Chapter 1

Five years after leaving, I set foot in Blackridge Pack territory again for the Multi-Pack Council banquet.

"Sera!" Morgan's voice rang out behind me, dripping with that familiar warmth. "Long time no see! Word was you used to have a thing for Callum back in the day. Still carrying that torch?"

I turned around and looked at this old friend of mine. His face was lit up with gossip-fueled excitement, completely oblivious to how ironic that question was.

"That was a long time ago," I said flatly.

"I heard Callum's really made a name for himself," Morgan lowered his voice, eyes gleaming with envy. "Blackridge Pack has grown incredibly powerful in just a few years. You sure knew how to pick 'em back then. Too bad…"

He didn't finish, but I knew exactly what that "too bad" meant. Too bad I never became that Alpha's Luna. Too bad I wasted all those years for nothing.

I was about to brush him off when Callum showed up.

He crossed half the hall to reach me, bypassing every Alpha who tried to make conversation, and sat down right beside me.

"Sera."

"Long time no see. So… how's life been out there on your own these past five years?"

I kept my head down, cutting the cold, rare steak on my plate. I'd been feeling weak lately—always drowsy, my stomach hollow like it had been scooped out.

"Life's been great without you, actually."

His grip tightened around his wine glass, but he quickly slipped back into that composed expression.

"We need to talk after this. In private," he said. It wasn't a request. It was a statement.

"No thanks."

His gaze swept over me and paused for a moment at my sleeve.

I instinctively tugged it down—underneath was the scar from taking a silver arrow for him ten years ago. It still ached on rainy days. He stared at it for two seconds but made no move.

"If you hadn't been so stubborn and just agreed to break the bond back then, you wouldn't be in this mess, would you?"

I didn't respond.

He leaned in closer, lowering his voice like he was bestowing some grand favor upon me. "It's too late for all that now, I suppose. But I'm a sentimental guy. If you ever change your mind, you can always come back. The title might not be there, but the perks will be."

His meaning was crystal clear—come back and be his secret lover.

Twelve years as his secret mate wasn't enough. He wanted me to keep going.

For twelve years I'd looked after his every need like a servant. I guarded the borders, fought off rogues—I had more scars on my body than any warrior in his pack. Behind the scenes, I placated the elders, managed internal affairs, and even scrubbed the sweat stains off his sheets.

"Save it."

Callum's brow furrowed. He clearly wasn't used to hearing no from me.

His tone dripped with condescending pity. "I gave you a choice back then. And everything you did to help me build Blackridge Pack — I've never forgotten that. If you're willing to come back —"

"Back to what?" I cut him off. "Back to your pack, to keep playing the nanny who can't even use her own name?"

"Sera." His voice dropped low, heavy with that Alpha pressure. "You know how things were. An Alpha can't make decisions based on feelings alone. The pack's stability required strategic alliances—"

The banquet hall doors swung open, cutting him off.

He was about to say more when a saccharine voice rang out from the entrance—

"Callum—"

All eyes turned to the door. A woman in a Luna's gown walked in—Vivienne.

I didn't look up. I kept drinking the warm soup in my bowl. For some reason I'd been getting dizzy spells of hunger lately.

"Sera?"

Vivienne clicked over in her heels and grabbed my wrist, squeezing so hard it felt like she was trying to crush the bones. "How did you weasel your way in here?"

I gave a thin smile and quietly pulled my hand free.

Someone across the table spoke up. "And who might this be?"

Every gaze in the room swung to Callum.

Callum took the wine glass, rose to his feet with effortless composure, and wrapped his arm around Vivienne's waist.

He addressed the entire room. "Since everyone's here, let me formally introduce—Vivienne is my marked Luna.

We'll be holding the official ceremony next month. You're all welcome to attend."

So Callum was capable of publicly claiming a mate after all.

His open acknowledgment of Vivienne made my twelve secret years look like nothing but a joke.

Congratulations erupted across the hall. No one remembered how he'd treated me five years ago.