Chapter 1Minutes before our sacred bonding ceremony, my Alpha shoved me out of the ceremonial wagon.
"Vesper is back - she's stranded at the eastern border checkpoint."
"She's carrying my pup, and I have to go to her."
I choked out, "And what about me?"
His gaze held no warmth. "You're my chosen mate."
Then he bolted, kicking up dust and gravel.
Alone on the dirt road in my white ritual gown, I sobbed and let out a broken howl - a laugh that scraped my throat raw. My claws threatened to break through my fingertips, but I forced them back.
My pack-comm buzzed with the same caller ID. I answered.
A hurt voice cut through: "Lyra, where are you? I was only joking about crashing the mating ceremony - don't tell me you actually chickened out?"
I answered flatly, "No need. Let's mate. Right now."
After grabbing jeans and a hoodie from the trading post, I dumped the ritual gown into a reeking refuse pit. My inner wolf paced, restless, but I silenced her.
My comm-screen glowed with missed calls from my pack elders and my parents. Rourke had left only a handful of messages - each one a claw to the chest:
[Lyra, I can't reach you.]
[So I asked Vesper to take your place at the altar. I never gave her a proper bonding ceremony when we were mated, so this settles that debt.]
[Thank her - she's carrying heavy, and that gown wasn't easy on her belly.]
[Also, Vesper is moving into the den. I'll care for her until the pup comes and she finds a new provider.]
[She's my ex-mate, and I owe her that. You wouldn't want me to be a heartless Alpha, would you?]
I stared at the screen, a bitter snarl curling my lips. What a noble Alpha. Too bad his loyalty was reserved only for Vesper.
Three moons ago, when Vesper's human lover died, Rourke took a red-eye flight to the eastern city of Thornhaven for the burial. I didn't understand it. He shrugged it off:
"Lyra, she's still my ex-mate. No love left, but history binds us. She needs me."
And what did that trip really accomplish? He flew across the territories just to plant his seed in her belly.
My chest caved as if an invisible paw crushed my ribcage. I threw my head back and let out a low, guttural moan - wolf instinct screaming to break free. No tears. Not yet. I had to go back to that den, grab my things, and burn every trace of that farce.
I pushed open the den door and found Vesper in an apron, bustling over the dining table. She spotted me and beamed like the pack's Luna.
"Lyra, right? We're practically sisters now. Sit - dinner's ready."
Rourke stood behind her, untying her apron with possessive fingers grazing her waist. "I told the housekeeper to cook. You're carrying a pup - you shouldn't be on your feet."
Vesper dabbed her eye. "But you always loved my stew. You've gotten so thin these past two years since we unbound."
Rourke cupped her cheek. "Shh, you're here now. I'll fatten up quick."
Then he turned to me with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Lyra, come taste Vesper's cooking. I've craved this for two years."
Watching him fawn over her, it finally clicked. He didn't miss the stew - he missed the wolf who stirred it.
No wonder every meal I'd made over the past two years ended with "I'm not hungry."
It wasn't about flavor. His gut had always been reserved for Vesper.
Chapter 2
A sour burn clawed up my throat.
"I'm tired. Going to rest." I turned and headed for the bedchamber.
Vesper blinked, tears spilling instantly. "Rourke... does Lyra hate me?"
Of course Rourke couldn't take it. His jaw tightened, fur bristling along his neck.
"Hold it! Vesper stood in for you today, cooked you a meal. The least you can do is show some gratitude instead of snapping at her!"
"Gratitude?" I let out a cold laugh, my wolf stirring beneath my skin. "Ten minutes before our bonding, you dumped me at the border to fetch her. Then you put her in my gown, at my altar. Now you're pawing each other in front of me - with a pup on the way! Rourke, just go claim her already. Drop the fake concern."
"I already explained what happened!" His voice cracked like a whip. "Dragging that up now - are you trying to humiliate her on purpose?"
Vesper darted over, grabbing my hand. "Lyra, Rourke and I go way back. We're practically kin. I honestly didn't think how it'd look."
"Even with the pup, there's nothing romantic between us. Otherwise, why would we have unbound?"
Before I could answer, she turned to Rourke with a strained smile. "I didn't realize Lyra was so threatened by our past. Maybe I should leave the den."
"When we split, I promised I wouldn't interfere with your life... You can visit whenever, just make sure to send pup-support on time!"
She sat down with a trembling grin, grabbed one of my and Rourke's matching bowls, and shoveled meat stew into her mouth. Tears poured down her cheeks.
She wiped them fast, choking out: "Don't worry, Lyra. I'll go after I finish... A roadside shelter will do."
Then she started dry-heaving violently, sobbing like her heart was torn out. "Pup, I'm sorry. Daddy's new mate doesn't want us here. Mommy can't give you a proper pack..."
Rourke lunged, pulling her into his arms, whispering soft comforts against her hair.
When he looked up, his eyes burned with blame - pure disgust. "Lyra, what the hell do you want? Won't you be happy unless Vesper is dead?"
I ignored him and stepped forward.
He threw his arm out, blocking my path.
"Vesper and I are just family - no romance! Why do you keep circling this?"
"Family?" I laughed, my canines lengthening. "Family doesn't make pups together! Rourke, do I look like a mindless cub?"
He frowned, forcing the words out. "When Vesper's lover died, she nearly threw herself off a cliff! I gave her a pup to give her a reason to live!"
Then he grabbed my wrist, claws biting. "Lyra, your pack's been healers for generations. You're supposed to have compassion."
"Think of it as saving her life. Can't you just let it go?"
"Compassion?"
I yanked free, letting a bitter snarl rip from my throat. "Sorry, but I'm heartless. I want to watch her bleed out! If she's gone, you'll stop obsessing!"
SLAP!
His palm cracked across my face.
His chest heaved, eyes bloodshot. "If she dies, you go down with her!"
The sting on my cheek was nothing. Not a fraction of the fire in my chest. Five years. Five years and this was the first time his hand had ever touched me in anger.
Anything with Vesper turned Rourke - cool, composed Alpha - into a rabid stranger.
My wolf cowered, then snarled. I felt the fight drain out of me.
"Rourke. You've hit me. You've screamed at me. We're done."
"We never sealed the bond anyway. I wasn't the one who stood at that altar."
"This whole thing was a joke from the first growl."
Chapter 3
He went still, then yanked me into a crushing hug.
"Lyra, baby, stop. I know you're mad about the bonding seal. We'll do it in a few days, alright?"
"Vesper won't stay forever. Once she finds someone, she's gone. Two years, tops. I promise."
"She's gorgeous, sweet - plenty of wolves sniffing around her. Finding a new mate won't be hard."
"But I need to screen them first. She's too trusting, and with the pup, she'll get taken advantage of - "
I cut him off, my voice ice. "Don't bother finding anyone. You care about her so much, and you're the pup's sire. You're the perfect fit."
His whole body locked up.
Then he shoved me back, a mocking smirk twisting his lips. "You think you're irreplaceable? You're the one who begged me to mate you!"
I dropped my gaze. "Yeah. I did this to myself."
Twenty years ago, my father saved Rourke's grandfather - the old Alpha - from a silver-poisoning that should've killed him.
To repay the debt, the Elder promised I'd be Rourke's chosen mate. I'd stand beside him as Luna, inherit the pack's wealth, wear the crown. My father laughed it off. He always said: "My daughter mates for love, not debt."
But I had to go and fall for Rourke anyway.
What I didn't know - three years ago, he'd gone to the eastern territories for some pack diplomacy and married that soft, fragile little saint, Vesper, there. I only found out the day he returned.
I grabbed my comm to call his grandfather and break the arrangement, but Rourke dropped to his knees, eyes red-rimmed. "Lyra, I only want you. I've already unbound her. Please, just give me one chance."
I caved. I put the comm down.
Now, watching this male hurl insults and strike me, and that she-wolf behind him with her practiced tears - I hated myself for that weakness.
Vesper rose, forcing a wobbling smile. "Rourke, Lyra's young. She doesn't understand. Be patient with her. Unlike me... I'm used to being last."
Then she grabbed her bag and headed for the door. "I'll go. Don't fight because of me."
"Move!" Rourke roared, shoving me hard as he lunged after her.
I stumbled, crashing into a chair. Agony tore through my ribs - my vision went black. Pain lanced up my spine, through my skull. My wolf whimpered, trapped.
But Rourke stepped right over me. Didn't even glance down.
He caught Vesper from behind, voice cracking. "Vesper! You have no one here, you're carrying a pup - where would you even go? Are you trying to gut me?"
Vesper wiped her tears, faking bravery. "I can manage. Worst case... plenty of males out there. Someone will take me and the pup in..."
"I won't allow it!" Rourke exploded. He grabbed her wrist and dragged her back inside.
As they passed me, Vesper's voice dripped with false concern. "Should we call a healer for Lyra? She looks pretty banged up."
Rourke shot me a cold glance - curled up on the floor, bleeding. "No need. She's a medic. She can fix herself."
Eventually, the den-keeper couldn't watch anymore. He called the pack healer.
I woke the next day in the infirmary. Empty bedside. But my comm glowed with a message from Rourke:
[Sorry. I thought you were faking... Taking Vesper for her pup-check today. I'll visit tomorrow.]
I didn't reply. Instead, I called the keeper and told him to send all my personal items back to my family's den.
Rourke's den? I'd never step paw inside it again.
