CHAPTER 1

Jamie Vale stared at his reflection and wondered how convincing a lie could become if he repeated it often enough.

“I’m happy for him.”

He adjusted the collar of his shirt.

“I’m happy for him.”

He smoothed down the front of his jacket.

“I’m happy for him.”

The words sounded almost believable now.

Almost.

Jamie lowered his hands.

The man staring back at him looked nothing like the miserable wreck he felt like inside.

His dark hair had been carefully styled, the soft waves pushed away from his forehead. His shirt was a deep charcoal, fitted neatly across his narrow shoulders, and the black trousers made his legs look longer than they were. He had spent twenty minutes deciding whether the silver watch on his wrist was too much.

It wasn't.

At least, he didn't think it was.

He looked good.

He looked composed.

He looked like someone who was perfectly capable of attending his best friend's engagement party without falling apart.

That was the goal.

Tonight, Ethan was getting engaged.

Tonight, Jamie was going to smile.

He was going to congratulate him.

He was going to hug him.

He was going to tell him that he was happy.

And he was absolutely, under no circumstances, going to think about the fact that he had been secretly in love with Ethan Hale for six years.

Jamie picked up his phone from the dresser.

Three unread messages.

Ethan: Where are you?

Another arrived almost immediately.

Ethan: Don't tell me you're still getting ready.

Jamie smiled despite himself.

That was Ethan.

Always impatient.

Always checking on him.

Always somehow knowing when Jamie was five minutes later than usual.

He typed a reply.

Jamie: Leaving now.

The three dots appeared instantly.

Ethan: Good. I need you here.

Jamie stared at the message.

His smile faded.

I need you here.

Four simple words.

Four words Ethan probably hadn't thought twice about.

But Ethan had always had that effect on him.

He could say something completely ordinary and make Jamie's heart forget how to beat.

Jamie locked his phone.

He couldn't do this to himself tonight.

He had spent the entire afternoon helping Ethan prepare for this evening.

He had checked the decorations.

He had gone over the guest list twice.

He had helped Ethan choose his suit.

He had even spent nearly an hour sitting beside Ethan on the Hale family's living-room floor while Ethan agonized over the engagement ring.

Jamie still remembered that conversation.

"What do you think?" Ethan had asked.

He'd held the ring between his fingers, looking almost nervous.

Jamie had stared at the diamond.

It was beautiful.

Simple.

Elegant.

Exactly the sort of thing Ethan would choose.

"It's perfect."

Ethan had looked at him.

"You think so?"

Jamie had smiled.

"I know so."

Ethan had grinned.

"That's why I asked you."

Jamie had laughed.

And then he'd gone home and cried in the shower.

Because he had known exactly what that ring meant.

It meant Ethan was choosing someone else.

Jamie had spent six years pretending he didn't want to be chosen.

He had become very good at it.

He had learned how to laugh when Ethan talked about dates.

He had learned how to listen when Ethan described someone he found attractive.

He had learned how to smile when Ethan told him about Ryan Blackwood.

Especially Ryan Blackwood.

That name had been appearing in Ethan's conversations more and more over the past year.

Ryan said this.

Ryan thought that.

Ryan was coming over.

Ryan had invited Ethan to dinner.

Ryan's family wanted to meet him.

Ryan had finally asked Ethan to marry him.

Jamie had listened.

Every single time.

And every single time, he had smiled.

Because Ethan was happy.

And if Ethan was happy, Jamie could survive being heartbroken.

He picked up his jacket.

One final glance at the mirror.

“I’m happy for him.”

This time, he didn't repeat it.

He simply walked out.

----------------------

The Hale estate was already glowing when Jamie arrived.

Warm golden lights lined the long driveway, illuminating the trees and flower beds surrounding the enormous house. Cars filled the circular drive, most of them belonging to members of the Hale and Blackwood families.

Jamie parked farther away than necessary.

He needed the extra thirty seconds.

Thirty seconds to breathe.

Thirty seconds to remind himself that tonight wasn't about him.

It was about Ethan.

His best friend.

His family.

The person who had saved him when he was sixteen.

Jamie closed his eyes.

Six years.

Six years since Ethan had found him sitting alone behind the school gym with a backpack containing everything he owned.

Six years since Jamie's parents had looked at him like he was a disgrace because his designation had manifested as Omega.

Six years since Ethan had sat beside him and promised he would never leave.

Jamie swallowed.

Then he got out of the car.

He barely made it through the front door before someone threw their arms around him.

“Finally!”

Jamie laughed as Ethan pulled him into a crushing hug.

“It's been twenty minutes.”

“Twenty minutes too long.”

“You're dramatic.”

“You love me.”

The words were harmless.

They were always harmless when Ethan said them.

But Jamie's heart still stumbled.

He forced himself to laugh.

“Unfortunately.”

Ethan released him only long enough to look him over.

His dark eyes traveled from Jamie's shoes to his hair.

“Okay.”

Jamie raised an eyebrow.

“What?”

“You look good.”

“I always look good.”

Ethan laughed.

“There he is.”

Jamie smiled.

Ethan reached out and adjusted the collar of Jamie's shirt.

The gesture was so familiar that Jamie almost forgot where they were.

Almost.

“There,” Ethan said. “Perfect.”

Jamie looked away.

“Where's your fiancée?”

Ethan's smile immediately became brighter.

“He's talking to my father.”

Of course.

Jamie nodded.

“Right.”

Ethan squeezed his shoulder.

“Come on. I want you to meet some people.”

“I already know your family.”

“Not everyone.”

He dragged Jamie through the room before Jamie could protest.

The Hale estate was crowded tonight.

Relatives.

Friends.

Pack members.

University acquaintances.

People Jamie recognized and people he didn't.

Everyone seemed to know him.

Not because of his own family.

Not because of anything he had accomplished.

Because of Ethan.

“Jamie!”

Sarah Hale appeared from across the room.

She was elegant as always, wearing a deep emerald dress that matched the warm color of her eyes.

Jamie barely had time to smile before she pulled him into a hug.

“My boy.”

He laughed softly.

“Hi, Mrs. Hale.”

“You've known me for years, and you're still calling me Mrs. Hale?”

She pulled back and frowned at him.

“You're practically my son.”

Jamie smiled.

There it was again.

That dangerous warmth in his chest.

The Hale family had never treated him like a guest.

They had never asked him to explain why his parents had thrown him out.

They had simply made room for him.

Sarah had given him a bedroom.

Ethan had given him friendship.

And Jamie had spent six years quietly convincing himself that was enough.

Sarah touched his cheek.

“You're pale.”

“I'm fine.”

“Have you eaten?”

“Yes.”

Ethan immediately interrupted.

“He hasn't.”

Jamie glared at him.

“I have.”

“When?”

“This afternoon.”

“That's a lie.”

Sarah sighed.

“Go eat.”

Jamie laughed.

“Yes, ma'am.”

Ethan smiled.

Then someone called his name.

“Ethan!”

Ethan turned.

A group of relatives waved him over.

He looked at Jamie.

“Come with me.”

Jamie hesitated.

“Ethan—”

“Please.”

There was something about the way Ethan said it.

Jamie followed.

They moved through the crowd until they reached a group of older Hales.

Ethan immediately placed a hand on Jamie's shoulder.

“This is Jamie.”

The relatives smiled.

“We know Jamie.”

Ethan laughed.

“Then you know he's basically my brother.”

Jamie's smile tightened.

“My brother in everything but blood,” Ethan added.

Something inside Jamie cracked.

He looked down quickly.

Nobody noticed.

Or so he hoped.

Because that was exactly what Jamie had told himself for years.

Brother.

Best friend.

Family.

Anything except the thing he actually wanted.

He smiled anyway.

“Excuse me.”

Ethan looked at him.

“Where are you going?”

“Just outside.”

“You okay?”

“Perfect.”

Ethan frowned.

Jamie smiled wider.

“I'll be back.”

Before Ethan could question him, Jamie slipped away.