CHAPTER ONE

RILEY

My smile widened with each anticipating moment. Today was the day I would tie the knot with my childhood sweetheart—Knox. Despite all odds against us, we fought through and our love only became stronger. I was looking forward to spending the rest of my life with him.

The Blackthorn estate. That's where we held our wedding—and I was amazed to see that his father agreed to our union. I wasn't born with a wolf and have been cast aside for so many years. But it was different with Knox. He had never looked down on me.

Staring at him, those gorgeous silver eyes piercing into mine—I feel happier than ever. He stood gorgeous, in his black tuxedo, his eyes locked on mine like I was the only person in this world.

But I couldn't help but notice his eyes held something different—I couldn't explain it. But it wasn't those exciting eyes I had been relishing all these while. My kind scattered, fear of him getting cold feet.

But he was here. That's all that matters.

The priest's voice disrupted my thoughts. “Do you—Riley Harper— take Knox Blackthorn as your lawfully wedded husband? To love and obey unruly death do you part?”

I immediately nodded,unable to withhold back my excitement.

We were seconds from saying ‘I do’. When his father rose from his chair and cleared his throat, all attention turned to him. For a flick moment, I noticed his eyes staring back at Knox.

Knox's face went pale. I reached out for his palm, caressing him softly. He gave me a small smile, but I could tell that they held something so much more.

“I do,” I responded finally.

The priest repeated the vows to Knox. But he remained quiet, the silence stretching through the room. My heart pounded hard in my chest.

“Knox?” I called softly.

He remained quiet for a moment. Multiple thoughts went through and fro in my head, wondering what could be going on in his. Wondering why he suddenly chose to be quiet. Was he having cold feet?

He looked at me, a cold glare on his face. He marched up to the mics and took one of them. My breath got heavier with each passing minute, wondering where this was leading too.

He cleared his throat. “I'm sorry for this abrupt interruption, but I have an announcement and it's directed to my lovely wife-to-be,” he stated.

I forced a smile, trying not to let the nerve kick in. “What's…going on, Knox?” I asked him.

He didn't look at me. Not once.

“I, Knox Blackthorn, Alpha heir of the Blackthorn Pack, reject you as My mate and Luna.”

The bond snaps like a bone snapping inside my chest, and I screamed loudly in front of the most wealthiest werewolves gathered to share this joyous occasion with.

The pain felt like something was ripping me in half. I screamed loudly again, blood pouring from the fresh mating mark as the rejection tears it open.

The second he said those words my whole body just… broke. Like someone took a hammer to my ribs. I screamed so loud my ears rang and I dropped straight down, knees banging the floor hard. Blood started pouring out my neck like a faucet, hot and sticky, ruining the pretty white dress in seconds. I kept grabbing at the bite mark tryna stop it but my hands just got slippery red.

Knox was still holding the mic looking like a stranger. He wouldn’t even glance at me. Then he said it again, louder, “She’s nothing but a weak human I used for fun.”

And everybody laughed.

Not like a little giggle, like full on losing it. People were bending over, slapping their legs, wiping their eyes. One girl was literally screaming and laughing. I heard one go “oh my god” and then start cackling too.

My mom was fighting the guards tryna run to me but two big guys held her back and she was yelling, “Let me go, that's my daughter!”

But nobody cared.

I was on the floor crying and bleeding and tryna breathe but it hurt so bad. “Knox please,” I kept saying, “please look at me, we can fix this just talk to me.” My voice sounded gross and wet. He finally looked down for half a second and I thought he was gonna help me but then his dad coughed again and Knox just… turned off. Like a light switch.

He dropped the mic and it made this huge banging noise and started walking away.

I tried crawling after him, dragging the heavy dress, leaving a long red streak behind me. “Knox wait wait please dont leave me like this!” I was screaming and sobbing and snot was everywhere.

People were stepping over my dress like it was trash. One lady actually said new and lifted her skirt so it wouldn't touch the blood.

He never turned around. Not once. Just kept walking till he got to the big doors and disappeared.

The doors slammed.

I don't even know how long I stayed there. Everything got blurry. I think I passed out for a minute cuz next thing I know I’m outside on my side and my mom is finally next to me crying and tryna hold me up but I’m too heavy with all the blood. Everybody else was already leaving, chatting and laughing like they just watched a funny movie.

I somehow crawled out the side door. My nails were broken, my knees were messed up, the dress was basically red now. Outside was cold and I threw up right on the steps, roses and champagne and blood all mixed.

His bike was gone. Just tire marks.

He promised he wouldn't do this to me. Today was supposed to be the happiest day of our lives, but it became a nightmare.

I sat in the dirt hugging myself, blood still dripping, and looked at the moon and said the only thing I could think of.

“I’ll never let you find me again.”

Then everything went black.