Chapter 3

Xavier hadn't expected that. Something uncomfortable flickered across his face.

He recovered fast. Walked over to me.

"Finally. You're being reasonable. Don't worry—I'll buy you a new one when we get home."

He reached out to pull me against him by the waist. I twisted away.

My face stayed blank. "No need. Don't bother."

His hand hung in the air, caught. His brow furrowed.

"There you go again, sulking. It's a necklace. When are you going to be half as gracious as Yvette?"

I didn't argue. But the words stung all the same.

I'd told myself I'd stop caring. But Xavier had been the man I'd loved for eight years. You don't erase that overnight.

He slipped his arm around Yvette's slim waist. They were looking at each other with so much sugar it made my teeth ache.

"Right—there's one more thing I came to do. Yvette's been in poor health all her life. I'm asking the Moon Goddess for a protective charm for her. Something to keep her healthy."

My chest caved in.

I had one of those charms too.

Years ago, I'd been seriously ill. Couldn't get out of bed. Xavier had sat at my bedside day and night. He'd lost so much weight I barely recognized him.

He took care of me like it was the only thing that mattered. Dragged me to every healer he could find. Tried everything.

Nothing worked. And as I got worse, he went to the witch.

She told him to kneel at the Moon Goddess's altar and beg for a charm. That if he could get one, it would save me.

He knelt there for three days and three nights. Prayed until he nearly collapsed.

In the end, the Moon Goddess was moved. She gave him the charm.

He'd told me then he'd give his life for me.

I believed him.

I believed he'd give me everything.

And now the thing that had once been mine alone, he was trying to get again—for another she-wolf.

Back then, was I his fated mate? Or just a ladder to power?

I forced the ache down.

"If there's nothing else, I'm leaving."

I turned fast, before he could see my eyes.

Xavier didn't come home that night.

I sat alone in the empty living room, phone in my hand, scrolling Yvette's Twitter.

She'd posted a photo. The two of them at a candlelit dinner, Xavier gazing at her across the table like she hung the moon, a small jewelry box in his hand. A gift for her, presumably.

The caption: [Even when the world makes me feel like nothing, someone still loves me like this.]

Xavier had commented under it: [You're not "nothing"—you deserve to be loved by the whole world.]

And beneath that, the internet piled in.

[Oh my god, Cinderella-and-the-prince-level romance. Too sweet.]

[Yvette is such a strong, resilient girl—no wonder he fell for her.]

[Stay together forever, you two!]

Comment after comment wishing the happy couple a long future together. Xavier hadn't said a word to correct any of it. He seemed to be enjoying the fact that strangers were treating him like Yvette's mate.

The mating ceremony crept closer day by day. Xavier didn't come back.

Yvette, meanwhile, posted more and more.

Over those few days, they hit every beauty spot in the territory. Like a couple on their honeymoon.