Chapter: Chapter 5Florence POV: Red Dress Or Not"Are you sure?" Susie asks, her voice barely a whisper above the muffled thumping of the bass vibrating through the whole house."What other explanation is there, Susie?" I snap, my hands shaking as I examine the dress in my hand. "Look at him. He doesn't even know who I am anymore. It's almost as if he's not himself. The warmth in his eyes, the way he looks at me . . . it’s completely gone."Susie chews on her lower lip, leaning against my vanity. "Florence, there's no spell strong enough to make a wolf forget his fated mate. The bond is deep in the blood. For all you know, he's pretending. Maybe he's trying to protect you from something, or maybe he’s just being a massive jerk."Susie follows me around the room as I gather my makeup things. I am putting on the red dress again. The exact dress Jason had told me to wear just moments ago. I don't even know why I'm doing what he asks. After he publicly dumped me? After he looked at me like a stranger?Yet,
Last Updated: 2026-06-11
Chapter: Chapter 4Florence POV: Is Jason Bewitched?I wake with a start, the harsh glare of the sunlight coming from the window in my eyes. I had fallen asleep in the middle of weeping.A hesitant knock on the door makes me jump. A soft voice calls out from the hallway. "Can I come in, Florence?"I sit up, pressing the heels of my hands to my eyes, waiting for the painful throb in my head to clear a little before answering. "Who is there?" I call. "Susie Mueller."My best friend is here. I sigh with relief. I clear my raspy throat and sit up straight. "Come in, Susie."The door opens. Susie is a big girl who loves wearing big dresses, and she flows into the room now wearing the most voluminous skirt I have ever seen on her. Under any other circumstances, I would have teased her immediately. She turns around in a joyful, sweeping circle, her eyes bright. She asks, "Do you like it?"Her smile dies the moment she catches sight of my face though. She freezes and asks, "Are you crying?""Yeah," I whispe
Last Updated: 2026-06-11
Chapter: Chapter 3Jason POV: The Feeling Like Floating Damn, she’s beautiful.I stare at Irene as we sway to the music and thank the moon goddess for my luck. I never knew she was this beautiful. Her mother, Penny, is a striking woman, and it’s obvious Irene inherited those full, inviting lips and the soft, elegant slope of her chin from her."I love your dress," I murmur in her left ear. Irene coos, "Hmm, thanks. I knew you’d love it. Mom told me no, but I told her, 'Jason loves chocolate colors for dresses.'"I frown slightly, a brief, puzzling disconnect fluttering through my mind. I do? I don't love chocolate for dresses. In fact, if someone had asked me five minutes ago, I would have said I preferred deep blues, or maybe red. Like the shade that girl earlier was wearing.The image of her flashes vividly in my mind, the girl who had called out to me from the crowd. The red-haired girl.My eyes instinctively drift away from Irene, scanning the crowd for the girl. Where is she? The room is a sea
Last Updated: 2026-06-11
Chapter: Chapter 2Florence POV: Even Her Father Too?"Dad," I ask, gaping at him. "What celebration?"John Patton looks at me, his brow furrowing in confusion. "For your sister, of course. She was just chosen by the incoming Alpha as his mate and Luna. What are you talking about? Aren't you happy for Irene?"I stare at him, unable to believe the words coming out of my father's mouth. I look past him, desperate for someone else to look as horrified as I feel, but the rest of the crowd seems to have adjusted with terrifying speed. Pack members are already pairing off, couples gliding gracefully over to the dance floor. They're forming a swirling, rich circle around the next Alpha and the next Luna of the pack.I force a passive, empty smile, my mind completely numb. It still feels like a dream. It has to be.I shake my head, but my dad just pats my shoulder dismissively.He says, "Now, Florence, you and your brothers need to get back to the house and make the preparations. People are coming over after t
Last Updated: 2026-06-11
Chapter: Chapter 1Florence POV: The Unification Ball The closer Jason gets, the smaller the smile on my face becomes.He isn't looking at me.I frown, confused. Why isn't he looking my way? His gaze is fixed straight ahead, distant and cold. I raise my hand, casting a glance around to see if anyone notices my hesitation, and give him a small, encouraging wave.Finally, he looks my way. I brace myself for the secret wink we always share. Instead, his lips twitch in a polite, empty curve. He merely smiles at me the way he would to a stranger who admires him from a distance. I know that smile. Many women admire Jason everywhere he goes because he's handsome, wealthy, and destined for greatness. But I am not just many women. I am his fated mate. We both know it. We’ve felt the pull for a year.Then, he looks away.His gaze bypasses me and he stares at Irene, who is standing on the opposite side of the hall beside our stepmom, Penny.Why is he looking at Irene like that?The hall is held in a suspense
Last Updated: 2026-06-11