Chapter 2

Once they were out of sight, I turned around and took a cab home.

The first thing I did was call a number in my contacts that I'd never used before.

"Vanessa, it's me. You offered me a job at your company before. I've thought about it, and I've decided to take it."

She paused. "You're sure? Taking the job means transferring your pack registration. Aren't you about to have your mating ceremony with Grayson?"

"The ceremony is off. I'm leaving this pack in a few days anyway, so transferring my registration is exactly what I need."

I worked out the details of the job.

Then I saw that Bianca had posted something new on Instagram.

It was a photo of the two of them wearing matching rings, their fingers intertwined.

They were both beaming, and the comments were flooded with congratulations.

[Congratulations. Childhood sweethearts, made for each other.]

[Look at the way the Alpha looks at Bianca. He can't take his eyes off her. You two are clearly meant for each other.]

I read through the well wishes and couldn't help laughing at myself.

Nobody cared that I was supposed to be Grayson's mate.

As I sat there staring at the screen, my father mind-linked me.

The moment the link opened, he started cursing. He was ready to come over right then and tear Grayson apart.

"I told you that boy was no good. No daughter of mine is putting up with this. I'll arrange another match for you. We're done with him."

Back when Grayson and I first got together, my father had been strongly against it.

He was the Alpha of a powerful pack, and Grayson's pack wasn't even half as strong as his.

As far as my father was concerned, Grayson was nowhere near good enough for me.

But I pleaded with him, and Grayson knelt in the snow for three days and three nights just so we could be together.

In the end, my father gave in.

And now Grayson had betrayed me.

"There's a pack alliance banquet coming up. Every major Alpha will be there. Go and see if anyone catches your eye. Say the word and I'll set it up."

I'd only just decided to give up on Grayson. I wasn't ready to start another relationship so soon.

But my father was still furious, and refusing him would only make things worse.

After some hesitation, I agreed to go to the banquet.

Maybe Grayson realized he had gone a little too far that day.

Before the banquet started, he came to me first instead of Bianca.

It made her furious.

On the drive there, Grayson kept messaging her to explain himself.

She sulked the entire time and refused to answer him.

He gave me a helpless look and shook his head. "Camille, Bianca's already mad at me because of you. Isn't that enough? You can stop being upset now."

I didn't answer. I just stared out the window.

The second the car stopped, I opened the door and got out.

I had only taken a few steps when I heard Bianca's coy, complaining laugh behind me.

Bianca had her arms wrapped around Grayson's waist, scolding him for not picking her up first.

He kept trying to explain himself, making them look like the real couple while I was some shameful homewrecker on the side.

The banquet was half over by the time they finally came in, laughing together.

Grayson's face stiffened when he saw me. He immediately stepped away from Bianca.

He walked over and was about to speak when another Alpha approached and raised a glass to him.

"Grayson, I hear your mating ceremony is coming up. Congratulations."

Someone beside him chimed in.

"Your Luna is stunning. You're a lucky man."

Bianca gave a sweet laugh beside him.

"Oh, stop. You're too kind."

Everyone around them suddenly fell silent and stared at her strangely.

Everyone there knew I was the one who was supposed to become Grayson's mate.

Bianca realized what she'd just said and shot Grayson a pleading look.