1| Betrayed.

DAISY

“Mine!” Aldric growled as he poured his seeds into me, marking me at the same time.

Last night was a blast. I couldn’t stop grinning as I walked through the pack house, replaying every moment in my mind.

Two nights ago was my birthday dinner party, and on the same night I met my mate. I was a northern princess, and he was a Western Alpha. He brought me here to his pack yesterday, leaving my family and everything I knew behind.

I’d been betrayed so many times before. But Aldric was different. He seemed gentle, pure, sincere. Everything I’d been waiting for. So, the sacrifice was worth it.

“Kira,” I tried to reach out to my wolf again, but there was no response.

She had appeared only once, two nights ago. I’d barely managed to get her name before she vanished. I had been trying to reach her ever since, but to no avail. I was starting to worry. Maybe it was because I was half witch and half wolf—the first hybrid to ever exist. I had no idea how it was supposed to work, but I prayed she’d come back soon.

As I continued down the corridor, pack members’ stares followed me. At first, I thought it was simple curiosity as they were just seeing their new Luna. But then I caught the unmistakable look of pity in their eyes.

What was happening?

Murmurs soon erupted around me, throwing me into panic.

“He just wouldn’t let go of that bitch,” a voice wafted into my ears.

“Look, he has even marked her, but still fucking that bitch in his office,” another one said.

My stomach dropped. Blood roared in my ears as suspicions washed over me. My heart began to beat dangerously against my ribcage.

Without thinking, my legs carried me as fast as they could to his office. Aldric had shown me around the pack house yesterday, including his office, so I knew exactly where to go.

When I burst his office door open, I froze in shock. My stomach twisted violently at the devastating sight before me.

Lilith, the woman Aldric had introduced as his childhood best friend, was bent over his desk while he drove into her from behind.

He jerked back the instant he saw me and pulled up his pants. Lilith yanked her skirt down, her face flushed.

“Daisy,” Aldric said sharply, as though I’d barged in on him. “What are you doing here?”

“You—” My throat closed up. The bitter taste of betrayal filled my mouth. Hot and vile.

His eyes darkened as he shoved Lilith aside and stepped toward me. “It’s not what you think. I can explain—”

When he tried to touch me, I lifted my hand and struck him hard across the face. “Do not touch me!”

His eyes flashed with rage before softening into the same tender look that once soothed me—the façade I’d been stupid enough to trust.

He rubbed his jaw slowly. “You’re angry. Go to the room and rest. When you’ve calmed down, we’ll talk.”

My hands trembled. Magic surged hot in my veins, screaming to be unleashed, to curse him into impotence. But I didn’t do that. Instead, I spun on my heel and bolted out of the room as fast as my legs could carry me.

Tears blurred my vision as I stumbled into the room where he had mated and marked me just last night. I clawed at my luggage, shoving my few belongings inside with shaking hands.

The door suddenly opened and Aldric strode inside. He paused when he saw me dragging my luggage across the floor. His eyes narrowed. “What are you doing?”

“Move!” I growled as I tried to push past him. He grabbed my arm and yanked me back.

Then he let go but blocked the doorway with his body.

Running his fingers through his hair, he sighed heavily. “When Lilith and I turned eighteen and didn’t find our mates, we made a pact to become chosen mates.” He looked at me, and I almost fell for the fake sorrow in his eyes. “Please understand. I couldn’t just get rid of her after I found you.”

Bile rose in my throat. His excuses were even more disgusting than the act itself.

Crocodile tears sprang down his face as he pressed on. “But now I see what I’ve done. I’ll end things with her, I swear it. I don’t want to lose you, Daisy.”

His words stabbed into me like knives, twisting deeper with every syllable. My chest ached with unbearable pressure. I just wanted to get the hell out.

“I. Said. Move!” My voice shook as I raised my hand, magic swelling hot and sharp in my palm.

But before I could release it, cold metal clamped around my wrists.

It was a dark object used to restrain witches. Once cuffed around the wrists, magic is neutralized until taken off.

But I was no ordinary witch and was much more powerful than a restraining dark object.

A dark, bitter chuckle escaped me as I flicked my gaze at him. “You think this can stop me?”

Without hesitation, I channeled my power from its deep sources, attempting to break free from the dark object. But my magic felt so weak against the power of the cuff.

Terror sliced through me.

Aldric’s eyes hardened, turning dark and dangerous as he dragged me by my hair and cuffed me to the bed with a regular handcuff.