Chapter 49 

Kael’s POV 

Roxanne’s words hit like a whip crack. 

7 know you have found out everything about me.” 

My breath stopped. 

I stared at her. I was stunned. Her fingers were still curled around mine on the table. Her red nails were digging slightly into my skin like little claws. She looked calm….too calm. 

“What are you talking about?” I asked stiffly, my voice low. 

Her smile didn’t falter. 

“You know what I’m talking about, Kael,” she said sweetly and brushed a curl over her shoulder. “Alex. The conversation I had with my mother. You heard all of it.” 

I didn’t speak. 

Because she was right. 

I had heard it. I had been walking up the stairs when I heard their voices from behind the closed door. I should have walked away. I should have respected their privacy. But I didn’t. 

I stood there, my back to the wall, listening as Roxanne and her mother talked about Alex….how he was her true mate but how she would discard him since he was not an Alpha. She only wanted to get married to me to become powerful. She did not love me in reality. 

But how did she know that I was there? She was busy arguing with her mother and I did not make any 

sound, 

How did she know? 

“I saw your shadow on the wall,” she said now, almost lazily, as if this was some idle gossip over lunch. “I knew you were there, right outside the door.” 

My heart slammed against my ribs. 

“I didn’t know what you would do,” she continued. “For a moment, I was worried. But then…you didn’t say 

anything. You stayed quiet. You didn’t confront me. You just left.” 

She let go of my hand and reached for her wine glass, sipping it slowly like she was enjoying the show. 

“I knew then that you wouldn’t do anything. That you would keep it to yourself.” 

I clenched my fists under the table. 

Valric stirred in my head. “She saw us. She knew we were there. And she still smiled. Still laughed.” 

 

“She’s not even hiding anymore,” I replied silently. “She wants me to know now.” 

But Roxanne wasn’t finished. 

“And I also know what you did next,” she added smoothly. 

I looked up sharply. 

Her eyes sparkled with a wicked glint. 

“How you used Ava to frame me. The diamond necklace. The whole dramatic show.” 

My stomach twisted. 

She leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table again. 

“Ava was my friend, Kael. A good friend. She would never betray me… not unless someone offered her something better.” 

I stayed silent. 

“You wasted your money on her,” she said with a shrug. “Because she wasn’t smart enough to keep her 

mouth shut forever.” 

My mouth was dry. “How do you know?” 

She laughed softly. “Because she told me.” 

I blinked. “What?” 

Roxanne nodded. “After your parents punished me. After they called me a liar in front of the whole pack. 

After I was humiliated… Ava came to see me.” 

I swallowed. 

“She felt guilty,” Roxanne said while tilting her head. “Cried like a baby. Told me everything. That you paid 

her. That she planted the necklace in my room.” 

Valric cursed inside me. “Damn Ava.” 

“I knew she would break. She was not fit for that job. I should have known better and found someone else, “I muttered internally. 

Roxanne’s eyes bore into mine. “She only told me after I had already accepted the punishment. After I 

stayed quiet and took it,” 

“Why didn’t you say anything?” I asked finally, the question tumbling out. “You could’ve defended yourself. You could’ve told my parents the truth.” 

She smiled. “Because I didn’t know you were behind it… not then.” 

My breath caught. 

“And once I did know,” she said slowly, “it was too late. I couldn’t undo the shame. Couldn’t undo the lies. 

 

But I could start planning.” 

I stared at her. “Planning what?” 

Her eyes glittered again. 

“A deal,” she said simply. 

I frowned. “A deal?” 

“Yes,” she said, sipping her wine again. “Instead of exposing you… I would rather strike a deal with you.” 

I sat back. The chair was creaking under my weight. My heart was pounding. 

“You would rather make a deal… than clear your name?” I asked in disbelief. 

She smiled sweetly. “Exactly.” 

My jaw clenched. “What kind of deal?” 

She folded her hands on the table. Her tone was calm but firm. “I want you to keep pretending. Keep acting like everything is fine between us. Like we’re the perfect couple.” 

My eyes narrowed. “Why?” 

“Because,” she said lightly, “everyone needs to believe that we’re in love. That we’re getting married. That 

we’re the future Alpha and Luna of Nightshade. This would make me happy since I want to become the 

Luna of this pack. I want to rule and become powerful.” 

“And what about me?” I snapped. “Where do I fit in this fantasy?” 

She waved her hand carelessly. “Oh, you can do whatever you want behind my back. I don’t care if you 

sleep around, see other girls, or even sneak out to meet that pathetic Lisa….” 

“Don’t say her name,” I growled, my voice dangerously low. 

Roxanne smirked. “Touchy.” 

Valric snarled. “I’ll kill her. One swipe. Just one.” 

“No. Not yet.” 

Roxanne leaned back. “All I ask is that you don’t embarrass me. Be discreet. Keep your affairs private. Smile for the pack. Kiss me in public. Let them all believe the fairy tale.” 

“You think this benefits me?” I spat. “This is all for you.” 

“Wrong,” she said calmly. “It benefits both of us. You get to keep your image. Keep the respect of the pack. 

Keep your secrets.” 

I glared at her. “Why do you think I would ever agree to this?” 

She smiled again. 

And then… she pulled out her phone. 

“I thought you might say that,” she said. “But I have something that can make you listen.” 

She scrolled for a moment, then held the screen up to me. 

I leaned in. I was confused. And then… 

I froze. 

The breath left my lungs. 

My heart stopped. 

There was a video playing. It was a grainy clip but it was unmistakably me. 

My eyes widened as I saw myself, sprawled out drunk on a bed. My shirt was half open. My eyes were glassy and unfocused. 

And Roxanne… she was there too. 

Touching me. 

Undressing me. 

I felt like someone had punched me in the gut. 

I couldn’t breathe. 

Valric went silent. 

The blood roared in my ears. 

No. No, no, no. 

I snatched the phone from her hand, staring at the screen as bile rose in my throat. 

“What the hell is this?” I rasped. 

Roxanne looked pleased. “Insurance.” 

I wanted to smash the phone. 

I wanted to scream. 

I wanted to rip something apart. 

I couldn’t even think straight. The video kept playing. My hand trembled. 

She had filmed me. She had used me. 

“She’s a monster,” Valric said coldly. “You were drunk. You didn’t even know….” 

“I didn’t consent to this,” I whispered. 

“No,” Roxanne said lightly. “But you also didn’t stop it. And now? It’s mine.” 

 

I looked up at her, and for the first time… I saw her clearly. 

Not the girl I used to care about. 

Not the charming daughter of the Beta. 

But a predator. 

“You’re sick,” I whispered. 

“Maybe,” she said with a shrug. “But I’m also smart. And now you have a choice.” 

The restaurant lights flickered gently above us. The soft romantic music played on. 

And I sat there, completely numb. 

Stain 

“I’ll let you keep the phone for a moment,” Roxanne said, standing up from the table. “But I already have backups. On the cloud. In my email. In a locked drive. You know, the usual.” 

She leaned down and whispered in my ear. 

“So think carefully, Kael. Because this isn’t a game anymore. It’s checkmate.”