Chapter 1I took a bullet for my Beta mate Jasper. Literally. Silver.
And what does he do when I wake up?
Tells me my wolf is gone, that I don't remember anything… and hands me off to his Alpha cousin like I'm a used handbag.
"He's your mate, Aven."
Cool. Great. Perfect.
Except… joke's on him.
Because my wolf? Very much awake. And very, very pissed.
So I play along. Play the sweet, confused little mate who doesn't remember a thing.
And Jasper? He's already wrapped around some redhead, bragging about how free he finally feels.
Oh, he has no idea what's coming.
Game on, Jasper.
---
"Aven? You awake?"
Jasper's voice. Right beside the bed. He sounded… off. Nervous.
I opened my eyes. White ceiling. Sterile smell. The pack clinic.
My head pounded. But my mind? Crystal clear. And deep inside, my wolf was very much awake—pissed off and ready to bite.
The memories came flooding back.
My best friend's text.
A photo of Jasper with some red-haired she-wolf draped all over him. Me, storming into the pack house to rip him a new one.
Then everything went to hell. Crimsontide wolves smashing through the doors. Growls. Gunshots. Silver bullets.
I saw one aimed straight at Jasper's chest.
I moved without thinking. Threw myself in front of him.
The bullet tore across my temple. Silver burned through my skin like acid.
I saved his sorry ass.
"My head hurts," I said. My voice came out weak. I watched his face carefully.
Then it hit me. An idea.
This bastard didn't appreciate what I'd done. Maybe it was time he learned a lesson.
"Who are you?" I stared at him like he was a stranger.
Jasper's eyes went huge. "Aven… you really don't know me?"
I let my face go blank. "Should I?"
He stepped back. And I saw it—the look that crossed his face. It wasn't worry. It wasn't panic.
It was relief. Pure, shameless relief.
"The healer said this might happen," he said, way too fast. "Silver poisoning. It can mess with the wolf bond. Make you forget things. But don't worry—it's temporary."
Liar.
His face was practically glowing. He was thrilled my wolf seemed dormant.
Son of a bitch.
"Wait here," Jasper said, already heading for the door. "There's someone who needs to see you."
I stayed quiet. I wanted to see what kind of game he was playing.
A few minutes later, the door opened again.
A man walked in.
Tall. Broad-shouldered. Black shirt rolled up to his forearms. He moved like a predator—smooth, controlled, deadly.
His eyes hit me first. Cold gray, sharp enough to cut. But the second they locked on mine, something shifted. The gray bled into amber. Warm. Molten.
My wolf perked up. Interested.
Ezra Stormwarden.
Jasper's cousin.
Alpha of the Moonshadow Pack.
Jasper always told me Ezra couldn't stand me. Said he thought I was weak. A distraction. That he'd rather I disappear.
So why the hell was he here?
"Aven." His voice was low. Deep. It made something in my chest tighten. "How do you feel?"
I blinked up at him, confused. "I don't… do I know you?"
Jasper jumped in fast. Too fast. "Aven, this is Ezra. He's your mate."
I froze.
What?
"My… what?"
"Your mate," Jasper repeated, all fake concern. "You two bonded two years ago. You probably don't remember because of the silver. It scrambles the wolf."
I stared between them.
Jasper looked like he was trying not to smile.
Ezra's face was stone. Unreadable. But his eyes… his eyes were burning.
"You were hurt protecting the pack," Ezra said quietly. "I'm taking you home. Back to our territory. It'll help your wolf heal."
Our territory?
I looked at Jasper. He was nodding like a bobblehead, practically shoving me out the door.
Then I looked back at Ezra.
His jaw was tight. But he wasn't pushing. Wasn't demanding.
He was waiting for me to decide.
I took a slow breath.
"Okay," I whispered.
Jasper's shoulders sagged with relief.
Ezra's eyes flashed brighter.
And me? I smiled on the inside.
You want to play games, Jasper?
Fine. Let's play.
Chapter 2
Ezra's pack house was a fortress.
A black SUV drove us through iron gates guarded by wolves.
"You're safe here," Ezra said simply.
He led me to a bedroom on the second floor.
Soft gray walls. My favorite lavender soap on the nightstand. My clothes already hanging in the closet.
The air even smelled like pine and cedar—the scent that always calmed my wolf.
"This is all mine?" I acted surprised.
"Yes. You've been staying here for months. We're supposed to complete the Luna Ceremony soon." Ezra stood at the door, perfectly still. Watching me.
I walked to the dresser and picked up a hairbrush.
Jasper had planned this out.
He'd moved my things here weeks ago. He was ready to dump me on Ezra the second he had an excuse.
I took a breath and turned to face him.
"Ezra, can I ask you something?"
"Anything."
"Were we… were we really mates?"
He went quiet for a long moment.
"What do you think?" he asked back.
"I don't remember anything," I said, shaking my head. "Maybe you can help me remember?"
Ezra crossed the room. Slow. Deliberate.
He reached out. His hand brushed my cheek.
His touch was warm. Careful. Like I was something fragile he didn't want to break.
"Take your time," he said, and pressed his lips to my forehead. "Don't push it."
Then he turned and left.
I stood there alone. My hand went to the spot he'd kissed.
That kiss… why did it feel so familiar?
That night, I couldn't sleep.
I slipped out of the bedroom and wandered the halls. I needed to figure out what kind of game Jasper was playing.
I found a door slightly open. Light spilling out.
Ezra's office.
I pushed it open wider.
A heavy wooden desk. Maps of pack territories on the walls. And a laptop, still on.
The screen showed a video feed.
A hotel room.
Jasper was on the screen. Kissing a red-haired she-wolf. Hard. Hungry.
Her legs were wrapped around his waist. Their clothes half off. They were all over each other.
I froze. My wolf snarled inside me.
"Aven is so damn clingy," Jasper's voice came through the speakers. Clear as day. "It's suffocating. Like being trapped."
The redhead was Delphine. I recognized her now.
The Alpha's daughter from the Crimsontide Pack. She'd been chasing Jasper for years.
She laughed and kissed him again. "Then why not just reject her?"
"Timing's not right," Jasper said, his voice low. "It's perfect having Ezra babysit her for a while. I need space, Delphine. I need you."
My blood went cold.
So that's what this was.
Jasper was tired of me. Wanted me gone for a while.
My "dormant wolf" was the perfect excuse. He could shove me at Ezra and go screw around.
"What did you see?"
I spun around. My hand shot out and slammed the laptop shut.
Ezra was standing in the doorway. His face was blank. Unreadable.
"I got lost," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.
He walked over to the desk. Glanced at the closed laptop.
"What did you see?" he asked again. His voice was low. Dangerous.
"Nothing. Just a black screen."
Ezra stared at me. Like he could see straight through the lie.
"You thirsty?"
"Sure," I said, forcing a smile. "I'll drink whatever you bring me."
He stepped closer. Kissed my forehead again. "Okay. Wait here."
Ten minutes later, he came back with a mug of chamomile tea.
It was the exact brand I always drank. The temperature was perfect.
I took the mug, stunned.
Even Jasper didn't know I only drank this brand.
How did Ezra know?
We sat on the couch. The fireplace crackled softly.
Ezra's face looked dark in the firelight. Sad.
"You look sad," I said quietly.
He turned to me. His eyes were complicated. Full of something I couldn't name.
"Just because something's forgotten," he said slowly, "doesn't mean it never happened."
His words made my chest tighten. What was he playing at?
"It's late. You should sleep," he said, standing up.
He walked me back to my room. Kissed my forehead one more time.
This kiss was different. Softer. But heavier. Like it carried weight I couldn't see.
"Goodnight, Aven."
"Goodnight, Ezra."
The door closed. I leaned against it, my heart hammering.
The way he treated me… this wasn't a man stuck babysitting his cousin's unwanted mate.
His eyes. The way he knew things. Things even Jasper didn't know.
I stared at the dark ceiling.
Jasper told me Ezra couldn't stand me. That he hated having me around.
But this Ezra was… attentive. Protective.
Who was the real Ezra Stormwarden?
Chapter 3
I slept surprisingly well for someone who just took a silver bullet.
The next morning, I was back to playing the confused mate with a dormant wolf.
"There's a pack gathering tonight," Ezra said at breakfast. "Will you come with me?"
I set down my mug. "Should I? With my wolf like this?"
"You're my mate." His voice was calm, but his eyes were intense. Unreadable. "The pack expects to see you."
I had a feeling.
Jasper would be there.
Maybe seeing me with Ezra would make him regret dumping me.
"Okay," I nodded. "What should I wear?"
"Already handled."
The dress was deep blue. It slipped off my shoulders, showing my collarbone and the bare curve of my neck—right where a bond mark would go.
Ezra fastened a silver pendant around my throat. His fingers brushed my skin.
"Perfect," he murmured in my ear.
In the mirror, his eyes met mine. They were dark. Possessive. Hungry.
"You look good too," I said, turning to face him.
The black shirt and dark jeans made him look dangerous. Controlled. Deadly.
We stood close. His scent wrapped around me—pine, rain, something wild underneath.
It made my wolf stir. Made me dizzy.
"We should go," he said, his voice rougher now.
The gathering was held at a lodge on neutral territory.
Wolves from three packs mingled. The air hummed with power.
I saw Jasper immediately.
He was on the far side of the room. He had Delphine pressed against him.
She wore a blood-red dress. Her wolf was all over him—scent marking, possessive, claiming.
Their bodies were glued together. Jasper's hand was low on her waist, his thumb stroking the curve of her hip.
If they were alone, he'd have her bent over something right now.
"Everyone!" Jasper raised his glass. His voice carried across the room. "I want you all to meet someone special. Delphine Ironclaw!"
The room erupted in applause.
I felt Ezra's hand settle on the small of my back.
He was tense. His wolf close to the surface.
"I'm fine," I said quietly, forcing a smile.
But when Jasper's eyes found ours, I saw the challenge in them.
We found a table near the fire.
Ezra pulled out my chair. The perfect gentleman.
A server brought a platter of venison and roasted vegetables.
Ezra picked up a piece of meat. Cut it into bite-sized pieces. Put it on my plate.
"Thank you," I said softly.
He did it again. Focused. Like it was the most important thing in the world.
"Ezra, you're so good to your little mate."
Jasper's voice came from behind us. Dripping with mockery.
He and Delphine had walked over.
"Jasper," Ezra said, looking up calmly. "Enjoying yourself?"
"Oh, definitely." Jasper's arm tightened around Delphine's waist. "Delphine's a hell of a lot more fun. Not so… needy."
I set down my fork. Looked straight at him. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing," Jasper shrugged. "Just that some mates are too… clingy."
Ezra's fingers drummed once on the table. I could feel the anger radiating off him.
I stood up. Linked my arm through Ezra's. "Well, I think my mate and I are doing great. He's very attentive. Aren't you, love?"
I put extra weight on "mate" and "love."
Ezra looked at me. Surprise flickered in his eyes. Then warmth. "Always, sweetheart."
Jasper's face darkened.
"Aww, how sweet!" Delphine laughed, her voice sharp. "You two should show us how bonded you are!"
The wolves around us started calling out.
"Yeah! Show us what a real mate bond looks like!"
"Jasper and Delphine, you too!"
Jasper's eyes darted between me and Ezra. His jaw clenched.
"Fine," Delphine said, looking straight at me. A challenge. "Jasper, kiss me. Let everyone see."
Jasper hesitated for a split second. Then he grabbed Delphine and kissed her.
Hard. Aggressive.
His hand buried in her red hair. Their mouths crushed together.
Delphine's leg hooked around his waist. Her hand roamed his chest.
It went on for a full minute.
Phones came out. Wolves were recording. Flashes went off.
"Post those everywhere," Jasper snapped at someone nearby, breathless.
Delphine kissed his neck. Shot me a look over his shoulder.
Her eyes said: See? He's mine now.
The room erupted in cheers and howls.
But when it was over, Jasper's eyes found mine. Just for a second, I saw it.
Guilt.
