Abandoned, I Married My Mate's Greatest Rival

LYRA'S POV

The progress bar jumped to 100 percent just as the door opened. I yanked the flash drive free and closed the folder. By the time Cassian Voss stepped inside, the drive was warm in my palm. I slipped it into the pocket of my hospital robe.

His golden eyes swept over me-my pale face, trembling hands, and the hospital gown beneath the flimsy robe. Suspicion flickered across his features.

"Lyra." His voice was carefully neutral. "What are you doing here? The doctor said you were resting."

"I was bored." I straightened, forcing my face into a blank mask. "Hospitals are suffocating, so I came to get my novels."

"Your novels." He repeated the words slowly, as if testing them.

"Yes." I gestured vaguely toward his bookshelf. "The ones I kept in your office. Remember?"

He didn't remember. I could see it in his eyes. He'd never noticed my books, never cared about anything that mattered to me. But he nodded anyway, apparently eager to end the conversation.

"I thought you were in a meeting," I added, keeping my voice light. "I didn't expect to see you."

"Yeah. I came back to grab some files." He moved toward his desk, his gaze sweeping over it. "Maybe we can talk later tonight?"

I blinked. "Talk about what?"

His phone buzzed on the desk. He glanced down, and I saw her name flash across the screen.

Sabrina.

His hand moved on instinct, snatching up the phone and slipping it into his pocket. The speed of the gesture said enough.

"Another call about the border patrol?"

His jaw tightened. "It's pack business, Lyra. Stay out of it."

"Of course." I smiled, though it didn't reach my eyes. "Pack business."

He took me by the elbow. "You need to get back to the hospital. I have work to do anyway."

Work. With her. I almost laughed. He was ushering me out because of his mistress.

"Fine." I let him guide me to the door. "Don't let me keep you from your important work."

He didn't answer. He was already pulling out his phone, his thumb hovering over Sabrina's name.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I stepped out of the elevator and into the bright morning sun, the flash drive secure in my pocket. My legs were shaking and my wound was throbbing, but I couldn't stop now. I couldn't afford to.

I pulled out my phone and scrolled through my contacts.

The number I needed belonged to someone I'd never dared call: Alpha Kael Hart. I'd saved it years ago after a pack summit, where I'd watched him from across the room. He was the most powerful wolf I'd ever seen, surrounded by Alphas who practically bowed in his presence.

Any sensible wolf would have been terrified to call him.

I was well past sensible.

My thumb hovered over the call button.

'This is insane,' Kiara whispered. 'He's the Alpha of Bloodmoon Pack. He could destroy us with a single order.'

He could also destroy Cassian. And that was exactly what I needed.

I took a breath and pressed the call button.

He answered on the second ring.

"Who is this?" His voice was low, commanding, and cold. Even through the phone, I could feel the weight of his presence. He sounded like a wolf who had never needed to raise his voice to be obeyed.

"It's Lyra." I swallowed. "Luna of the Silvercrest Pack."

A low, dangerous growl rumbled through the line. "Cassian's mate?"

"Former mate," I corrected. "Soon to be former, anyway."

"Why would the Luna of Silvercrest call her mate's enemy?" he snarled. "You should know better than to involve yourself in matters between Alphas."

I closed my eyes and steadied myself. "I'm sorry, Alpha. But I have an offer."

"An offer." His laugh was cold and humorless. "What could you possibly have to offer me?"

"What you've been after for years," I said, forcing my voice to stay steady despite the tremor in my hands. "Evidence that can destroy Cassian-and the Silvercrest Pack."

Silence.

"And why should I believe a devoted wife like you would hand that over to me?" he asked.

Apparently, everyone knew what a fool I'd made of myself.

"Alpha," I said, letting the pain and fury show in my voice, "you'd be surprised what a betrayed woman is capable of."

He was quiet for a moment. I could almost hear him weighing my words, searching for the trap.

"I suppose not every marriage is as perfect as it looks." His voice softened slightly. "What's the catch?"

I took a breath.

"Marry me."

"Excuse me?"

"Make me the Luna of the Bloodmoon Pack," I said before I could lose my nerve. "And I'll hand Cassian to you on a silver platter."

The silence stretched so long I was sure he'd reject me. Maybe even laugh at the audacity of a broken, battered Luna proposing marriage to the most powerful Alpha in Montana.

"Come to my pack tomorrow with this evidence you claim to have."

My heart stopped. "Alpha..."

"I'll be waiting."

The line went dead.

I stared at the phone in my hands, my heart pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears.

He hadn't said yes. But he hadn't said no, either, and that was more than I'd dared to hope for.

I hailed a taxi and gave the driver the address of Silvercrest Pack Hospital.

I had to go back. I had to keep up appearances. I had to make Cassian believe I was still the same obedient woman he'd married.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Later that night, I stood in the driveway of the house I'd shared with Cassian for five years. The lights were off and the windows were dark, but I could see it. Smell it.

Smoke.

I broke into a run, my bare feet slapping against the cold pavement. The smell grew stronger as I rounded the corner of the house.

My eyes widened at the sight in front of me.

My art studio was engulfed in flames. My paintings-years of work, years of dreams, years of everything I'd poured my soul into-were burning with it.

"No," I whispered. "No, no, no..."

I ran toward the studio, Kiara howling inside my chest. The heat was unbearable and the smoke thick and choking, but I didn't care. I had to save them. I had to save something.

I reached the doorway and grabbed the first canvas I could reach, dragging it away from the flames. Fire seared across my wrist, blistering my skin, but I didn't let go.

I stumbled backward, clutching the half-burned canvas to my chest.

Then I heard laughter coming from inside the house.

Cassian and Sabrina were laughing in the living room.

I walked inside, my burned wrist throbbing and fury pounding through me.

They were sitting on the couch with glasses of wine in their hands, Sabrina's head resting on Cassian's shoulder.

"Lyra!" Sabrina's voice was syrupy sweet. "We were just talking about you."

"Were you?" I held up the burned canvas. "Talking about this?"

Cassian's expression didn't change. "I'm expanding the studio. Sabrina needs a proper workspace. Her art deserves better than..."

"You burned my paintings!" My voice cut through the room. "You burned everything!"

"The guest room will be fine for your needs," he continued as if I hadn't spoken. "Sabrina will take the master bedroom. It has the best morning light for her work."

"Lyra." Sabrina stood, arranging her face into a mask of concern. "I know this is hard, but you have to understand..."

I turned and walked out of the room.

She followed me into the bedroom, her heels clicking against the hardwood floor.

"You're going to need to pack," she said, dropping the pretense. "Cassian wants you gone by morning."

So that was it. That was what he'd wanted to talk about earlier.

I didn't answer. I pulled open the closet and started throwing clothes into a bag.

"Look at me," she snapped. "Look at what you're losing."

She shoved her phone in front of my face. On the screen were intimate photos of her and Cassian, taken on our bed. In my own home.

Something inside me snapped.

"You think this hurts me?" I laughed, and the sound was ugly even to my own ears. "You think I care about a man who couldn't satisfy me even when he tried? Cassian Voss is a mediocre wolf with an inferiority complex. He married me because he needed my family's reputation. He used me, you fool. And now he's about to do the same thing to you."

Sabrina's face went pale. "What did you just say?"

"You heard me." I smiled. "You're just his new toy, Sabrina. And when this all comes crashing down, you'll be the first person he throws under the bus."

She grabbed a bottle of isopropyl alcohol from the nightstand. "You're a liar!"

"Am I?" I stepped closer. "Then why are you so scared, bitch?"

She sprayed the alcohol over my burned wrist, and I screamed.

"You fucking whore!"

The pain was excruciating, burning straight through my skin and into my bones. I shoved her away hard, and she stumbled backward into the door just as it swung open.

Natasha, Sabrina's daughter, stood in the doorway.

"Mom!" She rushed to Sabrina's side, her eyes blazing with fury. "She hurt you..."

"Natasha, no!" Sabrina screamed.

But it was too late. Natasha grabbed the bottle and hurled it at my face.

"Fuck!" I screamed as the liquid splashed into my eyes, burning like acid.

"I can't see." I stumbled backward, my hands flying to my face as my vision blurred through the searing pain. "I can't fucking see!"