Prologue

Rowan’s hands wrapped around Tyler’s throat as he stared Damon straight in the eye, giving him that sickening smirk.

“Don’t do this, Rowan,” Damon said, taking a step forward. His rifle raised up pointing at him, as his fingers tightemed on the stock.

“Things don’t have to end this way. You can just let him go. Please… don’t make me do this,” Damon pleaded. “Turn yourself in, and maybe the punishment won’t be as harsh as it should be.”

“And why the hell would I do that?” Rowan’s lip curled into a bitter smile. “I’m the rightful Alpha of this pack. Why should I listen to you? Looks to me like you’ve got no choice but to play by my rules.”

“My father won that title fair and square in the duel,” Damon shot back. “You’re the one who abandoned your pack.”

“Yes, he won,” Rowan sneered, “but when he died, the position should have been mine. Instead, they handed it to his pathetic little kid.”

You're forgetting that you planted the very bomb in his chambers leading to his very death, you're thd ome who killed my father so tell me why the pack would ever want someone like you to lead them Damon growled.

Your father deserved to die, and so do you. Rowan sneered.

Damon’s chest tightened. His eyes were glassy now. They wouldn’t have been in this mess if Tyler had just listened a few minutes ago—if he hadn’t gone after Rowan alone. But here they were, Tyler's life hanging in Rowan’s grip, both of them one step away from the cliff’s edge.

“What can I offer you in exchange for my friend?” Damon asked, voice low. “What do you want? Your freedom? If that's it then fine, we...we'll stop chasing you. You’ll be a free man.”

“I want more than freedom,” Rowan said, his voice sharp. “I want what’s mine. Here’s the deal—step down as Alpha right now, in front of your friend, so he can testify you gave it up willingly. Do that, and he lives.”

“Don’t listen to him, Damon,” Tyler rasped, his eyes red.

Damon could see it—the look in Tyler’s eyes. That reckless fire that meant he was about to do something stupid.

“Pull the trigger!” Tyler shouted.

“Shut up, you don’t know what you’re saying! If I pull the trigger, then you’ll—”

“I said pull the goddamn trigger!” Tyler yelled, his body trembling under Rowan’s grip.

“You heard him,” Rowan said with a smirk. “Pull it. Watch us both fall to our deaths.”

“There’s alwats an easy way, Damon,, and in this case there is” Rowan taunted. “Give me your title, or pull the trigger, that's just it, in one case you loose your criwnnbut you have your Friend, in the other you loose your friend and keep your criwn, so make your choice Damon time's ticking.”

Damon’s tears slipped free. His best friend—his Beta—was seconds from dying, and the price for his life was his very own crown. For a moment, Damon thought about giving in. But he couldn’t.

He locked eyes with Tyler as Memories of them together flashed in his head—Tyler laughing around the campfire the previous night, cracking jokes for the whole pack. Promising they’d always have each other’s backs.

“Pull it, Damon,” Tyler said, voice shaking but steady in his resolve. “Do it.”

“I can’t… I—”

“Do it now!” Tyler shouted.

The shot rang out before Damon even realized he’d pulled the trigger. His hands shook violently as the rifle slipped from his grip and fell to the ground.

Rowan staggered. Blood gushed out on his side. His eyes widened, then he gave a slow, bloody chuckle, blood spilling from his mouth.

And then he fell—dragging Tyler with him.

“Tyler!” Damon screamed as he lunged, hitting the ground hard as his stomach scraped the rock. His hand shot out, grabbing Tyler’s just before he went over.

He caught the cliff edge with his other hand, hanging there, Tyler’s weight pulling at him. Blood from the deep wound on his right arm trickled down his fingers, making his grip slick.

“Let me go, Damon,” Tyler said, his voice breaking.

“You’ve lost it!” Damon growled. “There’s no way I’m letting you go! I’ll pull you up. Or I’ll wait for the others to get here—”

Tyler’s hand slipped slightly in Damon’s grasp. The blood between their palms made it worse.

“Please,” Tyler said, his voice softer now. “It’s better if one of us survives.”

“I can’t… and I won’t,” Damon said, groaning as he pulled with everything he had. Pain shot through his arm with every pull.

“As your Beta, I swore to protect you. And I will. Keep her safe, Damon.”

“Tyler…” Damon’s voice cracked. His eyes locked on Tyler’s one last time.

Then Tyler let go.

Damon’s scream tore through the air as he watched his best friend fall into the water.

Damon was alpha and Tyler had paid the price for it.

_______________________________________________________

CHAPTER ONE

They said time heals all wounds—but what does time know about waiting for a man who died with a promise on his lips?

Two nights before he left for the mission with Alpha Damon and the rest of the crew, I was with him, in his home. I warned him not to go. I begged him not to take the risk, saying it was too dangerous.

But he somehow managed to convince me. He told me he’d be back, that he’d return. We had a special moment together; I remembered it all—the way he caressed my neck, the warmth of his breath against my skin, the way his kisses sent chills up my spine.

He even marked me as a promise that he would return, saying that when he came back, we would get married—that I would be his forever. Well… where was he now? Six feet under. And here I was, standing at his memorial a month later, burying all the promises with him.

It was all his fault. It was all Alpha Damon’s fault. Rumors had it that he was responsible for Tyler’s death—that he shot Rowan despite knowing Tyler would fall.

Damon had always placed his position ahead of everything else, and he did it even with his own friend. Their friendship went back a long time, but now Tyler was in the ground while Damon walked freely, like nothing had ever happened. I would never forgive him for what he did—and that was a promise I had made to myself.

The pack didn’t even show up for Tyler’s memorial. I was more or less the only one standing at his grave, a flower in my hands as tears rolled down my cheeks.

Every memory about him made me weak. I didn’t even notice when I fell to my knees, clutching the flower to my chest as I wept. It was raining, and I could feel the cold seeping through my knees as I knelt there on the wet ground.

I placed the flower on the stone carving of his name and stood up. Without sparing a glance at his grave, I turned and walked away.

I would always love Tyler, even to my grave—yet in a month’s time, I would be marrying the Alpha of the Nightshade Pack.

My father had borrowed money from several people in the pack when my mother fell ill. He did his best to save her, but even the pack’s doctor couldn’t do much. She died and was buried long ago. Now, with everyone demanding their money back, my father had no choice.

A deadly Alpha—or so I heard—asked for my hand in marriage. My father offered me to him on one condition: give him the sum of money required to pay back all the debts.

The Alpha agreed and said the money would be given to my father on the day of the wedding.

I guess it was just my fate to suffer. Life had taken everything from me—my mother, my lover—and now my life was being handed to a man I hardly knew.

As I walked back home, thoughts of how my life would change for the worse filled my head. Maybe I’d be turned into a slave… or maybe I’d end up like the Alpha’s other mates—in the grave.

It was said that all the Lunas of the Alpha died within a month of being with him. Some assumed it was a curse. Others assumed the Alpha himself killed them. But I believed it was simply their fate to die—just as it was my fate to suffer.

Arriving at the doorstep of my father’s house, I heard voices coming from inside. One was my father’s; the other was a voice I didn’t quite recognize, though it sounded familiar.

There was a scent in the air that made my nose itch—a very expensive perfume. Only the wealthy were said to own such a fragrance, i usually perceived it on Tyler's clothes, and yet it was coming from inside my house.

Maybe it was another suitor, I thought. Or maybe it was the Alpha of the Nightshade Pack—whose name I still didn’t know.

I heaved a heavy sigh. Either way, I had no choice. I was under my father’s care and would do as he said—even if it meant marrying the worst man on the planet.

I pushed open the door and stepped inside. And there he was—my father, sitting on the couch. But what made my heart stop was the man beside him.

Tyler’s murderer.

He sat with his legs crossed like he owned the place, in a perfectly tailored suit and shoes that sparkled under the dim light.

What the hell was he doing here? And what the hell was he discussing with my father? Those were the two thoughts that crossed my mind as I stood there with my fists clenched.

I couldn’t believe that a moment ago I had been mourning my dead lover, and now I was staring at his killer.

I turned to my father, whose wrinkled face bore a smile I wished I could wipe away. He always meddled in things he had no business with.

“Dad, what—”

“Calm down, calm down,” my father interrupted, standing with the help of his walking stick. Even in his old age, he refused to let me live my life in peace.

He walked toward me and tapped my back when he reached me, while I continued glaring at Damon Duskbane.

“I’d like to introduce you—though I’m sure you already know him—Damon Duskbane, the Alpha of our pack. The hero who has fought endlessly to protect this pack.”

Hero? I scoffed inwardly. He was no hero to me. He was a murderer, and he deserved to pay for everything he’d done.

“Great..., Dad...,” I said through clenched teeth, turning my gaze to Damon, who smiled at me with an unreadable expression. “What is our supposed hero doing in our home?”

“Well, he’s—”

“I’m here because of you,” Damon interjected before my father could finish.

He took three deliberate steps forward until he was just inches from me.

“And why are you here because of me?” I asked, meeting his gaze as he smirked.

“I heard you were getting married to an Alpha from another pack.”

“Yes. And how is that your concern?” I shot back.

He stared at me, unblinking. “He doesn’t deserve you. So I thought—why let such a beautiful woman in my own pack be given to a stranger she barely knows, when I can have her myself?”

“Excuse me, what?” I stepped closer, shock written all over my face.

So not only had he killed Tyler, but now he wanted to ruin my life entirely. I’d rather take my chances with a mine bomb from another pack than spend an eternity with him.

“I’ve already made all the arrangements,” he said. “I’ve given your father the price to have you as my Luna.”

I turned to my father, still smiling as if this was supposed to make me happy. Well, he was wrong. I wasn’t.

Turning back to Damon, I locked eyes with him. “You must be delusional if you think I would spend my life with you after what you did. You ki—”

“I’m not delusional, Elodie,” he cut me off again. “You are. You’re mine now, and there’s nothing you can do about it. The sooner you realize that, the better it will be for you. Because you leave with me...."

“Tonight.”

_______________________________________________________

CHAPTER TWO

I’d grown accustomed to experiencing the worst. But this… this was worse than I expected.

“Dad, can I speak to you in my room?” I said, turning to stare at him.

He nodded. “Sure, sure. Please, Mr. Damon—have a seat. We’ll be back before you know it.”

Glaring at Damon, I brushed past him and walked straight toward my room. Once inside, I turned and stared at the door, waiting for my father to come in as well.

The moment he stepped through, I shut the door behind him.

“Dad, what is this…?”

“What is what?” he replied, his cracked voice carrying an edge. “I just got you a big shot, Elodie. Look—Mr. Damon out there is the best choice I’ve ever made for you. You have no choice but to marry him.”

“Dad, for once will you ever think of me rather than your own selfish motives?” I stepped forward, my voice trembling with frustration. “Why can’t I be the one to choose the man I love? Why can’t you just let me be—”

“Let you choose the one you love? Like the way you chose Tyler?” His eyes hardened. “Where is he now? Isn’t he dead?”

“Dad…” My eyes turned glassy.

He walked over and placed his hands on my shoulders.

“Look,” he said. “When your mother died, she asked one thing—that I protect you, that I make sure you had a great future. And when she died… you know how much I borrowed to pay for her treatments, Elodie. I had to borrow a huge sum of money, and now Mr. Damon is willing to pay for everything—only if you marry him.”

He straightened, his voice firm. “I’ve found a way to do both things that have been weighing on me: pay my debts and fulfill your mother’s only wish. And I’m not going to let anything stand in the way. Not even you.”

I stared at him, tears rolling down my cheeks. But he didn’t care. He couldn’t see that I was dying inside because of his decisions.

“Now,” he continued, “you’ll go back out there and act nice, Elodie. Make sure Mr. Damon likes you even more. I know he was a friend to Tyler before he died, but isn’t that a good thing? He understands Tyler—meaning he’ll understand you better. You just need to spend some time with him. Maybe then you’ll see he’s the right man for you.”

I stared at him, wondering if this was truly the man I once called my father. Despite knowing Damon was responsible for Tyler’s death, he still wanted me to marry him.

Well, he was wrong if he thought I’d spend my life with a monster like Damon. I’d rather hang myself—or flee this place. And I meant it.

He studied me for a moment, then, seeing I wasn’t responding, walked past me and left the room.

I turned and walked towards the mirror, kneeling before it and staring at my reflection. My mouth quivered as I struggled to hold back the sobs threatening to burst out.

I pulled the top of my gown aside and saw the mark on my collarbone—the one Tyler had given me. It was fading away, almost gone now… because he was gone.

Every passing minute, every moment I remembered that he was dead, my heart shattered a little more.

And yet, now I was being pursued by the very man who called himself his best friend.

The door creaked open.

I didn’t need to look to know who it was. The itch in my nose gave him away—the scent I had come to hate because of him filled my room.

I heard his footsteps, slow and steady, as he walked in. Turning, I stared up at him, his smug expression in place, his hands shoved deep in his pockets as he towered over me.

I stood, wiped my eyes, and faced him.

“What are you doing in my room?” I asked, my voice shaking.

“I know this must be very difficult for you,” he said calmly. “Especially since you lost Tyler.”

“Do not mention his name,” I warned, holding back the tears.

“You know he was my best friend.”

“And yet you killed him. Why?” A tear escaped my eyes as I swallowed hard.

“Everyone believes I killed him,” he said. “And I won’t try to change their thoughts or impressions of me. So if you think I am responsible for Tyler’s death… then yes, I am responsible.”

My breath caught, but he continued before I could speak.

“But that’s not why I’m here.” His gaze flickered, glassy for a moment before he regained composure. “Tonight, I’ll be introducing my mate to the whole pack at the mating ceremony.”

“You forget—I’m not your mate,” I said coldly. “You’re just buying me from my father. There’s no bond, no feeling. We have no connection.”

“Yet I take what I want,” he replied, his voice like ice.

“Like you took Tyler’s life?” I shot back.

He stared at me in silence for a moment, then leaned in and whispered against my ear.

“The ceremony starts at nine tonight. I’ll be here to pick you up by eight. Don’t be late. Dress well, look good, and smell nice.”

After speaking, he pulled away and walked toward the door.

“If you’re responsible for Tyler’s death,” I called after him, “why did you make it mandatory for the pack to hold a memorial for him every month? And why weren’t you there today?”

He paused. “I arranged the memorial because Tyler was—and still is—the bravest man I’ve ever known. And as for why I wasn’t there—I don’t mourn the dead. The dead are gone, and life moves on. I’ve moved on… and I suggest you do the same.”

Without another glance, he left the room.

I sank to the ground, breaking completely. I couldn’t hold it in any longer. Tears fell freely as I clutched myself. I always knew change was inevitable, but I never expected my life to change like this.

---

7 p.m.

I waited until my father was gone and the house was silent—so quiet I could hear the buzzing of insects outside. My father had gone to some sort of arrangement, invited personally by Damon, and he’d said he couldn’t be late.

This was my chance. I couldn’t spend my life with a man I despised with every atom of my being. I would escape this nightmare.

Since Damon had left, I’d been in my room, packing my bags. Instead of wearing a gown for the ceremony, I wore jeans, a shirt, and tight, flexible sneakers.

It was time to escape—and nothing would stop me. Or so I thought.

Slipping my backpack over my shoulders, I stepped into the parlor. That same scent—the one that made my nose itch—lingered in the air. The perfume must have been expensive, for it to still be strong after hours of Damon being here I thought.

As I reached for the door, I heard the faint creak of a chair.

I froze. The room was dark, and I couldn't see anything, the only things I could see where shadows from house objects that posed to scare me.

“Is anyone there?” I called softly but no one answered.

I sighed, telling myself I was imagining things, and turned toward the door again. But before I could take a step, a deep, familiar voice rolled through the darkness, sending chills up my spine.

“So this was your plan,” the voice said. “I thought as much—you’re trying to run away.”

My heart dropped. I didn’t need to see his face to know who it was.

I was trapped.

There would be no running away from this wretched life of mine.

Eyes were on me. Watching like hawks.

I was being stalked.