Chapter 1

I sat on a rock far away from the rest of them, staring at the full moon overhead.

Three years ago, Vaughn, Bryce's uncle, and I had seriously discussed an arranged marriage. Both packs called it a match made in heaven.

But that was the day I fell in love with Bryce at first sight.

Seeing how far off I was sitting, Bryce came over, sat down on the rock beside me, and took my hand. "Ivy, don't sulk at us. Rowan already said the marking can still happen in two hours."

I shook his hand off and challenged him in front of everyone for the first time. "I'm sulking? You stripped every shred of dignity off me in front of the whole pack. Three times now. Every single time you've left me standing there in front of everyone and turned me into a joke!"

It was the first time I had ever lost my temper, and every wolf there turned to look.

I tipped my head back, forced the tears back, and kept going. "The first time, I came to the altar so happy, and you went off to a party with them and left me waiting there all night. The second time, you moved the ceremony to the altar outside the city on purpose and still didn't show up, and I got attacked by a rogue and nearly died. This time you promised me you'd be waiting at the altar, and then you refused to mark me in front of everyone. You play me over and over, you watch me get my hopes crushed, you watch me fall apart. Is that fun for you?"

Bryce frowned and gripped my hand again. "It was a joke. There's no reason to blow up like this. Besides, all of that is over and done with. Why drag it up now?"

I pulled my hand out of his, cold. "A joke? I don't think any of it is funny."

Bryce's face darkened, and the other wolves lowered their heads.

After a moment of silence, they started talking me down again. "Ivy, you love Bryce, don't you? Nothing bad came of it. There's no reason to shout like that. Bryce just thinks you're too clingy and wants to toughen you up, and the rest of us were only doing what he asked."

I raised my eyes to Bryce. "So all three times, not marking me was your idea?"

Bryce nodded without a care in the world. "That's right. I want you to be worthier of the title, that's all. You lean on me too much. It wears me out."

I looked down and smiled bitterly. Three years suddenly seemed ridiculous. "From now on, I won't wear you out anymore."

Bryce frowned at me, and the wolves beside him jumped in at once. "Ivy, Bryce is doing this for your own good. The Luna of the Silvermane pack has to be able to stand on her own."

Bryce nodded too, the smile back on his face. "Exactly. Even the Crimson Eye Alpha's daughter has to grow out of being spoiled."

Before, whenever I got angry, Bryce would hold me and coax me until I calmed down. Now he not only dressed me down in front of the whole pack, he sat there and let them tear into me. He didn't love me anymore!

Emily saw the look on my face and tugged at my sleeve.

"Ivy, there's still another blood moon coming. Bryce will definitely mark you."

I pushed her hand away and walked off to the side. My phone screen lit up. It was Vaughn.

"I'll be there on time, my Luna."