The Lycan Rejected Bride

Camelia PovA sharp pain throbbed behind my eyes.I groaned and pressed my fingers to my temples. Silver-lilies and a man's cologne filled the room, both scents far too strong. My wolf stirred, uneasy.Under the sheets, my leg brushed something warm.I froze.My eyes snapped open. A stranger lay beside me, naked beneath the dark sheets, his broad shoulders rising and falling with each breath. I had never seen him before.This wasn't my bed. This wasn't even Silver Ridge Pack territory."Oh, Moon Mother."I scrambled away from him. The sheets slipped, and I snatched them back over myself. My clothes lay scattered across the polished floor. My dress. My corset. One shoe near the door.My hands shook as I dressed. A sleeve caught at my wrist, and I nearly cried tugging it free.What had I done?Pieces of the night came back. Anya had begged me to visit a bar near the neutral borders. My friends had supposedly abandoned me, and I hadn't wanted to go alone. Turning my sister away was somet

Camelia PovLong after Peter and Anya left, I stayed on the floor.My cheek still burned. Every time my fingers touched it, I remembered Peter's face when he struck me.He hadn't hesitated. He hadn't even looked sorry.A hard knock rattled the front door and I didn't move.The knock came again, louder this time. Slowly, I pushed myself up and crossed the room. When I opened the door, two men in dark suits stepped inside without waiting for an invitation.One held a document."Miss Stewart, you must leave this property. It has a new owner."I stared at him. "What are you talking about? Peter gave me this house.""The property has been transferred.""To whom?"The man glanced at the paper. "Anya Stewart."My grip tightened on the door.Of course. Peter had given my home to the woman who helped destroy my life."No," I said. "This is a mistake.""I'm sorry. You have one hour to collect your belongings.""One hour? I have nowhere to go."The man looked uncomfortable for a moment, but his

Camelia PovOne week later, I was beginning to find a routine.My new job at Mooncrest Cooperative Bank kept me busy. I sorted account forms, filed pack business records, and helped the front desk answer calls from clients across Silver Ridge territory.It wasn't exciting, but it paid. For the first time since Peter had abandoned me, I had money of my own.The bank had given me more than a wage. It gave me a reason to get out of bed each morning and something to focus on besides the betrayal.Every day, I learned something new. Which forms needed a manager's signature. Which pack accounts required extra checks. Some clients arrived with guards, while others came straight from farms or small businesses and waited in line with everyone else.The work reminded me that pack life was made of ordinary needs as well as Alpha orders and ceremonies.I was still hurt, but the hurt no longer filled every minute.Becca's roommate would return soon, so I had started looking for a small room to ren