Giana's face crumpled on cue, tears welling in her eyes. "I knew it was a mistake to ask for help," she said, her voice quivering perfectly. "I should just go. I don't want to cause problems between you and Aurora."She started to turn away, a calculated move that worked exactly as intended. Raymond
The Alpha mansion buzzed with whispers as Giana settled into the Omega quarters. I'd barely been back from the hospital for two days, but the staff's loyalty was clear in every subtle gesture—the way they conveniently "forgot" to deliver Giana's meals on time, or how the housekeeper accidentally "mi
"Friend," Raymond cut in sharply. "You're my friend, Giana, and I won't have you mistreated." He turned to his father. "She's under my protection. That should be enough."Alpha Marcus looked between Giana's tearful face and Raymond's defiant expression, then to me. I kept my expression neutral, thou
I opened my mouth to correct the boutique owner, but Kane stepped forward before I could speak. His eyes never left mine as he moved closer."Beautiful doesn't begin to cover it," he said, his voice a low rumble that sent an unexpected shiver down my spine.The shop owner clasped her hands in deligh
***Alpha Marcus's announcement at dinner a week later caught me completely off guard."We're hosting a celebration for Aurora's birthday," he declared, smiling warmly at me. "The entire pack will attend."My birthday had never been a major event. I looked to Raymond, who seemed as surprised as I wa
I switched off my phone, unable to stare at Giana's post any longer. The restaurant felt suffocating with its romantic music and sympathetic glances from staff who realized I'd been abandoned.Without thinking, I walked into a nearby bar with dim lighting and overpriced cocktails. I needed something
The Alpha's rage was a physical presence in the room, a suffocating pressure that made the air itself feel heavy. Luna Elena hovered anxiously at his side, her fingers brushing his arm in a futile attempt to calm him."How dare you?" Alpha Marcus snarled, stalking toward Raymond. "In my own home? Th
"A victim?" My father's laugh was bitter. "She's weak. Incompetent. She couldn't even keep her fiancé away from a worthless rogue."Alpha Marcus shook his head. "This isn't Aurora's fault, Beta James. Raymond's stubbornness is his own.""And yet the wedding must still go forward," my father pressed.
"So was your absence," I countered.Our movements were mechanical, lacking any hint of the connection that should exist between mates. I noticed several allied Alphas watching us, their expressions speculative."This isn't working," Raymond muttered."A stunning observation," I replied, unable to ke
The final hours of the Gala passed in a blur of diplomatic conversations and carefully maintained smiles. I moved through the crowd with practiced grace, ignoring the whispers that followed in my wake. If anyone noticed the brittleness of my composure, they were kind enough not to mention it."Luna
Raymond's grip on my wrist tightened as he pulled me into a secluded alcove near the back of the hall. Flickering candlelight cast harsh shadows across his face, accentuating the fury in his eyes."What the hell do you think you're doing?" he demanded, finally releasing me.I rubbed my wrist, certai
The traditional mating dance drew to a close, the final notes of primal rhythm fading as the orchestra transitioned to slower, more elegant melodies. Around me, couples began to pair up for the formal dance—the one where, according to centuries of tradition, the Alpha and Luna would lead the pack in
I rubbed my arm where his fingers had dug in. "I was networking with allied Alphas, as is my duty.""Networking?" Raymond scoffed. "You were flirting, encouraging their advances.""I was doing no such thing," I said, indignation rising. "They were being inappropriate, and I was attempting to extrica
The Great Hall had been transformed beyond recognition. Cascading lights resembling stars hung from the vaulted ceiling, while strategically placed living trees created the illusion of an enchanted forest. The soft amber glow from hundreds of floating lanterns cast everyone in their most flattering
Surprise flickered across Kane's face before he controlled it. "You were spying on us?""I was passing by," I said, the half-truth coming easily. "But her questions seemed oddly specific."Kane's expression grew thoughtful. "Yes, they did. Almost as if she had prior knowledge of Council politics.""
I worked through the night, completely redesigning the Gala entrance and arrival sequence to accommodate Kane's last-minute security demands. By dawn, my eyes burned from exhaustion, but the revised plans were complete.A small, defiant part of me took satisfaction in the work's perfection. If Giana
The following morning, Kane was nowhere to be found at our scheduled security briefing. His second-in-command delivered the update instead, informing me that Kane had reassigned himself to border patrol duty—effectively removing himself from all Gala preparations.Two days passed in similar fashion.