---- Chapter 1 I take my daughter, Joy Silver, to the healer for a routine check-up. My Alpha husband, Ethan Silver, who has been away on a business trip for a few days, comes to pick us up. The moment we meet, he possessively pulls Joy and me into his arms. It's as if we are his whole world. But I catch a faint, unfamiliar scent. As Joy snuggles up to her father affectionately, I force asmile, ignoring the sudden tightness in my chest. It isn't until we get in the car that I notice a woman sitting in the back seat. So it's her scent. A thought that has circled in my mind countless times surfaces once more- ---- I want to leave him. The woman had a delicate-looking, captivating face and wore a smart, professional outfit. She smiled sweetly. Hello, Luna. I'm the new assistant, Sophia Thompson." I glanced at Ethan Silver, using the mind-link to ask him why another person was in the car. He replied calmly, "It was on the way, so I gave her a ride." But Ethan was the powerful Alpha of the Silvercrest Pack-when had he ever personally chauffeured a subordinate, especially when he was here to pick up his wife and daughter? Sophia apologetically continued, "Luna, I'd like to take this opportunity to apologize." She handed mea shopping bag with a bottle of hair serum I often used. "I forgot my skincare during my outstation trip with the Alpha these past few days. I ---- saw your serum in his car, but I ended up using it all. I've bought you a new one. I hope you don't mind." When I didn't take it right away, a flicker of panic crossed her face, and she instinctively turned to Ethan. "Take it," he said to me, voice indifferent but leaving no room for refusal. Iaccepted the bag and set it aside. Joy Silver, sitting in her seat, was very curious about this woman she was meeting for the first time. Her eyes lit up when she spotted the candy in Sophia's hand. As Sophia reached out to give Joy a piece of candy, I had to stop her. "She just had a dental check-up," I mentioned. "She can't have candy." Sophia insisted, "It's imported premium candy, don't worry-" "No. Imported or not, it's still candy."