rring me awake from my sleep. I blinked groggily as I

nimalistic dark artwork on the walls, and the room was filled with beige and neutral tones.

een here before. But as I took in the clean lines and unblemished surfaces, it bec

e was I? What was going on? How had I ended up

ght began to flood my memory, a sinking f

The images flashed before my eyes-the heat of his touch, the intensity of his gaze, the raw desire that had consumed us

ve we done?' Nia was alr

that I had spent the night entan

my L

fumbling as I scrolled through the messages and misse

pped on Isa

e you took a nap in

:3

earched around the bar and the restr

15

. If this is a prank,

30

messages and clicked on A

achelorette

56

your phone. You know h

36

in hysterics. Wher

18

ne, the anxiety of the

It was the stranger from the previous night; his hair was wet and tousled on his

my body, suddenly embarrassed by what

last night?" I

he said with a

us," I quickly got to my

a strand of hair from my face. "Hey, don't panic. Ju

ng his eyes for any sign of

swift as I gathered my belongings and slipped into my dress. Then I made a beel

oked for me and my entire bridal train for the wedding. The encounter with

t off, knowing I had a wedding to attend, vows to exchange

an entourage of my bridesmaids, the make

claimed as soon as I walked in. "I've

s that bubbled within me. "I'm sorry, Isa. My phone

any sign of deception. But before she could press me further, I

can be overwhelming, so I jus

please just send a text so we don't

said, my voice brightening slightly as I forced myself to focus

nto the rhythm of preparation. I quickly shot Asher a text

r mini baskets which was a tradition in the pack for when mates got married.

a and yet, I didn't feel happy. Nia and I had been ecstatic about getting

e neither one of us has been able to forget about last n

y reverie, and I realized I was standing in front

I bli

d you a question," Asher

fficiant, who had

stion?" I asked, my che

take Asher Clinton Zapata,

anced at Asher, who looked bored of the ent

o marry him?'

all about it two d

is has never happened. We're meant to be

el the joy I th

ls odd. Almost like we are making a mistake. What th

pecially when I am certain whatever it was I was feeling wer

nothing else I could d

oined together as husband and wife, does anyone here have jus

e occasion. For a moment, there was nothing but silence echoing back, b

unding. My eyes dilated as I realized it was Lina, my s

s dreading what she was doing, even though I knew she was enjoying it. "My sister cheated on her

han the last. They were pictures taken from a window view of me and the stranger locked in

the man's face in the images, his identity shrouded i

efore my wedding day. I suddenly felt nauseous, the weight of my actions crashing down

ache. She offered me a drink, then a kiss, and left. So how did she get

lain. Please just give me some time t

s voice dripping with contempt as he sneered at me. "You t

d in my direction. I'd always known that Asher had a temper, but I'd never seen h

Asher," I insisted, my voi

ys believed that Asher was the love of my life, the one person I could count on no matter what. But now, as

Something had happened last night

same between us again. But who was I kidding? I mean, I was the one who cheated on her mate. I was the one

her

normal. He was on the verge of shifting, and that could be very bad for everyone. A lycan prince

ing for me?" He gritted. "Is this it? You b

wasn't...

nted at me. "Glad I broke the bond the moment I felt the pain. I was waiting to see if you'd mention what you di

ave I done? What was I thinkin

o sense that we felt that way. Yet neither of us was able

aking the bond means that while I am still mated to Asher, I have no emotional connection to him whatsoever. I could che

bon

ther person, I did as well. And then afterwards, I broke it

t all made sense. It was the same time Asher had broken the bond. And while he did th

Lum

r lis

a Emmett Dawson as my mate. May our bond

nching in the middle, like a dried stick being stepped upon. I fel

Just what

ways ruined everything that has ever come your way!" My step

a Beta to the Lycan king. And now that I have disgraced him, I doubt he'd step up for me. I scanned the hall, watching the disgusting look that crossed the face of every individual as they stared at me.

t judging me or looking a

over

stepped in. But I recognized him the moment he stepped in, and my insides

u

he doi