conducts itself? An Omega daring to disrespect an Alpha?"

My expression darkened. I stepped forward, blocking Lily. "Lily, shut your mouth and get out."

Lily raised her voice instead. "Why should I shut up? Did I lie? Who knows if she's using this treaty as an excuse to seduce Ethan!"

"Lily!"

Furious, I slapped her across the face. "You don't get to act like a savage here!"

Suddenly, a heavily jeweled, stocky woman rushed out of nowhere and slammed into my lower back. "You bitch! How dare you lay a hand on my daughter!"

I crashed to the floor, my forehead striking the corner of the heavy wooden table.

Amid the chaos, a cold, detached voice cut through the room. "What's going on here?"

Ethan stood there in his sharp navy uniform, the roaring wolf crest of the Blackwell Pack embroidered across his chest. He looked aloof, completely detached from the mess around him.

Lily's eyes lit up. She dropped to Ethan's feet, sobbing as she clutched his leg. "Ethan! Our pack has rules, but Olivia uses her Luna status to treat us lower-ranking wolves like dirt! She hits me and screams at me!"

"Just because I'm pregnant, she's jealous! She's doing everything she can to hurt our baby!"

"Is this true?" Ethan frowned, his gaze sweeping over the pack members gathered outside the hall.

Everyone exchanged uneasy glances, unsure of what to say.

Ethan assumed their silence meant they feared my retribution. His face hardened.

"Lily comes from a tragic background. I let her stay to give her a chance at life, yet you let jealousy turn you into a bully. I'm deeply disappointed in you."

"Olivia, apologize to Lily."

I didn't have time to waste on the two of them. I scrambled up and ran to block Jennifer, who was already storming toward the exit. "Jennifer, let me explain. This is a misunderstanding—"

Jennifer was a brilliant, stunning young Alpha, yet Lily had reduced her to a home-wrecker.

"The people in your pack..." Jennifer looked at the mess in the hall and shook her head. "I don't think we can do business anymore."