Chapter 1My mating night. Pack members crash for games.
Round one: three-minute makeout session.
Everett grabs his female beta Nancy - full-on, tongue-and-fang kiss right in front of me.
Tongues, teeth, the works.
Everett wipes his mouth, doesn't even flinch.
"Relax. She's new to this scene. I'm doing her a favour."
He hurls cash at my feet.
"Twenty grand. Take it and shut up with the victim routine."
"Changed partners for one round. You got the mating ceremony, didn't you? Be grateful."
Nancy's wrapped around him like she just won a territory.
I pick up my bond ring. Drop it on the money.
"You're right, little wolf."
"Actually - I'm shopping for a new Alpha mate too."
...
Dead silence.
Everett smashes his ashtray. His eyes flash molten amber. Face like murder.
"Oh come on, Celia. It's one goddamn game. You really gonna be this petty?"
Throws another wad of cash. "Here's ten more. Take it back and quit ruining everyone's night."
Talking to me like I'm a pup.
Looking at his face used to make my heart race. Now it just makes my wolf snarl.
"We never completed the bond. We're done here."
"Thanks for the mating rehearsal though. Real learning experience."
Temperature drops. My wolf paces under my skin.
Nancy grabs my arm, fake-sweet smile plastered on.
"Aw, don't be like that, hon. Everett's just helping me prep for my big night, that's all."
"Next round, you can have your turn. I'll step aside."
That word - step aside - like she owns his scent.
She snatches another card before I can speak.
"She-wolf gets on her knees. Barks ten times. Shows her Alpha she's his loyal little bitch."
Everyone exchanges looks.
"Yo, who the hell put that in there?"
"Not me…"
"Wasn't me either…"
Nancy rolls her eyes.
"Guys, relax. What's degrading to us might be a treat for her."
"She-wolves like Celia? They get off on crawling for rich Alphas. Me? I've got standards."
She turns to me, grinning.
"So? You wanted playtime with Everett, right?"
"Get barking, sweet thing. Maybe he'll make it rain again. Don't blow your shot."
Everett just sits there. Says nothing. His wolf watches, unreadable.
I look at the red quilt underneath him - took me forever to find the perfect one. Haven't even used it yet.
Now it's all wrinkled from their little porn show.
Pack tradition says newly mated pair sits on it together first. Brings luck to the den.
Days ago I actually thought Everett and I would be under that thing tonight, talking about our future.
Yeah. Not happening.
I shove Nancy off, my claws nearly slipping.
"Wow, so humble. But the way you were slobbering all over him two seconds ago? Pretty sure you've done this before, sweetheart."
Chapter 2
"You're such a natural at this dog thing, Nancy. Why don't you give us a demo first?"
I've studied calligraphy since I was six. That's her handwriting on the card.
Her face goes tomato-red.
"Everett, she's being so mean to me…"
Wine splashes across my face.
Everett pulls her close, shields her with his body. His wolf bristles under his skin. Glares at me like I'm rogue vermin.
"What the hell is your problem, Celia? Won't do the games, won't play along - just picking on her for no reason. Grow up."
"You're a part-time calligraphy instructor making peanuts. Your monthly salary wouldn't fill my gas tank."
"Everything you have? That's because of me. Where do you get off acting like you have a say in anything I do?"
He laughs - ugly, mean, fangs peeking.
"Nancy actually contributes. She runs half my pack's business. I'd move mountains for her, not just swap game partners."
"What do you bring to the table? Nothing. You rode my coattails into this bonding ceremony with zero dowry because you wanted a meal ticket."
"So here's how this works - take the money, sit down, and shut your mouth. Want more? Fine. I'll pay. But throw one more tantrum and I swear to the Moon we're done."
My wolf claws at my ribs. Chest goes tight.
So watching my Alpha-to-be make out with his female beta counts as "throwing a tantrum."
Five years of building his empire from scratch counts as "wanting a meal ticket."
What Everett doesn't know?
My dowry's been sitting in a vault for three weeks. Took forever to organize because there's so damn much of it.
Was gonna surprise him when we sealed the bond.
He doesn't deserve it.
"Perfect. Let's not seal it then."
I grab my coat.
"Wait."
Everett's voice cuts through the room. Low growl underneath.
He leans against the banister, smug, ears flicking back just slightly.
"That Canada Goose you're wearing? Limited edition. Ten grand. My money."
"You wanna walk out? Leave my stuff here. What, can't afford your own jacket?"
"Oh - and drop off every credit card I gave you too."
The front door's open. Wind slices through my thin dress underneath.
Still warmer than how I feel inside.
Last year he threw out all my old coats. Said they were cheap garbage that wouldn't keep me warm.
Next day he bought me this one. Said he'd never let me freeze again.
He remembers. He's just twisting the knife.
Moon, I regret ever meeting him.
One of his pack members steps up.
"Bro, it's negative twenty outside. She's got nothing under that coat. She'll freeze."
"It's your bonding night, man. Just apologise."
Everett snorts.
"She's not my mate till we seal it. I let her get away with too much. Now she thinks she can threaten me whenever she wants."
"I'm being nice letting her keep clothes on at all."
"Last chance, Celia. Apologise. Be sweet to Nancy. We'll seal the bond and you'll still be my Luna."
Nancy curls into him, all fake innocence, her scent dripping with triumph.
"Yeah, sweetheart. You already sold your dignity being a gold-digger. Why ruin it now with an attitude?"
Chapter 3
"It's 2 AM. There's a blizzard outside. You won't find a single cab out here, and the nearest shelter's five miles away. Hope you don't freeze to death."
Everett whips out his phone.
"Yeah, blacklist Celia Lawrence from every pack shelter in the city. Nobody lets her in."
My wolf snarls inside my chest. Stomach drops.
This is him testing me.
He's proving he can control my entire life with one call.
He wants me broken. Submissive. On my belly.
I take a breath. I drop his credit cards on the table.
Then I rip off the coat and throw it straight into the fireplace.
Flames shoot up. Everett's face goes blank. His wolf whines once - shock, maybe.
I walk out into the storm.
The cold slices through my thin skin. My wolf shivers under my ribs. Can't stop shaking.
I find some sketchy all-night diner that's still open. The owner hands me hot water.
I drink it down. My head starts spinning.
Everything goes dark.
Someone's touching me.
My wolf jolts awake - snapping, clawing.
I force my eyes open. The owner's greasy face is inches from mine. His scent is wrong. Rotten.
The diner's empty now. The metal gate's pulled down.
He grins at me. Fangs yellow. Breath like decay.
"Rough night, little wolf? Got nowhere else to run?"
"Don't worry. I'll take good care of you."
The water. He drugged it.
Terror slams into me. My wolf goes feral.
I bite down on my tongue hard. Taste copper. I shove him off with all my strength.
I run. Lock myself in the bathroom. My claws scrape the door handle.
My phone buzzes. Everett's calling.
Battery: 1%.
I answer.
Heavy breathing on the other end. He sounds turned on. His wolf must be riding high.
"Little wolf, where'd I put those condoms? I'm gonna show Nancy some new positions."
He pauses.
"Wait - did you steal them? Planning to sell my stuff now that you're screwed?"
Nausea rises in my throat. My wolf gags.
"Everett, I'm at a diner on Westbrook Road. The owner drugged me. He's trying to - "
"WHAT? I'm coming right - "
Nancy's voice cuts through, dripping honey.
"Rett, baby. She's playing you."
"I drove past Westbrook today. There's no diner there. She just wants you to come crawling back."
"You rescue her now? She'll pull this crap every single time."
Everett explodes. I hear his wolf roar through the speaker.
"Are you SERIOUS right now?! You're faking an assault?!"
"You want back in? Fine. Get on your knees outside my office tomorrow morning and BEG."
"Without me, you can't afford shit. You're so broke even feral omegas would reject you for having terrible bloodline!"
The line goes dead.
My phone dies.
Click.
The bathroom door swings open.
The owner grabs my hair and drags me out. My scalp screams. My wolf howls inside my skull.
"Where do you think you're running? This is my territory. I've got keys to everything, sweetheart."
"I heard your little phone call. Your Alpha's too busy knotting his female beta to give a damn about you."
The creep licks his lips. His wolf oozes out - rank, desperate.
"Just relax, little one. Let me take care of you. I never bother with protection anyway - way too much trouble, you know?"
Right when my wolf is about to give up, there's a massive crash.
Someone tears the security gate clean off and storms in. The air fills with the scent of raw Alpha power.
"Get your hands off her!"
