pte

*

donna'

and a feast fit for royalty. The celebration is in full swing, laughter and conv

my mate stands

en fawning over them. His expression is unreadable, his posture relaxe

ter. The way he walked away, leaving me speechless and confused. A

his is all pa

let thi

engagement ritual, his voice commanding the room. My heart

oment

words binding me to a future I don't want.

stop

e be promised

e

ual con

does

ened between us, as if I were just another guest. In our world, the mate bond is sacred, a connection blessed by the Moon Goddess. Rejecting this bond can cause deep emotional and physical pa

ng air was a stark contrast to the warmth inside, offering a momentary respite from the whirlwind of emotions swirling within me. I fo

iden, the Lycan prince, a match that should have been a dream come true. But my heart belonged elsewhere-to his brother, Jayden, the Lycan k

ing. My heart leaped, hoping against hope that it was Jayden come to explain, to offer some solace. And

oice trembling with a mix of anger and despe

ay the tears that had begun to fall. "Bella, it's not that simp

his excuses. "But we're fated mates

to me. But revealing our bond now would only bring chaos and suffe

As an omega, the lowest rank in the pack hierarchy, I was deemed unworthy of a

marry your brother and pretend no

round, unable to meet mine. "I

d my lips. "For whom?

den straightened, his expression hardening. "As for Matt," he said, referring to the pack

ered, the words slipping ou

aving me alone in the encroaching darkness. I watched him go, a fresh wave of tears blurring my vision. I

**********

king when the flight attendant asked what I wanted to eat in first class. It was my

danced in my stomach whenever he was near. Even the way my heartbeat acted strangely around him-I

austion crept in. I didn't even realize when I f

. I stretched, feeling much better than before, but de

ing airport. As I stepped outside, a sleek black car pulled up in front of me. T

na?" he inqui

e," I replied,

Prince Aiden to esco

find his name unusua

Yes, it's a nickname

ht: How did he recognize me? Perhaps Aiden had provided him with a description o

to memories of Jayden-his touch, his gaze, the fluttering sensation in my chest whenev

glanced at me through the rearview mirror. "I

you," I replied, off

t my thoughts remained anchored to the pas

ble, though my mind was elsewhere. When we finally arrived, I was taken aback by the grandeur of the estate. A magnificent two-story mansion stood proudl

rsing what I would say when I met Aiden, trying to calm my racing thoughts. Little did I know,

xpression. Without a word, he came downstairs and personally opened the gate for me, bypassing security and t

d a large house I hadn't noticed before. "That's where you'll be staying f

I swallowed hard, pushing back the disappointment t

it to unlock and lock the door. He didn't say much, and b

Though I wasn't much of a party person, a tiny part of me had hoped fo

s plush sheets inviting. I couldn't help but smile unconsciously, wondering if Jayden had picked th

It was just what I had expected from a place like this. Then there was the closet-m

ed onto it. The mattress bounced slightly, wrapping me in its softn

grumble of my stomach. Rubbing my belly, I sighed. There was no point

o the main house. That was probably where the housekeepers wor

out. "Can you tell me

re pointing to the left. "Go

strange but didn't dwell on it. Instead, I followed her directions, but when I reached a spl

head and reached a door. Hoping it

ediatel

side was a si

mind refusing to accept what my eyes were seeing. This had to be

at in just two days, I had walked i

I cu

unished by th

hear anything else, but Aiden's voice cut

ing love, Mara,"

, another wound to

my supposed fiancé, was in there, holding another wo

rgent "meeting" h

d been so cold earlier-because he wa

e woman-Mara, as he called her-sat comfortably on his lap, her long black hair cascading over h

hey had just arrived. Maybe I was seconds

pain bloomed in

ain-that unbearabl

swallowed it down. What was the point? It

ver saw this. But my feet wouldn't move. My hands clenche

ing to cry.

for