Chapter 1
“You look beautiful,” when my mate, Alpha Damien whispered to me as his lips grazing my ear, we were about to step into our pack’s gathering.
The pack house pulsed with celebration. Laughter, music, the scent of roasted meat—it all swirled around me like a storm I struggled to stay calm within.
But the special part was that, tonight wasn’t just another gathering. It was a rehearsal for what would soon define me: the Luna ceremony, only weeks away.
I smoothed my midnight-blue gown with nervous hands, forcing a steady breath. Damien’s fingers laced through mine, firm and warm. The bond between us sparked in reassurance, a reminder that I wasn’t alone. Pack members bowed as we passed, their smiles carrying pride and expectation.
I was about to answer when the great doors burst open.
…And Elara Wayne stepped inside.
She didn’t just enter—she claimed the room. Honey-blonde hair cascading in flawless waves, an emerald dress cut to perfection, a smile sharpened to wound.
She carried herself as though no time had passed, as though she had never abandoned this pack… or him.
The air tightened. Wolves shifted uneasily, eyes tracking her every move. And then her gaze landed on me.
“Seraphina!” Her voice rang bright and sweet, but it curdled in my ears. She swept forward with open arms, Damien’s hand stiffening in mine. Through our bond, I felt the jolt of his emotions—shock, confusion, and something I didn’t dare name.
“Elara,” I said, my tone cool. She kissed my cheeks with feigned affection, her perfume cloying.
“You’re radiant,” she gushed. “Though I suppose that’s expected, in your… temporary position.”
The word sliced straight through me. Around us, the pack’s silence thickened, tension building.
I forced a smile. “I didn’t know you had returned.”
Her laugh tinkled like broken glass. “I couldn’t stay away. Not with such changes coming. A Luna ceremony—how thrilling! Though of course, not everyone is suited for leadership.”
Heat crawled up my throat, but I held my ground. “The council believes I am.”
Her smile sharpened. “Oh, naturally. Gratitude is often mistaken for love, isn’t it?”
The implication was clear. That Damien’s devotion was born not of choice, but of obligation.
Before I could reply, she faltered, pressing a delicate hand to her brow. “Oh, forgive me—I never meant to sound harsh. It’s just so overwhelming. I don’t belong here anymore. I only wanted to wish you well…” Her voice cracked. Tears welled, shimmering under the lights.
The hall shifted. Whispers rose. Sympathy spread like wildfire.
And then—
“Seraphina,” Damien’s voice cut in, sharp but uncertain. “Did you say something to upset Elara?”
The words knocked the air from my lungs. My mate, my Alpha-to-be, was questioning me—as if I’d wounded her.
Through our bond, I felt his turmoil, his hesitation, and worst of all… his doubt.
“I…” My voice faltered. There was no way to defend myself without sounding guilty.
“She said nothing wrong, Alpha Damien.” Beta Leo stepped forward, steady and clear. “I witnessed everything. Elara provoked the exchange, and Seraphina remained respectful.”
Others chimed in, voices rising in my defense. For a heartbeat, I thought the truth would hold.
But when I looked at Damien, hope crumbled.
His face was torn, weighed down with conflict—and haunted by memories of her.
“Elara,” he said at last, his voice too gentle, “perhaps it’s best if you give us space tonight. This gathering is meant to celebrate.”
It was no rebuke. It was concern. For her.
She dabbed her tears, nodding meekly. “Of course. I’ll stay out of the way.”
But she didn’t leave. She slipped into the crowd, where sympathetic hands reached for her, where whispers painted her as the wronged one.
Music resumed, laughter stumbled back to life, but the night was already broken. Beside Damien, I stood hollow. Through our bond, his emotions churned—confusion, hesitation, and beneath it all, the echo of old love.
Elara Wayne had returned not to stay, but to strike. And she had struck where I thought myself safest.
In Damien, my mate’s heart.