Chapter 3

I was just about to leave when Nate grabbed my wrist hard.

“I’m warning you,” he snapped. “Don’t you dare breathe a word of this in front of the elders. Jules is gentle and kind. She’s not shameless like you. If she gets hurt, don’t blame me for canceling our bonding ceremony!”

I yanked my hand free and drew in a sharp breath.

“I already told you. This isn’t your bonding ceremony. You don’t have the right to cancel it!”

However, Nate didn’t hear a word. He rubbed his fingers together as he mocked me. “You’re destined to marry into our family. And in the entire Bryce clan, I’m the only one of age. So if it’s not me, who else could it be?”

His younger brother spoke up hesitantly, “Nate, there’s still Uncle Elliot. He doesn’t have a mate either.”

Nate burst out laughing like it was the funniest thing he’d ever heard. “That cripple in the family? He doesn’t have a mate because no girl in her right mind would marry someone half-broken!”

His brother turned pale and rushed to cover his mouth. “Nate, stop talking! Uncle Elliot once took down ten werewolves by himself. He’s the pack’s best warrior. If his supporters hear you say this, not even Grandfather could protect you!”

Nate shoved him away, his face dark with rage. “That was years ago. Eight years back, he was ambushed by a rogue werewolf king. He was gravely injured, and he hasn’t shown his face in public since. Word is, he’s crippled now. I am the pack’s best warrior!”

He turned his scornful gaze on me, continuing, “If you won’t marry me, your only choice is that useless cripple. You love me so much it’s killing you. How could you possibly stomach marrying someone else?”

He was so certain of himself that he didn’t even wait for my reply. He simply left with Jules and his pack of brothers, abandoning me once again.

I let out a long breath. It didn’t matter. Soon enough, he would find out exactly who I was going to marry.

Still, my heart twisted with unease. It had been so many years since I last saw Elliot Green. I knew about the ambush eight years ago, but I didn’t know whether it had left him with permanent injuries, as Nate claimed.

Thankfully, there would be a family banquet the night before the bonding ceremony. That would be my chance to meet him face to face.

On the day of the banquet, I carried the gift I had prepared for Elliot and drove to the old Bryce estate. As I stepped out of the car, I realized I had arrived at the same time as Nate.

He noticed the gift in my hand, and pride flickered across his eyes.

“You bought me a gift? Hand it over.”

I quickly hid it behind my back, afraid he might try to snatch it. “This isn’t for you!”

Nate sneered, but for once, he didn’t press the matter. Instead, he spoke coolly, “I already told you. The Luna identity belongs to you, but stay out of my business with Jules. She’s the one who’s suffered. So, when it comes to the pack’s heir, I’ll leave that role to her child. You’d better be prepared for that.”

Even though I’d long since stopped wanting to marry him, his arrogance still burned me up inside. I didn’t want to waste another word on him, so I turned toward the estate.

However, once again, he grabbed my arm and hissed, “My uncle will be here tonight. Even if he’s crippled, his status is higher than mine. Keep yourself in check and don’t upset him. And another thing—don’t you dare bring up the heir in front of the elders. Until the ceremony is official, I can still take it all back anytime I want.”

With that, he strode past me into the estate.

I didn’t bother arguing with him. Tonight, the chief of the clan would announce my union with Elliot at the family banquet. No matter how sure of himself Nate was, he would be forced to face reality.