Chapter 2

The sound of the door being kicked in was like a thunderclap.

Soren stood in the doorway, his massive frame silhouetted by the hallway light.

Seven years had chiseled the desperate boy from the mountains into a lethal predator.

Broad shoulders, a tailored suit, and those golden wolf eyes.

But his Alpha presence was the most terrifying thing of all.

It crashed over me like a tsunami, stealing the air from my lungs.

"Well, look at this," he said, stalking into the room. His eyes swept over my rundown apartment. "The princess of the Silver Moon pack, living in a shithole like this."

His smile was pure malice.

"Remember seven years ago, Daisy?" He drew out my name like a curse, savoring every syllable. "My dear rejected mate?"

I didn't answer.

"Now it's my turn to look down on you."

He stood in the center of the living room.

His power was so intense the glasses in the room began to tremble.

"This is what you get for betraying your mate. The Moon Goddess's punishment, isn't it?"

"Yes," I admitted.

His expression froze. He clearly hadn't expected me to be so blunt.

"You think that'll earn my pity?" his voice dropped, becoming more dangerous. "Let me be clear, Daisy. Seeing you like this brings me one thing, and one thing only: pure, fucking joy."

I walked to the table and slid a document across it.

"The Bloodline Heirloom Transfer," I said. "My payment for the rite."

He glanced down at it, then let out a harsh, grating laugh.

"The Moon Goddess Brooch? The last sacred artifact of your pack?" His laughter was manic. "You really think I want this?"

"It's all I have—"

"Enough!" He shot to his feet, grabbing my wrist and slamming me against the wall. "What kind of game are you playing?!"

His hard body pinned me to the wall, his scent—all pine, rage, and power—suffocating me.

Those golden wolf eyes were inches from my face, burning with a rage that had simmered for years.

"Seven years, Daisy! Seven!" His voice trembled. "Do you have any idea what my life has been like? Every night, every breath, all I could think about was how to make you pay!"

I looked into his eyes. There was hate, pain, and something else I couldn't decipher.

"And now," his voice became a low, dangerous whisper, "you come to me, pathetic and weak, playing the dying victim. What do you take me for? A charity?"

"I'm not playing."

"Shut up!" His grip tightened. "You think I'd believe you? You Silver Moon bitches are all the same," he snarled. "Born with venom in your veins and lies on your tongues."

A wave of exhaustion washed over me.

"Fine. Don't believe me," I shoved him away. "Please leave."

He froze.

"What?"

"Then get out," I said, turning my back on him. "Get out of my apartment."

"You're kicking me out?" There was a strange note in his voice. "You call me here just to kick me out?"

"Yes."

The room fell silent.

Then I heard him laugh, a low, unhinged sound.

"No, Daisy," his voice came from behind me. "You wanted to put on a show. Fine. I'll play along," he purred, the sound a low, dangerous rumble. "I want a front-row seat for how this little tragedy of yours ends."

I turned. He had settled onto my couch, crossing his legs like a king watching a court jester.

"I'm not going anywhere. Didn't you say you're dying soon?"

His smile was cold and cruel. "I want to see how long you can keep this act up."

He stood suddenly, his golden eyes burning into me.

"If you had a shred of a wolf's honor," he spat, "you would've thrown yourself from the altar the moment you rejected me." With one last look of disgust, he turned and stalked out, slamming the door so hard the frame shuddered.