C6

"Take your hands off her before I rip them off," I growled to myself.

Callum Hayes was super lucky I did not smash his pretty face into the hard floor. We were at the Alpha Summit Lodge, and pack gossip was everywhere. I watched him pull Nia's soft body against his chest. He pressed his mouth to hers. She let him do it, but her body was totally stiff. I knew her body secrets. I had her for just one night five years ago, and she melted for me. She was pure perfection.

And I threw her away because of a stupid pack promise. I felt so bitter.

The moment I saw her in that red dress, my body went crazy. I wanted to kill her boyfriend right there and take her back to my citadel. She held her chin high and looked so brave. It made my blood run super hot.

Callum kissed her skin again, and I ground my teeth. She did not belong to him. I could still hear her loud moans in my head. I could still feel her soft skin under my rough hands. Seeing him touch her made me completely blind with rage.

I forced myself to calm down. It was not the time to show everyone that Nia Whitmore belonged to me. Not yet.

Her red dress showed her smooth back, and it made my heart beat too fast. Ever since that night, she was stuck in my veins. She was like a magical enchantress, and I could not let her go. She looked so innocent and sweet. That soft look could bring the strongest alphas to their knees. Wolves would commit murder just to taste her.

That was why I put my top warriors to watch her and my sister Zuri. Even after I broke her heart with my heavy boots, I kept my eyes on her. I could not let her go. I told myself it was just for pack business, but I was lying to myself.

I always stayed in the dark. She was just a pawn for my blood oath retribution, but the joke was on me. The drama between our parents was a giant mess. No one was innocent in that old war.

Well, except her.

Nia was the only innocent one. I felt a huge amount of regret, but my need for her was too big. Five years later, I could still taste her. I could still feel her shaking under my hands. I could hear her moans. She gave me everything that night. It was addictive and wild.

Her blind trust made my betrayal feel so evil.

But I was done feeling bad for the past. I was done paying for our parents' mistakes. This time, I was going to fight for my queen.

The game was starting right now.

"Callum wants to see you at six tonight," my friend whispered, pointing at my phone.

The text came from a number I did not know. It was not strange because Callum changed pack assistants like clothes. He was a big-deal warrior and could be very hard to work with. But it was weird that he wanted to meet tonight. I thought his hunting trip lasted two more days.

It had been three weeks since the big gathering at the Alpha Summit Lodge. Seeing Kairo after all that time made me shake. I was so stupid to still want him. He used me and threw me away five years ago. I should know better, but my dumb heart did not care about being smart.

"Injured wolf from a rogue attack coming in five minutes!" someone yelled down the hall.

I stopped thinking about Kairo and Callum fast. The Crescent Fang Healing Hall got super crazy. Healers and nurses ran around to save the wolf. We all did our big parts to help.

Three hours later, my twelve-hour shift was finally over. I was so tired. I just wanted to go to my room, take a hot shower, and sleep for days.

I looked around the corner of the Moon Healers' Sanctuary. I let out a big sigh of relief. There were no pack gossips or reporters. I hated when they followed me. That was the worst part about dating Callum Hayes. Ever since he joined the elite guard, everyone watched him. It was good for his rank, but it was a huge pain for my job.

Callum and I were a weird match. He loved the big attention, but I loved being quiet and unnoticed. He was young and had that nice boy charm.

He was nothing like Kairo. Kairo was dark, cruel, and cold. I shook my head to stop thinking about him. I was doing that too much since I ran into my past.

Callum and I met funnily. He brought his friend to the healing hall after a bad training accident. I fixed the guy's arm, and Callum bought me a hot drink after. We became a couple after that.

The air was super hot as I walked down the path in Silvermoon Hollow. Callum's place was far, but I needed fresh air after my long shift. It was late September, but it stayed hot here. Sometimes I missed the real winter, but dating Callum made it hard to leave. We were already apart so much because of his pack trips.

My chest felt warm thinking about him. It was good to see him tonight. Maybe it was time to move into his quarters at the keep. He asked me before he left. My brain said yes, but my heart felt scared.

"I love you, Nia," he had told me, kissing my neck gently. "I want us to live together."

I felt relaxed then, but I did not feel that crazy, wild spark with him. I cared about him, but did I love him? A big piece of my heart was missing. Someone stole it years ago and never gave it back.

Callum's brown eyes had looked at me, waiting.

"That is a huge step, Callum," I had said instead of yes. "Let me think."

He looked so sad, and I felt terrible.

"Please," I told him, running my fingers through his hair. "I just need a little time."

"I get it," he muttered.

I pulled him close. "We will talk when you get back from your trip. Let's not be mad."

He smiled and gave me a soft kiss. He was so gentle and sweet. He was everything Kairo was not.

I decided I would tell him yes tonight. It was the right choice. He would never look at me with a mean smile or break my heart.

I waved at the guard at Callum's building. The guard gave me a sad look. It felt weird, but I kept walking. Then I saw a huge crowd of pack watchers with crystals and notebooks in the hallway.

I hated this so much. My body went stiff. I walked fast, hoping to get inside his place before they saw me.

But they followed right behind me. They usually stayed outside. I wondered if there was some big pack announcement happening.

I ran up the stairs and pulled the keys out of my bag. I unlocked the door and took two steps inside.

My heart stopped.

Callum was completely naked, mating with a pretty blonde wolf right on his couch. They were both bare, making loud noises as they hit their peak. My chest felt like it was ripping apart. I went totally numb.

I should have screamed or done something, but I was frozen. Then the pack gossips started using their recording crystals in the doorway. The flashes of light woke me up. Callum finally looked up and saw me. The blonde female panted, wanting more. Callum's eyes filled with guilt. My heart was smashed to pieces for the second time by a different man.

At least he did not smile cruelly as Kairo did.

I did not say a single word. I put the keys on the table softly and walked out the door. The bright flashes hit my face in the hallway, recording my sad moment for the whole pack to see. The last time a man broke my heart, it was a secret. This time, everyone would know. I shut the door tight and locked my heart forever.

I would never trust a wolf again.