Chapter 4

My parents exchanged a look.

My father stepped forward, gently wiping a tear from my cheek. “Don’t be afraid, Rory.”

I’d heard those words for twenty-seven years. With him here, I truly had nothing to fear.

“I’ll summon a few dozen of our elite pack warriors right now.”

I was an only child, but the most elite warriors in my father’s pack were my cousins. They’d watched me grow up and treated me like a little sister.

My mother gave me a soft hug. “Whatever you do next, Mom supports you.”

I had the makeup artist wipe away the glamorous look prepared for the party, replacing it with something simple and sharp. I changed into a sleek, severe black dress.

Stella muttered curses about the scumbag, while Maya rubbed my back soothingly.

The Head Elder, who had witnessed everything, was indignant. “I’ll handle the other elders. No one gets to bully one of our own like this.”

The videographer gave me a thumbs-up, signaling that he was recording everything.

Hurley called again. I rejected it. He tried to reach me through our mind-link, but I blocked him completely.

I took off the backup gown I had prepared and put on a fierce black dress and a leather jacket.

Finally, he sent a text. “My love, the party starts in an hour. I know you’re mad at me. I promise this is the last time. After the party, you can do whatever you want to me.”

I let out a cold laugh.

Perhaps because things couldn’t possibly get any worse, the anxiety that had been gnawing at me since I’d learned about the dress was replaced by an eerie calm.

The last seven years with Hurley flashed through my mind like a movie.

We met at a pack gathering. He fell for me instantly after I single-handedly took down a rogue wolf that tried to attack. He pursued me relentlessly.

Hurley was tall, handsome, and had a sunny personality, not to mention the halo of being the Crescent Claw Alpha’s son. It was easy to fall for him.

We dated, trained, and patrolled our territories together. We’d had some incredibly sweet years.

Then, after we came of age, his childhood friend, Rachel, started appearing more and more in our lives.

We were on a mountaintop watching the moon when Rachel called, saying she was sad and wanted a snack from a place they used to go to as kids. Hurley left me there to go get it for her.

On our anniversary, Rachel’s cat got sick. Hurley left me to go with her to the vet.

We’d go on vacation overseas, and Rachel would somehow show up in the middle of it, stealing all of Hurley’s attention with his doting approval, leaving me alone.

I cried. I threw fits. But I couldn’t let go of the relationship.

He would always laugh and sweet-talk me until I forgave him, but he never changed. The excuse was always the same: She’s just an Omega. Let her have her way.

And I let her, right up until now.

With half an hour to go, dozens of elite pack warriors arrived, their grim faces a stark presence in the manor’s living room. After a few quiet words of comfort, they stood silently by my side. The younger pack members, who were supposed to be celebrating, stood in neat, serious rows.

Stella and Maya flanked me like two guards, ready for battle.

My parents stood by the main chairs in the living room. My father’s face was a mask of stone, while my mother calmly offered everyone tea. “We’ll be counting on you all later,” she said, her tone as casual as if she were commenting on the weather.

(Hurley’s POV)

Rory wasn’t answering his calls or texts. A knot of unease began to form in Hurley’s stomach. But he was confident that Rory loved him to death and was too sensible to cause a scene at such an important event.

He pushed the feeling down and led the convoy to pick her up as planned.

Rachel got into his car on the way, saying she wanted to come with him to get Rory. He opened his mouth to object, a knot of unease tightening in his gut, but he couldn’t resist her pleading and, as always, gave in.

The moment they arrived at the Silvermoon pack manor, he saw that it was eerily silent, with none of the festive atmosphere of a celebration.

The bad feeling in his gut grew stronger.

He strode into the living room unopposed and was met with a wall of grim-faced warriors, with Rory standing before them in a severe black dress.

His stomach dropped. “Rory, what’s going on? The party is about to start.”