Chapter 1

My grandmother's death was a storm, ignited by Ella's venom. The day of her memorial, a day that should have been for mourning, was instead marked by chaos—the same day as Alpha Ethan's wedding.

He, consumed by pride and blinded by Ella's manipulation, accused me of faking my grief, of trying to ruin their ceremony.

In a surge of fury, I took my grandmother's casket and left.

Days later, the truth clawed its way to the surface, and Ethan, finally awake from his delusions, was swallowed whole by regret.

And as for Ryan, the mate who had been bound to me only because of Ella—he too was forced to face the punishment that was long overdue.

I was jolted awake by the sharp ring of my phone.

The hospital’s number flashed on the screen.

“Alice,” the voice on the other end was tight, trembling. “It’s your grandmother… her condition has worsened. You need to come immediately.”

My grandmother... no. She was the only family I had left,.

I dashed out the door.

Where is Ryan?

As I barreled into the hospital, my chest heaving with urgency, I noticed it immediately. The emptiness in the air where his presence should have been.

I pulled my phone from my pocket, panic clawing at my insides. With trembling fingers, I unlocked it, praying for something—anything—from him. My eyes locked onto the message that blinked back at me, its words slicing through me like a blade.

“I’m sorry, Alice. I couldn’t be there. We’ll need to postpone the wedding. Something came up with the pack.”

For years, I had trusted his every word. His role as Beta to the Crescent Moon Pack demanded sacrifices, and I had accepted them with unwavering loyalty. I knew what it meant to be with someone bound by duty—a wolf’s promise to his Alpha was sacred.

Alpha Ethan had stolen my heart before I even understood love. We were bound by a legacy, a promise that I foolishly believed could never be broken.

But it wasn’t fate that tore us apart—it was her. Ella, the manipulative vixen who had wormed her way into Ethan’s life, stolen his heart, his loyalty, and now, my new mate, Ryan.

The woman whose engagement now claimed the venue meant for my wedding. The hall that should have been draped in moonlit silks and scented with lavender, my favorite, was instead bathed in golden lights and laughter for her.

The guests who had once RSVPed to witness my vows had seamlessly redirected their allegiances, joining the celebration in her honor.

And Ryan was now nothing more than Ella’s lapdog.

The way his gaze lingered when Ella entered the room. The way his wolf’s energy shifted, restless and alert, when she was near. I had been blind, clinging to his promises while he drifted further into her orbit.

The call from the doctor broke me. Nana was gone. I ran to her side, but it was too late. The warmth in her hands had faded, her last words a plea I couldn’t fulfill.

“Don’t cry, child,” she had said only days ago, her voice weak but steady. “Just let me see you in your wedding dress.”

I had failed her.

When I returned home, the house felt emptier than ever—until I noticed Ryan’s scent. It clung to the air, heavy with pine and musk. He was waiting for me, his golden eyes glowing faintly in the dim living room light.

He stood with a bottle in his hands, his expression caught between guilt and something unreadable.

“Alice,” he murmured, stepping closer. “I brought you something.”

The scent of the forest clung to him, familiar but distant, like the echo of a memory.

“What is it?” I asked, my voice colder than I intended.

His lips quirked into a tentative smile as he held the bottle out to me. It was glass, filled with a dark amber liquid that shimmered faintly under the light.

“Wolf’s Mead,” he said softly. “For the ceremony. It’s tradition, isn’t it? I thought we could drink it together when we—”

I interrupted, my voice trembling. “When we stand under an altar that was supposed to be mine but was draped in lights for Ella instead?”

Ryan froze, his wolf’s energy flickering as the words sank in.

I stepped back. “This? This is her favorite, isn’t it? She’s the one who told you about this tradition. You never cared about it before.”

His silence was louder than any excuse.

“You’ve been chasing her all along, haven’t you?” My voice grew stronger, fueled by anger and the sting of betrayal. “Every time you came home smelling like her, every time you smiled at her name… Did you even fight for me? Or was I just the consolation prize?”

His wolf stirred, a low growl vibrating in his chest, but I didn’t flinch.

“ Ryan. We’re over.”

I turned toward the door, grabbing my suitcase, but his hand shot out, gripping my arm. His touch was warm, electric, the pull of the mate bond still strong despite the betrayal.

“Don’t do this,” he growled, his voice thick with desperation. “You’re mine, Alice. You’re my mate.”

I met his gaze, the glow of his wolf’s eyes clashing with my resolve.

“I was yours,” I said softly. “But you gave me away.”