Chapter 1

I stood outside the Civil Affairs Bureau, my wolf pacing anxiously inside me. Today was the day. The big one. The “I-do” moment—well, the paper version of it, anyway.

Beta Max and I had agreed on this day. Hell, I had reminded him six times. He had set the alarm himself. There was no excuse.

Yet here I was, dressed up, standing under the flickering fluorescent lights of the waiting area, tapping my fingers against the wooden counter.

The staff had already prepared our forms. The registrar gave me a polite yet knowing smile. She’d seen it all before.

“We just need one more step,” she said cheerily. “A photo together, and you’ll officially be mates in the eyes of the pack.”

I nodded, looking at the spot where Max was supposed to be.

He wasn’t there.

Instead, he was outside, phone pressed to his ear, murmuring in hushed tones.

And then, just like that, he turned around… and walked away.

Walked. Away.

“Uh… Max?” I called out, my voice tight.

He didn’t even glance back.

The staff exchanged awkward glances. My wolf growled, low and irritated, but I clenched my jaw, yanking out my phone.

One call. No answer.

One message. No reply.

My patience was officially out the damn window.

I scrolled through my contacts, found Grace Bell’s number—the same Grace Bell who had been attached to Max’s hip since he were pups—and hit dial.

The call connected almost instantly.

But it wasn’t Grace’s voice that answered.

“Louis, can you stop being so annoying?” Max’s voice came through the line, sharp and irritated. “Grace twisted her ankle—I need to take care of her today. Stop calling and waking her up. We’ll reschedule the registration.”

I froze, my grip on the phone tightening.

Grace twisted her ankle?

My wolf bristled. And? She’s not dying. Why are you acting like she’s suddenly on her deathbed?!

I took a slow breath, forcing my voice to stay calm. “This makes it the seventh time we’ve rescheduled, Max.”

“So what?” he shot back, sounding utterly unconcerned. “The Civil Affairs Bureau isn’t going anywhere—it’s not like it’s going to disappear.”

I stared blankly at the floor, but my heart felt like it was being carved open with a silver blade.

The room felt too quiet. The staff were pretending not to listen, but I could feel their eyes on me, hear the way they held their breath.

The registrar cleared her throat awkwardly and asked, “Alpha Louis, are we still doing this?”

I lifted my gaze to meet hers.

Then I nodded. “Yes. Let’s go through with it.”

And just like that, I signed the papers.

Without him.

Because if there was one thing I was done with, it was waiting around for a man who could never choose me first.