Chapter 1After Dylan Lockwood's childhood she-wolf Daphne Shaw caused a drunk-driving crash that nearly killed two pack members, he begged me to take the fall for her.
"Daphne's father once saved my life, Karina. Can't you do this one thing for me? I swear, the moment you're free, I'll claim you as my mate."
I nodded through my tears, my wolf whimpering deep inside.
But what was supposed to be two moon-cycles stretched into six brutal years.
When I tried to recant my confession, the guards beat me senseless.
"Someone out there told us to keep you on a fucking leash. Who the hell do you think you are? Take a hard look in the mirror before you even think about laying your filthy paws on Alpha Lockwood!"
They hit until my vision swam red.
As I faded, the last thing I saw was a broadcast on the wall screen - Dylan Lockwood with his arms wrapped around Daphne at their bonding ceremony.
My heart turned to ash.
After six years that felt like an eternity, they finally let me go.
But as I quietly stepped onto the train with my bag, Dylan's beta appeared before me with a respectful bow.
"Miss Hayes, Alpha Lockwood would like to see you."
...
I sat in the back of the SUV watching the city blur past.
Six years had changed Silver Moon's pack territories beyond recognition.
We drove under a towering high-rise with a giant billboard flashing: "Unmated Alpha Dylan Lockwood drops nine figures on a moonstone necklace for his new she-wolf as they move into their penthouse together."
Nine figures. I counted slowly in my dull mind.
I looked down at the cheap leather cord on my wrist - the one he'd given me six years ago. Two dollars, and now the braid was frayed and faded.
I untied it and tossed it out the window without a second thought.
Before I knew it, we pulled up to his estate. Lost in thought, I barely noticed the beta handing me a phone.
Dylan's deep, commanding voice came through.
"Karina, I'm caught up in pack business. Wait for me at the house, alright?"
I listened quietly, waited three seconds after he finished, then answered with a soft "Mm-hmm."
A pause. He seemed puzzled by my tone.
Six years had made me silent. I was no longer the she-wolf who used to yip and chatter at his heels.
After he hung up, I sat in the grand living room waiting. The servants exchanged glances and whispered behind my back.
"Looks like Alpha brought home another stray. This one's all bones and not even pretty."
"I heard she just got released from the pack dungeons."
"What a disaster. Alpha's taste is getting weird. At least before it was models and socialites... but this one - "
They sighed dramatically, as if pitying Dylan.
I didn't really care, but I couldn't stop checking the clock. Seven hours since he said "a while."
I hadn't eaten since leaving the dungeons, and with the AC blasting, I was freezing and starving.
Finally, I asked the head servant where Dylan was. After two questions, he shot me a look - like I was just another she-wolf throwing herself at the Alpha.
"Alpha Lockwood is with Miss Shaw right now. They're watching fireworks on his yacht. He doesn't have time for you."
Daphne Shaw. Her name clawed at my memory.
Six years ago, she drove drunk and nearly killed two wolves. I took her place in the dungeons.
That's how I went from Karina Hayes, cherished daughter of the Hayes pack, to a despised convict with nothing left but scars and silence.
Chapter 2
While I rotted in the dungeons, Daphne clawed her way from a nobody in the low-tier pack slums to the most pampered she-wolf in Silver Moon, spoiled rotten by Dylan like she was already his Luna.
But I didn't care anymore.
After my family lost everything - our lands, our status, our pride - and my parents couldn't bear the shame and took their own lives, my wolf went completely silent inside me.
Nothing stirred her. Except two things Dylan swore before I went in.
First - that he'd claim me as his mate.
Second - that he'd return my family's turquoise heirloom bracelet, the one that marked our bloodline.
Now I didn't want his claim. All I wanted was that bracelet back.
Lost in thought, the hollow ache in my stomach turned vicious. I clutched it and padded to the kitchen.
The moment I reached for a pan, a housekeeper slapped my hand away with a sharp snarl.
"Don't touch anything. Alpha Lockwood and Miss Shaw don't want some rogue messing around in their kitchen."
"Just sit and wait."
She rolled her eyes and stalked off.
Three more hours crawled by. No Dylan.
I collapsed onto the couch, my vision tunneled, and everything went black.
When I came to, I was in a bed with an IV drip. A pack healer must have been called.
Dylan stood with his back to me, tearing into the servants.
"Are you fucking brainless? She's starving and not one of you thought to feed her?"
"Next time this happens, you're all banished from this pack house!"
Daphne sauntered in at the sound, her voice all sweet poison.
"Dylan, don't get so worked up. Come have some coffee."
She tugged him out, her scent dripping with satisfaction.
The servants exchanged pale glances.
"God, that scared me. Alpha hasn't lost it like that in moons."
"It's all her fault! Playing pitiful and getting us chewed out!"
"Don't get too comfortable - she'll be gone in two months anyway."
They scurried off.
I pulled out the needle and forced myself upright.
The first wolf to spot me was one of Dylan's pack brothers. He clearly didn't recognize me.
"Dylan, is this a new servant? Why's she coming out of your bedroom?"
Dylan whipped around. Our eyes locked - and his pupils dilated, his wolf surging to the surface for a split second.
Six years apart, and he was still devastatingly handsome.
But I looked like a stray dragged through every mud puddle in Silver Moon - exhaustion carved into every line of my face.
Daphne let out a light laugh and glided over, playing the gracious hostess.
"Caden, this is... a relative of Dylan's from the old territory. Not a servant."
I looked at Dylan. He watched me in silence. Didn't contradict her.
Of course. He was too ashamed to be seen with a convicted she-wolf.
I got it. I was just an ex-dungeon inmate now. Six years had changed everything.
The awkward silence stretched until the chef announced dinner.
We sat down. They started gossiping about pack affairs - I couldn't follow half of it, so I just ate.
Then Caden Roberts blurted out, almost cheerfully:
"Oh hey, isn't that old flame of yours getting out of the dungeons soon? What's her name - "
"Just toss her a few silver coins and tell her to stay the hell away."
The table went dead silent.
Daphne flicked a glance my way, her smirk unmistakable.
Dylan kept his face blank. Didn't say a word.
Chapter 3
Caden caught the tension and opened his mouth to ask more, but I smiled first - calm, flat.
"She won't."
Caden's brow arched. "Why not?"
I chewed slowly, ready to answer, but Dylan cut in, his voice low and sharp.
"Enough. Just eat."
His gaze locked on me, pupils churning with something dark - guilt, anger, I couldn't tell anymore. I kept my head down and took another bite. Didn't flinch.
After dinner, Caden paused by the living room and spotted the grand piano.
"Damn, nice ivory. Who'd you get that for?"
Daphne glided over, all grace and practiced modesty. She sat down and started playing - smooth enough for a beginner.
When she finished, she shot Caden a humble smile.
"I only picked it up recently, but my teacher says I've got natural talent. Better than wolves who've been playing for ten years."
Her eyes slid to me. Oh, that was aimed straight at my throat.
I'd trained on piano, violin, and old pack instruments since I was a pup. Piano was my strongest - I'd even performed at the Silver Moon Concert Hall before everything fell apart.
Daphne had always seethed over it. She used to say if she'd had my lessons, she'd have outplayed me easily.
Now, after six years in the dungeons, she figured my paws had gone rusty.
She gave me that sugary smile. "Karina, I heard you studied forever. Why don't you play something for us?"
Dylan frowned - like he wanted to stop me - but my fingers were already on the keys.
The next second, a rich, rolling melody poured out. Deep, rhythmic, alive.
Compared to Daphne's clumsy scales, the difference was brutal. Raw.
Dylan and Caden both went still. When I finished, they actually clapped.
Daphne's face went green, her wolf bristling under her skin.
Caden walked over, his tone shifting to something serious.
"That was incredible - I had no idea. I've got a concert grand at my pack house. You should come try it sometime."
I opened my mouth to answer, but Dylan cut in, cold and clipped.
"It's late. You should head out. And take Daphne with you."
Caden shot me a reluctant look, then left with Daphne, who kept throwing glances over her shoulder.
The living room emptied. Just the two of us.
I hunched my shoulders. The AC was blasting, but Dylan's glare was colder.
He grabbed my wrist - his grip firm, claws barely sheathed.
His voice dripped venom. "Karina Hayes, flirting the second you're out? Have you no pride left?"
I gave a faint, hollow twist of my lips.
Pride? I'd lost nearly twenty pounds in those cells. My wolf was a ghost. My face was carved with lines that hadn't been there before.
He stared at my silence, clearly thrown. I used to snap back, argue until my throat burned.
But now, looking at my dead expression, something in his chest seemed to crack.
His tone softened, almost pleading.
"I didn't mean that."
"I'll fix this. Just... not now. Our bond - it still stands."
He paused, swallowing hard.
"I'll make it up to you. But not right now. And our claiming? That's still happening."
His eyes bored into mine, desperate for a reaction - as if my answer still mattered to him.
