Chapter 1

Instead of my family’s private jet to the warrior camp, I chose a packed train—all for my mate, Alpha Kael.

He claimed he wanted a romantic journey and a taste of a normal life. Just for one day.

But when the train stopped, I severed our mate bond.

He gasped, clutching his chest, his eyes wide with disbelief.

“Elena… you’re doing this just because I gave Seraphina our private cabin?”

“Yes.”

He gave a bitter laugh, looking at me like I was a spoiled princess.

“Baby, don’t be ridiculous. You know it's dangerous for an Omega to be alone. Especially when she's surrounded by so many predatory males.”

“Name your price. My kills at camp? I’ll tell everyone I’m yours. Or… should I just mark you again?”

Before I could answer, the Omega he was “protecting” whimpered his name.

"I feel their eyes on me," Seraphina whimpered. "I'm scared."

Instantly, he wrapped his arms around her, a human shield.

He stalked possessively off the train with her in his arms.

He never even gave me a second glance.

Kael had no idea who he was protecting. The Omega he pitied was no victim. Seraphina belonged to a trafficking ring that preyed on lone she-wolves.

It wasn’t until he found me kidnapped and broken that he collapsed, begging for a forgiveness that was long gone.

But I had already sent a mind-link to the only man who could destroy him.

My father.

The Lycan Chairman.

The one man with the power to make or break any Alpha.

“Cut off Kael's resources. All of them. Now.”

...

The warrior training camp was days away, and my father's voice was still ringing in my head from our last mind-link.

"Are you absolutely sure about this, Elena?" he'd pressed, his tone laced with disapproval. "Our private jet could have you there in a few hours, rested and ready. A public train will be exhausting. You won’t be in peak condition when you arrive."

"It's romantic," I'd insisted, my heart fluttering.

It was Kael's idea.

He’d painted a beautiful picture: just the two of us, journeying through human lands before the chaos of camp began.

Following his lead, my excitement had been a fever pitch.

I’d spent days planning every perfect detail.

His favorite small-batch bourbon, a box of rare, hand-rolled cigars... I’d even procured a flawless moonstone, its cool light rumored to soothe the beast that paces within every Alpha.

Everything was perfect.

But on the morning we were set to leave, a clipped call had him moving so fast he was a blur.

"Elena, my love," his voice was a low, urgent rumble through our link. "I'm so sorry. A pack emergency. I might be a little late."

Ice shot through my veins.

"What is it? Do you need me to—"

"It's nothing for you to worry that pretty little head over. I'll be there before you know it."

He cut the link, and just like that, he was gone.

Clutching the cool moonstone in my palm, I went to the station alone.

I tried to swallow the unease coiling in my gut like a cold snake.

Kael wasn't reckless.

Whatever this was, it had to be serious.

I trusted him.

But as I stood alone on that platform, one hour bleeding into two, that trust began to curdle into a cold knot of dread in my gut.

Then, finally, he appeared.

He wasn't alone.

Clinging to his arm was a woman so fragile she looked like a strong wind might snap her in two.

Their heads were bent so close, their whispers were a shared secret.

A doe-eyed Omega.

In that single, shattering moment, the romance died.

When she spotted me, the Omega—Seraphina—flushed and snatched her hand away. "Oh, Elena! Please don't misunderstand. Kael was just shielding me. For an Omega like me, traveling alone presents so many potential dangers… It's just overwhelming."

My heart hammered against my ribs like a trapped bird.

My voice was tight, dangerously low. "You didn't mention a plus-one, Kael."

"It wasn't planned. You understand, don't you, my love?"

He looked at me, his eyes pleading, but there was an unmistakable expectation there, too.

A demand for my compliance. "You're an Alpha's daughter. You were born strong. She... wasn't."

Seraphina immediately dipped her head, the picture of shy submission.

Kael reached for the nape of my neck, a familiar, possessive gesture.

My eyes burned. I flinched back from his touch. "So this was your 'emergency'? Picking her up?"

"Look at my little moon goddess, getting all territorial." He chuckled, a low, patronizing sound. He ruffled my hair, a gesture that was supposed to be affectionate but felt like he was patting a dog.

"Seraphina had too much luggage and was terrified to walk past the crowds of strong, unfamiliar men. You grew up surrounded by an honor guard, Elena. You can't possibly understand what life is like for an ordinary wolf."

He leaned in, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Besides, won't the journey be more fun with a friend? Come on, Elena. Stop being a princess."

Seraphina bowed her head again, her voice a timid whisper. "Elena, I'm so sorry to be a burden! Please, anything you need on the trip, just ask. I'll do anything to make it up to you, I promise!"

But a moment later, at the ticket gate, the same girl who’d promised to do "anything" was suddenly too frail to lift her own suitcase.

"Oh!" Seraphina cried out, stumbling dramatically and releasing a faint, cloying scent of distress.

He dropped my hand like it was a hot coal.

"Elena, she's not like you. She's a delicate Omega. I'm going to help her," he said, and it wasn't a question. "I know you'll understand."

He gave my hair an absent-minded kiss on the forehead and then, with painstaking care, escorted Seraphina through the gate.

He never once looked back.

I knew that helping the weak was the right thing to do, but watching his retreating back.

A profound discomfort settled in my gut, churning like a stormy sea.

Then, clenching my jaw, I heaved my own damn suitcases and forced my way through the throng.

By the time I finally wrestled my bags to our private cabin, I was drenched in sweat, my custom-made combat boots scuffed and stamped with the grime of a dozen strangers' footprints.

The cabin was empty.

No Kael. No Seraphina.

I reached for Kael through our mind link. Silence.

I sent a message. No reply.

The train was already lurching into motion when I found them. Not in person, but on Seraphina's newly updated Pack Net feed.

She was snuggled into Kael's side, her head tilted against his shoulder, both of them flashing peace signs at the camera like a pair of teenagers.

The caption read: A true Alpha makes you feel safe. My hero. So blessed to have him by my side on this scary journey.

And there, twisting the knife already buried in my gut, was Kael's own comment: "You have the heart of a warrior, Seraphina. Hands down, the strongest Omega I know."

The uncomfortable feeling in my stomach intensified, my heart clenching into a tight, painful knot.

I wiped my palms and, with shaking fingers, typed my own seemingly rational and considerate comment: Yes, it's so good to have him by your side.

It was painfully clear.

It was as if they were the couple on a planned romantic getaway.

And I was the unexpected, unwelcome third wheel.