Begged to Mark Me? It's too Late!

Andrew's twenty-eighth birthday party.I wore my finest couture gown and walked in on his arm.

The moment we stepped into the ballroom,he let go of my hand and left me standing there alone.

Every wolf in the room had their eyes on him.

I was forgotten in the corner.

A warrior named Garrett presented Andrew with a gift.He barely glanced at it and waved for someone to put it away.

Then another wolf brought in a young she-wolf,and suddenly every pair of eyes swung back to me.

Pity.Amusement.Mockery.

I'd seen those looks too many times over the years to be surprised.

For just a second,something flickered across Andrew's otherwise blank expression.The she-wolf looked exactly like his dead first love—a wolf named Rachel.

"Gifting me a she-wolf in front of my Luna?You've got some nerve."Andrew's smile was sharp,mocking.

The wolf who'd brought her simpered."Luna is generous.Surely she won't mind."

It wasn't that I didn't mind.They'd simply bet—correctly—that I wouldn't dare make a scene.

A rogue wolf the Aldric family had given shelter to—who was I to say no to the Alpha of the North?

Andrew twisted the ring on his finger,amusement spilling from his eyes."Well,since Luna has no objections,take her—"

Before he could finish,I was already at his side.

I looked at the she-wolf's face.Whoever sent her had thought of everything.She was handpicked to match Andrew's taste.

But I was done pretending.

I gave the champagne tower behind me the lightest push.

Crystal glasses came crashing down in a glittering avalanche.Champagne and shattered glass flew everywhere.The party erupted into chaos.

Someone gasped."Luna's lost her mind!"

I'd ruined Andrew's birthday.

He didn't seem particularly bothered.His Beta was already ushering guests out,and servants were sweeping up the mess.

The she-wolf stayed.She stood quietly at Andrew's side.

I studied her more closely and realized with a jolt that even her temperament seemed to mirror Rachel's.

Side by side,I was the one who looked unhinged.

Andrew played with the she-wolf's fingers,looking at me with that infuriating nonchalance.

"Daisy,why so upset?"

"If you don't want to see her,I'll have her stay somewhere else."

"Relax.I swore to my father I'd never take your position as Luna."

The she-wolf chimed in too.

"Luna,why be angry?An Alpha like Andrew—did you really think he'd have only one she-wolf?"

"I only admire the Alpha.I won't threaten your position."

I pulled the ring off my finger.

Set it on the table in front of Andrew.

He raised an eyebrow.

"Take it back."

Andrew picked up the ring and tossed it into the air.It caught the light,spinning,then fell back into his palm.He flicked it over his shoulder to the she-wolf."It's yours.Daisy says she doesn't want it,so she doesn't want it."

He stood,let out a cold laugh,and turned to his men.

"Get Daisy some tutors to teach her proper manners.I don't want another scene like this."

He started walking away,then stopped.He pulled the ring off his own hand and dropped it on the floor.

It rolled in a small circle and came to rest at my feet.

"Since you're throwing things away—might as well toss them all."