Chapter 1

"Warren, so how much longer do you plan to keep up the act?"

Warren toyed with a strand of Maya's hair. "Five years is more than enough to prove how worthless she is."

"My father's already given me an ultimatum. If Ella's sixtieth dance fails too, he'll back me in breaking the bond with her. And once that's done, I can be with you."

Maya's lips curved. She leaned in and pressed a kiss to the side of his face. "The weather's so nice today. The sunset's going to be gorgeous. Come with me to the ridge to watch it."

Warren hesitated. "I promised Ella I'd go see her mother with her today."

"What, feeling sorry for her now?" Maya pouted and nuzzled against his chest.

Warren gave a low laugh. "Don't be ridiculous. You're the one who matters. I just don't want to break a promise and have to explain myself to her."

"That's easy enough."

Maya's eyes darted, her smile sly. "Just tell her the moonpetal blossom can make the spring boil sooner, and you've gone into the mountains to find some. As long as it has anything to do with your wolf spirit, she'll believe whatever you say."

Warren laughed and tapped the tip of her nose. "You've got a nasty little mind."

The phone in my pocket buzzed softly.

"Ella, I found out the moonpetal blossom can trigger the spring to boil. It only flowers for a few days, so I'm heading into the mountains to look. Sorry to cancel. I'll take you to see your mom another time."

If I hadn't stumbled onto the truth today, I would have worried about rogues catching him alone. I would have gone into those mountains myself.

I would have walked straight through the pack's sneers and doubts to find a flower that never even existed.

And I suddenly wondered why I’d clung to Warren so hard.

I came from the Moonsong Pack, sickly since childhood.

At eighteen, I failed to awaken my wolf spirit on time, and the whole pack turned me into a joke.

But Maya, my aunt's daughter, was gifted beyond compare. Wherever she went, people fawned over her.

We went to study together at the Moonwatch Pack's academy, and when the others cornered me and jeered, it was a young Warren who stepped in front of me.

He was cold to everyone else, but he smiled for me. "It's not your fault your body is weak. You don't have to bow to them. From now on, I'll protect you."

The light fell across him, and in that instant, I lost my heart to him completely.

At twenty, my wolf spirit finally awakened, and to my joy I felt that fatal pull between us.

On the day of our marking ceremony, I trembled from head to toe with excitement.

When Warren's teeth sank into my neck, his eyes were lowered, and something I couldn't read churned in them.

Back then I was too drunk on happiness to give it a second thought.

Then came the day Warren was struck by his curse, and his wolf spirit was left broken.

Just as he'd once stood in front of me, I chose to stand in front of him.

I never imagined the boy who'd defended me would join with Maya to fake a curse and lie to me for five whole years.

And now he was lying to me again, with something this clumsy.

I turned and made my way, unsteady, to find my father.

The moment he saw how pale I was, he hurried over.

My voice was soft, but there wasn't a shred of hesitation in it. "Father, I don't want Warren anymore. Find me another mate."