My Mate Betrayed Me with My Best Friend

I stepped out of the shadows, my heart hammering against my ribs as Sebastian and Azaria walked hand in hand toward his car. The parking lot lights cast harsh shadows across their faces, making them look like strangers—because that's what they were to me now.

"Camila!" Sebastian's voice cracked with shock. He dropped Azaria's hand as if it had burned him, his eyes darting around like a cornered animal. "What are you doing here?"

Azaria's face drained of color, her fingers nervously twisting together. "Luna Camila, I—"

"Don't," I cut her off, my voice steadier than I felt. "Just don't."

Sebastian recovered quickly, his Alpha mask sliding into place. He straightened his shoulders and fixed me with what I now recognized as his most manipulative expression.

"Camila, you're overreacting," he said, his tone shifting to that commanding Alpha resonance that had once made me feel safe. Now it just made my skin crawl. "We were just discussing pack business."

"Pack business," I repeated, the words tasting bitter on my tongue. "Is that what you call sneaking away to the movies together?"

"It's not what you think," Azaria interjected, her voice trembling with practiced vulnerability. "We literally just bumped into each other here."

I laughed—a cold, hollow sound that surprised even me. "Bumped into each other? With matching handbags and secret phones?"

Sebastian's eyes widened fractionally before he composed himself. "Camila, you're being paranoid. This is exactly why I didn't tell you about the surprise pack event we're planning."

"Surprise pack event," I echoed, watching as Azaria's eyes flickered with panic before she composed herself.

"Yes," Sebastian pressed on, gaining confidence. "We wanted to organize something special for the pack members who've been working so hard lately."

The lies flowed so easily from his lips. My wolf, Luna, snarled inside me, her rage matching my own.

"Stop it," I said quietly. "Just stop lying."

To my surprise, tears welled up in Azaria's eyes. "Camila, how can you think I would ever betray you? After everything you've done for me?"

I stared at her, this woman I'd saved from an abusive mate, given a home, a position, my complete trust—and she was crying crocodile tears while standing beside my mate.

"Enough," I said, stepping closer. My Luna presence unfurled around me like a cloak, and I watched Sebastian's Alpha aura retreat slightly. "I'm not the naive, trusting fool you think I am."

Sebastian's expression hardened. "What do you want, Camila?"

"Three things," I said, holding up my hand. "First, you sleep in the east wing from now on. Second, no non-official contact with Azaria. Third, she steps down as Beta immediately."

"You can't—" Sebastian began.

"I can," I cut him off. "And I will. Unless you'd prefer I reject you publicly at the next pack gathering?"

The threat hung in the air between us. A public rejection would be a scandal that would rock the entire pack—something neither of us could afford.

"You wouldn't," Sebastian whispered, but uncertainty flickered in his eyes.

"Try me," I replied coldly.

Azaria stepped forward, her tears now flowing freely. "I'll resign. I don't want to cause problems between you two."

Sebastian looked trapped, his jaw working silently before he finally nodded. "Fine. We'll do it your way. For now."

---

The next morning's pack meeting was tense with unspoken undercurrents. I sat beside Sebastian at the head table, our faces masks of unity while our eyes remained cold.

The room fell silent as Azaria stood, her voice quavering with emotion.

"I have an announcement," she said, her eyes glistening with tears that I now recognized as perfectly rehearsed. "After much consideration, I've decided to step down as Beta of Moonridge Pack."

Murmurs rippled through the assembly. This was unexpected—Beta positions were rarely voluntarily surrendered.

"My mental health has been declining," Azaria continued, her voice breaking at just the right moment. "The trauma from my past has resurfaced, and I need to focus on healing."

Sympathetic nods and whispers spread through the room. I watched impassively as Azaria played her part perfectly—the wounded victim needing rest and understanding.

As the meeting adjourned, pack members approached Azaria with condolences and well-wishes. I observed from my seat, noting how Sebastian made his way casually toward her.

And then I saw it—a subtle brush of his hand against hers as they passed each other, so quick anyone else would have missed it.

But I didn't miss it. And as our eyes met across the room, Sebastian's widened slightly in surprise.

He thought he'd won this round. He thought I'd be fooled by their performance.

He had no idea what was coming next.