Chapter 1
Three days before my mate ceremony, my fiancé’s “first love” decided to challenge me, claiming Ricardo didn’t truly love me. She even went so far as to push me down the stairs.
In the hospital, with Ricardo, the Beta of our pack, looking at me with what seemed like concern, I suddenly felt the urge to test him.
“Are you my mate? I don’t remember anything.”
When he heard I’d lost my memory, his eyes flickered with relief and gratitude, but not the slightest worry for me.
“We’re your good friends. You hit your head while helping Maisy and me set up for the pack’s harvest celebration.”
I watched as Ricardo subtly slipped off the ring I had lovingly crafted for him and placed it onto my rival’s finger.
“Actually, he’s your mate,” Ricardo said, pointing to Marshall, the Alpha of the rival pack, who had been observing the whole scene with interest.
Unfortunately, he pointed to the wrong person. Marshall absolutely despised me.
Marshall looked down at me, raised an eyebrow, and took my hand. “He’s right.”
...
Before I could wrap my head around the situation, Marshall pulled Ricardo into the hallway.
“What are you thinking? Aren’t you worried this will backfire? Eva doesn’t put up with nonsense.”
Ricardo leaned against the wall, his impatience clear. “I’m just enjoying my time with Maisy. The mate bond is for life. Let me have some fun while I still can.”
“And besides, if Eva wasn’t so demanding, who would want to settle down so soon?”
Hearing Ricardo’s words, I was stunned, unable to process for a moment. Back when Ricardo was promoted to Beta, he was over the moon, saying he couldn’t wait to mark me as his mate once he solidified his position in the pack. And now—I was the one forcing him?
“Anyway, when she remembers, she won’t recall any of this. We’re packmates. You have to cover for me.”
Marshall chuckled, his Alpha aura pressing down even in the hallway. “I don’t babysit someone else’s mate.”
“You could pretend she’s your mate. Eva’s beautiful and strong. You wouldn’t be missing out.”
“Hah, you’re something else.”
Ricardo turned his head, pretending it didn’t matter.
I had to lean on the wall to find my way back to the hospital room, my heart pounding painfully, as if it might burst any moment.
Outside the room, Maisy, an Omega in our pack, eyed me with a sneer. “Look at you, all pathetic. You obviously heard something. I knew you were faking it; no one conveniently loses their memory.”
“Eva, you should break the bond voluntarily, save yourself the embarrassment.”
“Get lost.”
I was too distraught to argue. But my words had no effect on her.
“Still holding on, huh? Just wait and see.”
Marshall returned.
I glanced back, but there was no Ricardo.
“What are you doing here? Still dizzy? Hungry, maybe?” Marshall felt my forehead, then tested the water temperature in a cup before offering me a sip.
His actions left me at a loss. It wasn’t that I was moved, but rather puzzled—why would someone as proud as the Alpha humor Ricardo’s game?
Just then, Maisy swaggered in, clinging tightly to Ricardo, practically hanging off him. Ricardo didn’t push her away, even seemed to enjoy it. There was a visible mark on his neck, a sign of their bond.
I was taken aback.
Flashes of past conversations with Ricardo came to mind, where he repeatedly said, “Maisy is the kind of she-wolf I can’t stand. Back when we were young, she looked down on us lower-ranked wolves, and now she’s cozying up. Shameless. Only a fool would want her.”
So what did that make him now?
Seeing my gaze, Maisy clung even closer. “Eva, you’ve been helping with the ceremony planning so much. Can you keep it up?”
I was about to refuse when Ricardo jumped in. “Why wouldn’t she? You can go this afternoon, right?”
“Eva, are you up for it? Don’t push yourself,” Marshall unexpectedly showed concern.
Ricardo’s expression shifted, as if only now realizing I was a patient. “Yeah, are you up for it? The healer did say you need to rest.”
“You’re Marshall’s mate and our packmate. You wouldn’t mind, right?” Maisy’s eyes challenged me.
To keep up the pretense of amnesia in front of Ricardo, I reluctantly agreed.
The ceremony venue was decorated with the spiced honey cakes Ricardo had ordered from across the territory. Just yesterday, when they arrived, he said only such unique treats were worthy of me.
Maisy ran her fingers over the icing. “Did you know? These are my favorite cakes.”
My hand froze above the treats, not even feeling the thorn that pricked my finger.
“Everything here—the decor, even the ceremonial howl—is planned according to my tastes.”
“He said this ceremony is his love letter to me.”
No wonder.
No wonder Ricardo, usually disinterested, took charge of everything.
Occasionally, I made a suggestion, only for him to immediately dismiss it.
I once told Maisy so confidently that Ricardo and I were unbreakable.
I was the ultimate fool.
Under Maisy’s mocking gaze, I fled to the restroom.
Once inside, I overheard Ricardo’s packmates chatting by the window.
“Ricardo said he’s just playing around with Maisy for three days. Who knows if it’ll turn into something more?”
“Don’t you get it? It’s what you call ‘rightful ownership.’”
“What do you mean?”
“Back when we were young, Ricardo chased Maisy for ages and failed. That’s why he settled for Eva.”
I stood there, frozen, my limbs turned to ice.
So, the perfect mate and bond I thought I had were actually leftovers. I was never the first choice, just the backup plan.
I looked at my pale reflection in the mirror.
If that’s the case, then I refuse to go through with this ceremony.