Chapter 1

My mate Rowen Gallegos left to throw a birthday party for his first love on the day that was supposed to be my claiming ceremony.

"I'm sorry. I can't choose a lowborn rogue wolf as my Luna," Rowen said.

I didn't argue or make a scene. I chose to leave.

Three years later, we met again.

Only then did Rowen learn that my true identity wasn't a rogue wolf but a princess of pure noble blood.

"Eva, I'm sorry. It was all my fault back then," Rowen said.

I stared at him coldly and said calmly, "Kneel."

*****

This was the ninety-ninth time I had tried to reach my mate Rowen through our mind link, but every single time, he shut me out.

Today was supposed to be our claiming ceremony, but Rowen was throwing a birthday party for his first love, Susan Shaw.

Half an hour earlier, I had seen a photo of the birthday party on Susan's social media account. She was dressed like a princess in the photo, and Rowen was placing a birthday tiara on her head.

I couldn't take it anymore. I went straight to the hotel where the party was being held. When I pushed open the doors to the banquet hall, I saw Susan sitting on Rowen's lap.

Susan took a sip of wine, held it in her mouth, and was about to share it with Rowen in a kiss.

"What are you two doing?" I shouted at them.

Rowen froze when he saw me, then pushed Susan away.

"Eva, what are you doing here?" he asked.

"Today is our claiming ceremony. Have you forgotten?" I demanded.

Rowen said, "Did no one tell you the ceremony was canceled?"

"What? The ceremony's canceled?" I couldn't believe it. No wonder no one from the pack showed up. I was the only one who didn't know.

"What? Today is your claiming ceremony?" Susan feigned surprise, then pretended to scold Rowen. "Seriously, Rowen, this is on you. You should've told Eva sooner about the ceremony being canceled."

Susan walked up to me with a glass of wine. "Eva, don't blame Rowen. He's been running around helping me with my birthday party all day. He probably forgot."

"We were playing a game. Don't get the wrong idea," Susan said as she handed me the glass. "Come on, have a drink and chill out."

"Stay away from me," I snapped as I tried to shove Susan's hand aside. But before I could even reach her, the wine glass crashed to the floor, shattering with a sharp crack.

"Eva, please don't be mad," Susan said, giving me her most pathetic look. "It's all my fault. I shouldn't have dragged Rowen into helping with my birthday party."

Rowen shot up from his chair at the sound. He glanced at the broken wine glass on the floor, his expression souring.

"Eva, what are you doing?" he demanded.

"Rowen, don't get worked up," Susan said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Eva didn't mean to break the glass."

Rowen looked at me, his face darkening.

"You're asking what I'm doing?" I let out a cold laugh. "While I was waiting for my mate to hold our claiming ceremony, he was fooling around with another woman. What do you think I should be doing?"

Rowen pulled me aside and whispered, "I'll explain later. Today is Susan's birthday. Don't ruin it."

"I want your explanation right now." I refused to back down.

Rowen hesitated for a moment, then turned to Susan with a helpless look. "Sorry, I have to leave for a while."

"Hey! The party game's not over yet," a man called out.

"According to the rules, the party queen gets to pick one lucky guy to hook up with tonight," the guy said. "She wrote his name on the bottom of the bottle. Let's find out who it is."

Several men present cheered at the same time. One of them picked up the bottle and showed the writing underneath.

"Rowen is the lucky guy tonight," he announced.

"No, the game is canceled," Susan said, blushing as she snatched the bottle. But she glanced at Rowen with loving eyes.

I was shaking with rage, glaring at Rowen.

"Don't tell me you're actually going to sleep with Susan tonight?" I asked.