Chapter 1

Lacey and I had our mating ceremonies on the same day.

Unlike last time, I was the one sent to Caleb’s suite. He looked at me, his voice like ice.

"Tessa, you’re the one who forced your way into the Hale family, not me. Let’s get one thing straight: I love Sophia. If you want this life, you’ll spend it in an empty bed. Don’t expect a Luna’s mark from me."

I nodded calmly. "Fine."

Caleb looked like he’d swung a punch and hit nothing but air.

In our last life, Lacey had screamed and thrown a fit at those words. Caleb, wanting to humiliate her, had bolted to Sophia and stayed away for days.

I decided to lay my cards on the table. "Caleb, keep seeing Sophia. I’ll even cover for you. But on one condition: you respect me in front of the pack."

He studied me for a long beat. "You’re actually okay with that? Fine. Deal."

"Good," I added. "Just keep your girl on a leash. Don't let her come crying to me."

Caleb scoffed. "As long as you don't start drama, she wouldn't waste her time on you."

Right then, his phone blew up. It was Sophia, hysterical.

"Caleb! Are you with that bitch? I’m going to end it right now!"

Caleb panicked. "Sophia, it’s just a ceremony! You’re the only one I want, I swear!"

Sophia’s voice turned venomous. "Put it on speaker! I want to talk to that slut!"

Caleb hesitated, but Sophia threatened to leave the territory and disappear forever. He clicked the speaker.

Her scream nearly pierced my eardrum. "Tessa! Listen up! Even with a bond, you’re the third wheel! Don’t think you’ll ever have Caleb’s heart or his bed, you hear me?"

I glanced at Caleb. So much for her "not wasting her time."

Caleb pressed his hands together, silently begging me to help.

I cleared my throat. "Miss Sophia, relax. I have zero interest in an Alpha like Caleb. He might be a Hale heir, but instead of leading the pack, he spends his time partying and wasting money on race cars. Honestly, besides his face, I don't see the appeal."

Sophia went silent, then huffed. "Ugh! Don't talk about him like that!"

She hung up, the tantrum deflated. I handed the phone back. "How was that for a performance?"

Caleb glared at me, speechless with rage, before turning for the door. "I'm sleeping in the guest room."

"Don't forget the family breakfast at the Pack House tomorrow," I called out. He started to protest, but I cut him off. "You'll want to be there. By now, Lacey has probably spent the entire night suffering at Damon’s hands."

He spun around. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"