Chapter 3

Any other time, I would have shut him down instantly.

But when I actually agreed, Ronan beamed.

He clapped me on the shoulder, his voice booming. "Thalia, you're finally seeing reason!"

"Just say the word, and after dinner, I'll set you up with the hottest Alpha in the entire Alliance!"

I laughed and said yes, letting my eyes drift over to Gideon.

His lips were a thin, hard line, his face dark with fury.

As we were laughing, he suddenly cut in, "Thalia, don't get the wrong idea. Aveline is just—"

"Just a friend," he clarified, his voice tight with nerves. "We're not like that."

A sly glint appeared in Ronan's eyes. He immediately jumped in. "Oh? That's great! Then why don't you and our Thalia get together? It's a good way to keep her in the pack. We wouldn't have to marry her off to some random Alpha."

My heart gave a hard thump.

For one shameful second, I thought he'd agree.

I thought he'd use this chance to finally announce our five-year relationship, to give me a proper title.

But Gideon immediately rejected the idea.

"Don't be ridiculous. Thalia is like a sister to me."

His tone was firm, without a hint of hesitation.

"We could never be like that."

My world shattered. I could almost hear the sound of my own heart breaking.

Like a sister to me.

For five years, he had used that phrase to build me a gilded cage, where I served as his secret lover, hidden from the world.

I forced a smile, my facial muscles feeling stiff and unnatural. "That's right. We grew up together. Beta Gideon has always taken good care of me."

Every word felt like swallowing shards of glass.

Aveline added softly, "Thalia is as sweet as a sister. Gideon talks about you all the time."

Her smile was sweet and harmless, but the triumph in her eyes was unmistakable.

After the meal, Gideon left with Aveline, and for the next few days, we had no contact.

I went about my days, eating, drinking, and eagerly attending any party thrown by the young wolves of the pack.

A few days later, at the full moon bonfire, Ronan found me lounging around and insisted I go with him.

I was already in bed and refused to budge.

But he was persistent. "Tonight is a huge moment for Gideon! We all grew up together, you have to be there to see it!"

I didn't know what he meant until we got there. There was a special event planned.

"I heard Aveline is going to formally ask Gideon to mate with her tonight."

"For real? Is Gideon ready to mark her?"

"I heard he even had a bonding gown custom-made for her at the best tailor in town."

The whispers stabbed at my ears like needles.

A bonding gown.

He had never done anything like that for me.

Mating with me wasn't even part of his plan.

When the party started, many young wolves approached me.

Several were Alphas from allied packs—handsome, powerful, and all good prospects.

"Thalia, may I have this dance?"

"You look beautiful tonight."

I moved among them gracefully, offering a polite smile here and there.

Across the bonfire, Gideon watched me in silence.

His eyes were dark, like a sky before a storm.

Every time a male got too close to me, his fists would clench at his sides.

But he did nothing.

Because Aveline was right there, clinging to his arm.

"Thalia."

Aveline found me during a break and pulled me into a corner.

"I'm going to formally ask Gideon to mate with me tonight. Can you help me?"

Her voice was soft, pleading. "Use your close, brother-sister relationship to help me out? I know he spoils you. He'll do anything you say."

I looked at her hopeful face, my fingers digging into my palms as a wave of irony washed over me.

Aveline looked as gentle as water, but her heart was full of schemes.

She knew about us. And she knew Gideon would never claim me publicly.

She wanted to use that, to make me personally push the man I loved into another woman's arms.

She wanted to grind me under her heel.

But Aveline didn't know that after my last life, my heart was completely dead when it came to Gideon.

"Of course," I promised with a radiant smile. "I'll help you."

When dinner began, Gideon's attention was glued to me.

He kept putting food on my plate, pouring me juice, his gaze so intense it hurt.

"Thalia, you've barely eaten anything."

"Try this. It's your favorite honey-roasted duck."

I refused him coldly. "Thank you, but I'm not hungry. You should go take care of Aveline."

"She looks like she needs your attention."

Gideon's face darkened, but he couldn't lash out in front of everyone.

When other wolves offered Aveline strong liquor, Gideon downed it for her.

"She can't handle hard liquor," he explained, his voice a low growl.

One glass, two, three...

With the crowd cheering him on, he took shot after shot for her.

When the atmosphere hit its peak, Aveline finally stood up.

Her cheeks were flushed with excitement, her eyes shimmering with tears.

"Gideon, I have something to say to you."

The entire clearing went silent.

"I love you. I've loved you since the moment we first met."

Her voice trembled with emotion. "Please, accept my request. Mate with me!"

The crowd erupted in a wild chorus of howls and cheers.

"Say yes! Say yes!"

"Don't hesitate, Gideon!"

Gideon paused, as if he hadn't seen this coming.

The stage was perfectly set. The heroine had made her brave declaration. All that was left was for the hero to nod his head.

A publicly acclaimed mating, a match made by fate, was about to be born.

Watching the two of them in the flickering firelight, I joined in, clapping and shouting, "Say yes, Beta Gideon! The Moon Goddess is watching!"

Gideon's head snapped toward me, his face a mask of disbelief.

"Thalia, are you insane? Have you forgotten you're my mate?! What the hell are you doing?!"