Rejected by My Mate, Claimed By His Enemy

to surprise Alpha

ving I'd spent days perfecting. "I carved this myself. I want it

ay marked eight years with Lance, and he was

wounds, council politics, and sleepless nights. I ha

niversary, Lady Cassie," th

e my dress for tonight? I wa

the dressing room. I placed the carving, a cresce

bound. The Luna ceremony was expe

ed under the candlelight, one Lance had

added a touch of perfume he'd gifted m

near the courtyard, ov

ou seen

... I'm not sure where he is, Lady

for high-ranking wolves, warr

sion. The corridors leading to the Den were dim and quie

hand to knoc

I hear

y Cassie that this whole preparation isn't for

le in my b

...w

e low and soulless. "Let her f

e's you

s loyal, sure, and useful for a while. But now that Arielle's

early gave

"Arielle's lineage dates back to the original High Blo

l understand. Or she won't. Doesn't matter. I just used her an

door, my breath shatterin

e. Tha

the royal courts. Rumors swirled that she had power, bloodline, and ambi

e had been hiding

a ch

olf whimpered inside me, he

tween mourning and murder. He betrayed us,

ra

carried me back to the pack house

I collapsed o

, revealing the necklace I had

eanin

rembling, tears run

a man who saw me as disposable. Who was re

et. He always said he was w

knew

arling, ar

ce cut thro

elf. I stood tall, slipping t

replied

lting his head.

t emotional. It's our

ted. "You should start prep

turned a

s. No

ord

sic swelled, candles flickered, an

d casually draped around my wa

"Happy anniversary, darling.

I d

I was choking

at this celebrati

I need to go t

ulled my hands away from his and walked off. He

eone suddenly bumped into me. Or maybe

here you're go

gh the hallway, followed by th

y, already kno

ile as her eyes raked over me like I

der," she said with a m

clenched teeth, trying to ke

until she was right in my face, the sharp scent of her expe

she grabbed a fistful of my hair,

etly, "To watch you crash and burn lik

away, but her

neered, eyes blazing. "You're just a distraction.

he was faster, leaning in so only

e when he's with

aughed, low and cruel, cl

ou don't have the looks, the class, or the history. La

ll gripping my hair, and I stum

to the crowd and

I have an a

nce

ance. I watched in horror

dn't

d when h

ce rich with pride. "And I will b