Chapter 1
I never imagined my own Fated Mate—Nico Smith—would sit there in front of me and talk with his friends about how he slept with his foster sister.
After he took first place at the werewolf training camp, I threw him a celebration party at a bar and invited the pack brothers who trained with him. The whole place pulsed with neon lights. Julian, who had gone through training with him, raised his glass and joked in German, “Nico, how is your little sister in bed?”
My husband gently wiped the cocktail from the corner of my lips, then answered in German, completely unbothered, “Her moans are amazing, and she’s got plenty of tricks.” “But you guys better not let it slip. Where else am I supposed to find such a good mate?”
The wolf in me, Emma, nearly clawed her way out of my control. “That lying bastard, Nico. Let me rip him apart.” I soothed her under my breath, forcing her to calm down.
I’d met his adopted sister, Nora, many times. Nico was always especially strict with her, to the point that she respected him but kept a stiff distance. With me, though, she was always clingy and sweet, calling my name—“Claire”—over and over like we were real sisters.
In the beginning, I even scolded Nico for it. If you adopt Nora, you’re responsible for her. Stop throwing your Alpha identity around. Out there, you’re an Alpha; at home, you’re just her big brother.
Looking back now, it was all a show he put on for me. And I was stupid enough to feel sorry for Nora, stupid enough to stand up for her. I didn’t realize that the identity of “little sister” was just the perfect cover he’d given himself to cheat.
His training buddies burst into laughter and promised they’d never tell me a word. I sat beside Nico, fingers digging into my palm so hard it hurt. If not for that sharp pain, I probably would’ve already thrown my drink in his face.
Maybe he noticed something off in my expression, because Nico leaned close and asked softly in English, “Honey, what’s wrong?”
His cheek was so close to mine that made my skin crawl. Just a second ago he’d been talking excitedly about his favorite positions with his foster sister, and now he could turn around and look at me with those “devoted” eyes, as if I was the only one he’d ever wanted.
I pushed down the needles of pain pricking my heart, pretending I knew nothing. I wanted to see how far he’d go to cover up his betrayal. “What were you guys talking about?”
Nico smiled, pressed a light kiss to my lips, and said, “Just some training camp stuff. You never liked hearing about those anyway, did you?”
Ever since I married him, I’d stayed behind him, handling all the pack’s family affairs. He seemed to have forgotten that I was once admitted on recommendation to the top werewolf academy. English was my native language, but I also majored in multiple others—German included.
Suddenly the air around me felt thin. I pushed Nico away, my face calm even as my voice turned to ice. “You guys keep having fun. I’m going out to get some air.”
Without waiting for his reply, I walked out of the dim bar with steady steps. Behind me, the conversation went on—
“Their Alpha treats his mate so well. Last year he stayed awake seven nights in a row just to hunt down the prey she liked.”
“He’s the perfect example.”
“Why can’t I ever meet a mate like that?”
I used to feel sweet and warm whenever I heard people envy our relationship. Now, my heart was completely still. After all, who would suspect that the so‑called “perfect mate” actually used his marriage as a shield—while keeping his “little sister” as a lover?
