I stared at the ceiling of the bridal suite, counting the delicate roses carved into the crown molding. One hour passed, then two. Sleep refused to come.The irony wasn't lost on me. Here I was, in a bed meant for newlyweds, alone on my wedding night while my husband was undoubtedly with another wom
"Are you sure?" he asked one final time, his voice rough."I refuse to be a weeping bride on my wedding night," I said. "Make me forget, Kane. Just for tonight."His eyes held mine for one final moment before he surrendered.It was different from our first encounter—that had been clouded by the effe
"I, Raymond, reject you, Aurora, as my fiancée. From this moment on, everyone must stop talking about Aurora as the future Luna."All eyes in the pack turned to us—the once-golden couple—with confusion written across every face.Raymond wasn't finished with his public execution of my heart. For the
I forced myself to pull away from the heartbreaking scene unfolding before me. Their intimate embrace, those words Raymond spoke with such tenderness to Giana—each moment was another dagger in my heart. With tears streaming down my face, I backed away slowly, praying to the Moon Goddess they wouldn'
I flinched but didn't back down. "I'm saying I don't want to marry Raymond."His laugh was cruel and dismissive. "What you want doesn't matter, Aurora. This is about duty, about position, about our family's future."He circled around the desk, his footsteps heavy on the wooden floor. "If Raymond cal
After the banquet, I slipped away from the crowd, desperate for a moment alone. The strange heat coursing through my body had only intensified throughout the evening, making it difficult to think clearly. My skin felt feverish, and my formal engagement dress suddenly seemed too tight, too constricti
"Aurora?" Kane's surprise quickly melted into that infuriating smirk of his. "This is certainly unexpected."I stumbled back, trying to regain my balance and composure, but the room tilted dangerously around me. The sight of Kane—all bronzed skin and rippling muscle—sent another wave of heat surging
Raymond froze at the doorway, his eyes scanning Kane's room with sharp intensity."Kane, have you seen my Luna?!"My heart stopped. I was hidden beneath the covers, pressed against Kane's warm body, desperately hoping Raymond wouldn't take me as anything more than a nameless blob on the bed. This co
"Are you sure?" he asked one final time, his voice rough."I refuse to be a weeping bride on my wedding night," I said. "Make me forget, Kane. Just for tonight."His eyes held mine for one final moment before he surrendered.It was different from our first encounter—that had been clouded by the effe
I stared at the ceiling of the bridal suite, counting the delicate roses carved into the crown molding. One hour passed, then two. Sleep refused to come.The irony wasn't lost on me. Here I was, in a bed meant for newlyweds, alone on my wedding night while my husband was undoubtedly with another wom
Beside her, Kane's expression was unreadable, his amber eyes fixed on my neck where Raymond's mark now claimed me. Something like anger flashed across his features before he schooled them back to careful neutrality.The reception that followed was an elaborate blur—first dances, toasts, cake cutting
The wedding venue was a vision of ethereal beauty. White lilies and roses cascaded from every archway, crystal chandeliers cast dancing light across silk-draped walls, and a carpet of cream petals traced the path I would soon walk.It was perfect, like a dream pulled from my childhood imagination—ex
"A victim?" My father's laugh was bitter. "She's weak. Incompetent. She couldn't even keep her fiancé away from a worthless rogue."Alpha Marcus shook his head. "This isn't Aurora's fault, Beta James. Raymond's stubbornness is his own.""And yet the wedding must still go forward," my father pressed.
The Alpha's rage was a physical presence in the room, a suffocating pressure that made the air itself feel heavy. Luna Elena hovered anxiously at his side, her fingers brushing his arm in a futile attempt to calm him."How dare you?" Alpha Marcus snarled, stalking toward Raymond. "In my own home? Th
I switched off my phone, unable to stare at Giana's post any longer. The restaurant felt suffocating with its romantic music and sympathetic glances from staff who realized I'd been abandoned.Without thinking, I walked into a nearby bar with dim lighting and overpriced cocktails. I needed something
***Alpha Marcus's announcement at dinner a week later caught me completely off guard."We're hosting a celebration for Aurora's birthday," he declared, smiling warmly at me. "The entire pack will attend."My birthday had never been a major event. I looked to Raymond, who seemed as surprised as I wa
I opened my mouth to correct the boutique owner, but Kane stepped forward before I could speak. His eyes never left mine as he moved closer."Beautiful doesn't begin to cover it," he said, his voice a low rumble that sent an unexpected shiver down my spine.The shop owner clasped her hands in deligh