Chapter 3

Cain's eyes narrowed as they landed on my hand, his wolf gaze sharp with impatience.

"Elena... can you quit with the theatrics? I said the ceremony was delayed, not canceled. Playing these push-pull games just makes you look desperate."

His voice carried the crushing weight of a top-tier Alpha.

Lina pouted, tugging at Cain's sleeve, her voice dripping with saccharine sweetness. "Cain, this is a limited edition by a famous designer! I've been trying to get my hands on it forever!"

Cain's expression softened instantly, and he pushed the tray of rings toward her. "Try it on, then."

Lina's eyes lit up, and she reached for it—but I caught her wrist, my voice cold as frost. "Did no one ever teach you not to touch what isn't yours?"

I hadn't even used force, yet her eyes welled up instantly, tears spilling down her cheeks. "It hurts! Cain, I think my bones are breaking!"

Cain's face went dark in an instant. He shoved me aside.

My back slammed into the sharp corner of a display case—pain lanced through me, and my vision went black for a moment.

Lina's tears fell in heavy drops, her red-rimmed eyes wide with wounded innocence. "I only wanted to look! Elena, why did you have to be so rough?"

Cain pulled Lina behind him, the murderous edge in his eyes barely contained. "Elena... why do you have to show your hostility toward Lina so openly?"

I looked at Lina peeking out from behind Cain, her lips curling into a sly little smile meant only for me, and felt a surge of bitter amusement.

It was always like this. One frown, one tear from her, and no matter what, I was the one at fault.

I forced myself to ignore the searing pain in my back and held out my hand. "Give me the ring."

Cain ignored the pale, pained look on my face and shoved the ring into Lina's hand instead. "This style isn't right for a wedding ring. Lina likes it—let her have it."

"Not right" was just another excuse to make me yield to Lina. Besides, I wasn't even mating him—it wasn't his place to judge the ring.

I opened my mouth to tell him I'd already chosen someone else, but he cut me off, his face like stone. "Elena... I don't want to hear your excuses. You'd better know your place. Otherwise..."

He paused, his eyes sharp as blades. "I will never mate you."

With that, Cain carefully scooped Lina into his arms and carried her out without a backward glance.

I stared at his retreating back and let out a quiet, hollow laugh.

Perfect. After all, the wolf I was mating wasn't him.

…

On the day of my mate-bonding ceremony, a Beta in charge of arrangements came rushing in, panic written all over his face. "Miss Elena! Trouble! Young Master Cain brought wolves—they're tearing down the wedding decorations!"

He'd run from his own ceremony, and now, just because I was mating someone else, he wanted to sabotage mine?

I swallowed my rage and strode into the banquet hall.

Before I could speak, Cain whirled to face me, his eyes blazing like molten fire. "I told you the ceremony was postponed, Elena. Are you trying to force my hand now? Lina's still upset about the ring. Until she calms down, there will be no ceremony."

I stopped the Gamma wolves mid-task, gesturing sharply. "Put everything back."

Cain's expression darkened, his voice carrying the weight of command. "Let's see who dares. Don't forget—I'm the future Alpha!"

His smugness practically radiated off him, as if he could already feel the Alpha emblem on his chest.

I laughed coldly. He'd clearly forgotten—only the wolf I chose could inherit the Alpha position.

I opened my mouth to speak, but then Lina appeared—wearing my custom wedding gown.

She lifted the skirt and twirled in front of Cain, her voice teasing and sweet. "Cain, I said it looked good, so I had to try it on. Now I'm wearing it. If you say it doesn't look good, I won't talk to you anymore!"

Then she seemed to notice me for the first time, her voice dripping with false surprise. "Oh! Elena... what are you doing here?"

I caught the challenge beneath her words. "I'm at my own ceremony. Do I need your permission? That gown belongs to the future Luna. You're not worthy to wear it. Take it off."

Cain's face went rigid with fury. He pulled Lina behind him, glaring at me. "Elena... you've gone too far!"

He motioned to the Gamma wolves behind him. "Destroy everything in this hall. Let her remember her place."

One of the Gammas reached for a redwood box.

My heart seized. I shouted, "Put it down!"