Samantha’s POV

“Where’s Dominic?” I asked one of the gammas as I made my way toward the pack house, keeping my tone as casual as I could, burying any suspicion in my chest.

“He’s… having lunch with Olivia,” he replied, his gaze flicking away as if the very mention of her name would spark a fire.

Last night, Dominic never returned after our heated affair. I expected that he would at least still be in the house by the time I woke up but he was not around. I brushed it off and thought about earning his attention, that perhaps if I did well as a Luna, he’d learn to acknowledge me—love me.

So this morning I reviewed reports and visited the farms, hoping that he’d appreciate my efforts, and hoping to encounter him along the way. But we didn’t. Only to find out now that he had been with Olivia.

A bitter smile tugged at my lips, and a trace of sarcasm slipped into my voice before I could stop it. “He never eats lunch with me.”

The gamma shifted awkwardly, giving a small shrug. “Alpha has his priorities.”

“Right,” I muttered, turning away as anger flared up. I wanted to scream, to demand answers, but the fury only made me feel smaller. How could he just disregard me like this?

As I entered the dining room, Olivia’s gaze zeroed in on me, a smug smile playing on her lips. She was seated beside Dominic, a little too comfortably close, as if trying to stake a claim. Dominic, as usual, ignored me completely, his attention focused on his food. I took a seat across from them, asserting my position as the Luna of the pack.

“Well, well, decided to finally join us?” Olivia mocked.

“Is there a problem with that?” I retorted, meeting her gaze.

She laughed softly, a sound that held no warmth. “I just find it amusing that the ‘perfect Luna’ can’t even keep her husband’s interest.”

I clenched my jaw, choosing to ignore her taunt. I reached my plate from the omega serving me, and Olivia continued.

“Oh, come on, Samantha,” she pressed with a vicious edge to her smile. “You know he doesn’t care, right? You’re just… convenient.”

Dominic glanced at me briefly before turning back to his meal, leaving me to fend for myself.

I took a deep breath, refusing to give her the satisfaction of a reaction. “Convenience is something you wouldn’t understand, Olivia,” I replied smoothly. “After all, desperation hardly allows for it.”

Her smile faltered for a brief second, before she leaned forward, her voice barely above a whisper but dripping with venom. “You think you’re so untouchable, but you’re nothing more than a placeholder, Samantha. Eventually, Dominic will realize he deserves more.”

I met her stare and didn’t back down. “Funny, I was just thinking that you might want to be careful. Temporary pleasures don’t always end in permanent rewards.”

A flicker of annoyance crossed her face, but she quickly recovered, flashing a fake sweet smile. “You’re so not sure about that,” she sneered, rubbing her palm on Dominic’s shoulder, displaying that this time, he had chosen her.

I glared at her yet she was only pleased by my anger, knowing that Dominic would take her side.

He finally looked up, glancing briefly between us before settling on Olivia. “Are you done?” he asked her, his tone impatient.

I watched as Olivia shifted, obviously irritated by his lack of attention toward her. But the satisfaction was short-lived as Dominic turned to me with his eyes cold.

“Don’t you have something to be doing?” he asked bluntly, clearly dismissing my presence.

I swallowed, feeling the sting of his words. “Right. I’ll be going,” I replied, standing up, my hands trembling slightly as I forced myself to walk away, leaving them both to whatever twisted satisfaction they found in belittling me.

~

I didn’t get far before I heard footsteps behind me. I turned to see Lena hurrying to catch up, a mixture of concern and guilt was etched on her face.

“Samantha,” she called softly. “I’m so sorry. I had no idea Dominic would be like that. He just… he needs time, I promise you that.” Lena must’ve witnessed what happened in the dining room, as she immediately came to me.

“Time,” I murmured, my voice laced with a bitterness I could not mask. “I’ve given him all the time I could. And last night… I thought maybe things had changed. But…”

“Samantha, darling, he’s never been in love before. You’re the first person he’s let into his life in this way. I know it doesn’t seem like it now, but he’ll come around. Last night… was a good start, wasn’t it?”

I looked away, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks. “Maybe,” I whispered. “But it’s hard to see that when he acts like this.”

Lena gave my hand a reassuring squeeze. “Trust me. He just needs to realize what he has in you. Give him time for now. He’ll eventually come around.”

–

A month passed, and Dominic barely came home, always giving some excuse—pack business, work, duties. When he wasn’t “busy,” I’d hear rumors of him out with Olivia, their lunches, their meetings, all private moments he never bothered to share with me.

Lena’s advice repeated in my mind like a mantra. “Give him time.” And so I tried. I smiled, stayed patient, and performed my duties, hoping that one day Dominic would give me attention.

Maybe, I needed to be the one to make the first move. I couldn’t just keep waiting for him to see me. I had to show him I was here.

After all, if I truly loved him, shouldn’t I be the one to reach out?

The door to Dominic’s office was slightly open, and what I thought were murmured discussions turned out to be something far worse.

I froze, staring through the narrow gap.

Dominic had Olivia pressed against the wall, her legs around his waist, his lips trailing down her neck. Her eyes fluttered closed, and she tilted her head back, whispering, “Yes, Dominic. I’m yours.”

The way he held her sent a stabbing pain through my chest, twisting deep and sharp. I wanted to look away, to run, but I was frozen to my feet, forced to watch as he held her intimately, kissing the most sensitive spot on her neck, making her frown and tremble in ecstasy as a soft moan escaped her lips.

I backed away quietly, my vision blurring from the tears. Maybe Olivia was his fated mate that’s why he was so willing to give her everything, especially what I had desperately wanted, and needed as his wife.