Chapter 1

I stood frozen, gripping my sister's phone as if I'd just been struck by lightning.

Three years ago, Kingsley Laurent claimed me as his Luna. While having dinner together at the table, he hadn't bothered to hide his disdain for my sister, Heather Johnson.

She couldn't stand him either, and she never stopped warning me about him.

"Eliza, if this jerk is willing to claim you but refuses to mark you, he's not someone you can rely on. You two aren't even fated mates. Since he hasn't marked you, there's no mate bond. If he cheats, you won't even know. Werewolves like that can't be trusted."

I'd just smiled and said nothing.

After all, Kingsley said he wanted to wait until he became the pack's Alpha before marking me. He wanted to make me the happiest Luna.

So, I dismissed Heather's warnings.

But now she was the one tangled up with the person she'd called "unreliable" and "unfaithful".

My hands trembled. I could hardly believe what I was seeing.

I drew a slow breath and forced myself to stay calm. This had to be a misunderstanding. It wasn't that unusual for two people to sound alike.

The next moment, I video-called Kingsley. His familiar, gentle voice came through almost immediately.

"Babe, what's wrong? Are you taking care of yourself while I'm away? Have you been eating on time? How's our pup?"

His tone was layered with concern as he asked after every detail of my day.

"Where… Where are you right now?"

I tried to keep my voice steady, but a slight tremor at the end gave me away.

"I'm still down south handling pack business with the Southern pack. Things are a bit complicated here, but don't worry. I'll be home soon."

His tone held a hint of apology, but it was meant to soothe me.

In the background, I clearly heard one of Kingsley's friends laugh loudly and shout something.

"Eliza, don't doubt Alpha Kingsley's devotion for a second. He only has eyes for you and won't even look at other she-wolves. He's been talking about you all day. Honestly, he's completely smitten."

Kingsley laughed too, his voice dripping with affection.

"Can you blame me? We're about to complete our mate bond. It's our milestone. Of course, I'm thinking about her."

Listening to their conversation filled my heart with a bitter, churning mix of feelings.

Kingsley, the werewolf I'd loved for years, had finally become the Alpha. I was carrying his pup, and once the mate bonding ceremony was complete, we'd start our new life together.

So why was this happening now?

My grip on the phone tightened until my knuckles turned white. A cold fire twisted in my chest. After a long pause, I forced the words out, my throat rough and dry.

"Kingsley… For the mate bonding ceremony, is it okay if Heather becomes our Moon Witness?"

There was silence on the other end, and I heard his breathing grow heavier. Three seconds later, his reply came, thick with disdain.

"Heather? Your train wreck of a sister? She's not fit for that role. Eliza, the mate bonding ceremony is sacred. She's reckless, defiant, and utterly unsuitable. Don't bring her up again. I don't want to hear another word about her."

The contempt in his voice was so sharp it left me disoriented.

Was the person who just whispered sweet nothings in that voice message really the same person who now spoke of Heather with such disgust?

"But—" I began.

Kingsley cut me off, "The signal here is bad. I have to go now. Remember to eat on time. I'll be back as soon as I'm done here."

The call ended with a sharp beep.

I stared at the blank screen, that voice message replaying in my mind. Was it him? Or someone who just sounded like him?

Before I could make sense of it, Heather walked in with a bowl of fruit salad.

"Eliza, who texted me?"