Chapter 1

The bonfire in the square blazed bright. Heat washed over my face, but it couldn't warm my frozen hands and feet.

Today was Alpha Julian Draven's celebration. It was supposed to be my bonding ceremony with Julian too.

But the woman standing in the center of the square, wrapped in a pure white gown and nestled against Julian's side, wasn't me. Her name was Linda Griffin, a human woman Julian had brought back with him.

"Tonight, I swear to the Moon Goddess!" Julian's voice boomed as loud as ever, hitting every ear in the crowd.

"The human, Linda Griffin, will be my one and only Luna!"

The lively crowd fell deathly silent. Then, shocked whispers rippled through the square.

I somehow managed to move my legs. All I felt was a small, warm hand clutching desperately at my skirt.

It was our pup, three-year-old Kyle Draven. His amber eyes, so much like Julian's, filled with terror.

"Julian!"

I dragged Kyle forward and pushed through to the platform. My voice cracked from rage and fear.

"What about Kyle and me? What are we supposed to be? Everyone's watching. You're really going to abandon me and our pup for a human?"

Julian finally looked down. His gaze was so cold and distant that it made my blood run cold.

"Ella, know your place." His voice was cold and dismissive.

"You're just a tool to bear my heirs. As for Kyle..."

He glanced at the crying pup, his brow furrowing in irritation. Behind him, Linda tugged lightly at the corner of his shirt.

She looked at me, her lips curving into the briefest smirk before she quickly replaced it with a pitiful expression.

"I'm so sorry, Ella." Linda's voice was soft as a whisper, yet somehow perfectly audible to the elders in the front row. "I didn't want to come between you two, but I'm already carrying Julian's pup. This is the product of true love. I can't let our pup grow up without a father."

The crowd erupted. I stared at Linda's flat stomach.

She was human and had no werewolf scent. But there was something strange about her smell. I couldn't tell if she was actually pregnant or not.

"She's lying! She's human, Julian. She's human! How could she possibly..."

"Enough!" Julian's roar cut through the air.

The crushing weight of his Alpha authority slammed into me. My knees buckled and I hit the ground hard.

That was when Kyle seemed to remember something. Trembling, he pulled a crooked flower crown from his pocket, woven from grass and twine.

He'd spent three whole days learning how to make it from the pack elders for today's celebration. His little hands were covered in red marks from where the rope had dug into his skin.

"Daddy... flowers... for you..." Kyle could barely get the words out through his tears, but he still lifted that crude little crown, trying so hard to please the cold Alpha in front of him.

Linda glanced at the crown covered in dirt and bits of grass. She let out a shriek and pressed herself into Julian's arms.

"Oh! There's a bug on it! It's so dirty. Julian, I'm scared of bugs..."

Julian's eyes filled with rage. Not only did he refuse to accept his pup's innocent gift, but he lifted his foot and kicked it away viciously.

The flower crown flew through the air and landed near the fire. Kyle froze. His little hand stayed suspended in midair.

"Linda may be human, but she's gentler than you. Kinder than you. And stop letting him call me Dad."

Julian protectively shielded Linda, then turned to look at me. "You're nothing like her. You gave birth to a bastard. Get out. Don't ruin our bonding ceremony."

He didn't even glance at Kyle. He just turned and walked away. Kyle threw himself into my arms, sobbing uncontrollably.

I could hear my heart breaking. Something inside my chest had shattered completely.