Chapter 3

Selene POV:

The Michelin-starred restaurant in the city center was exceptionally quiet, with soothing, elegant classical music flowing in the background.

I sat in a private booth in the corner, watching coldly as Fiona walked toward me. She was a full twenty minutes late.

She was wearing the latest Chanel suit and carrying a limited-edition Hermes Birkin bag.

That bag was something I had ordered from Paris last month, originally intended as a diplomatic gift for the Luna of a neighboring Pack.

Later, Vivian said she liked it and stubbornly took it from me.

And now, it had appeared in Fiona's hands.

"Selene! I'm sorry, traffic was a bit heavy on the way," Fiona said, placing the bag on the empty chair next to her and exaggeratingly adjusting her hair.

"What did you want to see me about? Are you trying to find out what surprise Caleb has prepared for you?"

She smiled mysteriously, acting as if she were genuinely keeping some sweet, romantic secret for me.

I picked up my lemon water and took a sip, my tone completely flat.

"Have you and Vivian been getting along quite well lately?"

Fiona froze for a second, her eyes darting away in guilt.

"I guess so, we just go shopping together occasionally. You're such a busy Alpha with no time for me, so I can only look to Vivian to cure my boredom."

"Is that so?"

My gaze landed on the Hermes bag next to her hand.

"That's a very nice bag."

Fiona instinctively tried to cover the bag's logo with her hand and let out two dry laughs.

"Ah, this? I saved up for a long time to buy this, to reward myself."

"I see."

I didn't expose her lie; instead, I shifted the topic.

"I heard there were fireworks set off over the riverfront territory in the south city last night. It sounded quite lively."

The hand Fiona used to grip her water glass suddenly tightened, her knuckles turning white.

"W-were there? I went to bed early last night, so I didn't know about that."

She tried desperately to maintain the smile on her face, but her voice uncontrollably grew weak and shaky.

"Selene, are you under too much work pressure lately? Why are you being so paranoid?"

"Caleb treats you so well. Who in the Pack doesn't envy your mate bond?"

She skillfully began her gaslighting routine.

"Look at you, always busy with the corporate work. You don't even care when he goes on border patrols."

"It's only because Caleb has such a good temper that he can tolerate your domineering, female-Alpha personality."

"If you don't start acting a bit more gentle, be careful, your man might get snatched away by someone else."

She used a joking tone to deliver the most vicious implication.

I stared at the face in front of me—a face that had accompanied me through countless hardships—and felt she was entirely a stranger.

Back then, when her rogue ex-mate scammed her out of all her money and left her homeless, I was the one who took her in.

I was the one who taught her step by step how to survive in the Pack, how to fight, and how to build her authority as a Gamma.

And now, she was helping outsiders scheme against me.

"Thank you for the reminder. I will keep that in mind."

I picked up the bill and stood up.

"I've already paid. I have matters to attend to at the headquarters. I'll be leaving now."

After leaving the restaurant, I headed straight for the corporate headquarters.

As soon as I walked onto the marketing floor, I saw Vivian sitting at her desk, applying nail polish.

She was surrounded by several low-ranking male warrior employees who were eagerly fawning over her.

"Vivian, that lipstick color looks stunning on you. It really complements your skin tone."

"Vivian, here is the bubble tea I just went to buy for you. Thirty percent sugar, no ice, just the way you like it."

Vivian giggled sweetly as she took the tea, her voice sickeningly sugary.

"Thank you all, you're all so good to me. Not like my sister... she always keeps a rigid face. I'm absolutely terrified of her."

She wasn't working at all; instead, she was deliberately releasing bursts of sweet Omega pheromones, making this group of male wolves dizzy and eager to please her.

I stood a short distance away, watching this ridiculous performance.

This position of Vice Director of Marketing was forcefully handed to Vivian by Caleb under the excuse of "training a newcomer."

She had been here for three months and hadn't secured a single contract, but she had managed to wrap all the male employees in the department around her little finger.

Even her travel reimbursement forms were stuffed with massive amounts of personal expenses, all signed and approved by Caleb using his Beta authority.

I took a deep breath, turned around, and walked toward the CEO's office.

"Alpha Selene, you called for me."

My loyal Beta assistant, Marcus, pushed the door open and stood respectfully before my desk.

"Run an audit on all of Caleb's financial activities over the past year, especially the infinite-limit supplementary card ending in 8899 under his name."

I tapped my fingers on the desk, my voice as cold as ice.

"Also, pull up all the reimbursement records from the marketing department for the last three months. I want every single penny verified."

Marcus paused for a second, seemingly sensing something, but he didn't dare ask.

"Right away, Alpha."

At three o'clock in the afternoon, Marcus placed a thick stack of documents on my desk.

"Alpha, the audit is complete."

"The supplementary card under Caleb's name shows a massive amount of luxury purchases over the last six months, along with multiple bills from high-end restaurants."

"Furthermore, last month, there was a massive three-million-dollar wire transfer to a high-end custom jeweler in the south city."

Three million dollars. A custom jeweler.

That massive diamond ring on Vivian's finger now had an origin.

"I also checked the marketing department's reimbursement forms. There are many expenses that clearly violate Pack regulations."

"For example, the travel expenses for the southern beach territory last month were actually for two first-class flight tickets and a luxury suite at a five-star resort."

"The approving signature on all of them is Caleb's."

Looking at those vouchers stamped with red official seals, I suddenly found it somewhat hilarious.

Just how stupid could they possibly be to think they could pull off these flawless fake accounts right under my nose?

Was it because I had been too lenient with them, giving them the illusion that I was an easy fool to manipulate?

"Make a digital backup of all these files and send a copy to the chief attorney."

I closed the folder, my eyes turning completely frigid.

"Also, notify the staff. I will not be working overtime tonight. I am leaving exactly on time."

"After all, I have my four-year mating anniversary to attend."