Chapter 3

I dialed the number of the ceremony planner, Jaxon Blackwood.

"Hello, this is Chloe. Since there's been a last-minute change regarding Alpha Harrison's mate for today's mating ceremony, I refuse to pay the remaining balance for the event."

There was a silence on the other end for several seconds before Jaxon asked, sounding puzzled, "But Ms. Redclaw, could you be mistaken? Alpha Harrison has already settled the remaining balance of 300 thousand dollars using your joint account at 8:00 pm last night."

300 thousand dollars?

Blood rushed to my head in that instant. I stared at Harrison in disbelief.

With trembling fingers, I checked my account balance and saw that I only had three cents remaining. My vision went dark, and I nearly toppled off the platform.

That 300 thousand dollars was money I had earned myself, saved through my own hard labor, selling medicinal herbs to treat the sick and injured all day and night. I had planned to use it to open my own little herbal shop in the pack once the mating ceremony was over.

But now, it was all gone.

Seeing the look of despair on my face, a flicker of panic crossed Harrison's eyes. He instinctively reached out to steady me, but upon catching my look of repulsion, his expression hardened back into one of self-righteousness.

"The money's already been spent. It can't be refunded."

I was so furious I wanted to slap him, but he caught my wrist in midair, gripping it tightly.

"Who gave you permission to spend my money?" I demanded.

Harrison's gaze turned critical, and he said, with an air of smug certainty, "Weren't those savings meant for this mating ceremony anyway? I just paid it in advance to put your mind at ease."

Selena touched the Moon Crown on her head, her expression growing even more triumphant. "Oh, come on, Chloe. Don't be so petty. Since you've decided to forgo the ceremony, why are you still hung up on the money? Making such a scene over 300 thousand dollars? Don't you think you're just embarrassing yourself?"

My heart went completely numb at her words.

In their eyes, it was as if I had no right to even ask a question about my own money when it had been drained without my knowledge.

Harrison wanted me to prove that I could love him with unconditional acceptance, but I no longer had the strength to sustain such a nauseating relationship.

I forced my tears back, turned, and walked off the stage.

As soon as I reached the floor, my brother, Cedric Redclaw, pushed through the crowd and caught me as I swayed and nearly collapsed.

"Chloe, did you seriously leave the Silvermoon pack to mate with this wolf?"

Cedric looked at me, his eyes filled with deep, aching concern. Then, shifting his gaze toward Harrison on the stage, that concern hardened into intense, burning hatred.

I bit my lip as Cedric held me firmly and securely in his arms. A tidal wave of guilt and grievance threatened to overwhelm me at that very moment.

Cedric and I grew up relying solely on each other. He was the only family I had left in this world.

Five years ago, I stumbled upon a severely wounded Harrison near the border. When I discovered that he was my fated mate, I ignored Cedric's objections and resolutely moved to the Shadowline pack to be with Harrison.

Today, Cedric had even dug out his finest suit and driven for over a dozen hours, covering hundreds of miles, just to attend our mating ceremony to show his support for me. I had hoped he would witness my happiness, but instead, he ended up watching me be mistreated in public.

Gently patting my trembling back, Cedric roared at Harrison, "Take that crown off that she-wolf, return the 300 thousand dollars, and apologize to Chloe at once!"

Harrison looked Cedric up and down, his demeanor remaining defiant and overbearing. "Cedric, I've made myself perfectly clear that this is nothing more than a bet. Once Selena completes the ritual, I still intend to mark Chloe and make her my one and only mate."

Cedric let out a harsh, incredulous laugh, his fists clenching tight by his side.

"You're performing a ritual with another she-wolf in public and seeking the Moon Goddess' blessing, while expecting Chloe to accept your mark in the shadows? Harrison, what exactly do you take Chloe for?"

Harrison frowned, his irritation showing. "Selena and I are just having a bit of fun. Chloe's been with me for five years. She's never once complained about anything."

Cedric's voice rose sharply. "If Chloe never complained, it was because she'd just been kind to you! It was never so that you two could take advantage of her and mistreat her even more!"