Chapter 1

Right before our bonding ceremony, my mate, Zarya, said she needed to mark another man—an Omega named Soren who had supposedly saved her life once.

“I have to give Soren a temporary mark. He’s dying, Rhys. The moon-fade sickness is eating him alive. His wolf is completely depleted.”

Zarya’s gaze was a physical weight, her Alpha authority pressing down on me, demanding I bend.

I stopped mixing the Moonpetal elixir in my hands.

It was for our ceremony, said to make a mate bond stronger.

I could still remember her whispering in my arms, her eyes full of love, “My Head Mate will be the greatest on this continent.”

And now, she wanted me to accept her marking another man.

My fingertips started to tremble.

“Are you fucking kidding me?”

“It’s the only way to save him.” Zarya turned away, unable to meet my eyes. That deep blue gaze I once loved was now a storm of conflict and cold resolve. “I owe him my life.”

“I don’t care what you owe him!” my voice cracked. “A mark is sacred, Zarya! It’s supposed to be for us—”

“One month,” she snapped.

Her eyes were bloodshot. A flicker of confusion crossed her face.

She really didn’t get it. She thought I was being unreasonable.

“I promise, I’ll remove the mark right after. He’ll live, and you will still be my only Head Mate.”

I stared at her, my jaw tight. “I don’t agree. Not unless you want to sever our mate bond.”

Zarya’s eyes went dead. Ice-cold. “This isn’t a discussion, Rhys. A life is on the line. Don't make this an order.” She promised, “It’s just a temporary mark. It won’t affect our bond. In one month, everything will be back to normal.”

Then she stormed out, slamming the door behind her.

Her Alpha aura, thick with anger and unyielding command, lingered in the air long after she was gone.

The next day, I was standing at the entrance of the pack headquarters when a black stretch limo pulled up.

I went numb.

Zarya got out of the passenger seat and gently helped a slim, frail figure out of the car.

Soren.

He was pale, looking like a strong gust of wind could knock him over.

Zarya’s arm was wrapped around his waist.

The protective gesture made my stomach churn.

“Watch your step,” she said, her voice so gentle it made me want to scream.

She never used that voice with me. Never.

I watched them walk into the building and get on the elevator.

Straight to the top floor.

To the luxury suite reserved only for the future Head Mate.

My suite.

Three hours later, Zarya came back to our apartment.

I was waiting on the sofa, a cold cup of tea clutched in my hand.

“Is he settled?” My voice was terrifyingly calm.

Zarya took off her coat. “The pack healers said he needs a quiet environment.”

“So you put him on the top floor.”

“It has the best facilities,” she said, avoiding my eyes. “It’s temporary.”

I stood up and walked slowly toward her.

“Zarya, where were you last night?”

She stiffened. “Border skirmish. I told you.”

“All night?”

“It was more complicated than I expected.”

I stepped closer, close enough to smell him on her. The scent of another male wolf.

That mixed scent was a poison needle, stabbing straight through our mate bond. A sharp, tearing pain shot through my soul, and I almost staggered.

It wasn't just Soren's scent. It was deeper. More intimate.

It was the deep, merged scent that only comes after a true mating mark.

She had lied.

She wasn't at a border skirmish last night.

She was at their marking ceremony.

And now, she was trying to ask for my permission for something she had already done.

“Do you even need my permission?” I took a step back, fighting the sickness rising in my throat.

“You have to understand, Rhys. A life is at stake.” Zarya moved toward me, reaching for my hand. “You’re my fated mate,” she insisted, as if that explained everything. “You’re supposed to be on my side.”

I snatched my hand back. “I need more time.”

“There is no time. He won’t last much longer.”

Just then, the elevator to the penthouse chimed open.

Soren stepped out, wearing a white silk robe I had never seen before. His cheeks had a feverish, pink flush, but his eyes were bright.

He walked straight to Zarya and leaned against her chest.

“Thank you, Zarya,” he said, his voice weak but laced with a smugness I couldn’t miss. His eyes were locked on me.

“I feel so much better already.”