Chapter 1

Allie's POV

I was zipping up the empty garment bag in the dressing room when the door swung open. I caught my mate Ryan Blackwood's reflection in the mirror. He seemed relieved to see that I had changed out of my gown—the one meant for our marking ceremony.

Ryan walked over and habitually reached out to put an arm around my waist. "I knew you'd understand, Allie."

I moved slightly to the side, avoiding his touch.

Ryan's hand hung in midair, his body tensing briefly. He spoke in a gentler tone, as though he were explaining a pack affair that had nothing to do with me. "I promised Bella I'd do this. I made the vow before the Moon Goddess, so I have to fulfill it. It's just a marking ceremony, Allie."

It had been three years, and aside from being known as the Luna of the Hawthorne pack, I possessed nothing that truly belonged to an Alpha's mate.

Ryan was in grave danger during a battle back then; his wolf had weakened to the point that he was barely clinging to life. His childhood friend's mother had sacrificed her life to create the antidote that saved him.

He gave Bella Duske, that very childhood friend, three Moonvow Stones and promised that if she ever ran into trouble, he would help her as long as she used one.

He said he was simply repaying a debt. He told me that since I was the future Luna of the Hawthorne pack, I needed to be sensible, look at the bigger picture, and try to understand where he was coming from.

That was why I had put up with Ryan's favoritism toward Bella all these years.

Ryan used to wait for me at the end of the alley every night to walk me home. He even tied the wristband he won for placing first in the Full Moon Hunt around my wrist. He always looked at me like I was his entire world.

He had changed, though. He postponed our anniversary celebration, missed my graduation ceremony, and even let Bella keep the pearl hair comb—a keepsake Mom had left me—after she had supposedly borrowed it.

Bella walked in wearing a gold-trimmed gown, its hem spilling over the threshold. "I'm ready, Ryan!"

That was the very gown I was supposed to wear for the marking ceremony.

Bella linked her arm with Ryan's before turning to me. "I'm really sorry, Allie! I was told by the witch that something terrible would happen to me when I turned 24 years old. I have to go through the marking ceremony with someone on a full moon night to prevent it.

"If you're uncomfortable with this arrangement, I'll take off the gown right away, Allie."

She reached for the zipper behind her back as she said that.

Ryan quickly grabbed her hand to stop her. "Stop it, Bella. You'll tear the fabric if you pull at it."

"I'm fine with it," I said flatly. I sounded so composed that it even caught me off guard for a second.

Ryan gave me an approving look, as if I were a pup that had finally learned to behave. "Do you see that, Bella? Allie isn't the petty type."

Bella looked on innocently, wearing a sweet smile. "You can rest assured that it's just for show—no marking will actually take place. It doesn't count for anything, Allie."

Just then, the door was kicked open with a loud bang. Maya Woolgar, my friend, stood in the doorway, appearing furious.

Maya's kick had left a crack in the doorframe, which wasn't surprising given her exceptional strength as a warrior of the Hawthorne pack. She balled her hands into fists the moment she spotted Bella wearing the gown. "What exactly is the meaning of this? Have you completely forgotten what ceremony it is, Alpha Ryan?"

Bella shrank back behind Ryan, clearly frightened.

Ryan's expression hardened as he hissed, "Maya, this is a private matter between Allie and me."

Maya scoffed. "I'll just go destroy all the flowers in the banquet hall, then—"

I stood up and caught Maya by the wrist, stopping her. "Let's go. The ceremony is about to begin. It won't work if we're late."

Bella suddenly flashed a smug smile and spoke in a sweet, pleading voice. "I'm thirsty, Ryan."

Ryan didn't think twice before turning to me. "Go pour Bella a glass of warm water, Allie."

I remained where I stood.

Ryan looked back at me, his brow furrowing. "What are you waiting for, Allie?"

He didn't seem to think there was anything wrong with his current behavior, even though there wasn't any Moonvow Stone or backlash involved at the moment. He instinctively took Bella's side the moment she displayed any distress.

I suddenly realized that this kind of instinctive favoritism had been going on long before today.

There was a time when Bella mentioned in passing that she craved the pastries from the southern part of the city, so Ryan went all the way across the city to get them for her after work.

I thought he'd bought them for me when he returned, so I reached for them.

Ryan, however, immediately pulled away and said, "I'll buy you some next time, Allie. I got these for Bella."

Bella hadn't used a Moonvow Stone back then, yet he had still chosen her over me.

"Alright…"

Ryan glanced at me, a flicker of hesitation passing through his eyes. He noticed that I had been unusually quiet over the past month, neither crying nor making a scene, looking completely lifeless.

He didn't dwell on it. He merely pursed his lips, fixed Bella's shawl, and left alongside her.

Bella asked, "Do I look beautiful in this gown, Ryan?"

Ryan replied, "You look very beautiful."

Maya turned to me the moment the door closed, her eyes completely bloodshot. "Why aren't you fighting back? I'll help you wreck this marking ceremony as long as you say the word, Allie!"

I lowered my head to latch my handbag, but my hands were trembling so badly that it took me two tries to secure it. "What's the point of fighting back?"

I then looked up at her and continued, "You only fight back when you want someone to come back to you. I'm done waiting, Maya."

I looked in the mirror one last time before leaving the dressing room. I then reached up to feel the back of my neck; it was bare, completely unmarked.

Ryan acknowledged me as the Luna in front of the entire pack three years ago and signed the mate bond agreement at city hall. He told me back then that once I was ready, he would mark me at the back of my neck, a sacred seal of ownership that belonged to no one but his Luna.

I had waited three whole years, but in all that time, his devotion was never meant for me.