I couldn’t sleep. The sheets felt suffocating, my mind replaying every little thing Selene had said today. Her smug comments, the way she looked at Lucian like he was already hers—it was driving me insane.
So, I threw on a jacket and slipped out into the cool night air, hoping the woods would help me clear my head.
The forest was quiet at first, nothing but the rustle of leaves and the faint chirp of crickets. Then I heard voices.
Familiar ones.
I slowed, ears straining as I followed the sound.
“It’s time, Lucian,” Selene hissed, her voice sharp. “You can’t keep lying to her. Just tell her the truth—you’re my mate, not hers!”
My chest tightened, and I froze, the words hitting me like a blow.
Lucian’s voice came next, quiet but firm. “Selene, stop.”
“No,” she snapped. “This is ridiculous! You’re my mate, Lucian. Do you know how rare that is? And yet you’re wasting your time with her. For what? Some promise your father made? It’s pathetic.”
A branch cracked under my foot, and both of them turned toward me, their eyes wide.
“What’s going on?” I asked, stepping into the clearing, my voice surprisingly steady.
Lucian’s jaw clenched, his calm facade cracking just a little. “Talia, this isn’t—”
“—what it looks like?” I interrupted, glaring at him. “Then explain it to me.”
Selene smirked, folding her arms. “Oh, let him try. I’d love to hear how he spins this one.”
“Enough, Selene,” Lucian growled, his Alpha tone cutting through her smugness. She rolled her eyes but stayed quiet, though her smirk didn’t budge.
Lucian sighed, his shoulders tense. “I was going to tell you. I just… didn’t know how.”
“Tell me *what*?” I demanded, my voice breaking slightly.
He took a step toward me, his expression softening in a way that made my stomach churn. “Selene is my fated mate.”
The ground felt like it shifted beneath me. My breath hitched, and I stared at him, willing him to take it back. But he didn’t.
“So… everything between us?” I couldn’t even finish the sentence.
“It wasn’t a lie,” he said quickly. “I swear, Talia. It’s just—”
“Oh, don’t sugarcoat it,” Selene cut in, her voice dripping with fake sweetness. “He stayed with you out of duty. Go on, Lucian, tell her the *rest*.”
I whipped around, glaring at her. “Stay out of this, Selene.”
“Gladly.” She smirked, taking a step back. “But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Lucian pinched the bridge of his nose like he was trying to collect himself. “Talia, listen to me.”
“No,” I snapped. “No more excuses, no more half-truths. Tell me everything. Now.”
He hesitated, looking at the ground before meeting my eyes. “Your father and mine were best friends. Before he died, my father made me promise to protect you. To make sure you were taken care of. When he found out you’d… lost your mate, he told me it was my responsibility to step in.”
“Lost my mate?” I said, my voice rising. “Lucian, I never had a mate!”
His shoulders sagged, and he looked away. “You did. He rejected the bond before you ever met him. He was from a rival pack. Rejecting you was the only way to keep the peace.”
The world tilted, but I caught myself before I stumbled. Instead, I let out a sharp laugh, cold and hollow.
“That’s it?” I said, my tone ice. “That’s your big secret?”
Lucian frowned. “Talia, this is serious—”
“No, it’s not,” I cut in, shaking my head. “You want to be with her? Fine. But let’s get one thing straight.” I stepped closer, my eyes locking with his. “I don’t care who your mate is. You’re still marrying me.”
Selene’s jaw dropped, her smugness replaced with pure shock. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me.” I turned to her, smiling sweetly. “You might be his mate, but I’m the one wearing the ring. You can keep sneaking around in the woods like a coward. Have fun with that.”
Lucian stepped forward, his hand reaching out. “Talia—”
I held up a hand, stopping him. “Don’t. You made your choice when you decided to lie to me. Now, it’s my turn to make mine.”
Selene’s face twisted with anger, but I didn’t give her the satisfaction of a reaction. Instead, I turned on my heel and walked away and went back to the pack house, my heart pounding with something I hadn’t felt in months—purpose.
They thought they had the upper hand. They thought I was weak.
Fine. Let them think that.
By the time my wedding day arrived, Lucian and Selene wouldn’t know what hit them.
In my room, I packed a small suitcase, hiding it deep in my closet. I wasn’t leaving yet—not until the wedding was done. For now, I just had to act like everything was fine.
When Lucian came to talk that night, I cut him off before he could start. “It’s fine,” I said, forcing a tired smile. “We’ll still get married. The pack would be devastated if the marriage fell apart now.”
He looked unsure but eventually nodded. “Right.”
The next morning, Selene’s smugness was everywhere—even online. A notification lit up Lucian’s phone during breakfast, and his expression froze.
Selene had posted: “Excited for tomorrow. Some bonds are meant to last forever.”
Lucian muttered something about rogue trouble and disappeared shortly after, leaving me to pretend nothing was wrong. Tsk. Lies again. Let him think I believed him.
By the time he realized what I was planning, it would already be over.
