Chapter 1

I stood in the center of the altar, staring at the wolf-shaped patterns on my wedding gown that seemed to be mocking my current predicament.

The skin on the back of my neck, soon to be permanently marked by my Alpha, was completely exposed to the air. I could feel it getting warm under the moonlight.

"The time has come," the Elder officiating the marking ceremony said, his voice aged but steady. However, it sounded extremely piercing to my ears.

"Ms. Grace Bennett, shall we continue waiting instead?"

I looked up toward the far end of the altar, where my Alpha, Alonso Austin, should be standing, but it was empty instead.

A murmur began to rise amongst the guests at the ceremony, and despite their attempts to keep their voices down, I could still clearly hear everything they said.

"As expected, Alonso never came after all."

"She's just an Omega who can't even transform. She doesn't deserve Alonso!"

"Alonso should never have agreed to mark this she-wolf!"

"Luckily, he managed to come to his senses before it was too late."

The air was thick with contempt and mockery. Meanwhile, I tightened my grip on my flower bouquet.

"Ms. Bennett," a young guard said, suddenly rushing up to me at the altar and whispering into my ear. "Ms. Griffin is suddenly suffering from abdominal pain, and the healers said that she might suffer from a miscarriage.

"Alpha Alonso is now with her."

The guard's voice was trembling as he spoke.

I just lifted my gaze to the statue of the Moon Goddess at the edge of the altar. Then, I said calmly, "Tell Alpha that if he doesn't show himself, the ceremony will be cancelled automatically."

The guard's face turned pale, and he bowed in acknowledgment before retreating.

Soon, footsteps were heard at the entrance to the altar.

It was Alonso.

His steps were steady as he strode into the altar with his tall, straight stature. His facial features were still as prominent as ever, and his eyes were bright and piercing under the moonlight. Everything about him was just as I remembered it to be.

But tonight, I could sense that something had changed in his eyes.

Alonso approached the altar and got up, holding my hand with trembling fingers.

"Let's begin," he told the officiating Elder.

"By witness of the Moon Goddess, and by your souls as your oaths, tonight, two wolves shall be bound together for the rest of eternity, inseparable even in life and death…"

I listened to the Elder drone on with his prayer of blessings and looked at Alonso.

"Are you truly ready?"

Alonso gulped. "Grace, this is not the time—"

I interrupted him softly and spoke in a voice that only both of us could hear.

"Once the marking ceremony starts, it cannot be stopped halfway. That is the rule of the ritual, and you know it."

Alonso's eyes turned sharp.

I knew that he was hesitating. He was still worried about Hailey Griffin.

Hailey was a she-wolf whom I'd once saved. But she ultimately ended up seducing my Alpha and becoming my Alpha's beloved instead.

He was worried about her and the pup of his that she was carrying. However, he also couldn't blatantly just leave me at the altar with a clear conscience. That was why he felt anxious and torn between Hailey and me.

When the officiating Elder read the third paragraph of blessings, Alonso suddenly let go of my hand.

"I'm sorry," he said, his voice terrifyingly hoarse. He didn't even dare to look me in the eyes as he said, "Hailey… She's bleeding. She said that she would jump off the cliff if I didn't go to her now."

The moonlight was cold on my skin, and I could hear my heart slightly pulsing in pain.

We had known each other for ten years. He had promised me time and time again that he would take me as his mate. However, in the end, I still lost to another she-wolf's fake tears.

"So, you choose her instead," I said.

It wasn't a question. It was a statement.

Alonso finally looked at me. "Hailey is carrying my pup, Grace. I can't—"

"What about our pup?" I asked, interrupting him with a calm voice despite the tears falling down my face.

"I was stabbed in the stomach by a silver dagger back when I saved your life. I lost the ability to transform and the unborn, unformed pup in my belly.

"You're telling me that Hailey's pup is of your flesh and blood, but what about mine?"