Fortunately, Kate wasn't the type of person who judged others by their past. She didn't know me well before, but she had always been kind and loyal, traits I greatly valued in our budding friendship. Even though I wasn't particularly special to her, I still cherished the bond we shared."Don't worry," Kate said with a playful grin, "You’ll have all the guys at the party kneeling before you.""I think so too," I replied with a matching smile."You should really dress up. Who knows? Maybe you'll meet your mate there," she added, winking.I shook my head with a chuckle. "I don't necessarily need to find a mate. I just want to find someone I can connect with, like you and Alfred. You two are together because of love, not just some destined bond.""But that’s what a mate is," Kate argued, her eyes wide with enthusiasm. "Who wouldn't want a mate who’s wholly theirs, completely in love, and utterly loyal?"Having been rejected by my own mate, I couldn't share her optimism. "I don't believe i
Just as Alfred had said, the party was already in full swing by the time we arrived. Kate had gone all out with the decorations—a long row of drinks, an array of food and snacks, and the perfect combination of lights and music to set the mood. The atmosphere was electric.I grabbed a glass of champagne and settled at the edge of the stage, watching the crowd dance and mingle. Kate’s words echoed in my mind, and for the first time, I felt a genuine desire to meet someone new. Maybe it was time to move on, to leave behind the lingering bond with Robert that had caused me so much pain.Theoretically, the mate bond between Robert and me should have dissipated after he marked someone else. But it hadn’t, and now, Robert’s sudden interest in me was complicating things further. I knew I needed to formally reject him to break the bond, to finally free myself from the torment of our failed connection."Hey, want to dance?"A tall, strong-looking guy with thick eyebrows appeared beside me. He d
Robert let out a loud, pained grunt as he stumbled back, clutching his stomach where my kick had landed. I yanked my wrist out of his grip, rubbing the spot where his fingers had dug in. My voice was steady, but there was no mistaking the cold resolve in it. "Robert, you've marked Alison. You don't have the right to be with me anymore."Robert's face twisted in shock and pain as he crouched, one hand over his crotch. The look of love and affection he used to have for me was gone, replaced with pure hatred. His eyes burned with a kind of ferocity I’d never seen before. "What the hell did you just say?""I, Cecily Levin, reject—"Before I could finish, he moved like a flash, shoving me hard against the wall, his hand clamping down over my mouth."How dare you!" he snarled, squeezing my throat so hard I thought he’d crush it. His voice dripped with venom. "You stupid b*tch, worthless trash! You're just a lowly werewolf, nothing special. You should feel lucky to be mated to someone like m
"No," I groaned instinctively, a sound escaping my lips that I barely recognized as my own. My God, am I really making that noise?A strange sensation spread through me, my blood carrying it to every corner of my body. My legs started to go weak, and I felt myself swaying. Before I could fall, his strong arms wrapped around my waist, holding me up. My head was spinning, like it was about to explode, and I had no idea what was going to happen next.Suddenly, he bit his lip hard, pulling himself back from the edge, regaining control. "I'm sorry," he gasped, clearly in some kind of pain. "Maybe it's the strong perfume here, or maybe my wolf has been a bit on edge lately. I hope I didn't scare you.""It's okay," I managed to reply, trying to steady myself.He reached out, gently fixing my messed-up hair. "Your hair got a bit tangled," he said, his voice softer now. "I'm Michael, by the way. I think we'll be seeing each other again."I watched him as he left, a whirlwind of emotions swirli
The Alpha’s succession ceremony was a big deal—not just for the new Alpha, but for the entire pack. It was like the event of the year. Everyone had to dress up, no exceptions. While I was still buried in group homework, Kate was next to me, already trying on her third dress.She glanced at me, still glued to my desk, and practically yelled, “Why aren’t you getting ready yet? The ceremony’s in two hours! I’ve already seen people heading out, and you’re still here doing homework!”“We’ve got two whole hours,” I replied, not in the least bit worried. We lived super close to the venue, so getting there in 20 minutes was a breeze.“Come on, hurry up!”“Alright, alright,” I sighed, wrapping up the last few sentences on my computer. I grabbed a simple white dress from my closet—nothing fancy, just a clean cut with some subtle patterns and a waist-skimming fit. I paired it with comfy semi-high heels, making sure I wouldn’t regret my outfit halfway through the night. Robert’s succession ceremo
I stared at Robert, completely confused by what he was saying."We never rejected each other," he explained, "so that means we’re still Destined Mates. And since I marked Alison, she’s now my Chosen Mate. So, you see, I’ve got both of you. And I’m planning to keep it that way.""Are you out of your mind?"Werewolves are known for having the most loyal mate bonds in the world. You choose one mate, and that's it. No second chances. It’s just common sense.But things were weird between me and Robert. We’d met as mates, but we never marked each other. That’s super rare. Normally, werewolves are together with their Destined Mate right away.And Robert went ahead and marked Alison before we officially rejected each other. That’s not just rare—it’s against nature. It’s like forcefully breaking our original mate bond, and that kind of thing is brutal for both sides.Since Robert found a new mate, his pain was eased, but I was the one left suffering. I’d been dealing with headaches, sleepless
At the head of the procession was not Alpha John but a tall young man, followed closely by Alpha John, the Luna, and Robert. I noticed immediately that Robert didn't look well. He was carrying the weight of rejection, and I guessed he hadn’t dared to share this with his father.My eyes were drawn to the man leading the group. He was dressed in a casual black suit, not the formal attire typical for such a significant event. His white shirt was unbuttoned at the collar, revealing a glimpse of his chest. On the most important day for our pack, he appeared before everyone with a dignified yet laid-back demeanor. From a distance, there was something familiar about him, but I couldn't place where I had seen him before. I was sure I didn’t know anyone of his stature.Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks. For two seconds, he stood still, then turned and looked directly at me.In that moment, his face became clear to me—it was Michael, the one who had saved me at the last party! At the same time
All eyes fell on me again. The sight of two high-status werewolves vying for the same mate was sure to be the talk of the town for the next month.I realized I had to step up and explain everything at the center of this chaos. As I tried to move out from behind Michael, I felt his reluctance to let me go. I barely made it halfway around him before he wrapped his arms around my waist, holding me close. I sensed a silent battle between Michael and Robert, but in the end, Robert backed down, lowering his gaze to the ground. He always overestimated his position.Facing Alpha John and Luna, I stood tall and explained, "We used to be mates, but Robert chose someone else, and I rejected him. We are no longer bound to each other."Saying it aloud in front of everyone wasn’t as difficult as I had imagined. I thought it would be humiliating, but instead, I felt a new strength within me. My heart was stronger now, and I knew I had a better mate. Losing me was Robert's loss, one he could never un
During that time, Joanna was always off somewhere, traveling by herself. No one knew where she went. She would leave for long stretches, sometimes disappearing for years, and didn’t bother checking in with anyone. Naturally, her parents freaked out, not knowing if she was safe or if something bad had happened to her.As I sat there by the water, Sasha handed me a drink. It was this weird, green liquid that I wasn’t sure about at first, but after a sip, I realized it was lemon tea, with a hint of mint. Not bad at all, really refreshing."And then?" I asked, curious about what happened next with Joanna.Sasha sighed, shaking her head like she regretted it a little. “Well, her parents eventually went to Michael's dad for help. Since Michael was good at handling this kind of stuff, his dad put him in charge of finding Joanna.”I sipped my drink again, enjoying the way the mint cooled me down from the inside. "So, Michael went after her?"Sasha looked at me with a mix of guilt and understa
Joanna might be an amazing actress, but honestly? She's not fooling me. It's like she's playing a role, trying to be someone she's not—probably because she can't stand that Michael and I are together. I could feel her trying to mess with us, but I wasn’t about to let her win. If she wanted to act, well, I could act too.The sunlight felt warm on my skin as I stood there watching her. I smiled confidently, letting Joanna see me looking totally unbothered. She dove into the water with all the grace of a fish. I had to admit, she did have an incredible body—she was rocking a white bikini that had these thin straps crisscrossing over her chest and waist, making her look like some kind of living sculpture. Even the lower half of her bikini had those same crisscrossing straps under her belly button. Honestly, it was a look.Meanwhile, Sasha was already in the water, her swimsuit much louder and flashier than Joanna's. She was wearing this fluorescent green bikini with stripes and a skirt th
Joanna’s POV“So, I’m not the kind of girl who lets a man push her around. After all that happened, I left anyway. But no matter how long I stayed away, I’d always get messages from Michael. Some of them were about family stuff, other times he’d talk about finding his mate or being engaged or something. Honestly, it was pretty confusing for me during that time.”Despite saying she was troubled, a small smile crept onto Joanna's face as if remembering something amusing.“Eventually, I figured out that all of those excuses were just Michael’s way of trying to get me to come back. There was never a fiancée or mate. It was all just a big story. So, I was a little surprised when I heard this morning that you two were mates. But, hey, you’re mates arranged by the Moon Goddess, so everything should be fine, right?”Joanna finished her little story with a bright smile, clearly satisfied with herself. But me? I was furious. My fists were clenched so tightly, I could feel my nails digging into
It wasn't until Michael had completely disappeared from view that I became aware of the unsettling stare from behind. I could feel Joanna’s eyes boring into me, but I refused to acknowledge her directly. Instead, I turned and made my way toward my room, hoping to escape the tension she brought with her presence.But, of course, Joanna just happened to be standing in my path.She wore that same infuriating smile, the one that didn’t quite reach her eyes. "Your relationship with Michael seems... strong. You’re quite adorable when you're with him, Cecily."Her words dripped with something—sarcasm? Malice? It was hard to tell. I wasn’t sure what she was getting at, but I didn’t care to find out. I wasn’t in the mood to engage with her."I'm heading back to my room," I said, keeping my tone as neutral as possible."I know I upset you yesterday, and for that, I’m truly sorry," Joanna replied, taking a step closer as if that would make her words more sincere. "I didn’t mean to offend you. Le
Joanna's giggle echoed through the room, its beauty contrasting with the venomous intent behind it. Her voice was as sweet as a siren’s, but I could feel the malicious undertones. "Former friends, Sasha? That's not quite accurate. Michael and I were more than friends."I knew Joanna was up to no good. I had seen it in her eyes the moment I met her. Whatever her goal was—whether to make me jealous, provoke anger, or worse—I wasn’t going to give her the satisfaction of seeing me unravel.She turned her gaze toward Michael, who remained focused on his coffee cup, now almost empty. He hadn’t acknowledged her presence, which gave me some comfort, but Joanna wasn’t finished. "If you two are truly mates," she said, her voice dripping with false innocence, "may I ask, was it the Moon Goddess who arranged this, or did Michael choose you?"Her question cut deep, even though it was wrapped in a seemingly casual tone. I clenched my fists under the table, my wolf surging with rage. Joanna was impl
"Would you like to come downstairs for breakfast, or should I bring it up to you?" Michael asked, his voice soft and tender. As he spoke, he reached out, gently brushing a strand of hair away from my face. His touch sent a warm shiver down my spine, the closeness between us undeniable.I found myself smiling at Michael, wondering how I hadn’t fully appreciated this side of him before. I had always been so caught up in our arguments, his domineering ways, and the battles for control that I had somehow missed these moments where he could be... sweet. The realization washed over me—there was more to him than the arrogance and possessiveness I had been focusing on. If I allowed myself to let go of the tension between us, there was an undeniable pleasure in being with him.“I’d like to go downstairs to eat,” I replied with a soft smile, feeling more at ease than I had in a while.We walked down the stairs together, and I found myself momentarily at peace. But as we descended, my mind wande
The night had ended in a comfortable silence, with both of us content in each other's presence. By the time I had finished my tasks, Michael was still seated at his desk, absorbed in a pile of paperwork. His brow furrowed in concentration, and I didn’t have the heart to disturb him, nor did I want to leave his side. So, I watched him, feeling the steady calm he radiated.Before I knew it, I had dozed off in the warm cocoon of the study, lulled by the scent of Michael that filled the room. It wasn’t long before I felt someone gently lift me. I knew it was Michael, and feeling safe in his arms, I allowed myself to drift deeper into sleep.When I finally woke up, the morning light was already creeping in through the curtains. My body felt well-rested and refreshed. At some point during the night, I had been changed into my pajamas, and I couldn’t help but wonder if Michael had been the one to wash and dress me while I slept. A small smile tugged at my lips at the thought.I glanced to my
"Oh god, absolutely not," Michael exclaimed, his voice laced with frustration. "Yes, we had a relationship in the past, but we broke up a long time ago. Joanna came by a few times after that, but it wasn’t for me. She had business with Samuel and others. I was too busy to even notice when she came or left. But I swear, Cecily, nothing happened between us after we ended things."I turned to face him, my mind clouded with uncertainty. Should I believe him? Jealousy burned inside me, poisoning my thoughts. The mere idea of him being intimate with Joanna made my skin crawl."My little wolf," Michael's voice softened as he lifted my chin gently. His expression was tinged with regret. "If you want me to apologize for my past, I can. But remember, I’ve lived a long life, Cecily. I’m not a saint—I’ve had relationships, felt emotions, just like anyone else. But if you're blaming me for something more than that, it's unfair. I’ve never been in two relationships at the same time. When I met you,
"I can't just pretend nothing happened, especially after my wolf reacted the way it did." I shrugged, trying to stay calm. "I need to know, Michael. I'd rather hear it from you than find out through Sasha."Michael hesitated, his brown eyes locked on mine as if weighing his options. I held his gaze, determined to get the truth. If he wanted honesty between us, he needed to practice it too."Okay," he muttered, running his hand through his hair, clearly uncomfortable. "She's... a friend."A friend? Joanna's behavior toward Michael was far from friendly. It was passionate, intense—nothing like the casual interactions between Sasha and him. I took a deep breath and asked the question I had been avoiding but couldn't ignore any longer."An ex-girlfriend?"Michael's expression stiffened. He didn’t nod, but he didn’t shake his head either. Silence hung between us, thick and heavy. I knew the truth was coming, but it didn’t make the waiting any easier. If Michael wanted me to be honest with