When I woke up, the she-wolf was gone.
Her scent was everywhere. A stain on my territory.
Her unfamiliar scent lingered on the sheets, so strong it made me gag.
Even worse was the white-gold earring left on the nightstand.
It had a delicate family crest carved into it, carrying her scent. Like a territory marker.
Like she was telling me: She belonged here more than I did.
Owen walked out of the bathroom, his hair still dripping.
He saw the earring and a playful smirk crossed his lips.
"Jealous?" He walked toward me, opening his arms for a hug.
I stepped back instinctively.
His smile vanished instantly.
He sneered. "Look at you. Cold. Lifeless. No wonder I have to fuck other she-wolves to feel something."
"What do you mean?" My voice was quiet.
"When was the last time you acted like a real female?" He stepped closer. "Besides the night of the Blood Moon Ritual, when have you ever initiated anything?"
Every word felt like a knife carving into my heart.
"I am your mate."
"Mate?" He laughed loudly. "A liar who forced me with dark magic deserves to be called a mate?"
I turned and walked away.
I didn't want to hear anymore.
But that afternoon, I had no choice but to follow him back to the Blackwood Pack estate for a family dinner.
Eleonora, Owen's mother, was the last person I wanted to see.
For eight years, she’d looked at me like I was something she'd scraped off her shoe.
But this time, she didn't even glance my way.
She was holding the hand of Loretta, the she-wolf from last night, chatting happily.
"Loretta, you made it." Owen's voice instantly softened.
Loretta.
Her name was Loretta.
"Of course." She stood up and hugged Owen, looking entirely natural and intimate. "This is my second home, after all."
What did that mean?
Eleonora patted Loretta's hand, her eyes full of approval:
"She was the mate we originally chose for you." Her tone dripped with superiority. "Pure Alpha bloodline. Powerful family backing."
"Too bad some little Omega got in the way." Loretta’s eyes raked over me, dripping with contempt.
I stood by the door, like a complete outsider.
"Easy, babe." Owen snaked an arm around Loretta's waist. "The past is the past. And I already have a mate. If you two get along, she can visit more often."
Babes.
That’s what he called her last night. In bed. Right in front of me.
"Dinner is served," a maid announced respectfully.
The table was filled with a lavish feast.
But it was all meat.
Roast venison, stewed rabbit, seared steaks.
The heavy scent of meat hit my nose hard.
"This looks amazing!" Loretta said excitedly. "I love venison!"
My stomach started churning.
Today was the day after the Winter Solstice.
According to the Moonbrook Pack’s tradition, we had to eat vegetarian for a day to calm our inner wolves.
It was a sacred ritual. It couldn't be broken.
"Madam Eleonora," I said carefully. "Could we get some vegetarian dishes? Today is..."
"Is what?" She cut me off, her Alpha aura instantly crashing down on me.
"The Moonbrook Pack tradition..."
"This is the Blackwood Pack!" She snapped. "Weak traditions mean nothing here!"
I struggled to breathe.
The Alpha pressure made it almost impossible to stand.
"Mom." Owen finally spoke up. "Let it go."
He stood up, picked up a piece of roasted asparagus with his fork, and placed it on my plate.
His movements were gentle, his voice softening.
"Eat this." He patted my shoulder. "It's fine."
Asparagus was vegetarian. I looked at him gratefully, a tiny sliver of warmth rising in my chest.
Maybe he still cared.
I carefully took a bite.
Loretta suddenly burst into a ringing laugh.
"Hahaha! She actually ate it!" She laughed so hard she leaned back. "Owen, you are so bad!"
What?
"What's that sauce on the asparagus, honey?" she asked loudly on purpose.
Owen smirked. "Rich venison gravy."
Ice flooded my veins.
The taste of meat juice exploded in my mouth. The thick, bloody smell shocked my nerves.
The guilt of breaking tradition made my inner wolf go crazy.
My stomach cramped violently.
"You lied," I whispered, my body trembling.
"You chose to eat it," Owen replied coldly. "I didn't say anything."
Nausea washed over me.
I covered my mouth and sprinted to the restroom. I fell to my knees by the toilet and threw up violently.
I heaved until only bitter bile burned my throat.
I fumbled for the mirror again, nearly dropping it.
Her face appeared on the surface, her eyes red and raw with tears.
She took me back to the clear stream of the Moonbrook Pack.
He was looking at me, his golden eyes shining like stars:
"Sienna, I did my homework. Your pack has a tradition of eating vegetarian the day after the Winter Solstice, right?"
"When we're together, I'll do it with you. We'll spend every Winter Solstice together."
"And now?" My voice was raw.
"This is so cruel," she sobbed. "So cruel..."
I looked at my exhausted reflection in the mirror.
My eyes were dry. I couldn't shed a single tear.
Cruel?
My wolf was so broken, all she knew was the numbness.
