Two

Marissa

The bond struck me over and over, like a cruel jest—flirting with me, only to vanish the moment I reached for it.

I kept asking myself why.

Why did all the bad things keep happening to me? And when was I going to catch a break?

Was I cursed?

Was this the grand ending I had waited years for? A mate who looked through me like I was invisible?

Would I remain caged forever under my father’s rule?

I knew I was beautiful. Too beautiful for this. Even my cruel father flaunted me when it suited him.

My mother, rest her soul, called me her moon-blessed princess. She believed someone worthy would love and respect me—

not like her own joke of a marriage, where her husband cheated while she was dying. His lover, Lilith, moved in two weeks after her funeral.

I blinked back tears and stared up at the ceiling, wondering if she could see me.

Was this the miracle she promised?

Justin acted like I didn’t exist. As if that wasn’t cruel enough, our world demanded silence from females.

The male had to speak first.

Always.

Only a foolish female dared speak of the bond first. That was how you earned humiliation.

My father would call me cursed. The pack wouldn’t argue. They’d look at me the same way they did after my last heartbreak.

Fake sympathy and mockery.

Justin held Wendy’s hand. His perfect fiancée.

I stood there looking like a joke.

Part of me wanted to disappear. Let the bond choke him the way it choked me. Let him search and never find me.

But I couldn’t leave. Not yet. I had to be sure.

The celebration dragged on. It was the annual festival in honor of the goddess, a time when werewolves and Lycans came together to pretend unity while eating and drinking together.

I hadn’t attended in years, mostly because I couldn’t stand the hypocrisy.

For this year’s celebration, my dad—always desperate to show off—decided he had to be the one to host it. Just to feed his ego.

Even though our pack was running out of money thanks to his bad choices and greed, he still threw a celebration. It screamed desperation to gain the Lycans’ approval.

I stayed in the shadows, watching Justin. Not once did he glance my way.

I calculated when I’d get a moment alone with him. If he planned to reject me, he should at least do it to my face.

My chance came when he stepped out of the hall, phone in hand.

Alone.

I followed quietly. He walked into the garden, past the stone archway, stopping at the edge.

I waited a full minute before approaching.

He didn’t turn.

Even though I could catch Justin's scent from afar—and I knew he could catch mine—he didn’t turn.

Maybe the bond was one-sided?

I remembered from werewolf history that one-sided bonds existed. If that was the case, rejection was almost certain.

My stomach twisted. Could that be it?

I refused to believe that. He felt something. Maybe I just didn’t fit the perfect, polished world he came from.

He was probably ashamed of being tied to a mere wolf.

I needed answers.

And I was going crazy not knowing.

“Justin,” I said softly.

He turned, a frown on his face, but it slowly eased into a teasing smirk.

“Well, look who it is. Miss trip-and-fall.”

My stomach twisted. I hated how trivial he was making this, but I held his gaze.

He must have noticed the joke fell flat and let out a low chuckle.

“You okay now? Or are you planning to fall into my arms again?”

I swallowed hard. “I just wanted to talk.”

He took a drag from whatever he was smoking. It didn’t smell like a normal cigarette. Something stronger.

“Talk? Or flirt?”

“What is wrong with you?” I cried out, tired of being tossed around like I didn't matter. “Are you high on whatever it is you're smoking?”

He looked stunned, and I realized that maybe he was just trying to frustrate me.

If my life had been good, if I had a solid support system that treated me with the same care, I might’ve ignored him until he crawled on his knees.

But I was barely holding on. I didn’t want to stay here. I needed my account unfrozen.

I needed my mate to save me.

He took another drag from his cigarette.

“Why are you running after me like I’m your rescue fantasy?”

My heart skipped. Was he seriously mocking me, or should I start worrying?

Even now, even alone, he didn’t mention the bond. Nothing.

I stepped into his space. I was 5’7”, but I felt small standing before him.

“Look at me,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “Look at me and tell me you don’t feel anything.”

His eyes moved over me lazily, like he was assessing a stranger.

“How bold,” he drawled.

My breath caught when he placed a hand on my back. The bond surged, curling around my skin.

“Some desperate she-wolf trying to snag the next Lycan King?”

I flinched.

It was hard to keep my face straight because my insides were crumbling. I was so close to breaking down.

His voice softened, startling me. “You’re gorgeous. I’m not blind.”

Then his voice dropped lower. “I must confess, I’m pleasantly surprised werewolves can be this… curvy.”

My heart skipped.

His hand on my back pulled me a little closer.

His scent swirled around me. The pull of the bond was suffocating.

My breath hitched.

“Perhaps a night with a werewolf wouldn’t be such a bad idea. Just tonight. No expectations. After that, we pretend this never happened.”

My body went cold.

“What?” I whispered.

“We’re staying at the Alpha’s hotel,” he added like it was casual. “Come by at 8 PM if you’re game.”

“Just a night?” I said sharply.

He laughed.

“That's all I've got to give.”

I wanted to scream at the goddess. At fate. At the cruelty of this moment.

“Do you love your fiancée?”

Every trace of smugness vanished from his eyes, replaced by irritation.

“And what does that have to do with you throwing yourself at me?”

My throat felt dry.

It looked like I had officially made him angry.

“Come to the Alpha Hotel after the party. I’ll give you what you want, so you can leave me alone.”

He turned and walked away, leaving me in the dark, trying not to fall apart.

I stood there, stunned, unable to move.

Why would my mate treat me like this?

Why would the goddess give me a bond that felt like a punishment?

And worst of all… why was a part of me still tempted to go?