Chapter 1My best friend fucked every single wolf I ever dated.
"Just testing them, Iris! Making sure they're worthy of you!"
I ran. New territory. New pack.
That's where I met Cade Wolfe—Ironclaw's most ruthless Alpha.
Finally, my fated mate.
On the night of our Luna Ceremony, the coordinator leaned in.
"One last test, babe. Pass it, then you can wear his mark."
SKYE. AGAIN.
The next second, she drugged me with wolfsbane, wore MY ceremonial gown, and let MY Alpha mark HER neck in OUR mating bed.
I woke up in time, had her thrown in the pack dungeon.
Nine months later, I was bleeding out giving birth.
Cade wouldn't save me.
"Skye died in that dungeon pregnant with MY pup. You killed her!"
"You and that bastard you're whelping—both of you will pay."
That's when it hit me: my so-called fated mate had always wanted that bitch.
I died screaming.
Then I opened my eyes again.
Back to the ceremony. Back to her fake smile in the preparation room.
This time? I smiled back.
"Sure."
"Let's fucking play."
---
I saw Skye's face again—familiar, stunning, fake as hell.
Just like last time, she pointed at my reflection, laughing her ass off.
Every she-wolf around her had their phones out, snapping pictures of me.
Didn't need to guess what they were laughing at.
I looked in the mirror.
There it was—same as before.
A big blue stamp across my face that said "REJECTED OMEGA."
"What's going on? Why's everyone laughing?"
The door swung open. Cade walked in, dressed in full Alpha ceremonial leathers.
Skye giggled and lunged at him, grabbing his wrist.
"Alpha Wolfe, I prepared a fun little ceremony prank for you two. You like it?"
She stumbled. Let out a soft gasp.
"Lost her balance" and fell straight into Cade's arms.
She looked up at him, cheeks flushed.
"Oops. Sorry."
Her usual seduction trick. I'd seen it a thousand times.
Last life, I opened my eyes to this nightmare.
Saw my dream ceremony makeup ruined.
Watched her pull the same tricks to seduce my Alpha.
Fear and rage flooded through me.
I screamed. Shoved her off him. Slapped her across the face.
"Get out! Are you trying to seduce my mate again?! Not this time!"
Cade rushed over, had the other she-wolves hold me back.
Skye cowered in the corner, face red, looking pitiful.
"I didn't—Luna Hawke, you've got it wrong."
"It's just a harmless ceremony prank."
No matter how I tried to explain:
That she was a bond-breaker.
That she'd stolen every wolf I'd ever been with.
Skye just cried, voice trembling.
"I swear I didn't. I don't even know you. I'm just the ceremony coordinator."
"I'm so sorry. I'll submit to you if you want. Please stop lying about me..."
Everyone whispered.
"Mate-tester? She's been watching too many human movies."
"Probably one of those paranoid Lunas who thinks every she-wolf wants her Alpha. Pathetic."
My explanations fell flat. Drowned out by their mockery. By Cade's tired eyes.
Cade sighed, walked over, pulled me into a gentle hold.
"It's okay. If you don't trust her, we'll replace her. How's that?"
"But next time, just mindlink me directly instead of accusing the poor wolf like this."
I thought he was just fooled by Skye's lies like everyone else.
But when I died, I finally understood.
His wolf had already chosen her.
This time, I watched Skye fall into Cade's arms without expression.
Didn't miss the flicker of gold in his eyes—his wolf rising to the surface.
But a second later, he glanced at me sharply.
Shoved her off. Face cold.
"That's not funny. Apologize to my Luna, clean that stamp and redo her markings."
"No need."
I said it calmly.
Cade relaxed, his hand briefly touching Skye's hair.
"You should thank my mate. If she wasn't so kind and forgiving, you'd be—"
I cut him off.
"Cade Wolfe, forget the makeup. Cancel the ceremony."
Chapter 2
Cade stared at me in disbelief. After a long pause, he forced a laugh.
"That's not funny."
"I'm not joking."
I tore off the ceremonial gown—the one he'd had custom-made by the pack's finest weavers, embroidered with silver thread under three full moons.
Tossed it aside like trash.
"Ceremony's off. We're done."
I grabbed my cloak and headed for the door.
"Iris!"
That's when it hit him—I was serious.
He grabbed my wrist hard. His wolf flashed gold behind his eyes, barely controlled rage.
"You're really calling off the ceremony because of some coordinator's stupid prank?"
He stared at me, eyes full of hurt and confusion.
"Iris! Stop this!"
"We prepared everything for this bond. Both packs are here. You can't just—"
I yanked my wrist free, ignoring the whispers and stares from the gathered wolves.
Looked him dead in the eye. Cold. Mocking.
"Cade. You know exactly why I'm calling this off."
"I'm giving you a chance. Go be with your TRUE mate."
I thought I'd see panic on his face.
Instead, he looked perfectly calm. Hurt. Confused.
"Iris, what the hell are you even talking about?"
"Everyone knows YOU'RE the only one my wolf wants."
He gestured at Skye.
"Is this about her?"
He sighed helplessly.
"I didn't know she was gonna pull that prank."
"Plus, I already told her to submit an apology. If that's not enough, I'll banish her from the ceremony grounds. Done."
Skye burst into tears and bolted out the door.
Cade didn't even look at her, his eyes locked on me.
"Is that good enough now?"
I stared back. Didn't say yes. Didn't say no.
His parents walked in, voices laced with blame.
"Cade already apologized, Iris. Don't push it."
"He's been so good to you. Or did you forget who authorized your mother's treatment in our pack healer's den? Don't be ungrateful."
A sharp pain stabbed through my chest.
My mom had collapsed because of Skye.
At my ex's mating ceremony, Skye deliberately projected their mating for everyone to see through the pack bond.
Then ran off with him in front of both packs—left me standing there like a rejected omega.
Mom's heart gave out right there.
I had to bring her here to Ironclaw territory for their advanced healers. That's how I met Cade—most ruthless Alpha in the northern territories.
That's how we discovered our bond.
I knew what Margot's words really meant. They were a threat.
The Wolfes had power. Territory control spanning three states.
If I ruined this ceremony and shamed them, they'd throw my mom out of the healer's den.
"Mother."
Cade cut her off. Firm but not harsh.
"Iris is my mate. Her mother is under my protection. That's what an Alpha does."
He turned to me, voice soft.
"Babe, please. Don't make a scene at the ceremony today. For me. For your mother's care."
I dug my nails into my palms, putting on a hurt expression.
"Cade, you really don't know that coordinator?"
"She whispered to me that you told her to ruin my markings on purpose. To humiliate me for something. That's why I got upset."
At my words, the wolves who'd been judging me suddenly looked sympathetic.
Cade's jaw twitched. Then he put on a reassuring smile.
"She's lying. Just jealous you're bonding with an Alpha."
When I stayed silent, he sighed.
"I'll have her removed from pack lands right now. Okay?"
I finally smiled.
"Then swear it."
"If you're lying—if you really do have something with her—I'll reject the bond."
Cade played along, raising his hand in the traditional oath gesture.
Wolves chuckled.
"You're overthinking it—Cade's wolf only answers to you."
Outside the door, Skye's fleeting, frustrated expression passed by.
I ignored it.
The ceremony preparations ended.
I was about to head back to the chambers to remove my ruined markings when someone pressed a cloth soaked in wolfsbane over my mouth and nose.
I held my breath. Closed my eyes. Played along.
Just like last time.
Skye and Cade stumbled into the Alpha's mating chamber, tangled up in each other.
Fell onto the bed. His wolf rising. Her submission display.
I snapped my eyes open and rushed through the pack house, finding Cade's parents to expose them.
This time, I didn't do what I did last life.
Didn't tell them Skye drugged me and tried to let Cade mark her.
I just acted worried.
"Theo, Margot—I think Cade's wolf is out of control. He doesn't look right."
The Wolfes and their high-ranking pack members followed me upstairs in a rush.
The second we got to the door, we heard it.
Growls. Gasps. The unmistakable sounds of wolves mating.
Their faces went dark.
They tried to cover it up—shut it down before anyone else saw.
But I shoved the door open first.
"Cade, is your wolf okay?"
The door swung wide.
Two naked bodies on the bed shot apart, scrambling to pull the furs over themselves.
Through the crowd, Skye shot me a triumphant smile.
Chaos exploded behind me.
"Moon Goddess—that's the coordinator from this morning."
"Iris was telling the truth. Holy shit!"
Theo's face turned red with rage, his wolf surfacing.
"Cade! What the hell did you do?!"
Margot lunged at Skye, trying to drag her off the bed.
"It's all you! You dosed him with something! Made his wolf think you were Iris!"
"That's it, right, son? We're calling the Pack Council! Throwing this bitch in the dungeon!"
Skye's smug smile vanished. Tears filled her eyes.
She shrank back against Cade's chest.
"Enough!"
Cade roared. The Alpha command rippled through the room, forcing every wolf to freeze.
He wrapped his arms around Skye. Shielded her.
He looked through the crowd at me.
Eyes dark. Cold.
Not a trace of panic. Not a hint of guilt.
"Iris. We need to talk."
Chapter 3
Theo and Margot cleared everyone out.
Just the three of us left in the chamber.
I didn't think we had anything left to talk about.
I was just wondering—
Why was he still standing here, looking me in the eye without a shred of guilt?
This time, I hadn't sent Skye to the dungeon. Hadn't gotten her killed.
So why was he still so fucking shameless?
I couldn't tell if what I felt was bitterness or pure hatred.
I tore the ceremonial binding cord from my wrist, tossed it on the floor.
"You made a promise. If you lied to me, I'd reject the bond."
"Cade. I'll call the Pack Council soon."
"Iris!"
He called after me.
"I'm not severing this bond!"
I whipped around. For the first time, I looked at him with pure hate.
"Then I'll petition for rejection!"
"Go ahead and try."
Cade's face was shadowed, his wolf gleaming behind his eyes.
"You petition the Council, and I'll throw your mother out of the healer's den immediately."
"I guarantee you—no pack in Ironclaw territory, hell, no pack in the entire northern region will take her."
"Cade!"
I clenched my jaw. My whole body shook.
I must've looked pathetic.
Because Skye was smiling again. Smug as hell.
"Why are you doing this to me?"
"If you want her, just reject me! You two can bond! Why drag me into this?!"
Tears blurred my vision.
"I already gave you what you wanted. I never did anything to hurt you! Why won't you just let me go?!"
Cade's voice was ice cold.
"You didn't hurt me. But you hurt Skye."
My eyes went wide.
"When did I—"
He sneered.
"Every wolf Skye ever dated? You stole him."
"You called yourself a 'mate-tester.' Seduced every male she loved. Let them mark you. Drove her to the edge of madness."
"She almost took wolfsbane because of YOU."
"You stole so many wolves from her. It's time you know what that feels like."
My head exploded, and almost instinctively I lunged at them.
Slapped him hard across the face.
Then I swung at Skye.
Cade shoved me back, his Alpha strength sending me stumbling.
"Enough! You're still trying to hurt her?!"
I wiped my tears and bit out every word.
"I didn't do it! I didn't do any of that!"
"Cade! Skye's the one who stole my wolves!"
"She's the one who ran off with my ex at his mating ceremony and made my mom collapse!"
"There are witnesses! Messages through the pack bond! You can verify—"
"Enough!"
He struck me across the face. Cut me off.
His face twisted with disgust.
"You still won't admit it. Even now."
"Iris, I had no idea you were this shameless."
"Won't admit it? Still lying? Fine. Let's see how stubborn you really are."
He grabbed me by the arm, dragged me through the pack house.
"Cade! Let go of me!"
Ignoring my struggles, he shoved me into the silver-lined isolation cell in the lower den.
Slammed the door. The silver burned where it touched my skin.
"Let me out! Cade!"
I pounded on the door wildly.
But all I got was his cold, merciless reply.
"You won't admit it? Fine. Let's see what breaks first—your wolf or your lies."
"When you admit it, submit, and apologize to Skye on your knees, then I'll let you out!"
