Chapter 2

The next morning, the Teton Pack headquarters was unusually lively.

Chloe walked around the office, glowing with excitement, handing out chocolates to everyone.

“It’s my birthday tonight,” she beamed. “Alpha Jax is taking us all out to dinner. Don’t be shy—come celebrate!”

When she spotted me walking in, she lifted her chin and held out a chocolate with a smile. “You should come too, Aurora.”

I didn’t take it. “My Alpha throwing a birthday party for his mistress? I think I’ll pass.”

Chloe’s smile dropped. Her face turned pale before flushing red. She slammed the chocolates on the desk. “Who are you calling a mistress?”

Just then, Jackson stepped out of his office, his expression tight.

“Chloe landed a big deal for the pack last week. The dinner’s being paid from the communal account. Can we not twist this?”

He reached for my shoulder, trying to soothe me. His voice dropped low near my ear.

“She’s leaving in a few days. Just think of it as a farewell party from the pack.”

I stared at his pleading expression and said nothing.

But Chloe wasn’t done. Her eyes welled up with tears as she stood in the center of the office, her voice trembling.

“Why does she get to talk to me like that? I haven’t done anything wrong! Just because I’m younger, prettier, and more capable?”

Around us, the pack members shifted uncomfortably. They didn’t dare comfort her with me around.

I didn’t hesitate. I stepped forward, right in front of her, speaking clearly so everyone could hear.

“You were so innocent, and yet you lured him to the Ferris wheel on my birthday?”

“So innocent, but you let him come to your place to rub your belly during your cycle?”

“So innocent, and you just happened to accept a Silver Spur Necklace worth tens of thousands of dollars?”

Chloe’s cheeks burned red, but I didn’t stop.

“Don’t forget, every dollar Jackson spent on you came from the Teton Pack’s shared assets.”

“As Luna, I have full authority to demand it back.”

“But since you won his attention with your youth, let’s call it a gift from your big sister.”

“You may be young and pretty now, but don’t forget—when I bonded with him, I was ten times the woman you are.”

I first met Jackson at a high school football game back at Jackson Hole High.

I was a freshman, captain of the cheer squad. He was a tall, striking quarterback—the star of the team.

He stole the spotlight instantly during the season opener. Every girl was watching him.

At halftime, my squad took the field. I danced like fire under the Friday night lights.

Jackson couldn’t take his eyes off me.

Right in the middle of the game, he shouted from the field: “Hey, captain! You got a boyfriend?”

When I didn’t answer, he grinned wide. “If not, how about giving me a chance?”

I tossed him a glance, cool and sharp. “You want me? Prove it.”

He laughed, loud and unashamed.

From that ten-minute halftime, we became the talk of the school.

Jackson chased me relentlessly after that.

He showed up with hot cocoa when it snowed, waited outside my classes, ran errands for me.

I was a rich girl with a well-known family. He came from a struggling background, raised by a pack that barely scraped by.

Everyone warned us. “Give it up. You two come from different worlds.”

But Jackson never backed down. “Aurora, I’ve made up my mind. You’re my mate.”

He worked part-time for weeks just to take me to the movies.

He scrubbed dishes on weekends to buy me birthday gifts.

Once, I teased, “Win the championship this season, and maybe I’ll consider it.”

From then on, he gave every game his all.

He fought like a warrior on the field. After every win, he’d shout proudly from the end zone, “Aurora! Will you be my girlfriend now?”

It took him three years. By senior year, I finally said yes.

That night, he cried in the locker room like he’d won the Super Bowl.

But when my father heard, he was furious. Said Jackson’s pack wasn’t good enough for our family. Forbade me from seeing him.

Jackson didn’t give up. He dropped football in college and launched his business from scratch—just to become someone worthy of me.

And I gave up my dream of attending Grand Teton Dance Academy in Paris. I cut ties with my family for him.

We were reckless, young, madly in love.

But love forged in fire doesn’t always survive the cold of real life.

That night, the entire pack went to Chloe’s birthday dinner.

I stayed behind, working in the office long past dark.

Just as I was packing up, my assistant Riley sent a message.

“Aurora, something’s wrong. Chloe tried to kill herself.”

I froze.

By the time I rushed to St. John's Hospital, Jackson was already there, his face stormy.

“You knew how proud she is,” he snapped. “Why would you say something like that in front of everyone?”

“I never crossed a line with her. What more do you want from me?!”

I stared at him, stunned.

In ten years together, he had never raised his voice at me.

Now, for her, he yelled.

“She came at me first,” I said quietly.

He gave a bitter laugh.

“What are you now—eighteen again? Still chasing petty victories with words?”

I looked at him, numb.

He didn’t even look back at me.

“Just go,” he said coldly. “Chloe doesn’t want to see you.”

“I’ll be staying here at the hospital with her for a while. Don’t wait up.”