Chapter 2

The laughter grew louder. Firelight danced across those faces, every single one painted with mockery.

Damon looked around theatrically, spreading his arms wide.

"Go on then—where's this mate of yours? I don't see anyone. Did you make him up?"

Elias was probably in a meeting with the other pack leaders right now. I couldn't be bothered to waste my breath on these people.

They weren't worth it.

I turned to leave. But just then—

A low voice came from behind the crowd.

"Damon."

The crowd parted on its own, and Jaxon stepped through, stopping three paces in front of me.

Three years had changed him. The boyishness was gone from his features, replaced by something unreadable and cold.

His eyes swept over me—from my plain dress to my unremarkable boots—before settling on my bare neck.

A thin, mocking smile curved his lips. His voice dripped with contempt.

"Alice. Three years, and this is what you've become?"

I looked at him. Said nothing.

"If you'd been smart enough to disappear quietly back then, you wouldn't have ended up like this."

He took a step forward, looking down at me.

"Three years eating raw meat in the wild—can't even afford a decent dress anymore?"

Low chuckles rippled through the crowd.

Tina's voice floated over from behind, sweet and laced with amusement.

"Alpha, don't be so harsh. Alice is an old acquaintance, after all."

She clicked over in her heels and looped her arm through Jaxon's.

Tina cocked her head and looked at me, triumph gleaming in her eyes.

"Alice, we've all been so worried about you. Dressed like that—are you really struggling that much?"

I stared at her coldly.

"Save your concern."

Tina blinked, then covered her mouth with a laugh.

"Still that temper. Alpha, you see? Same as always—stubborn and clueless."

Jaxon said nothing. He just watched me, something amused flickering in his gaze.

Damon sidled up, sneering at me.

"Luna, don't bother with her. She's just here to cause trouble. Says she's picking up a mate—a rogue like her? She probably hallucinated one after starving in the wild for too long."

Someone else chimed in.

"Look at her. She probably can't even shift properly on a full moon."

"A rogue with no pack protection? She's probably lost control of her shifting entirely."

The laughter cut sharper.

I kept my eyes down, not willing to waste another word.

Nobody in the North Mountain Pack knew who Elias really was.

He'd taken the title of Alpha King three years ago—I'd only seen his photo in the internal news. The youngest leader in all the packs, and he rarely attended local gatherings like this.

If I told them I was his mate, they wouldn't believe me anyway.

"I don't have time for this game. Move."

But Jaxon suddenly spoke, his voice carrying a trace of condescension.

"Alice, if things are really that bad... you could come back."