Chapter 1

"Selena says her wolf's been weak since the injury. She claims she's not fit to be Beta anymore and she's threatening to leave."

Gabriel leaned down and adjusted my shawl.

His touch was gentle, as gentle as the words still echoing in my ear.

"She's the best Beta I've ever had. That's why I gave her the temporary mark. To stabilize her wolf."

Then he took my hand.

"It was for the pack. Nothing else. Don't read into it."

The warmth of his fingertips crept up my palm, and my eyes stung.

When he first realized I was his fated mate, he'd held my hand just like this.

His wolf ears had twitched with pure joy, and I'd kept my hand over my mouth, giggling.

We were glued to each other every day growing up. The adults all called me his little shadow.

I'm a white wolf, and there was only one way Gabriel could make me his mate.

He had to drag the moon boat I lay in across the Moon River with his own hands.

Three days ago was the crossing ceremony.

I lay in the moon boat, gazing up at Gabriel standing at the bow.

His hands gripped the rope, and he turned to look at me, soft and warm.

"Once we reach the other shore, you'll officially be my mate."

I nodded, cheeks burning.

Then his phone rang.

"Selena? What? You're leaving now?"

He gripped the phone, voice sharp with panic. "Stay put. Do not cross the border alone. I'm coming."

He hung up and looked at me. "Yvette, we're pausing the ceremony. I have to go get Selena."

The High Elder blocked him with his staff.

"Alpha, the ceremony cannot be interrupted. I can buy you three days at most. After that, the white wolf must go to the Frozen Peaks."

He stepped around the staff and pressed a kiss to my forehead. "Wait for me."

I clutched his sleeve. "Can't you send Gamma to get her?"

Gabriel frowned slightly and pried my fingers off one by one.

"Be good. I can't be worrying about both of you."

Then he pulled away and walked off fast.

Every wolf on the riverbank was watching me.

Countless silent, pitying stares pressed down until I couldn't breathe.

The ceremony wasn't finished. I couldn't leave.

I sat frozen in the moon boat, staring at my reflection in the water.

Under the moonlight, it looked like a wound. The river was its endless blood.

I waited three whole days.

This morning, Gabriel finally made it back.

Selena followed behind him, draped in his jacket.

The Elder's staff slammed against the ground. "Three days have passed! This crossing ceremony is void!"

"Oh, what a shame. I'm so sorry, Yvette. We tried our best to get here!" Selena looked at me with fake sympathy. "The temporary mark took quite a while."

She lifted a hand to fix her hair, exposing the fresh mark on her neck.

My wolf howled in my chest.

Unreserved trust, repaid with a betrayal that cut to the bone.

"Yvette! Yvette! Did you hear me?"

Gabriel's voice cut through my thoughts.

He was looking down at me. "It's just a temporary mark. We can redo the crossing ceremony later, alright?"

I looked into his eyes and nodded without expression.

Gabriel let out a breath and ruffled my hair. "I knew you'd understand."

I pressed my lips together.

He didn't know. Just now.

I'd already decided to go to the Frozen Peaks and bond with the Alpha King.