Chapter 1
Not long before Valentine’s Day, my mate, Kieran Draven, dropped a ridiculous amount of money on a custom diamond pendant.
And when the day actually came? All I got was a bouquet of roses.
He handed them over with a shrug. “We’ve been together forever, right? No need to go all out—flowers should do the trick.”
That night, scrolling through my feed, I nearly choked. His Beta, Mira Thornclaw, had posted a picture, proudly showing off my necklace. A cold, sinking feeling twisted in my gut. When I confronted him, he just scoffed. “She’s part of our pack, Selene. No mate, no family—I felt bad for her. What, is that a crime now?”
I let out a sharp laugh. “Oh, sympathy? Why not just mark her while you’re at it?”
His entire body went stiff, his jaw tightening as he turned to look at me.
“You’re seriously this worked up over a piece of jewelry?”
He gestured toward our room, irritation rolling off him. “Have I ever forgotten to get you something for a special occasion?”
“Who makes sure you’re taken care of? Who keeps you safe? Who provides for you as my Luna?”
“This is about a necklace? You’re actually thinking about rejecting our bond over something so petty?”
“Why can’t you be more like Mira? You know how much she’d appreciate what you take for granted?” He let out a humorless chuckle. “What, still not enough for you?”
His voice boomed through the den, his dominance pressing down on me like a command.
At the mention of Mira, my hands clenched against my legs. That familiar sting of hurt clawed its way up my chest.
Here we go again.
Every fight, every disagreement—it always came back to her.
I forced a bitter smile. “I’m the one being difficult? I’m the one who isn’t grateful?”
“Kieran, is Mira my problem? Is it my job to make sure she has a cushy life?”
My voice rose, all the anger I had swallowed for months finally breaking free. “And yet you, my mate, my Alpha, have never once gone out of your way for me like you did for her with that necklace!”
“Ask anyone in the pack—who’s the selfish one here, Kieran? Have you ever stopped to think about how I feel?”
I glared at him, my whole body shaking.
Then, last year’s Valentine’s Day crashed into my mind.
We had planned a trip to the Moonlit Cliffs in Silvercrest—a place sacred to our kind.
I had everything packed and ready the night before.
And then, just like that, he told me he wasn’t coming.
It was like a bucket of ice water had been dumped over me. My chest tightened. “Why?” I had asked.
He had barely looked up. “Something came up with the pack. Can’t make it. We’ll go another time.”
I wasn’t stupid. “What could possibly be so urgent tonight? Even the Elders take the night off! You swore on the last full moon that we’d go.”
“You’re always busy, Kieran. Can’t you give me one day?”
I muttered under my breath, “Mia’s mate is taking her on a run through the Elderwood tomorrow.”
At that, his expression darkened. “How long have Mia and her mate been bonded? You really think we’re in the same place?”
“Can you stop obsessing over these ridiculous traditions? Why do you always need so much attention?”
And then, with a look of pure exasperation, he pulled out his wallet, yanked out his black pack credit card, and tossed it onto the table. “Here. Go crazy. Buy whatever you want and let it go.”
Then he walked out without another word.
And after that, he was never there when it mattered.
For the longest time, I told myself this is just how it is. Long-term bonds settle. Alpha and Luna, learning to coexist.
But tonight? I knew better.
His heart hadn’t changed. It had just shifted—toward someone else.
I sucked in a shaky breath, trying to steady myself.
Kieran’s face flickered with something—maybe surprise, maybe guilt—but it was gone in a second.
His coldness faded, but indifference remained.
Silence stretched between us until his phone buzzed against the table.
He glanced at it, sighed, and looked back at me.
“Selene, I’ll get you another necklace.”
“But can we not turn this into a whole thing? You know the stress I’m under as Alpha.”
I had known Kieran Draven since we were pups.
