Before The Mating Ceremony: Bald, But Free

Synopsis

The night before the mating ceremony, my mate, Adam Quinn, slipped something into my drink. I didn't wake up until the next morning. When I finally looked in the mirror, my head was completely bare. Chloe Murphy had taken care of it while I was unconscious. I stood in front of the bathroom mirror for what felt like forever, staring at the stranger looking back at me. Chloe flipped her long curls over her shoulder and gave me a fake little pout. She said, "Oops. My hand slipped. You're not mad, are you, Zoe? "It's all my fault. Now Zoe's going to be the ugliest bald wolf at her own mating ceremony." Adam reached over and pinched her nose like a pup who had done something cute. "She can wear a wig. The veil covers it anyway. Not that it matters. "She never looked as good as you, Chloe," he said with a shrug. No one in the room said a word. They all stared at me, bald and humiliated, waiting for me to snap. The old me would have given them a show. I would have screamed so loudly that the whole pack house could hear. Instead, I smiled. I slipped the mating ring off my finger and held it out to Chloe. I said, "Why go through all this trouble? You take my place. As he said, with the veil on, no one can tell the difference."