Mike looked at me with suspicion. "You agreed so easily? Back when I married you, you said you wanted a bond that would last a lifetime, one mate for eternity."
I hid a cold smile behind my sweet expression.
He remembered those words, and yet he dared to do such a thing. His famine relief efforts may have earned him accolades, but I was born into the prestigious Riche Pack. My father's family had generations of wealth built on commerce, and I knew better than to openly challenge him now.
Suppressing the urge to strike him, I forced a dazzling smile. "Dariya isn't an outsider. Marrying you is already a blessing for me. How could I not agree?"
Mike's eyes gleamed with pleasure, his gaze lingering on me with newfound desire. "Jade, we've been married a year, and yet we've never consummated the bond. Your behavior today pleases me. Perhaps I'll spend the night in your chambers as a reward."
I stepped back delicately. "Unfortunately, it's my time of the moon," I said lightly.
Mike's expression darkened. "Don't think I desire your coarse, fat body. I was merely offering you pity. See to the preparations for Dariya's welcome. That's your responsibility now." With a huff, he turned on his heel and left.
That night, I caught a glimpse of Dariya sneaking into Mike's study, staying until the first rays of dawn. I smiled coldly. These two vile creatures. This lifetime, I wouldn't let them get away with anything.
I meticulously reviewed the properties and assets my mother had gifted me upon my marriage, consolidating every estate under my name. Then, I commissioned the most extravagant wedding supplies imaginable, sparing no expense.
Dariya's mother was a woman of no status, with no dowry to speak of. In our past life, they had coveted the wealth my mother had entrusted to me. They wouldn't stop until they drained me dry.
Did they wish for the grandest wedding the pack had ever seen? Very well, I would ensure they got what they wanted-but not without consequence.
Beta Mike's heroic relief efforts were well-known across the packs. When the time came to settle the accounts, who would dare demand repayment from an abandoned mate like me?
Once the wedding arrangements were nearly complete, I excused myself under the pretense of praying.
I remembered from my past life that the Alpha of our Pack, Jason, had once fallen victim to an aphrodisiac in this remote temple. He had sought solace with a farmer's daughter, a girl praying for her sick family. Poor and powerless, she became his Luna, but her inability to conceive left her cast aside, her spirit broken until she withered away.
This time, I intervened.
I found the young farmer's daughter before the events could unfold and offered her a generous sum of werewolf coins, enough to cover her family's medical expenses. Grateful, she left the temple with her blessings.
That night, I stayed in her quarters, waiting patiently. It wasn't long before I heard the soft scuffle of footsteps and whispers outside the door.
"She's unmarked," a shrill voice whispered. "No mate bond. She's perfect. Quickly, bring the Alpha in. The effects of the drug are intensifying, and there's no time to waste."
The door burst open, and they dragged in a man.
His powerful presence filled the room despite the haze clouding his amber eyes. His pheromones, strong and intoxicating, left no doubt that he was Alpha Jason.
The door slammed shut behind him, and before I could even process the sound, he was on me.
His body, heated and tense with the drug coursing through his veins, collided with mine, his movements frantic, almost primal. His wolf was in control now-his eyes wild with a hunger I couldn't escape, his scent thick with dominance.
He didn't ask for permission. He took me as though I were his to claim, his hands rough, almost violent, yet there was an unsettling reverence in the way he held me-like I was something fragile, precious, and utterly his.
His lips brushed against my skin, marking every inch of me, his teeth grazing my neck as he growled again.
The pain hit suddenly-a sharp, tearing sensation, a tearing of flesh and pride, as if he were leaving an indelible mark on me that would never fade. My body tensed under the pressure, but I didn't flinch. Not this time. The sting wasn't nearly as fierce as the betrayal I had endured in my past life.
His teeth sank deeper, and I let him. I let him claim me , marking me with a possessiveness. I surrendered to the pull.
By dawn, Jason stirred. He sat up, his gaze falling on the crimson-stained cloth beside him. A satisfied smile played on his lips. "You, first time. Who are you? I'm Alpha Jason of Silverfang. I marked you last night. Rest assured, you'll be cared for."
I knelt before him, my voice steady as I met his startled gaze.
"I am Jade, the eldest daughter of Tudor, a merchant of the Pack. I was married to Beta Mike."
Jason's eyes widened, the golden hue of his wolf flaring in disbelief. "You. You're Mike's mate? But you were unmarked-untouched!"
I bowed my head, letting my voice tremble with carefully crafted vulnerability.
"I used half of my family's fortune to aid Beta Mike's famine relief efforts. It was the only way I could secure the position of his mate. But he has always despised me for my appearance, never consummating our bond. Now, he plans to break our bond and take my cousin Dariya as his Luna. I fled here to escape a life of humiliation."
Jason's gaze darkened.
"Mike dares to insult the mate bond? To cast you aside for another?"
