Chapter 1

I stared at Lena and Garrett standing side by side, unable to believe it. I wanted to say something, but I couldn’t get a single word out.

Lena looked at me guiltily, tears running down her cheeks.

I clenched my fists. The sting in my palms helped me find my voice.

“Why?”

Lena opened her mouth to explain.

But Garrett stepped forward, gripped her hand, and spoke first. “When I was on border patrol, another pack attacked me. I was badly hurt and accidentally ate some heartsnare. It messed with my mind. Lena got there just in time and saved me...”

He didn’t have to finish. I could guess the rest.

My mate, the man I loved more than anyone, had slept with my best friend.

I stared at their clasped hands. My heart clenched, and my wolf howled in pain.

“They betrayed you! They betrayed you!”

I struggled to keep my furious wolf under control, but a familiar pain spread through my body.

I’d felt the same way when I’d suddenly gotten sick a month earlier.

Fever. Vomiting. Dizziness.

Back then, Garrett was away at the border. I didn’t want him to worry, so I kept it to myself.

But now I finally understood. I hadn’t just gotten sick out of nowhere. I’d been feeling the effects of Garrett’s betrayal!

Suddenly everything went black, and I pitched forward.

Lena reached out and caught me right away.

She held me anxiously, then took out an herb.

“Elise, you’re in so much pain, aren’t you? I’m sorry. This is all my fault.

“I picked this moonvein at the border just for you. Eat it, quick. It’ll ease the pain.”

I stared at the moonvein in Lena’s hand. It only grew on the cliffs at the border, and it was used to stabilize mate bonds.

Because it was so hard to gather, it was incredibly valuable.

Lena must have gone through a lot to get it.

But I fought through the pain and pushed her away.

“I don’t want it!”

After all, if it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t have had to go through this pain in the first place.

With that, I went home on my own.

But when I pushed the door open, our slippers were the first thing I saw. All three pairs.

Lena’s favorite red pair sat between mine and Garrett’s, one pair black and the other white.

It stung to look at.

I couldn’t stop imagining what might have happened at night.

Maybe they’d been just like those slippers, nestled close together behind my back.

Just thinking about it made my stomach churn. I felt like I was going to throw up.

I clapped a hand over my mouth without thinking and felt something cold.

When I held out my hand, I saw the moonstone ring I’d never wanted to take off.

My heart clenched, and suddenly I was close to tears.

A month earlier, Lena had suddenly gotten word that Alpha Rowan was sending her to reinforce the border.

Before she left, she held my hand and looked at the worn bone ring on my finger.

“Your ring’s all worn out. I heard there’s really pretty moonstone at the border. I’ll make one for you and one for Garrett.”

A week earlier, I’d gotten the gift and put it on right away.

And I’d secretly hoped my mate and my best friend would come home soon.

But now I wondered who this ring had really been made for. Was it a heartfelt gift or a token of guilt?

I didn’t want to think about it.

I pulled the ring off and clutched it in my fist, ready to throw it in the trash.

But suddenly, I heard Lena crying behind me.

Garrett stepped forward and grabbed my wrist.

“Elise, I’m the one to blame, not Lena. Don’t reject her kindness.”

He turned to Lena, his voice softer. “Go wait for me outside.”

Lena hesitated, then nodded and went out.

Once Lena was gone, Garrett gave me a tender, apologetic look. His voice was hoarse, as if he was trying to hide his own pain. “I’ve hurt you. I’ll talk to the Alpha and make sure you get the chief healer position.”

I let out a humorless laugh.

My wolf was just as furious.

“His older brother is the Alpha. This jerk wants to use his influence to get rid of you!”

When I didn’t say anything, Garrett tried again. “And this house, if you want it, you can...”

“Enough!”

I cut him off coldly. “Garrett, what do you think I am? Some gold-digging she-wolf you can buy off with a few handouts?”

Garrett frowned.

“Of course not. It’s just...”

He was quiet for a long time before he spoke again.

“Elise, you don’t have to do this. We’re mates. There’s nothing wrong with accepting what I can give you.

“Why can’t you lean on me a little more, the way Lena does?”

“Three days.”

I cut him off.

“In three days, I’m breaking our mate bond.

“Lena’s always depended on someone else. First it was me, then her mate, and now you.

“I’m not like her. I don’t need someone else to give me everything. I can get what I want on my own.”

Garrett looked at me. His expression was conflicted, but he seemed to have made up his mind.

“I’m not breaking our mate bond.

“Take some time to calm down.”

Then he pushed open the door and left.

Only when his footsteps had faded completely did I curl up in pain.

It felt as though someone was squeezing my heart. The pain was unbearable.