He’d looked me in the eyes for weeks and lied. Held me at night and lied. Promised we’d get through this together and lied.
But I kept my face calm. Kept my expression neutral and unbothered as I faced Isabella, who was watching me with that smug, satisfied look of someone who’d just dropped a bomb and was waiting to watch the explosion.
I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction. I wouldn’t let her see me crumble. Whatever was happening between Knox and me, it wasn’t any of her fucking business.
“Ah, you’re talking about Mary,” I said, letting my voice drip with boredom. “I thought you were talking about someone more important. Yes, of course I know. I’m the Luna of this pack.”
Isabella’s smile faltered slightly. Good.
“But the fact that you know,” I continued, tilting my head and studying her with cold assessment, “acivilian, that requires punishment. Those guards were supposed to keep quiet about this. Classified information. Need to know basis only.” I paused, letting the implication sink in. “Can you give me their names? I’ll need to have a conversation with them about confidentiality.”
I was completely bluffing. I didn’t know shit about Mary until thirty seconds ago. But Isabella didn’t know that, and the fact that this information had been kept under wraps told me everything I needed to know about how Knox had been handling this situation.
Isabella’s expression shifted from triumphant to uncertain. She’d come here expecting to watch me fall apart. Expecting to see my marriage crumble in real time so she could swoop in and pick up the pieces. Instead she was facing a Luna who appeared completely in control.
“I don’t know their names,” Isabella said, her voice losing some of its earlier confidence. “I just overheard them talking.”
“How convenient.”
The silence stretched between us. Isabella looked at Knox, probably hoping he’d say something to break the tension, but he was frozen in place. I could feel his panic through the bond. His guilt. His desperate desire to explain.
He could explain to the fucking wall for all I cared.
“Well,” Isabella said finally, smoothing down her already perfect hair. “I should be going. I didn’t mean to cause any trouble.”
“Of course you didn’t.”
She grabbed her purse and headed for the door, her heels clicking against the hardwood floor. She paused at the entrance, looking back at us one more time, but whatever she saw in my expression made her think better of saying anything else.
The door slammed behind her. Childish. But honestly, I didn’t care about Isabella right now. She was a minor annoyance compared to the nuclear bomb that had just detonated in my chest.
“Mama! Who was it?”
Rowan came running into the room, his little face curious and concerned. Behind him, Thea emerged from the kitchen with Hunt trailing behind, all of them drawn by the sound of the slamming door.
I had to put on a smile. Had to be a mother before I could be a furious, heartbroken wife. My children didn’t need to see me fall apart.
“Just a woman from the pack,” I said, crouching down to hug Rowan. The movement made my back ache but I ignored it. “Nothing important.”
Thea reached us and I pulled her into the hug too, pressing kisses to both their cheeks. They smelled clean and sweet, and for a moment I just held them, drawing strength from their presence.
“I have an idea,” I said, forcing brightness into my voice. “Why doesn’t Uncle Hunt order some ice cream and we can eat it while watching cartoons? What do you say?”
Both twins erupted in cheers, jumping up and down with the enthusiasm only children could muster for sugar and television. I straightened up and looked at Hunt, who was watching me with careful concern. His gaze flickered between Knox’s tense shoulders and what I’m sure was murderous energy radiating off me in waves.
I gave him a smile that was all teeth and no warmth. “Uncle Hunt. Grab your phone. The kids are going to order ice cream. While you’re all at it, I’m going to take a shower, okay?”
Hunt’s eyebrows rose slightly but he was smart enough not to argue. He pulled out his phone and handed it to the twins, who immediately started arguing about flavors.
I looked down at my children one more time. “I’ll be right back. Save some ice cream for me.”
“We will, Mama!”
I turned and walked toward the stairs, keeping my movements controlled and steady. Upstairs. I just needed to get upstairs. Away from my children. Away from witnesses. Then I could let the rage consume me.
Every step felt mechanical. My body moved on autopilot while my brain screamed with betrayal and fury. The pain in my back, the ache in my feet, the exhaustion that had been plaguing me for weeks, all of it disappeared under the flood of pure, undiluted anger.
I heard footsteps behind me. Heavy. Familiar. Knox was following me, probably preparing some bullshit explanation that would make this all okay.
