Chapter 2

Every word sounded self-righteous, as if he were lecturing a criminal.

Suddenly, I didn't have the strength to argue.

His heart was already with her. Nothing I said would bring it back.

Scott stepped between us to smooth things over.

"Come on, Vivian getting chosen is good news. Quit fighting.

"Sorry, Flora. It's on us. Don't blame Vivian. After the procession, we'll make it up to you."

He was right. It wasn't Vivian's fault.

I was the one who'd trusted the wrong people. Everyone I thought I could count on had betrayed me, and I hadn't seen it coming.

I wanted to leave, but Vivian slipped her arm through mine.

"I'm sorry, Flora. I know you're really mad, but I didn't mean for this to happen.

"If you're scared, how about I give you this vote?"

She held a ballot out to me.

Silas's name was on it. I'd written it myself.

Each voter gets one ballot, and it only counts once they sign their own name.

Silas hadn't brought a pen. When I offered him mine, he just handed me the ballot instead.

"We're about to be mates. It doesn't matter who signs it."

When I'd signed his name for him, I'd been sure that vote was mine.

But now Vivian was handing it to me out of pity.

Before I could say a word, Silas took the ballot and dropped it right back into Vivian's box.

"I gave it to you, so it's yours. Flora doesn't need it.

"Besides, I want to vote for you. Don't say no."

Vivian glanced at me, then smiled shyly.

"Okay. Whatever you say.

"We need to go register. Come on."

Silas nodded, then turned to me and pressed a soft kiss to my forehead, just like he used to every morning when he told me he loved me.

"Don't be mad. Be good and wait for me at home.

"After the procession, we'll have our mating ceremony. I even got someone to track down that diamond ring you wanted.

"A lot of people from the pack will be there. Don't throw a fit now, or everyone will laugh at us."

He didn't even wait for my answer. He just left with Vivian.

Alexander saw me standing there in silence and gave me an awkward pat.

"Sorry, sis.

"I did promise you at first, but then Vivian came to me and said this was her only chance. I didn't want to let her down.

"You're still young. Don't worry. Next election, I'll definitely vote for you!"

I lowered my eyes so I wouldn't have to see his face.

Alexander was my half brother. We had the same mother. I'd inherited her Beta bloodline, which made me a purebred white wolf.

He'd taken after his own father and was an ordinary wolf.

He'd grown up in another pack and didn't know much about the White Wolf pack's customs.

In the end, I just shook my head and walked away.

I'd thought it was a sure thing. I'd only been fooling myself.

My future mate. My best friend. My own flesh and blood.

When I needed them most, every one of them chose someone else.

If all the love I'd given them couldn't earn even a little real love in return, then losing my feelings wasn't much of a loss.