Chapter 1

My mate, Luther Evans, had spent 20 thousand dollars on two first-class tickets for the Moonlight Express to Vespera Coast. Just as we were about to board, he pulled me aside and gave my seat to my foster sister, Zoey Turner.

He explained, "There's only one empty seat left on the train, and Zoey's son has never seen the ocean before. This is the perfect chance. Kids can't be separated from their mothers, so I'll take them first and get them settled, then come back for you."

I nodded and stepped off the train, watching it disappear into the distance. Once they reached the beach, a friend asked Luther why I hadn't come along.

He was busy inflating a pool float for Zoey, answering casually without looking up. "The Moonlight Express runs every three days. Avery Smith can just buy her own ticket and come later. I'll pick up some gifts to make it up to her. She's really understanding and won't stay mad at me."

A bitter smile tugged at the corners of my mouth. The whole family had always favored Zoey, and now even my own mate was no different.

Since nobody wanted to see me anyway, I decided I would leave in three days.

…

I never expected to see Zoey before our honeymoon trip. The Moonlight Express was about to depart, but Luther had not boarded yet, so I went out to find him.

There, I saw him looking toward the entrance.

From a distance, Zoey was walking over unhurriedly with her son, William Lowe, in tow. When she got closer, she smiled at me.

"Avery, Luther told me you're really excited about vacationing together with us." Her tone was gentle, but the way she looked at me was arrogant.

There was no way I would have invited her to come.

Luther reached over to help load her luggage onto the train, but the conductor stopped him with an apologetic expression. "Sir, there's only one first-class seat remaining."

The Moonlight Express offered full-service immersive scenic touring, and it was exactly the honeymoon experience I had always wanted. It was peak season at Vespera Coast right now, so the standard seats had sold out early, while first-class seats cost five times as much.

Luther frowned slightly, but he did not say anything.

Zoey lowered her gaze with obvious disappointment. "William and I won't be going then. Have a wonderful trip, you two."

She looked up with a smile and added, "William was so excited about riding the Moonlight Express first-class to the beach that he couldn't sleep all night. When you see the ocean, could you record it for him? Just so he has something to remember."

Luther fell silent for a moment. When he glanced over, he met William's expectant eyes. He sighed and reached out to pull me down from the boarding steps.

"Avery, Zoey just severed her mate bond, and she's really struggling emotionally. Plus, William has never left the pack before. The Moonlight Express only runs every three days. Could you let Zoey have your seat? I'll come back for you, I promise."

I did not see any reluctance in Luther's eyes.

This trip was supposed to be my honeymoon. I had booked the hotel and planned the route, and the 20 thousand dollars for the two tickets came from my pre-marriage savings. Yet now, there was no place for me on the train.

Zoey was rightfully enjoying everything that belonged to me. My mate was spending my money, taking credit for my planning, and going on vacation with the foster sister I despised most.

The whole situation felt absurd, and my wolf was furious.

Luther loaded Zoey's luggage onto the train and brought mine back to the platform. As I watched his movements, I suddenly felt like he was a complete stranger.

The train slowly started moving, and Zoey sat by the window, waving at me with a smile. I saw Luther leaning down to help William with his seatbelt, completely forgetting that I was still standing on the platform.

During the ten-hour scenic journey, Zoey posted over a dozen photos on Instagram. At first, they were of the scenery outside the window, but later almost all of them showed Luther's profile as he gazed out the window.

One wolf even teased in the comment. [Zoey, is this your new mate? What a commanding presence.]

Zoey did not deny it. She only replied with a happy emoji and kept posting updates.

Midway through the trip, Luther contacted me through our mind-link.

His voice was gentle as he said, "Avery, be good and wait for me. Once I get them settled, I'll come right back for you."

Under the blazing sun, I walked home with my head down while my wolf raged in my mind.

Time kept ticking by. A day and night passed, and Luther had yet to return. Meanwhile, Zoey posted another update on Instagram. She was wearing a sexy bikini, lazily sprawled across a banana boat.

A friend who was supposed to meet us at the beach called me, saying Luther was lounging in a beach chair. I could hear voices in the background.

Someone else was asking Luther, "Hey Luther, didn't you say you were going to pick up your mate?"