Chapter 1We stepped out of the tailor's shop after the final fitting. Draven reached over and clicked my seatbelt into place.
"I've already seen you in the dress. I'm not coming to the ceremony," he said.
I froze. "What?"
He smiled and kissed my temple. "I met someone. She's got fire in her, and she refused to be the other woman. I bonded with her this morning."
"I'm her mate now. If I show up at your ceremony, she'll lose it."
My head went blank. "Why? We're getting bonded in a week."
He shrugged, almost apologetic. "Babe, you know I love you. But wolves need young blood. Strong bloodlines."
"If you still want the ceremony, find some guy to stand in. Don't shortchange yourself. I'd hate to see you embarrassed."
The white dress I'd just tried on lay across the back seat. It looked like ice now, cold enough to freeze my bones.
Draven ran his fingers through my hair like nothing had changed.
But his next words cut deep. "You know how these young she-wolves are. She wouldn't let me touch her unless I made it official."
"Took me six months. Finally got her last night."
My throat closed up. My hands went numb. He smiled at me, eyes dark and satisfied. "We fucked right where you're sitting. She fought me at first, then melted."
I followed his gaze to the windshield. Two handprints overlapped there—one big, one small—smudged with claw marks.
Bile rose in my throat.
I grabbed the seatbelt so hard my knuckles went white. My eyes burned.
He touched my face, confused. "Why are you crying? You're still part of the pack. I'll still take care of you."
His eyes still had that look. The one I used to trust.
Like he hadn't just told me he bonded someone else. Like he hadn't just bragged about screwing her in my seat.
It felt unreal.
I couldn't breathe.
He sighed. "Look, I know you're upset. But she's sensitive. If I show up at your thing, she'll cry. She's different—pure, you know? Untouched. She only wanted a real bond. Took me six months to get her to trust me. I owe her that. You've always been cool about stuff. You get it, right?"
Six months.
We'd been planning this ceremony for six months too.
While he picked out flowers and sent invitations for me, he was chasing her.
I closed my eyes. "If you're bonded, we're done."
He laughed softly. "Don't be dramatic.
"You've been with me since you were eighteen. You lost two pregnancies because we had nothing. Who's gonna want you now?"
I stared at him.
It felt like a knife twisting in my chest.
For ten years, we lived in shitty dens. We split one meal between us. Sometimes we just drank water to kill the hunger.
The pack was broke. We couldn't afford healers. Couldn't prevent pregnancies.
I jumped into freezing rivers. Threw myself down cliffs. Cried until I had nothing left. All to end pregnancies we couldn't survive.
Draven knelt by my bed and clawed his own stomach. Twice.
His bloody hands shook as he covered my eyes. "Thalia, I'll build us something strong. If I ever betray you, I deserve to die."
I believed him. For ten years, I believed him.
Now some girl he'd known six months destroyed all of it.
I didn't understand how someone who swore that could break so easy.
His phone rang. I knew that ringtone.
I'd heard it late at night. He always said it was pack business.
I trusted him. Never asked questions.
God, I was stupid.
He didn't answer right away. His voice stayed calm. "Why throw away ten years over this? It's just a ceremony.
"You're not young anymore, Thalia. No family. No rank. I'm the only one looking out for you. Don't push me."
He pulled over. "Go home. Think about what I said. I'm picking her up."
The door slammed.
I watched the car disappear. Then I collapsed on the side of the road, dry heaving until tears ran down my face.
Draven was wrong. No one bonds with someone they treat like trash.
I waited ten years for this.
His love didn't die. It just went somewhere else.
I looked up at the gray sky. Empty. Hollow.
After a long time, I pulled out my phone and dialed a number I'd been hiding for months.
Chapter 2
When I got back to the den, Draven's truck was parked outside.
Through the cracked window came sounds. His voice, low and rough.
"Say my name."
"Draven..."
"Who do you belong to?"
"You..."
"Good girl. Let Daddy love you."
I stood there frozen.
The sun was beating down, but I felt like I was standing in snow.
An hour later, Draven walked in with a small she-wolf tucked under his arm.
When Evangeline Frost saw me sitting in the main room, her eyes went wide. Tears started immediately.
"Why is she here? You said this was our home now!"
"Were you lying? You still can't let her go?"
"I won't be the other woman! I'm leaving!"
Draven grabbed her, pulling her back. "Don't overthink it. The bond is official. You're my mate. This is our home. She's just packing her stuff."
He looked at me. No apology. No explanation. "Thalia, the cabin on the border is empty. You can stay there."
My mind went blank.
Before I could even feel angry, my chest started aching.
Three years ago, when we claimed this den, Draven held me close. "This is ours. You, me, and the pups we'll have."
Now he was kicking me out.
"Thalia, Evangeline's upset. Don't make me say it again."
He was smiling, but his voice had an edge.
My throat closed up. I realized he wasn't kidding.
After a long silence, I nodded. "Fine."
He watched me stand. Then he grabbed my arm. "There's a pack gathering tonight. Come with me."
I started to refuse, but he cut me off. "Evangeline's never been to one of these. Help her pick something to wear."
I froze. It was so ridiculous I almost laughed. Then I remembered I didn't have much time left anyway. I didn't argue.
Before the gathering, Evangeline said she didn't have anything nice. She went straight to my closet and pulled out the ceremonial cloak Draven gave me for my birthday. It was ancient, passed down through generations. Worth more than most wolves would see in a lifetime. She took the jewelry too.
She hung on Draven's arm while I walked behind, carrying the train of the cloak.
Everyone stared.
I heard the whispers.
"Alpha Ironfang really knows how to handle his females. The new mate wears the cloak while the old one carries it."
"What old mate? Didn't you hear? He bonded the young one! Thalia wasted ten years for nothing."
"How pathetic. Ten years and she got nothing."
I left the gathering hall and hid in the washroom.
Then I heard voices outside.
"Draven, you really bonded that sweet little thing? After ten years with Thalia?"
Draven's voice was casual. "She wanted security. It's just a bond. Doesn't change anything."
"What if Thalia leaves?"
My chest tightened.
Then I heard him laugh. "Thalia's got nothing without me. After ten years, she's used up. Worn out."
"I know her. Even when I'm done with her, she'll still be waiting around."
I couldn't hear anything after that.
I went to the sink and splashed water on my face. Then I bit down on my hand, watching water and tears drip into the basin. I didn't make a sound.
Draven, you're wrong this time.
This worn-out wolf isn't waiting anymore.
I turned and walked out.
A hand cracked across my face.
Chapter 3
I covered my burning cheek and turned around.
Evangeline flexed her fingers. The sweet act was gone.
"You heard him. He bonded with me, and you're still hanging around? Pathetic.v
"If you like being used, go throw yourself at some rogue wolves."
"But trash like you, giving it up for free for ten years? You belong in the dirt."
My head was spinning. All I could see was her twisted face and that mouth that wouldn't shut up.
But Evangeline didn't give me time to react. She screamed, ripped the front of her dress open, and threw herself backward.
"Thalia!"
Draven's voice cut through the hall.
He rushed over, caught Evangeline, and pulled her against his chest.
She sobbed like she was dying. Tears everywhere. "I'm the homewrecker. I ruined what you had with her. It's all my fault. I shouldn't exist!"
She slapped herself. Twice.
Draven grabbed her wrist. His jaw clenched. "Who said that to you?"
Evangeline bit her lip, clutching her torn dress. "Don't make me say."
But her eyes flicked to me. Then she shook her head, trembling. "I can't afford to cross someone like her. I'm not strong enough for you. Let me go. I don't want to die over this."
Draven turned to me, eyes cold. "Explain. Now."
I dropped my hand, showing my swollen face. "Ask her what she said to me first."
"You threatened my family!" Evangeline's voice went shrill. "My parents are just normal wolves. If you're still mad, hit me. Just leave them alone."
My eyes stung. "You're lying. You—"
"Enough." Draven cut me off. Disappointment all over his face. "I spoiled you too much, Thalia.
"You think because you've got no family, I won't touch you?"
Maybe I knew it was coming. Maybe I was already numb.
I smiled, bitter. "So what are you going to do? Punish me for your mate?"
He walked toward me slowly. Then he pulled the ring off my finger. The one he carved for me himself when he became Alpha.
He turned to Jasper Thornwick, his Beta.
"Lock her in the silver cells. Theft of pack property. She was caught with it."
My mind went blank.
Draven hadn't gotten to Alpha easy. He'd always been ruthless.
I was his only soft spot. Right or wrong, he always chose me.
No one in the territory ever dared mess with me.
Now he was the one destroying me.
Draven held the ring between his fingers. His face blurred through my tears. He looked like a stranger.
"You've been disobedient, Thalia. A few days in silver will teach you.
"Don't worry. It won't be long. When you come out, I'll put this back."
I smiled.
The pack guards walked in. As they clamped cuffs on my wrists, I pulled my hand out of Draven's grip.
The sudden loss made him frown. He stared at my back, something uneasy stirring in his chest. Like he was about to lose me forever.
He started to move forward.
Evangeline grabbed his arm and held on tight.
