Chapter 3

I ran toward the Bonding Ceremony, so furious I forgot to put on shoes.

When I shoved open the Ceremonial Hall doors, Damon was about to bite the Mate Mark onto Serena's neck.

He saw me, paused for a second, then walked over quickly, crouched down, and slipped shoes onto my feet.

"Ivy, how many times have I told you — your body's weak, you can't walk around barefoot."

His voice even carried a thread of real anger.

My tears came harder.

The crowd whispered, trying to guess who I was.

Damon turned around and told them without missing a beat:

"This is the Ceremony Attendant. She was held up on the way..."

"No."

I pushed past Damon, walked to the front, and showed my Mate Mark, showing it word by word:

"I am Damon Thorne's bonded mate."

The hall erupted.

Damon's face darkened.

I kept going:

"Damon Thorne already marked me. Our bond is sealed. And now he's holding a Bonding Ceremony with another woman. He's violating Mate Bond law."

I screamed with everything I had, my voice shaking.

"So the one up there is the mistress — shameless!"

"Look at her belly, it's already showing. She's trying to replace the Luna with a pup..."

The crowd's accusations rained down. Serena covered her face and buried herself in Damon's arms, crying uncontrollably.

Damon shielded her behind him. The only thing left in his eyes when he looked at me was resentment.

He grabbed my hand.

"Ivy, stop this."

"Serena's proud. She can't take this kind of humiliation. Go back first. I'll explain later."

I pulled my hand free and stepped back.

Damon's face went completely dark.

He waved his hand. His Beta handed over a new document.

He projected it on the screen right there — a forged Mate Bond Severance Record, with his name and Serena's.

"Everyone, look carefully. This is the real bond record."

He pointed at me.

"This woman is my ex-girlfriend. She has psychological problems. She's been stalking me since we broke up."

Someone stepped forward to testify.

It was my son.

He held Serena's hand.

"I can prove she's my real mom. That crazy woman — I don't even know her."

Before I could react, someone threw wine in my face.

"She's insane. And we felt bad for her — even doubted Serena. Disgusting."

"Where's security? Get this crazy woman out of here!"

The Pack Warriors pinned me to the ground.

I stared up at Damon.

In my disbelieving gaze, he leaned down, his voice cold as ice:

"Ivy, don't blame me. You forced my hand."

Asher stood nearby, his face blank.

"Dad is happy with Aunt Serena. That's how it should be."

"I like Aunt Serena as my mom way better. She's self-made, gracious, classy — so much better than you, a woman who fights the servants for chores to do."

Every drop of blood in my body froze. My heart felt like it was being crushed under a stone. I couldn't breathe.

In my son's eyes, I was worse than a servant.

The Alpha Council enforcers arrived then.

Damon showed them the severance document and said a few words.

I was dragged to the Pack Containment Chamber.

The second the heavy door closed, I saw Damon and Asher flanking Serena, one on each side, walking her back up to the altar.

I tried to explain to the Healers. I begged them to check.

No one listened. They strapped me down and locked Silver Chains across my body. The silver burned into my skin on contact.

My whole body convulsed. I lost control of everything, until I couldn't move at all.

As consciousness faded, I saw young Damon running toward me.