CHAPTER ONE

If someone had told me this morning that my life would crumble before sunset, I would've laughed in their face. Because today? Today was supposed to be perfect.

My wedding day.

I stood in front of the mirror in my room at Highfane, my heart racing with excitement. My hands trembled slightly as I adjusted the veil resting on my dark hair. The lace was bright against the faint morning light, peeking through the curtains and I couldn't help smiling.

“Irene , you look stunning,” my maid, Brielle, said, grinning as she tightened the back of my dress.

“Of course I do,” I teased, turning halfway to look at her. “It's my wedding day. I'm allowed to be a little vain.”

Brielle chuckled. “Simon's going to lose his mind when he sees you.”

Just hearing his name sent warmth spreading through my chest. Simon Lawson. The man I loved. The man who helped me stand again when I thought I'd never breathe properly after Baron died.

Baron… my brother. My heart clenched at the memory.

The night he was killed by the Silvercrest wolves, I had fallen apart. I'd screamed until my voice gave out, ran into the woods like a lunatic, and collapsed near the northern ridge of the Pack's territory. That was when Simon found me. He didn't say much, he just held me until I stopped shaking. And then, when he lifted my chin and I looked into his eyes, I felt it.

The bond. The pull. The connection that changed everything.

That night, we realized we were mates.

From then on, things had moved fast. Simon and I had been inseparable. My father had approved almost instantly, infact too instantly, now that I think about it, and said Simon should marry me soon so he could start preparing to become the next Alpha of the Ironfang Pack. I thought it was fate aligning perfectly for once.

And today, it all came together.

“I still can't believe you're getting married before me,” Brielle said, laughing.

“You'll find your mate soon enough,” I said, smiling. “When you do, you'll understand this kind of madness.”

She rolled her eyes playfully. “You're glowing like the moon, Irene . Seriously.”

I laughed and picked up the bouquet from the table. “I'm happy. For once, everything feels right.”

I was about to ask her to help me with the veil again when the pack doctor, Dr. Halen, appeared at the doorway, holding a small folder.

“Irene,” he said softly, motioning me over. “May I speak to you privately?”

Brielle excused herself, and I turned to the doctor, confused. “Is everything alright?”

His eyes twinkled. “Better than alright. I just got your results back.”

I blinked. “My results?”

He handed me the paper with a knowing smile. “Congratulations, Luna. You're going to be a mother.”

For a second, I couldn't breathe. “I—what?”

“About five weeks along, I'd guess,” he said cheerfully. “Healthy heartbeat, everything looks perfect. I thought you'd want to know before the ceremony.”

I pressed a trembling hand to my stomach. “Oh my Goddess…”

I was pregnant. Simon and I were going to be parents. On our wedding day.

Tears welled in my eyes as I hugged the doctor. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”

He chuckled. “Now don't cry, or you'll ruin that beautiful face paint of yours.”

I laughed through the tears. My heart felt like it could burst from happiness.

“I have to tell Simon,” I said quickly, clutching the folder. “Before the wedding. He'll lose it.”

Dr. Halen nodded, smiling. “Go ahead. But make sure you come back soon, your father's waiting to escort you down the aisle.”

I left the room in a rush, my heels clacking on the wooden floorboards as I made my way down the hall. Every nerve in my body buzzed with joy. I couldn't wait to see Simon's expression when I told him. He'd probably scoop me up and spin me around.

I stopped at his door and took a deep breath. I didn't bother knocking, Simon and I never needed to. I pushed the door open and stepped inside, wearing the brightest smile.

And froze.

The world stopped spinning.

There was movement on the bed—two tangled bodies, Simon thrusting into the figure sprawled on the bed—and the sound of soft moans that didn't belong to me.

My heart stopped beating. “Simon?”

His name came out barely above a whisper, but it was enough. The two figures jerked apart instantly. Simon turned, his body still bare, and my cousin, Laura, gasped, pulling the sheets over herself.

“Irene !” she squeaked, her face pale. “It's not what it looks like!”

Simon swore under his breath, running a hand through his hair. “What the hell are you doing in here, Irene ? You should've knocked!”

I stared at him, unable to process his words. “You—You're asking me why I didn't knock?”

Laura clutched the sheet tighter around her chest, her cheeks flushed red, but her eyes… her eyes were defiant, smug even. “Irene , it just happened—”

“Shut up, Laura,” I said, my voice trembling. “Don't—don't talk to me right now.”

Simon sighed, stepping forward like I was the one being unreasonable. “Irene , listen. I'm glad you found out now.”

“What?” I choked out.

He shrugged like it was nothing. “I didn't know how I was going to keep sneaking around after we got married. This makes things easier.”

Tears slid down my face, hot and fast. My wolf whimpered in my mind, sharing in my sadness like she always does. He betrayed us. Our mate betrayed us.

Simon kept talking, his voice calm, too calm. “Laura's expecting my child, Irene . We were going to tell you eventually.”

My breath hitched. “She's… pregnant?”

Laura looked away, her face flushing. “It wasn't planned,” she muttered, almost proudly.

Simon crossed his arms, still completely unbothered that he was standing there naked. “Look, I only got close to you because my father suggested it. He wanted to secure my position as the next Alpha of this Pack. I agreed because it made sense politically.”

My knees felt weak. I grabbed the edge of the table to steady myself. “Your father… suggested it?”

“Yeah,” he said. “He thought it'd be a shot at me being the next Alpha of the pack. But now that your father has been arrested, I don't really see the point in pretending anymore.”

I froze. The room spun. “What did you just say?”

Simon raised an eyebrow. “Oh. You don't know?”

I shook my head, trembling. “What do you mean, arrested?”

He exhaled like this was all an inconvenience. “Your father was taken in this morning by Alpha Devon. They're blaming him for the Silvercrest recent massacre. Honestly, it looked like a setup to me, but who cares? Devon's been gunning for your father since he killed your brother anyway.”

Devon...

My world shattered completely.

My chest tightened so hard I could barely breathe. “Devon Warner…” I whispered.

The name burned on my tongue like venom. My wolf growled furiously inside me, her voice loud and sharp. Alpha Devon. He killed Baron. He destroyed our family.

Simon stepped closer, but I jerked away. “Don't you dare touch me!”

“Irene —”

“Don't!” I shouted, tears streaming down my face. “Don't say my name. Don't speak to me.”

He frowned, annoyed. “You're being dramatic.”

“Dramatic?” I laughed bitterly, choking on the sound. “You cheated on me—with my cousin—on our wedding day! And you tell me my father's been arrested like it's some piece of gossip?”

Laura flinched, but Simon didn't even blink.

“You don't get it,” he said flatly. “Your father brought this on himself. He's been playing with fire for years. Alpha Devon finally decided to burn him for it.”

I shook my head violently, backing toward the door. “No. No, he wouldn't. My father would never slaughter a pack!”

Simon sighed. “Believe what you want. But I'm done pretending, Irene . Go cry to someone else.”

My wolf snarled, pressing hard against my chest. We should tear him apart.

I swallowed hard, pushing her rage down. “You'll regret this,” I whispered, my voice shaking. “Both of you.”

Laura's lips tightened, but Simon only gave a cold smirk. “Maybe. But not today.”

I turned and ran.

I didn't stop until I reached the outer corridor, my bare feet slapping against the cold floor. I gasped for breath, tears clouding my vision. The laughter and music from the courtyard below felt like a cruel joke.

My wedding day. My family. My mate. My entire world—gone in seconds.

And through the chaos in my head, one name kept echoing over and over, sinking into my bones like burning fire.

Alpha Devon.