Chapter 3

Freya

"It's been a while, Freya." Lyra's voice dripped with false sweetness, her eyes flashing a hint of gold.

My brain buzzed with shock. Every instinct in my body screamed danger. Lyra, my father's daughter with a pure-blooded she-wolf, had been brought into our home when I was eight. She was only a few months younger than me, her arrival shattering my childhood understanding of family.

"What are you doing here? This is Sterling territory," I challenged, my wolf's territorial instinct flaring despite my subordinate position.

Lyra's smile widened. "Because I was tired of staying alone in the Welch family territory." She tilted her head, studying my expression. "Why do you look so shocked? I just returned from the European Wolf Academy this morning."

I fought to maintain my composure. "I'm certainly surprised. I didn't expect that after so many years at the European Wolf Academy, your first act upon returning would be to invade my marked territory!" I couldn't keep the bitterness from my voice as I emphasized our sacred marking bond.

Lyra's eyes narrowed. "If it weren't for your tricks during that full moon night, I would be Pax's marked mate!" She deliberately used the intimate nickname "Pax," asserting her familiarity with him.

My face paled as memories flooded back. That night, the accusations, the explanations that no one believed. The amber in my eyes flickered briefly as my Alpha nature stirred. I knew her goal—to take everything that belonged to me, including my marking relationship and territorial rights.

Before I could respond, a commanding voice cut through the tension.

"From today, Lyra officially joins Sterling Group," Paxton announced, his voice leaving no room for discussion. "She'll be my special assistant. You'll only handle the Strategic Department's work from now on."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. The mark on my neck throbbed painfully, my heart feeling like it was being squeezed in a vise. "That's not what we discussed last night," I said softly, pain evident in my voice.

"Your work content in the Strategic Department remains unchanged," Paxton explained coldly, "but my special assistant will handle my schedule and personal matters." The message was clear—he was pushing me out of his personal territory.

"Pax," Lyra's voice turned sweet again, "why don't I work with Freya in the Strategic Department? She could teach me about business operations."

"You just returned from Europe and aren't familiar with American business systems yet," Paxton said gently to Lyra. "Take it slow. The special assistant position is just to train you."

The implication was clear—eventually, Lyra would have a place in the Strategic Department too. Even though Paxton valued Alpha promises, he would change them for this Beta.

"Then I'll trouble Freya to help me get familiar with the Sterling territory," Lyra said with false politeness, deliberately using "territory" instead of "company" to challenge my marked status.

"Today is the waning moon period. I have a lot of work to do," I tried to refuse, subtly referencing the low-energy period for werewolves.

Paxton's eyes flashed golden wolf irises. "Executing Alpha commands is the only thing you should be doing!"

I bit my lip. "Yes, Alpha," I answered, forced to use the respectful title to show submission.

I gave Lyra a brief tour of the company areas. "This is the rest area, specially prepared for full moon periods. This is the office area, and over there is the pantry. Specific regulations are available on the company's internal network." The facilities included spaces designed for werewolves during transformation periods.

When we reached the pantry, away from others, Lyra dropped her facade.

"I sometimes really admire you," she said with a sneer. "Even knowing Pax doesn't love you and was forced to mark you, you still shamelessly stay in his territory for so long."

"Don't you understand? Pax is already saving face for you. Dissolve the mark early, and you might preserve some dignity. William won't protect you forever."

I met her gaze steadily, my eyes briefly flashing wolf. "Why should I dissolve the mark? As long as I don't participate in the dissolution ritual, you'll forever remain the third wheel. Even your future cubs won't have Sterling bloodline inheritance rights, just like your status in the Welch family."

We both knew our vulnerabilities—being unloved was my pain, while bloodline inheritance rights were supposedly Lyra's. Though she actually prided herself on her pure-blooded Beta status.

Fury contorted her features as she grabbed a coffee cup. "You mixed-blood bitch, how dare you insult my bloodline!"

I reacted quickly, showcasing Alpha reflexes, pushing back so the coffee spilled on her white clothes instead.

Suddenly Paxton appeared, his Alpha pressure fully open. "Freya Welch, what are you doing? Attacking my Beta guest?" He shoved me, and I fell, my hand landing in hot coffee on the floor, burning my skin.

"Pax, it's my fault," Lyra cried, playing the victim. "I'm too clumsy. Don't be angry with her—it will affect your marking bond." Her words were designed to drive a wedge between us.

Paxton gave me a cold look. "If you didn't want to show her around, you could have said so. There was no need to attack a Beta like this."

"She was going to throw coffee at me first," I explained, "and insulted my mixed blood."

"I have Alpha perception abilities," Paxton dismissed, trusting his instincts over my words. My face went ghostly white with despair as Paxton left with Lyra, protectively guiding her.

After they left, a colleague helped me up. "Alpha Freya, are you okay? Is your wrist burned?" they asked with concern. "What's wrong with Alpha Paxton today? That Beta's tactics were so obvious—how could he not see through them with his Alpha perception? I guess that's what favoritism looks like."

"I'm fine," I insisted, hiding my pain. "It's working hours. Everyone get back to work. We need to submit the quarterly report by the end of the month."

My wrist was red and swollen from the coffee burn, throbbing with pain. I clenched my fist, noting bitterly that my colleagues showed more concern than my marked mate.

The injury proved worse than I expected. I requested two hours off to seek treatment, as wolf healing abilities were weaker during the waning moon period.

As I was leaving the company entrance, I encountered Lucas Morgan, the Alpha leader of the Morgan wolf pack.

Lucas cut a striking figure in his light gray casual suit. Handsome and tall, with a silver wolf fang earring in his right ear and occasional flashes of silver-gray wolf eyes, he exuded a relaxed yet powerful Alpha presence.

"Freya, here's the territorial cooperation agreement between the Morgan and Sterling packs for next quarter..." Lucas began discussing business, then noticed my injured wrist.

His expression darkened, his Alpha protective instincts visibly triggered as his eyes traced the path from my injury to the bond mark on my neck.