“If you keep sighing like that, I just might tie you to my bed,” Jenny teased, leaning against the counter.
Mira arched an eyebrow.
“Jenny, tying someone to a bed is a threat reserved for people in a sexual relationship.”
“Oh?” Jenny smirked, stepping closer, mischief in her eyes.
“We can go that route if you want.”
Mira scrunched her nose, letting out a reluctant laugh.
The sound felt good—light, freeing, like a small rebellion against all the heaviness she’d carried.
Jenny laughed aloud, clearly enjoying the effect.
“See?
I’m good for more than just business advice.”
Mira nodded, her expression softening.
Reality finally hit her.
They’d spent the past week traveling together, living a fairytale.
Now that it was over and the two were about to separate again, the weight of reality pressed down on Mira.
“You sure you don’t need me to come with you?” Jenny asked, her eyes softening.
Mira shook her head, exhaling softly.
“You have work here—”
“I’ll drop i—”
“No.
You won’t.
You’ll stay here and continue doing what you love while I go back to that Pack and face what I started.”
Jenny sighed, already knowing how futile it was to argue with her best friend.
“Call me?”
Mira laughed—a dry, humorless one.
“You don’t have to tell me that.”
The two shared a sad smile before hugging each other.
“I’ll miss you.” Jenny whispered into her friend’s hair.
“I’ll miss you too.”
They pulled away and Mira turned without another word.
She took steadying breaths, reminding herself that it was just a farewell, not a goodbye.
As she boarded the plane, her mind reeled with everything that was about to happen.
She’d spent one week traveling with her best friend, distracting herself from what her life had become.
With only one week left, she was more than ready to put everything behind her.
The time they’d spent on the trips had been refreshing—motivating even—but now, she was ready to put her plans to motion.
***
Adrian’s heart raced as he stood there, his eyes darting around the crowded place, looking for his mate.
He caught her scent before he saw her, her flowery scent filling his senses.
Then she appeared, her black hair packed up in a ponytail, sunglasses shielding her eyes.
She looked tan, but some how more beautiful.
“Mira” He breathed, pulling her in for a hug.
His wolf had been on edge since she left, fearing that something was wrong, that the King would claim her.
But seeing her back, feeling her in his arms again, he felt like he could finally relax.
Mira stiffened in his hold, feeling his heart pounding against hers.
She let him hold her for a minute, then pulled away, a practiced smile on her face.
Just as Adrian seemed about to speak, a cheery voice cut through the moment.
“Mira!” Ivy greeted, appearing from behind with a wave and a smile too bright.
Mira stiffened, but her smile didn’t waver.
Instead, it brightened.
“You look…” Ivy looked her up, her eyes glistening with barely concealed malice.
How was the business trip?”
“Fine, thank you.” Mira answered.
“I spent a week celebrating by going on trips.”
She deliberately left out the part about Jenny, knowing how Adrain felt about her.
Adrian had always had a little skepticism about Jenny, claiming she was too wild and a bad influence to Mira.
“That explains the tone.” Adrian joked, oblivious to the tension between the women.
“You look beautiful.”
Mira smiled sweetly, fighting back the bile that rose to her throat.
Adrian’s eyes narrowed slightly, as if just comprehending her words.
A subtle tension threaded through his posture.
“A week of celebrating, huh?
Sounds…
fun,” he said, the edge in his voice barely masked by casual amusement.
Mira tilted her head, smiling politely.
“It was refreshing.
I needed it.”
He took a step closer, lowering his voice.
“I could have taken you.
We could’ve gone together—you and I.”
The irony was loud, given the fact that he should’ve been the one to take her.
Three years ago.
Mira shook her head, keeping her tone light but firm.
“No, Adrian.
This was something I needed to do on my own…
or with a friend who understands me completely.”
His jaw tightened, the faintest flicker of jealousy crossing his face.
“I see.
So you didn’t even think of me?”
“I did,” she said smoothly, letting the words hang between them.
“But I also thought of what would be best for me.”
Adrian exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair.
“What about moving back to the manor?
I thought—”
“I’ll move back,” Mira interrupted, stepping just out of reach and holding his gaze.
She’d expected it, expected him to bring it up after their make up.
“In a week.
On your birthday.”
He blinked, a mixture of surprise and frustration crossing his features.
“Your birthday?”
“No,” she corrected lightly, letting a hint of amusement edge her tone.
“Your birthday.
That gives me time to settle everything properly.”
“But there’s a council meeting scheduled for that day.” He argued.
“I’ll move back after the council meeting then.”
Adrian opened his mouth to argue further, but Mira shook her head, wearing a tired look.
“I need to go.” She yawned.
“My body hasn’t gotten used to the time difference.”
She didn’t give him time to respond.
She turned toward her waiting car.
Once inside her apartment, Mira sank into the quiet, pulling out her laptop and starting to compile the evidence she’d captured over the past week.
She sifted through video clips, snapshots, little “soft” moments between Adrian and Ivy—nothing overtly incriminating, nothing that could truly be called proof of infidelity.
Still, it gave her leverage.
But she needed concrete evidence.
A sly smile curved her lips.
She pulled out her phone.
“Hi Ivy.
Any chance we could talk?”
***
The local cafe they’d agreed on was a quiet, intimate one.
Ivy sat there already, practically glowing with self-satisfaction.
“Mira!
It’s been ages,” she cooed, sliding into the seat across from her, as though they hadn’t seen each other just hours ago.
Mira leaned back, folding her hands elegantly on the table.
“It has,” she said sweetly, playing along.
Her tone was measured, calm—like a cat playing with a mouse.
She didn’t bother with any small talks.
She went straight to the point.
“Tell me, Ivy…
do you enjoy being used?”
Ivy blinked.
“Used?
What are you talking about?”
Mira smiled faintly, tilting her head.
“Oh, come now.
You and Adrian—he only wants what you can give him.
The…
womb, the company of a compliant partner.
Everything else?
Well…” Her voice dropped to a whisper, almost casual.
“…That’s all for you.”
Ivy’s eyes flared, and her lips parted in shock, anger, and the sting of being called out.
Mira leaned forward slightly, keeping her smile perfect, unshaken.
“It must be hard, realizing your usefulness has limits.”
Ivy opened her mouth to argue, but Mira cut her off with a small shake of her head.
“No need.
I can see it in your eyes.
You know it’s true.”
Mira sipped her coffee lightly, watching Ivy squirm across the table, delighting in the subtle, controlled chaos she had created—all without ever raising her voice.
“I—I’m carrying his child” Ivy defended pathetically.
“Still,” Mira countered.
“Another woman bares his name.”
Ivy practically exploded, standing to her feet.
“How dare you?!” She hissed.
“Is this why you invited me here?”
Mira glanced around, embarrassed by the attention she was drawing.
“Keep going.” Mira pushed her.
“I can hear the rumors.
Pregnant assistant lashes out at Luna in public.”
Ivy clamped her mouth shut, clearly frustrated.
Without another word, she picked up her bag and exited the cafe, cursing under her breath.
Mira calmly took another sip of her coffee, satisfied by the reaction she had gotten.
It was a small victory but it felt good.
Now, all that was left was for Ivy to do exactly what she knew she would.