CHAPTER 1 – The Night of Betrayal
Everyone believed Alex Morgan was the perfect husband.
He had a successful career, a beautiful home on the edge of town, and a wife who had stood beside him through every setback life had thrown their way.
Victoria loved him with every piece of her heart.
She had sacrificed promotions to support his career, sold family jewelry to help him start his business, and spent years believing that one day they would have children and grow old together.
She never imagined that the man sleeping beside her every night had already decided she would never live to see another spring.
Alex had changed.
At first, it was small things.
He stopped laughing at her jokes.
Stopped asking about her day.
Stopped holding her hand.
Late-night business meetings became more frequent.
His phone was always face down.
There was always a reason why he couldn't come home on time.
Victoria noticed everything.
But love has a dangerous habit of making people explain away the things they don't want to believe.
She convinced herself he was stressed.
That work had changed him.
That things would eventually get better.
She had no idea another woman had already taken her place.
Emily.
Young.
Confident.
Ambitious.
Unlike Victoria, Emily wanted Alex's money as much as she wanted his attention.
And Alex was willing to give her both.
There was only one obstacle standing between them.
His wife.
Divorce crossed his mind many times.
But divorce meant lawyers.
Property division.
Alimony.
Questions from family.
Friends choosing sides.
He hated complications.
One evening, while reading an article about missing hikers during winter storms, a horrifying idea entered his mind.
People disappeared in forests every year.
Cold.
Snow.
Wild animals.
Nobody questioned nature.
For nearly a month he planned every detail.
He purchased sleeping medication using cash.
Studied satellite maps.
Researched isolated logging roads.
Even checked weather forecasts, waiting for the coldest night of the season.
Everything had to look like an unfortunate accident.
Finally, the perfect evening arrived.
"Let's take a little trip," Alex smiled warmly.
"I've been so busy lately. You deserve something special."
Victoria's face lit up.
It had been months since he'd spoken to her like that.
She packed a blanket, homemade sandwiches, and even brought the old camera they used during happier times.
During the drive, they laughed about old memories.
Alex almost looked like the man she had married.
At a roadside café he bought two cups of hot chocolate.
While Victoria admired the snowfall outside the window, Alex quietly crushed two powerful sleeping tablets into her drink.
Minutes later, she rubbed her eyes.
"I'm suddenly... so tired..."
He squeezed her hand.
"Just rest."
Within ten minutes, she was unconscious.
Alex drove for another hour until civilization disappeared completely.
No traffic.
No lights.
No cell service.
Only endless snow-covered trees stretching into darkness.
The temperature had fallen below freezing.
He parked on an abandoned logging road.
The silence felt unnatural.
Even the wind seemed afraid to make a sound.
Alex opened the passenger door and lifted Victoria into his arms.
She looked peaceful.
Completely unaware the man carrying her intended never to see her alive again.
He walked deeper into the forest.
Snow reached almost to his knees.
His breathing grew heavier with every step.
Finally, he found an enormous ancient pine tree surrounded by thick underbrush.
"This is far enough."
He lowered Victoria toward the frozen ground.
Then...
Crunch.
A sound echoed behind him.
Alex froze.
Another crunch.
Slow.
Heavy.
Not human.
His heartbeat thundered in his ears.
He slowly turned around.
Standing less than twenty feet away...
...was the largest gray wolf he had ever seen.
Its golden eyes never blinked.
Its breath formed white clouds in the freezing air.
Neither man nor beast moved.
Then the wolf took one deliberate step forward.
Another.
Another.
Alex instinctively grabbed Victoria and stumbled backward.
The wolf lowered its head.
Its ears flattened.
Its muscles tightened.
Then—
With terrifying speed...
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The massive predator exploded from the darkness straight toward them.
TO BE CONTINUED...
