Chapter 1

On the third day after my mate was set, I went to the bridal shop to pick up my wedding dress and unexpectedly ran into Nate Green.

The werewolves present immediately began to jeer when they saw me.

“Look, Nate’s little lapdog showed up again! Her nose is sharp, huh? She found her way here so fast.”

“Can you believe her? The bonding ceremony’s already set for next week, and she’s still clinging to him. Following him even to the bridal shop? That’s pathetic.”

Nate didn’t even lift his head. His voice was laced with irritation as he spoke, “Lexi, do you have no shame? When did I ever agree to hold the bonding ceremony next week? And why are you following me here while I’m taking wedding photos with Jules?”

I knew that look of disgust all too well. Ever since he got tangled up with my stepsister, Jules Howard, he had looked at me with nothing but disdain.

I lowered my gaze and spoke calmly, “The bonding ceremony doesn’t need your consent. I’m not marrying you.”

For two seconds, silence blanketed the room. Then, laughter exploded like thunder.

Cain Joseph, one of Nate’s closest pack brothers, laughed the loudest. He elbowed Nate playfully.

“Your Luna’s angry, Nate. You'd better go coax her, or next time she’ll pull another stunt just to get your attention.”

Nate’s brows knitted in disdain. “Cut the act, Lexi. Our families’ alliance has been decided. If not me, who else would you marry?”

Another werewolf chimed in, “Yeah, everyone in the pack knows Lexi’s been going after Nate since childhood, swearing she’d marry him.”

“She’s crazy in love with him. There’s no way she’d leave.”

Nate finally deigned to glance at me. “As for the ceremony, I can do as you wish. But you’d better be sensible. I can give you the Luna title, but the heir of this pack must be Jules’s child.”

The moment he mentioned Jules, his gaze softened.

“She loves me so much she once blocked a hunter’s silver arrow for me. She’s also considerate; she won’t fight you for the Luna position. Since I can’t give her a title, I can at least grant her the wish of taking wedding photos with me. So don’t ruin things by causing trouble.”

If it had been before, I would’ve argued, clung to his hand, and begged him not to treat me this way.

Now, I lowered my head and replied flatly, “I’m just here to pick up my gown. Whatever you and Jules do has nothing to do with me anymore.”

Nate jerked his head up, surprised enough to finally look me in the eye. “Lexi, are you just pretending to be generous because you’re afraid I won’t show up next week? If you behave yourself like this, I suppose giving you a ceremony isn’t impossible.”

Then, he shot me a sidelong glance, his voice falling back into its usual commanding tone.

“Go and get me Forest Hotel’s signature cake, and make sure it’s strawberry-flavored. Jules loves strawberries. She’s pregnant now and always hungry. Don’t take more than half an hour.”

Cain and Nate’s two younger brothers all turned to watch me, eyes full of mockery.

In the past, I would’ve obeyed without question. Whatever Nate said, I would’ve done. That was why they stared now, curious whether I would really run errands for his mistress.

I simply stepped back, putting distance between us.

“Whoever wants cake should get it themselves.”

Everyone stared at me in shock.

Nate hadn’t expected defiance, and his eyes burned with anger.

“You’re getting more and more disobedient. Do you think an engagement guarantees your place? I can change my mind anytime. I can refuse to marry you and make you the laughingstock of the Silvermoon Pack!”

With that, he turned his back and walked off to find Jules, leaving me no shred of dignity.

Cain put on a falsely sympathetic smile. “Lexi, playing hard to get won’t work on Nate. Careful, or you’ll lose even the bonding ceremony itself.”

As laughter and jeers filled the air once again, I laughed softly to myself. After all, the ceremony wasn’t Nate’s to give or to take away.