Chapter 1

I am the heiress of the Mistwood Pack and the fated mate of Alpha Madron.

I thought ours was the perfect union, until his distant cousin, Celeste, arrived.

She drove his exclusive sports car, stayed out all night with him, and taunted me: “You’ve lost.”

I contacted the pack elders and requested to sever our mate bond.

Since he chose her, I wouldn't hold back.

After a passionate night with his best friend, Lucas, I never expected to run into them in the hotel corridor.

Fury burned in Madron's eyes. "What are you two doing here?"

I shot back with a cold laugh, "And what are you two doing here? Is she feeling 'unwell' again?"

Their expressions instantly stiffened.

The game had only just begun...

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1

As a convoy of sports cars pulled up to the villa.

I was standing on the terrace, gazing at the night sky. The moon was not yet full.

Pleasant chatter drifted up to my ears.

A man and a woman, their faces still wreathed in smiles, emerged from the lead car.

"Amara." The girl's eyes met mine, her smile vanishing in an instant.

Her voice was cloyingly sweet, laced with a deliberate softness.

Yet it made my head snap up.

Just my name?

Such a blatant provocation. It almost made me want to laugh.

I turned, my gaze locking onto Madron. I knew this man would never tolerate anyone disrespecting me.

But Madron simply removed his Bluetooth headset, casually took the girl’s Hermès bag, and passed it to his assistant with a practiced ease.

He didn't meet my gaze.

"Amara, I'm Celeste. I've just returned from my time abroad. It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm sure there's much you can teach me."

She extended a hand, the corners of her mouth tilting up as she stared right at me.

"'Teach you?'" I swept my cold gaze over her. "Are you not aware of the rules of the Shadowfang pack? I shouldn't have to explain them to you."

My harsh tone made the delicate Celeste’s eyes instantly well with tears.

"I'm sorry, Amara, I...""It's all my fault," she said, stealing a glance at Madron with eyes shimmering with tears.

Madron stepped forward then, his brow slightly furrowed.

The man who could face a crumbling mountain without flinching rarely wore such a look of utter helplessness.

He looked somewhat lost as he gazed at my icy expression.

"Amara, I was just showing her how much downtown has changed over the years."

But I felt a breach tear through the defenses around my heart.

As the Alpha of the pack, from the day I first met Madron, rationality and restraint had always been his defining traits.

Even for me, his mate.

I had never seen him wear his emotions so openly.

"Oh, right. Celeste just got back in town and doesn't have a place to stay. She'll be with us for a while. Have the housekeeper prepare a guest room."

Madron took off his sunglasses and ran a hand through his slightly tousled hair, the gesture brimming with masculine charm.

"What did you say?" I asked, stunned, certain I had misheard.

"Then I'll be in your care, Amara," she said, already walking toward the main house as if she owned the place.

That night, for the very first time, I made a clear demand of Madron.

"Send her away."

Madron froze, and an almost imperceptible flicker of coldness crossed his otherwise gentle eyes.

"Amara, she's just a distant relative. My grandfather asked me to take good care of her."

After he walked toward the study, I was just preparing to confront him.

Only to run into Celeste in the hallway.

"Amara," she said, deliberately blocking my path, wearing a mask completely different from the one she'd had on during the day.

"You've already gotten so much. Can't you give Madron back to me?"

I stopped in astonishment, crossing my arms over my chest. "You really have some nerve."

She flicked her long hair back, as if unintentionally revealing the bite marks on her neck.

"Then don't blame me for not playing nice."

I watched her retreating figure, utterly baffled.

But I never would have thought that the next day...

I would understand exactly what she meant.