Chapter 2

The Head Elder, who had always doted on me, stared wide-eyed and cursed, “What is this madness! In all my years, I’ve never seen someone steal the guest of honor’s gown at her own birthday party! That girl has no shame!”

The clock on the wall ticked on. Two and a half hours until the party.

The videographer, camera in hand, chose his words carefully. “Should I… keep recording?”

I was so angry I let out a bitter laugh, digging my nails into my palm. “Yes. Keep rolling, and point it right at me. I’m calling Hurley again.”

“I’m going to ask him, once and for all, who matters more today: me or Rachel.”

But when he answered, before I could even speak, Hurley’s angry voice shot through the phone. “Rory, what did your mother say to Rachel? She hung up and burst into tears! She’s so distraught she says her heart is hurting!”

“It’s just a dress! Did you have to be so cruel? You’re being so petty, it makes me question if you’re even worthy of being my mate!”

His accusation struck me like a physical blow.

I fought back tears, refusing to let my voice crack. “My mother didn’t say a single harsh word to her. Only a fool like you would fall for her little act.”

“And let me make one thing clear. You will have her take that dress off and return it to me. Now. That’s the only way this party is happening.”

Hurley must have heard the finality in my voice. He fell silent for a moment before mumbling, “I’ll… I’ll figure something out.”

After he hung up, a wave of exhaustion washed over me. Tears streamed down, splashing onto the back of my hand.

I’d been looking forward to this day for six months, ever since Hurley first proposed this party.

My mother had spent the last six months preparing for it. My gown was a handmade masterpiece that took the designer half a year. We’d hired the best video crew. I’d even designed the invitations myself.

This party meant the world to me. But to Hurley, none of it mattered more than his childhood friend, Rachel.

Hurley always made me give in.

When we ate out, I had to let her order first. If we bought gifts at the same time, she got first pick.

And now, at my own birthday party, I was expected to give up my own custom-made gown!

A seven-year relationship. The mate-to-be I chose myself. And on what should have been one of the most important days of my life, he ripped away my dignity and ground it into the dust in front of my friends and family.

I finally broke down, sobbing on Maya’s shoulder.

Stella and Maya’s eyes reddened in sympathy. They hugged me, murmuring comforts about how the birthday girl shouldn’t be crying on her big day.

My father, Marcus, heard my cries and rushed in, his voice soft. “Don’t cry, Rory. Daddy’s here. No one gets to bully you.”

“Worst case? We cancel the party. And this engagement? We’ll call it off, too!”

Seeing my father so protective made my eyes well up again.

For twenty-seven years, my father had treated me like a precious jewel, checking on me himself if I got so much as a scratch. An elder once joked that for such a powerful Alpha, he acted more like a doting mother hen around his daughter.

He had just laughed and replied, “You don’t get it. I want every pack to know that my daughter is the jewel of the Silvermoon pack. Our little princess.”

But the princess he had cherished for twenty-seven years, who had never known a moment of real pain, was now being utterly humiliated on her birthday by her own mate-to-be.

For a second, I did want to cancel the party, to humiliate Hurley in front of everyone.

But my union with Hurley was more than just about us; it was an alliance between the Silvermoon and Crescent Claw packs. I couldn’t be that selfish. I couldn’t drag my parents’ name through the mud.