FAYE
I raised my stick just in time to block Sage’s next swing. I laughed at the look of frustration on her face.
“It’s not my fault you’re too slow, Sage. Stop dragging your feet,” I teased.
She rolled her eyes, obviously annoyed. “No, but it is your fault for always getting the better deal and leaving me with the scraps. We’re twins, Delta Faye, learn to share.”
“That’s not true,” I said, ducking under another swing. “We both have our strengths, Sage.”
We were fraternal twins, but you wouldn’t know it by looking at us. Sage had blonde hair and green eyes; I had black hair and grey eyes.
Despite our differences, we moved in sync. Years of training had turned us into a perfect balance of attack and defense. Sparring had always been calming to me, even if Sage’s words sometimes made me uncomfortable.
“So, your mating ceremony is tonight,” Sage said, breathing heavily as she leaned on her stick. Even though her tone was casual, something in it made me pause and stare.
“Our mating ceremony, Sage,” I corrected her. “You’re getting mated too, remember?”
I caught a look pass through her eyes before she nodded. “Yeah. To a stranger that I only know by name. Lucky me. How about you, Faye? Are you nervous?”
I shrugged, playing with my stick. “A little,” I admitted. “But it’s nothing compared to what we’ve been through as warriors, Sage. I’m sure we’ll be fine.”
Sage nodded, but her laugh sounded empty.
As she lowered her stick, my eyes drifted past her, down the path from the training grounds to the pack house. I noticed two men walking together. But it was the taller one who held my attention. It wasn’t just his height or his good looks. It was how confident he looked—like someone who was used to being obeyed. I didn’t recognize his face. It made me wonder who he was.
“Faye? Are you even listening?” Sage’s voice snapped me back.
I turned to her. “Sorry, what?”
Sage shook her head. “You always zone out when something catches your attention.”
I smiled. “I just thought I saw someone unfamiliar,” I murmured, then gestured with my head toward where I was looking. “Do you have any idea who that is? The tall one?”
Her eyes followed my gaze, and she shook her head. “Doesn’t look familiar. They’re probably among the guests visiting for tonight’s ceremony.”
“I see,” I said, and Sage sighed, looking slightly annoyed. “I can’t believe you were busy lusting after a man while I was here baring my heart to you about tonight.”
I frowned at her words. “I wasn’t lusting after anyone, Sage. I was just curious. That’s all.”
She nodded. “Of course. But you know, Faye… you’ve always been lucky. So it probably doesn’t even bother you much.”
My brow knit in confusion. “What do you mean?”
She shifted slightly. “I mean, we trained side by side, Faye, and I’m the older twin—even if it’s just by some minutes. But when they chose the new leader for the warriors, they picked you, and I had to settle for second place.”
I tried to keep things light, smiling a little. “Sage, the elders had their reasons—”
“Sure,” she cut me off. When she looked at me, there was something bitter in her eyes—something that had always been there, even when I tried to ignore it.
“And now tonight,” she went on, “you’re about to be mated to the soon-to-be alpha. His father steps down tomorrow. Then you’ll be Luna. That’s quite a jump, Faye. Isn’t it? Delta to Luna.”
Her words hurt me more than they should. I felt guilty, even though I hadn’t asked for any of it.
“Sage…”
“You’re lucky, Faye,” she cut me off. This time her bitterness was obvious. “At least you got to choose.”
My heart sank. I dropped my stick and stepped closer to her. “I know it isn’t fair. You never got to pick. You were promised to someone you’ve never even met.”
Sage had been promised to Alpha Alexander of Blood Crescent a couple of years ago. We’d only ever heard his name, but we’d never met him.
Sage shrugged stiffly. “The pack needed it, or so they said. And Father agreed, as always. Always putting his job as beta before his own children.” Her voice cracked at the end. It made me feel worse.
I placed a hand on her arm. “Maybe it won’t be that bad. You’re strong, Sage. Maybe he’ll turn out good.”
She forced a small smile, but her eyes stayed distant. “Maybe,” she whispered. “Maybe I’ll learn to love him.”
We stood in silence for a moment. I wanted to say more, but nothing came. Then I heard footsteps approaching.
“Delta Faye,” a guard called, stopping near us. “Your father wants to see you in the alpha’s office.”
I glanced at Sage. “Will you be okay?”
“Of course,” she smiled. But her eyes kept drifting toward the woods. “Hey, Faye, have you seen Jason?” she asked. I shook my head. “No, not tonight. Why?” I asked, wondering why she was looking for him. Sage smiled and shook her head. “No reason. I was just wondering.”
I frowned in confusion, then nodded. “Alright, then. See you later.”
As I followed the guard, I noticed Sage walking toward the trees. For a moment, I thought of calling her back but stopped. Maybe she just needed space before tonight.
We reached the alpha’s office, and I stepped inside.
My father stood by the window, and Alpha Wells and a few elders were gathered around.
“Faye,” my father said, turning to me with a small smile. “Come in.”
I bowed slightly. “Alpha. Elders.”
“Delta Faye,” they greeted.
Alpha Wells’s expression softened. “How are you feeling, Faye?”
“Very well, thank you,” I replied politely.
My father studied me. “The ceremony is only hours away. Are you ready?”
I nodded. “Yes, Father. I am.”
I truly was. Jason and I had been together nearly two years. But Sage’s situation still bothered me.
My father’s gaze softened. “Tonight is about more than just you and Jason. It’s about uniting families for the good of the pack.”
“I know,” I nodded.
He placed a hand on my shoulder. “You’ve made us proud as head warrior, Faye. I know you’ll do the same as Luna.”
His words should have comforted me, but Sage’s hurt expression kept flashing in my mind.
“Father,” I began, “about Sage—”
Before I could finish, he shook his head. “That isn’t your concern, Faye. The council decided what’s best for the pack.”
I lowered my gaze. “Yes, Father.”
Alpha Wells turned from the window, picking up a dagger with ancient runes and a black stone in the center.
“Take this to Jason,” he said, handing it to me. “Before the ceremony, you and Jason must each offer a drop of blood on this dagger. It seals your bond.”
I nodded, then hesitated when I remembered something. “But… I haven’t seen Jason tonight.”
Alpha Wells smiled. “He’s at the cabin in the woods. It’s tradition. That cabin has been used by my family for generations, and tonight it’s for you and Jason. He’s likely making sure everything is ready.”
Elder John chuckled. “Or maybe he’s just eager for tonight,” he teased.
Their laughter sounded far away, but I forced a smile. “When does the ritual begin?”
“In a few minutes,” Alpha Wells replied. “Go now, Faye. We’ll join you shortly.”
FAYE
I didn’t go straight to find Jason like I planned. I went to the training grounds to check if Sage was back.
As I got closer, I noticed a man standing in the middle of the training grounds. The way he moved caught my attention immediately.
He was practicing with a longsword. Each swing showed how good he was with it. For a second, I just stood there and watched.
There was something in the way he moved. Like he didn’t just train for discipline. Like it was as natural as breathing to him. He looked dangerous and powerful.
As if sensing my eyes on him, he stopped mid-swing and turned.
Storm-gray eyes locked onto mine, and that was when I realized it was the same man from earlier, the same one I'd caught sight of from the training ground. Up close, he was even more imposing, tall, and broad-shouldered, with his hair still damp, as if he just stepped out of the shower.
I stiffened, pulling my gaze back to his face.
“Didn’t know anyone else trained this late,” I said, my voice coming out softer than I meant.
He lowered the sword slightly, but didn’t look away.
“And yet you still decided to watch,” he said in a deep and calm voice that sounded almost amused. Almost.
“I wasn’t watching,” I shot back, folding my arms across my chest. “Just passing by.”
One dark eyebrow lifted. “Is that so?”
He took a slow step closer, still holding the sword loosely at his side.
“You have a strange way of ‘passing by.’”
My pulse kicked up, but I refused to step back.
“It’s a free field,” I said, lifting my chin. “Or do you think it belongs to you?”
His gaze flickered over me for a moment. “Do you always talk to strangers like this?” he asked in a low voice.
“Only when they act like they own the ground they stand on,” I shot back.
A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth, but it didn’t reach his eyes.
“And what would you do if I did?”
I raised my eyebrows. “Challenge you to prove it.”
His smirk faded, replaced by something darker, interest, maybe, or surprise.
For a moment we just stood there, facing each other.
Then he moved closer, close enough that I caught his scent. “Tell me,” he murmured, his voice a much softer voice, “Do you always speak first, or do you fight first?”
My heart beat faster, but I kept my voice steady. “Depends,” I said. “Are you worth the effort?”
His eyes narrowed slightly, but the corner of his mouth curved again.
“Bold,” he murmured. “Most people hesitate.”
“I’m not most people,” I said, my words sharper than I intended.
For a moment, neither of us spoke, just continue to stare at each other. Somewhere deep inside, Nova stirred, silently watching him too.
“I’m not here to be good,” I said, without even knowing why.
“I can see that,” he replied quietly.
A beat of silence passed, then he turned the sword in his hand, letting the blade catch the moonlight.
“Next time,” he said in a low voice. “if you want to watch, step closer. You’ll see better.”
Heat rose to my face, from anger or something else, I couldn’t tell.
“I wasn’t watching,” I snapped.
He didn’t argue. He just dipped his head slightly, as if in mock respect.
“Then maybe next time, you won’t stop at the edge of the field.”
Before I could find a reply, he stepped back, turning away as smoothly as he’d first turned to me.
He lifted the sword again, his focus already shifting away, like I was nothing more than a passing moment.
I stood there for a few seconds longer, with my heart pounding, and breathe caught somewhere between anger and something I didn’t want to name.
Then I forced myself to turn and walk away, back toward the path.
I still had to find Jason. The last thing I needed tonight was any sort of distraction.
What just happened? And what is wrong with me? Tonight of all nights....
I sighed, disappointed in myself. It almost felt like I’d cheated on Jason, just by having that conversation with him. I should tell Jason when I see him. I didn’t want any secrets between us before the mating ceremony.
“Are you okay?” Nova asked as I turned to leave.
“I’m nervous,” I admitted. “About Sage. About tonight.”
“You’re strong, Faye. You’ll handle this too.”
“I hope so,” I whispered back.
As I neared the cabin, I frowned in confusion as laughter and soft moans reached my ears. My heart started beating faster as I heard Jason’s voice. “Did anyone see you?”
“No, I was careful,” came the answer. My blood ran cold when I recognized Sage’s voice.
“Good,” Jason murmured. “You know how crazy this is, right?”
“Then stop,” Sage teased, giggling. “But you won’t, will you?”
Jason chuckled. “No. Not when I finally have you like this.”
My chest exploded in pain. Slowly, I stepped forward and pushed the door open and they were there on the bed, Sage and Jason, tangled together in the room prepared for my mating night. At the sound of the door, they both turned, eyes wide.
I couldn’t move or breathe.
Before anyone could speak, footsteps approached and Alpha Wells, the elders, my father, and a few others entered only to freeze at the sight.
“What is this?” Alpha Wells thundered. “Jason!”
My father’s face had gone pale. “Sage! Explain yourself!”
Jason’s jaw tightened. “Father, it’s nothing—”
“Nothing?” Alpha Wells snapped. “You brought Faye to us, you swore she was your choice, and now this?”
Jason swallowed but didn’t look, sorry. “I did want her once. But my feelings changed. I kept pretending because I didn’t want to hurt her or disappoint you. But I can’t keep lying.”
His words pierced me like a blade in the heart, but I forced myself to stay calm.
Alpha Wells’s voice was hard as he spoke. “So instead you choose betrayal? You shame your mate and this entire pack?”
My father turned to Sage. “Your own sister, Sage. Why?”
Sage’s voice trembled with anger. “Why shouldn’t it be me for once, Father? All my life, Faye got everything. Even the title of commander, though I’m the older twin. She got to choose her mate. And me? I was promised away to a stranger. Why can’t I have what she has?”
She turned to me. “You always got chosen, Faye! I was always left behind. I wanted the best for once. I deserve it.”
Her words hurt, but deep down, I’d seen signs of her resentment before. This wasn't new.
“You didn’t have to do it this way, Sage,” I said quietly, trying to keep the pain out of my voice. “You could have chosen openly. Instead, you chose betrayal.”
Sage’s mouth twisted. “You wouldn’t understand. Everything always came easily to you. You don’t know what it feels like to be second best.”
Jason turned to me. “I did try, Faye. Truly. But my feelings faded. I didn’t want to hurt you, but I couldn’t keep lying.”
“You didn’t hurt me, Jason,” I said. “You broke my trust. You could have ended it before tonight, instead of humiliating me in front of everyone.”
Jason’s jaw tightened. “You're forgetting something, Faye. I’m old enough to know what I want. I don’t owe anyone an apology for living my life. I chose Sage, and I won’t apologize for that.”
“And yet you lied until the very last moment,” I said, keeping my voice calm.
Jason opened his mouth, but no words came out.
I turned to Sage. “Why?” It was a simple question, but I needed to hear it from her.
Guilt flickered in her eyes, followed by stubborn pride. “I’m tired of being in your shadow, Faye,” she said. “I’m tired of being second best. I won’t say sorry for wanting more.”
“And you thought the way to get it,” I said softly, “was to steal it from me, in secret?”
She didn’t answer. Instead, she turned away.
I drew in a slow breath and nodded. “Fine. If this is really what you both want… then live with it. I won’t stop you.”
FAYE
Elder Bennett finally cleared his throat. “Alpha… there’s still the matter of Sage’s promised mate. What do we do about him?”
Alpha Wells rubbed his face, letting out a weary sigh. “Alpha Alexander,” he muttered. “This is bad.”
My stomach dropped, I’d almost forgotten about that.
Elder John frowned. “We can’t give him Sage anymore. She gave herself to another man right before the mating, and everyone saw it. There’s no covering this up.”
Elder Marcus nodded. “Alpha Alexander was promised a pure mate. Breaking that promise could dishonor us, and worse, anger his pack.”
“We need this alliance,” Elder Bennett added quietly. “Without it, everything we’ve worked for could fall apart.”
Alpha Wells turned to Sage with a glare. “Have you seen what you've brought upon us?! This is a disaster!"
Sage lifted her chin stubbornly. “It doesn’t have to be. Jason wants me, not Faye. And I want him too. Let me stay with him. Faye can take my place with Alpha Alexander.”
I froze. “What?”
Elder John looked at me, almost like he felt sorry. “Faye… if we can’t give Sage to Alpha Alexander, then it has to be you.”
My heart pounded. “No,” I said, shaking my head. “You can’t do that.”
Sage stepped closer, her eyes flashing angrily. “Why not, Faye? You always act so noble, but when it’s your turn to sacrifice for the pack, you say no?”
My fists clenched. “This isn’t about being noble, Sage, and you know that. You and Jason made this mess, and now you want me to fix it by marrying a stranger?”
Sage let out a bitter laugh. “Oh so now, that's a bad thing? You didn’t care that I was promised off to someone I’d never met, as long as you got Jason, Faye. No it's your turn to know what that feels like.”
“Enough,” Alpha Wells cut in, turning to me. “Faye, I know this isn't easy for you, but the alliance matters. If Alpha Alexander is refused a mate, it could start a war.”
“So you’re just selling me instead?” I shot back.
His gaze softened slightly. “It’s duty, Faye. You’ve always protected this pack as Delta. Now you must do it again.”
“No,” I whispered. “If Sage can’t do it anymore, then send a message and call it off.”
My father shook his head. “It’s too late. He’s already here.”
My breath caught. “What? When?”
“He arrived this afternoon,” my father said. “I didn’t tell anyone because I didn’t want Sage to panic or run. I thought I’d wait until tonight. I’m sorry.”
My mouth went dry. He was already here?
Alpha Wells turned back to Sage. “And you agree to let your sister take your place?”
Sage nodded quickly. “Yes, Alpha. Jason and I love each other. This way, everyone wins. The pack keeps the alliance, and I don’t have to marry a stranger.”
Her words cut deeper than any blade. Like it didn’t even matter what happened to me.
Turning to Jason, Alpha Wells spoke. "And you, Jason? What do you have to say about this?"
Jason's voice was cold and emotionless as he answered. "I really don't care who mates who, father. The main thing here is that I'm no longer interested in mating Faye. She no longer what I want."
My fists tightened at my sides but I remained quite.
Alpha Wells faced me again. “Faye, this is the only way to save the pack.”
I opened my mouth, but the words stuck in my throat. Finally, I shook my head. “No. I won’t do it.”
"Yes, you will!" Jason snapped, surprising me.
I turned to him. "Excuse me?"
"You will mate him, Faye," he gritted out through his teeth. "Refusing this won't make me come back to you. I told you, I'm done. So stop thinking about yourself for once and do what's needed of you."
I nodded, taking a step back. "I think we're done here. If you all will excuse me "
Before anyone could speak, I turned and headed for the door, my heart pounding so loud I could barely hear them.
At the doorway, I threw the ceremonial dagger to the ground. It clattered across the floor.
“Faye! Come back here!” Alpha Wells thundered behind me.
But I didn’t stop. I pushed past everyone, stepping into the cool night air. My chest burned with anger and betrayal.
Nova’s voice echoed softly in my mind. “Faye—”
“Don’t,” I snapped. “Not now.”
I walked past the empty training grounds, my thoughts swirling. I wasn’t watching where I was going—and I crashed into someone. My shoulder slammed into a hard chest.
“I’m so—” I started.
“Watch where you’re going,” a deep voice snapped.
I looked up and my breath caught. It was the same man from the training ground.
I frowned. “What’s your problem? I said sorry.”
“And sorry won’t always fix things, would they,” he shot back, glaring at me like I’d insulted him. He wasn't as calm as I remembered from minutes ago. H seemed angry at something, but so was I.
My temper flared and I glared at him. “You weren’t looking either.”
His eyes narrowed, and he stepped closer. “Watch your tongue,” he warned. “You don’t speak like that to people you don’t know.”
“And you should learn some manners, Mr,” I shot back, stepping closer too. “You act like everyone should bow to you. Who do you think you are?”
Something flickered in his stormy eyes, surprise, then anger, then something darker.
Suddenly, he moved. He grabbed my wrist and pushed me back until my spine hit a tree. His body blocked out the moonlight, and I could feel the heat rolling off him.
“You’ve got quite a mouth,” he murmured in a low voice. “Someone should teach you when to use it, before it gets you in trouble.”
My heart raced, anger and something else twisting in my chest. His scent—dark, rich, unfamiliar—wrapped around me.
“And you’ve got quite an ego,” I shot back, breathlessly. “Someone should knock it down before it gets you killed.”
We stood there, breathing hard, glaring at each other for a moment, then I shoved at his chest. “Get off me.”
Surprisingly, he let go immediately. I turned and walked quickly into the woods, my hands still shaking.
I didn’t stop until I reached the field under the moonlight. I stood there for a couple of minutes, with my chest heaving, fighting the mix of shame, anger, and confusion.
“You have to go back,” Nova urged softly.
“I know,” I whispered.
Slowly, I turned and walked back toward the pack house.
Before I got far, my mother rushed up to me. “Faye! Where have you been?” she scolded. “I’ve been looking everywhere.”
“I just needed air,” I muttered.
“There’s no time,” she said, grabbing my arm. “Alpha Wells is asking for you in his office. Alpha Alexander is waiting.”
My stomach twisted. “Now? Looking like this?” I glanced down at my dusty clothes and messy hair.
“I know,” she fussed, pulling a leaf from my hair. “But we can’t keep him waiting.”
With every step, my chest felt heavier. My own mate had just betrayed me with my sister, and now I was about to meet the man my sister was promised to.
My mother opened the office door. “Alpha Wells, she’s here.”
Alpha Wells stood stiffly behind his desk, and my father also looked worried.
Then my eyes landed on the man standing beside them, and my heart stopped. It was him.
The same man from the training ground. The one who’d just pushed me against a tree.
Shock slammed into me so hard I almost forgot to breathe.
Alpha Wells spoke. “Faye… meet Alpha Alexander of Blood Crescent. Your father and I spoke with him. We offered for you to take your sister’s place.” He hesitated. “But… there may be no need for that.” he said at last.
I stared, confused. “What do you mean?”
Alpha Wells let out a shaky breath. “Alpha Alexander refused the change in the arrangement—”
Before he could finish, the man I now knew as Alpha Alexander lifted his hand, cutting him off. The room went silent.
He stepped closer, his storm-gray eyes locked on mine. My pulse raced as memories of the tree flashed through my mind.
He stopped only a few steps away, and then, in a calm, cold voice, he spoke.
“I’ll take her.”
The words slammed into me, and my chest tightened so painfully I could hardly breathe.
I couldn’t speak, I couldn’t move. All I could do was stare into those eyes, trying to understand what had just happened, and what it meant for me.
There goes my only hope.
FAYE
Just like that, it was decided. My fate was sealed.
Images kept flashing in my head of Jason and Sage, tangled together in the bed meant for me. My mate. My sister. And now, here I was, about to be handed over to a man I barely knew, just to keep peace between the packs.
Alpha Wells’s voice broke through my thoughts. “Very well then. We should begin. The guests are waiting.”
My chest tightened, but I forced myself to nod. “Of course,” I whispered, but my voice sounded dull, like it belonged to someone else.
Alexander didn’t say a word. He just watched me with those cold gray eyes. I didn’t want to look at him, but my gaze kept drifting back, searching for something — anything — behind that stone expression. But there was nothing.
They led us outside to the sacred grounds behind the pack house. It was obvious this was rushed, nothing like the ceremony I’d once dreamed of. Guests stood in a wide circle, whispering. Some looked at me with pity; most just watched with curiosity.
The elders stood by the altar, a low stone table covered in white cloth. The ceremonial dagger lay on top, and just the sight of it twisted my stomach.
Alexander stepped closer. His face stayed hard, colder than before, and again I wondered why. “Are you ready?” he asked coldly.
“No,” I wanted to say. But all that came out was, “Let’s get it over with.”
He nodded.
Elder John raised his hands, quieting the crowd. “Tonight, under the eyes of the moon and our ancestors, we bind Alpha Alexander of Blood Crescent and Delta Faye of Silver Hollow. This bond keeps peace and strengthens the ties between our packs.”
His words sounded distant, like they weren’t meant for me. All I could hear was Sage’s voice in my head, “Why shouldn’t it be me for once?” And Jason’s empty stare when he looked at me. My chest felt so heavy I could barely breathe.
“Faye,” Elder John called. “Step forward.”
I forced myself to step up, keeping my shoulders straight, even though every part of me wanted to run.
Alexander took the dagger first. Without hesitation, he drew it across his palm, drawing blood, then he handed it to me.
My hand trembled, but I tightened my grip. The cut stung, but compared to the betrayal I’d felt tonight, it was nothing.
We pressed our palms together and our blood mixed and dripped onto the dagger.
“From this night, you are bound,” Elder John declared. “In strength, in duty, and under the moon.”
Polite applause rose around us, but I barely heard it. My heart felt like it was locked behind a wall I didn’t even know I’d built, one Jason and Sage had helped me build tonight. I’d loved Jason once, trusted him completely, and he’d crushed that trust like it was nothing. I’d never let anyone have that power again. Not Alexander. Not anyone.
Alexander leaned closer, his breath brushing my cheek. “Now say the vow,” he murmured.
I swallowed hard. “I, Delta Faye of Silver Hollow, bind myself to you in duty and alliance.”
His eyes stayed cold as he spoke. “I, Alpha Alexander of Blood Crescent, bind myself to you as mate and Luna of my pack.”
His words were flat, like he was reciting them for duty, not choice.
Elder John stepped forward with a silver goblet. “Drink, and seal the bond.”
We each took a sip. It tasted bitter and metallic, but I forced it down.
The elder lifted his staff. “By moon and blood, it is done.”
A soft cheer sounded through the guests.
My mother wiped tears from her eyes, trying to smile. My father’s face was carved with guilt and worry. Behind them, I caught sight of Sage beside Jason, and I turned away before the anger bubbling in my chest could spill out in front of everyone.
Alexander stepped back to speak quietly with Alpha Wells and my father. The guests began drifting away, stealing glances at me as they left.
I stood there, feeling nothing but cold inside. Everything hurt so much that it felt easier not to feel at all.
I didn't hear Sage approach until she was standing beside me.
“Faye,” she started softly.
I turned to face her. Her eyes were wet, but her chin stayed lifted, like always.
“I wanted to say… I’m sorry you found out that way,” she whispered. “Jason and I didn’t plan it like that.”
Her words sounded empty. “So you’re sorry I caught you,” I said quietly. “Not sorry you did it.”
“That’s not fair,” Sage snapped, her voice rising a little. “You don’t understand—”
“I do,” I cut her off. “You wanted him, so you took him. And you didn’t care what it did to me.”
She looked away, then back. “You always had everything, Faye. You got to choose Jason. I was promised to a man I’d never met. Do you know what that felt like?”
“And do you know what this feels like?” My voice shook despite how hard I tried to hold it steady. “To see my own sister with my mate? On the night meant for us?”
She flinched but didn’t step back. “You’ll survive, Faye. You’re always the strong one. Aren’t you?”
She paused, sighing. “I didn’t come to fight. I don’t want us to hate each other. We’re still sisters.”
I stared at her, anger mixing with the hurt inside of me. “You chose him over me, Sage. Don’t act like nothing’s changed. You made your choice. Now let me make mine.”
Her eyes narrowed. “So you’ll hate me forever? Just because this time I refused to stand behind you?”
“I’m tired, Sage,” I said truthfully. “I can’t do this right now.”
Something hardened in her gaze. “Fine,” she said. “But don’t act innocent, Faye. You were willing to let me marry a stranger so you could keep Jason. At least I fought for what I wanted.”
My jaw clenched. “You didn’t fight, Sage. You lied. You betrayed.”
She scoffed. “You still get to be Luna! You’re still getting what you want!”
I took a slow breath. “I hope you’re happy,” I said softly. “You got what you wanted. I hope it’s worth it.”
Bitterness flickered over her face. “Maybe now you’ll see you can’t always have everything, Faye. I deserve good things too.”
I shook my head. “We’re done here, Sage.”
Without waiting for her answer, I turned and walked away. My chest burned, but I kept moving. I didn’t look back. Not this time.
I couldn’t change the past. But I could decide what parts of me I’d never give away again. Jason and Sage had taught me that love could be broken in a moment. Now, I’d build a wall around my heart so no one could hurt me again.
Not even Alexander.
FAYE
The pounding in my head greeted me the moment I opened my eyes. I groaned, pressing my palms against my temples. Maybe a shower would help. Maybe it would wash away more than just sweat...the ache, the memories, the nightmare that wasn’t a nightmare at all.
Because everything that happened last night had been real.
I stood under the steaming water longer than I needed to, letting it scald my skin just enough to keep me grounded.
No amount of heat could burn away the betrayal, but I needed to be composed. Today, I was leaving Silver Hollow. Today, I would go with Alexander, my mate by duty... to the Blood Crescent Pack.
When I stepped back into my room, a fresh towel wrapped around me, I paused in surprise.
"Mom?"
My mother sat on the edge of the bed, eyes fixed on the mess that had become my room. Clothes, books, pieces of my old life scattered across the floor like broken memories.
She didn't look at me right away. “Have you forgotten you need to pack?” Her tone was sharp, but her eyes told a different story... red-rimmed and glassy, trying too hard to look stern.
I sighed. “I’ll do it… once I’m dressed.”
She said nothing, but her gaze lingered. I could tell she saw through me...past the calm face I’d forced on, into the quiet storm inside.
She knew I wasn’t meant to be the one packing up. That this wasn’t the path anyone had prepared me for. And that maybe, that’s why I hadn’t touched a single bag.
"How are you feeling, by the way? Did you get any sleep?" she asked me genuinely.
I wanted to say so many things... to scream, to cry, to ask why, but I’d already made a decision. No more whining, no more asking questions that wouldn’t change anything. I would face whatever was coming with my head high.
"Yes Mom, I slept well."
I slipped into a simple dress, nothing too soft, nothing too delicate. Just something that wouldn’t wrinkle easily under pressure... like me, I hoped. As I reached for the nearest bag to start packing, my mother stood.
“Let me help,” she offered gently. “You look… tired.”
I paused, meeting her eyes. There it was... the barely hidden tremble in her lips, the forced calm, the brave mother routine.
She was trying not to cry in front of me. She always did that...pretended everything was fine until the cracks were too wide to ignore. I must have inherited that trait.
“Thank you, mom,” I said softly. “But I can do it.”
She sighed and sat back down. “I just wanted to make sure you were okay. That’s why I came.”
For a moment, the silence between us said more than words ever could.
And then, without saying anything more, I turned back to my bags and began to pack.
---
After a moment, the room became quiet...too quiet. My mother was gone.
I hadn’t heard her leave. Guilt pricked at me, maybe I’d been too hаrd on her.
"Of course you were," I could hear my wolf, Nova judging.
But softening now? That would crack everything open. If I let myself be gentle, I might collapse in her arms and cry like I used to when I was little. I didn’t need babying, not today. I needed to be strong.
A few minutes later, my mom returned, this time tapping lightly on the door before easing it open.
“Breakfast is ready,” she said softly.
I didn’t turn around. “I’m not hungry, mom. Seriously, I don't think I can swallow anything right now.”
She stood still for a moment, then sighed. “Faye, how can you say that? You barely ate anything yesterday. The ceremony kept you so busy...”
The word ceremony sliced through me like ice. My hand froze for a moment. Ceremony, Mating, Jason.
I had imagined waking up this morning in his arms...warm, safe, loved. Instead, Sage had been the one in his arms. And I was here, folding clothes and packing for a future I never saw coming, bound to a stranger with eyes like frost.
“I said I’m not hungry,” I replied, my voice tighter now.
Mom stepped closer. “You need to eat something, please. You can't go anywhere on empty stomach.”
This time, I didn’t hold back.
“I’m not sitting at that table, Mom. Not with her, and definitely not with him if he’s there. I don’t trust myself not to… not to lose it," I said, and I meant every word.
She didn’t say anything. I wondered if she could finally see the emotions I’d kept buried all morning. The ones I tried to hide under flat expressions and cold tones. Then, gently, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around me.
I didn’t cry.
But something in that hug steadied me. Not because it made the pain go away, but because it reminded me that someone still saw me in all this mess.
“She’s not coming,” my mother whispered. “Sage. She won’t be at the table.”
Of course. She’d probably be having a private breakfast with Jason. Like lovers do after a long night together.
Naturally.
I nodded stiffly and followed my mother to the door, my steps heavy., but at least I was moving.
Halfway there, she turned slightly, trying... always trying...to make things better. “Faye… she’s still your sister...your twin sister. No matter what’s happened, she’s—”
I stopped. “Mom,” I said sharply, cutting her off. “Do you want me to come to breakfast or not?”
Her mouth closed, the rest of her sentence dying on her lips.
I didn’t want a sermon, not this morning, and certainly not from the one person I needed to just let me be angry, hurt, and betrayed without being told to forgive too soon.
She nodded silently, and together, we walked down the hall.
Breakfast had gone by in near silence. Everyone seemed to be walking on eggshells, careful not to stir the air wrong...not because of the food, but because of me and my emotions of course.
I ate what I could manage, barely tasting any of it, and left the table as soon as it was acceptable.
As I made my way back to my room, I noticed someone standing just outside my door, back turned to me. Tall, broad-shouldered, dressed in black.
I didn’t need to ask who it was. I only needed to know what he was doing there.
“What are you doing in my room?” I asked flatly, not bothering to mask my irritation.
Alexander turned slowly, those cold grey eyes meeting mine without a flicker of emotion. “Is that how you were raised to greet your mate first thing in the morning?” he asked coolly. “No ‘good morning’? No courtesy?”
I crossed my arms. “Good morning,” I said carelessly. “Now, what are you doing in my room?”
He didn’t answer. Instead, his gaze sharpened. “Check your tone when you speak to me.”
I blinked at him, unimpressed. Is he being serious right now? “I walked into my room and found you standing here like some abandoned ghost, so forgive me if I don’t feel the need to curtsy.”
His jaw twitched, just slightly, enough to tell me I’d hit a nerve, but otherwise, he didn’t react. He simply brushed past my question as if it had been a fly in the air.
“I came to inform you,” he said, voice clipped, “that I'm leaving.”
I raised a brow. So he expected me to just run and grab my bags to follow him? He'd be shocked to know I hadn't even started anything yet. And I didn't really care.
“That’s too bad. Because as you can see, I’m barely figuring out what to pack and what not to. So, no, I’m not ready yet, you have to wait," I said.
“Firstly, you won’t need to pack anything,” he replied calmly. “Arrangements have already been made. Anything you need will be provided for you.”
If someone else had said that, maybe it would’ve sounded thoughtful...romantic, even.
But coming from this man? It made me feel like a stray dog someone had taken pity on.
My irritation surged. “How generous,” I said. “Anything else, Your Highness?”
“Yes,” he said. “Secondly, you’re not coming with me.”
I blinked. “What?” Did I hear him right?
“There’s something I need to attend to,” he explained. “Someone will be here tomorrow morning to collect you.”
I narrowed my eyes. “We were supposed to leave together. Can’t you just go handle whatever and I'll...”
He smirked. “Careful. If I didn’t know better, I’d think you couldn’t wait to follow me. Getting a little carried away already, are we?”
The audacity of this man could drive me insane. But I wasn't going to go easy on him either.
I mirrored his smirk. “Funny. You’re the one who changed your mind on a spot immediately you saw me, remember? So quick to accept me in place of Sage. That felt a little too desperate… Alpha Alexander.”
The twitch at the corner of his mouth betrayed the hit. A crack in his perfect mask.
But instead of responding, he simply turned toward the door. “See you tomorrow,” he said smoothly, and walked out.
I stared after him, a hint of satisfaction warming my chest.
Annoying him might just be the only enjoyable part of this arrangement.
------
ALEXANDER
The door clicked shut behind me, and I slid into the back seat of the car. Roland nodded from the driver’s seat and pulled off as I settled back, trying to shake off the tension that clung to me like smoke.
But it lingered.
Faye.
Even now, with miles starting to stretch between us, she was still in my head. Not for good reasons...no, not at all. She had a way of digging under my skin...deliberate, sharp, like she enjoyed provoking me.
The way she looked at me, the way she spoke to me. Like she wasn’t impressed. Like nothing about me was worth her respect.
She did it on purpose, I was sure of it.
And still, beneath all my irritation, my wolf, Aiden, stirred... entertained.
“She disrespects you to your face,” I muttered to myself.
“And you enjoy the challenge," Aiden said.
"I do not," I said.
I realized I was scowling at the tinted glass as my own voice echoed in the quiet car.
“Maybe I do enjoy the challenge,” I said under my breath.
“Sir?” Roland’s voice came carefully from the front. “Sorry, did you say something?”
I blinked. Had I said that out loud?
“Never mind,” I said quickly, leaning back and running a hand down my face.
Great. Now I was voicing thoughts I didn’t even know I had.
---
BLOOD CRESCENT PACK HOUSE
As we pulled into the pack house driveway, I spotted Irene on the front steps, practically bouncing on her toes.
Her face lit up with excitement...the kind I hadn’t seen in years. That was the problem with my sister: she loved fairytales, and today she’d decided to cast herself as the welcoming committee for the prince and his new princess.
Roland hadn’t even killed the engine before she was halfway down the stairs.
I stepped out of the car, and she launched herself at me in a hug that nearly knocked the air out of my lungs.
“Oh my Goddess, you’re back! How did it go? Where is she?” Her words spilled out fast, one tumbling over the other.
She didn’t wait for an answer. She darted to the passenger side, then to the backseat, craning her neck to peek inside like she'd lost something in there.
Of course, she, like everyone else, had been expecting me to arrive with my mate...the new Luna. The grand prize of a successful mating ceremony.
I watched her eyes scan every inch...back seat, foot mats, even the front passenger side. What did she think? That I tied my mate up and stuffed her in the glove compartment?
“Irene,” I said, rubbing my forehead.
She was probably scanning the floorboards now...not wanting to face reality. “Is she hiding? Is she shy? Alex, don’t tell me you made her..."
“Irene,” I said again, sharper this time. “She’s not here.”
She froze. Slowly, she turned to face me. “What do you mean she’s not here? You called. You said it was successful, the whole pack is waiting. Everyone’s...Alex, what happened?”
“I’ll explain inside.”
I didn’t have the patience to keep repeating myself, and certainly not out in the open where the rest of the house could peer through the windows and start their own commentary.
Irene followed me, her excitement now turned into confusion and irritation.
We were just heading up the steps when my beta, Cole stepped out. The grin on his face told me he’d been hoping to see something worth teasing me about for the next month. His eyes darted behind me, then inside the car. When he didn’t see what he expected, the grin fell like a dying ember.
Still, he gave a polite nod. “Alpha Alexander”
“Cole.”
Unlike my sister, he was considerate enough not to ask anything yet. He could read the air...
I pushed the door open and stepped inside.
---
As soon as we stepped into the house, I didn’t bother with formalities or greetings, I headed straight for my office. Irene and Cole trailed behind, thankfully quiet for once. The door shut behind us, and I sank into the leather chair behind my desk.
I could feel their eyes on me—full of questions, confusion, maybe even a little fear. I didn’t blame them. The moment called for clarity, not comfort.
“I need to tell you both something,” I started, my fingers drumming once on the armrest before folding into my lap. “There was... a change. A slight one.”
Irene raised an eyebrow. Cole folded his arms.
I took a breath. “The twin who was promised to me—Sage—she wasn’t the one I ended up being mated to.”
They both stared at me like I’d just spoken in tongues. Then their eyes shifted to each other, exchanging the silent panic of people who knew how deep this might go. Cole was the first to speak.
“What do you mean?” he asked, brows furrowed. “You didn’t end up mated to her? Did the ceremony fail?”
“No,” I said, shaking my head. “It went through. Just... not with Sage.”
I could see Irene’s patience thinning, so I pushed forward. “Sage gave herself to someone else before the ceremony...willingly. Her sister—Faye—was offered in her place. We completed the ritual. She bears the mark now.”
Irene took a sharp breath. “Alex, that’s not good.”
I sighed, leaning back. I knew what was coming.
“They promised you Sage,” she continued. “Sisters or not, they broke the agreement. The elders won’t care that it was a twin. The alliance was supposed to be built on a specific bond...on her. You going through with it without telling them—goddess, they’re going to lose it.”
“I know,” I muttered. “That’s why I came back ahead of her. Faye’s still with her pack. I needed to prepare the ground here before she shows up.”
Cole exhaled slowly, his eyes narrowed. “This isn’t going to be easy. Some of the council already think we gave too much in the negotiations. If they think you let sentiment or desperation make this decision...”
“It wasn’t desperation,” I said firmly. I can't believe Cole of all people would believe I made such an important decision out of desperation. “It was strategy. If I refused, it would’ve collapsed the treaty on the spot. They offered an alternative, and I took it. I couldn’t afford to make enemies in that moment.”
Irene ran a hand through her hair. “Are you really ok with this?”
I looked at her.
“That doesn’t matter.”
She scoffed. “It will. Especially if the elders think she’s a consolation prize."
“She’s not,” I said quietly, more to myself than to them.
Because even now, hours after the ceremony, my mind kept circling back to the strange calm in Faye’s eyes, the strength in her voice, the way she didn’t flinch when the mark burned into her skin. She hadn’t asked for this, but she didn’t run either, she brave.
She wasn’t Sage. And maybe that was the point.
Cole was still looking at me like I’d completely lost my mind.
If there was anyone, apart from Irene, who could speak to me without holding back, it was him...and not just because he was my beta. We’d been through everything together since we were boys. He didn’t need permission to question my decision.
“You have no idea what’s coming, Alpha Alexander,” he said, his tone sharp with disbelief. “The elders are going to flip. You made a decision they were supposed to be consulted on, and you didn’t even give them the courtesy of a heads-up. That alone is bad. But if this gets out to the pack…”
I didn’t respond at first. I understood where he was coming from, I had already thought about it all through last night after the ceremony. I met his stare squarely.
“I’ve mated with her, Beta Cole,” I said firmly. “The bond is sealed, and there's no going back now.”
Cole sighed under his breath and shook his head like he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. I turned to Irene, half-hoping she might see it from my side, but her brows were drawn together, lips tight. I guess I'm on my own.
“You know this isn't going to sit well with the council,” she said. “They’ll see it as a broken promise...Sage was the one chosen, and even though Faye is her twin, that doesn’t change the fact that you were promised someone else. And then you went ahead with the mating without their blessing? Alexander, you know how they are. What were you thinking?”
“I know all that, Irene,” I said.
Irene exchanged another look with Cole. Neither of them seemed convinced.
“And like Cole was trying to say, even if you can get the elders to swallow this, you’re not thinking about the pack. If word spreads—and it will—they’ll see Faye as nothing more than a replacement. That’s not something you can control just by barking orders.”
That got under my skin.
I sat up straighter and let the weight of my voice fill the room. “Replacement or not, she’s my mate, which makes her Luna. And anyone...elder, warrior, kitchen hand, anyone at all...who thinks otherwise will have to deal with me directly.”
Irene didn’t flinch. Maybe she understood why I did it, or maybe she was just bracing for the fallout.
“I’ll speak to the elders tonight,” I added. “They deserve to hear it from me, not through whispers or gossip. I’ll make it clear that this was my call...and that it stands.
I stood up because I needed to stretch my legs and ease the stiffness from the trip, but mostly because I was exhausted and just wanted to lie down for a while. Before I left the room, I turned to Cole.
“Let the elders know I’m back,” I said. “We’ll have a meeting later tonight.”
He gave a short nod and stepped aside so I could pass.
As I walked through the hall, a few pack members crossed my path and greeted me. I could see the curiosity in their eyes, the unspoken question hanging between every nod and bow: Did he return with the Luna?
None of them dared ask, of course....smart of them. I wasn’t in the mood for questions, especially not ones I hadn’t answered for myself.
Once I stepped into my chambers, I shut the door behind me and sighed. I peeled off my jacket, tossed it over the back of a chair, and sank into it with more weight than I meant to. My shoulders ached, but not half as much as my head.
Truth be told, I hadn’t thought any of this through. When the elders of Silver Hollow pack first brought up the idea of Faye—a replacement, as if a promised mate could be swapped like a broken weapon—I’d rejected it without hesitation. I was clear, certain. I didn’t want a stand-in for what I’d lost.
But then… she walked into the room.
Faye.
And without even pausing to think, I heard myself say I’d take her.
Now, here I was...Alpha of one of the most powerful pack...trying to figure out how I was going to get everyone else to go along with it. "Why in the world did I do that? And why do I not regret it as I should?"
“Maybe because we like her.”
The voice came from deep within. Aiden, my wolf.
I rolled my eyes and leaned back in the chair. “I didn’t ask for your opinion.”
“You didn’t need to. I’m just saying...I mean nothing has ever changed your mind so fast.”
I exhaled slowly and closed my eyes, pressing my fingers to my temples.
A knock at the door jolted me awake.
I blinked, disoriented. My muscles were stiff, my shirt rumpled. I must’ve passed out the moment I sat down, and the dimness in the room told me evening had already arrived. The trip had taken more out of me than I thought.
"Come in," I called, rubbing my eyes and sitting upright.
The door creaked open and Cole stepped in. "Alpha Alexander, the elders are waiting," he said evenly.
I glanced at my watch. sh1...I’d meant to rest for ten minutes. Apparently, my body had other plans.
"Let them know I’m on my way," I said, pushing myself off the couch.
Cole gave a small nod and exited, closing the door behind him. I stood for a second, willing my thoughts to align. Then I headed to the bathroom, turned on the faucet, and splashed cold water on my face. I stared at my reflection for a moment, the water dripping down my jaw.
No time to dwell on anything now. The elders would be waiting with their arms crossed and their judgments sharpened like blades.
The Blood Crescent elders had to be the most petty, paranoid, and power-hungry council members you can imagine. Even my father, the previous Alpha—gods rest him—struggled to maintain control over them. But I wasn’t my father. I had my own way of keeping wolves in line.
By the time I made it down the corridor and entered the council chamber, I could already hear the low, agitated murmurs, and I wondered if gossip had already reached them that I returned alone.
The moment the door opened and they saw me, the noise died as if someone had flipped a switch.
"Alpha Alexander," one of them greeted formally.
"Elders," I acknowledged with a curt nod and walked to my seat at the head of the long table, and the rest of them took their seats too.
I didn’t waste time. "You all know the reason for my trip to Silver Hollow," I began, leveling a hard gaze across the room. "I went to claim the mate promised to me since the alliance agreement."
A few of them leaned forward, while others stilled, waiting.
"Upon my arrival," I continued, "I was informed that the girl, Sage...had already given herself to another, which meant she was no longer qualified."
The reaction was immediate.
"What?"
"How dare they!"
"That’s an insult to our pack!"
"So Alpha Damian spat on the agreement and thinks we’ll just accept it?"
I raised my hand. "Let me finish."
The noise died, though I could see the tension, tightening jaws and clenching fists.
"In response," I said, "they offered me the twin sister, Faye."
An elder, Brayden, scoffed. "So we were insulted, then mocked. They offered the spare...what a joke!"
"They dared assume we’d accept a lesser offering?" snarled another.
I remained composed. I’d predicted this word for word, so I wasn't even surprised, or bothered in the real sense of it.
"This is beyond disrespect," Brayden added, his voice rising. "This severs the alliance."
Cole, standing just behind me, spoke up, his tone even. "Perhaps the Alpha should be allowed to finish."
"Unless he’s about to say he burned Silver Hollow to the ground, I don’t want to hear it," muttered a wolf named Garrick.
I’d had enough. "There will be no war," I said sharply. The room went quiet.
"No retaliation," I added. "Because I accepted the offer."
Silence took over the entire room.
"I was mated to Faye," I continued. "The ceremony was completed successfully."
For a moment, the chamber was frozen in stunned disbelief, and I knew it was just the calm before the storm.
No one moved, no one breathed out loud.
Brayden’s face contorted first, eyebrows furrowing in confusion, then twisting into disbelief again. "You what?"
"I accepted Faye, Sage's twin as my mate," I said again. "She is now Luna of the Blood Crescent, and she'll be joining the pack tomorrow."
The uproar was worse than before.
"That’s impossible—"
"You dishonor your title—"
"We were played! You can’t possibly mean to let this stand!"
"You should have consulted the elders."
"Enough," I snapped.
They went quiet again, though the anger in the room was obvious.
I stood slowly, leaning my hands on the table. "This council doesn’t tell me who I take as mate, the gods chose her. The success of the mating ceremony confirmed it, and she bares the mark now."
"The gods chose Sage," Garrick argued. "She was promised."
"Promises made by men can be broken by men. The gods made no such vow. Faye is my mate and your Luna. And that's final," I said.
"Alpha Alexander, that was not the right way to handle the situation. The elders of this council were supposed to be consulted first," Garrick said.
"I understand that I should have informed you before taking the decision, but even though I didn't, I believe I took the right step by giving the alliance another chance," I said. They probably hate me more than they hate Alpha Damian right now, but I don't really care.
"I expect you all to extend full recognition to Luna Faye," I said, voice hard. "She will be introduced formally to the pack in the coming days."
Brayden opened his mouth but I cut him off.
"This discussion is over."
Brayden never lacks a comeback, he always has something to say. He fancies himself the wisest of them all, and it makes me sick.
I turned and walked out of the chamber before they could protest again.
Cole caught up with me in the hallway. "That went well," he said dryly.
"They’ll fall in line...they always do," I said.
He arched a brow. "Don't be so fast to assume that. Did you see their faces when you said the discussion was over?"
"I've done well to let them know the latest development, anyone of them is free to do their worst. Then I’ll remind them what happens to wolves who forget their place."
Cole gave a short, sharp nod. "I'll see you later," he said before turning towards another hallway.
As I moved down the corridor, my mind wasn’t on the council.
It was on Faye.
On the way her eyes narrowed when she was angry. The way her mouth curved, not quite into a smile, but something wittier...sharper. The way she stood toe-to-toe with me when I pushed her.
I told the elders I accepted her because I wanted to give the alliance another chance. That was true.
But there was more...she challenged me, confused me, got under my skin. And I hated how much I didn’t really hate it.
SILVER HOLLOW
FAYE
I needed air, I couldn't stay in that house a second longer...not with all the whispers, the forced smiles, the weight of everything pressing down on my chest. I thought I could handle it, but it still stings.
I walked out into the woods behind the pack house, hoping to catch my breath. Tonight, Jason became Alpha of Silver Hollow, and my sister—Sage—sat where I was supposed to be as his Luna.
I was supposed to be long gone before this celebration even started, but Alpha Alexander left without me. He said someone would come for me tomorrow. Just like that, like I was luggage to be picked up...like I hadn’t just been handed off to a stranger to salvage an alliance.
I didn’t realize anyone was following me until I heard my name.
"Faye."
I stopped and turned...it was him.
Jason.
He was still wearing the same ceremonial cloak from the crowning ceremony. There were pine needles in his hair. His expression was half smug, half... I don’t know, something else. Like he still thought he had some kind of claim over me.
I didn’t want to look at him, but I held my ground. “What do you want, Alpha Jason?”
He gave me that Silly smirk. “You don’t have to call me that. Come on, Faye, we both know things could’ve gone differently. You were supposed to be the one sitting beside me tonight as Luna.”
I stared at him, my nails dug into my palms.
He went on like he hadn’t just ripped me in half. “But fate had other plans...I saw something in Sage, something I couldn’t ignore. I know you only found out yesterday, but it didn't just start yesterday...we wanted to tell you but the time never felt right.”
“Oh, did you?” I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “At what point did you finally decide it was better I found out myself, was it before or after you marked her while still mated to me?”
He flinched...barely, but I saw it. Good.
“Look, I know it wasn’t ideal,” he said, trying to sound reasonable. “But everything happened so fast, I didn’t plan for things to go that way.”
“You didn’t plan?” I almost laughed. “That’s your excuse? So what, you just... fell into bed with my sister? By accident?”
“I was confused, alright?” he snapped, then softened his voice again. “You know how complicated these bonds can be, I didn’t want to hurt you.”
“You didn’t want to hurt me?” I repeated, voice rising. “Jason, you almost destroyed me.”
He stepped closer, and I could smell his scent... it used to draw me in, but now it just makes me want to hold my breath. “I just don't want bad energy between us, Faye. I know you're leaving soon, but the packs are allied now. We should be able to move forward… stay friends.”
Friends.
I looked at him like he’d lost his mind. “Let me get this straight. You humiliated me, broke our bond without warning, and paraded my sister in front of me as your Luna—and now you want to be friends?” I know I was supposed to just brush everything off and act like I didn't care, but the wound is still fresh, how could I not care?
“Faye,” he said, reaching for my arm, “I never stopped caring about you...I swear.”
I pulled away instantly. “Don’t.”
“Just hear me out—”
“No, Jason! You had your chance to talk. You had every chance to be honest.”
“You have no idea what it was like,” he said, frustration creeping in. “I had pressure from the elders, from my father, from the pack. Sage—she was there, and she understood me in ways you didn’t.”
I laughed...cold and bitter. “Wow! So now it’s my fault? I didn’t understand you? Is that your justification for betrayal?”
“That’s not what I’m saying,” he muttered. “Don’t twist my words.”
“Then maybe say what you mean for once,” I shot back. “Instead of hiding behind excuses and half-truths.”
He sighed and raked a hand through his hair. “Look, I didn’t come here to fight.”
“Then why are you here?” I demanded. “To ease your guilt? To see if I still care? What exactly do you want from me, Alpha Jason?”
He hesitated. “I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”
I stared at him for a long moment. “You don’t get to care now.”
I turned to leave, but then he grabbed my arm.
I froze.
“I’m not here to fight,” he said quickly, still holding on to me. “I just didn’t want you to stay mad at me. Please, Faye.”
I looked down at his hand like it disgusted me... It did actually.
“Let go of me,” I said through gritted teeth. “And don’t ever try that again...not even in your dreams.”
He raised both hands in mock surrender and released me. “Okay, okay. No need to get hostile. I’m just saying... maybe we can forget what happened and start over.”
I actually laughed.
“Oh really?” I asked, raising a brow. “You want me to forget that I walked in on you and my sister in bed on the night of our mating ceremony? Or forget that neither of you had the decency to even look sorry?”
He stepped closer, reaching out again like a fool.
So I slapped him...hard.
SLAP!
The sound echoed through the trees. Birds scattered above us.
“Don’t you ever touch me again,” I said coldly. “Ho...
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