Chapter 1
They were supposed to walk into the circle together.
Scarlett had never doubted that.
Not because Evan had promised her. He hadn’t. They had never spoken the words mates or bonded out loud. But promises were not always spoken. Sometimes they were built slowly—through shared nights and whispered confessions, through hands that lingered too long and kisses that meant more than either of them admitted.
For two years, they had chosen each other in every way that mattered.
Or so she had believed.
Verdant Hollow shimmered with life.
Golden lanterns hung from ancient branches. Soft music floated through the clearing. Wolves from dozens of packs gathered on the wide green field, laughing, embracing, celebrating the day that would decide their futures.
Binding Day.
Scarlett stood at the edge of the crowd, her fingers curled lightly into the fabric of her pale blue dress. It was simple. She had chosen it because Evan once told her he liked blue on her.
She wondered now if he even remembered saying that.
He stood beside her.
Close enough that she could feel his body heat.
Far enough that she felt alone.
Something was wrong.
He hadn’t touched her once since they arrived. No hand at her waist. No quiet squeeze of reassurance. No teasing smile. Nothing.
She glanced at him.
Evan stared straight ahead, jaw tight, shoulders rigid.
“Are you okay?” she asked softly.
He blinked, as if waking from a dream. “Yeah. I’m fine.”
The words were too quick.
Too careless.
A lie.
Scarlett knew his lies. They were always rushed, like he hoped speed would make them believable.
“You’ve barely spoken to me all day,” she said.
“It’s stressful,” he replied.
“For both of us.”
He nodded, but didn’t look at her.
That was when unease curled in her stomach.
They walked in silence for several steps, surrounded by laughter and music and excitement that felt foreign to her now.
She stopped.
“Evan.”
He turned, irritation flashing briefly in his eyes. “What?”
“You’re avoiding me.”
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
He exhaled sharply. “Can we not do this right now?”
Her chest tightened.
“Do what?” she asked quietly. “Try to understand where we stand?”
People passed by them, greeting friends, pulling lovers into embraces. Everyone seemed certain. Confident.
She wasn’t.
“I thought…” Her voice faltered. She steadied herself. “I thought we were doing this together.”
He looked away.
Just for a second.
It felt like a knife.
“…You still think that?” he asked.
Her heart sank.
“What does that mean?”
“We never agreed on anything,” he said carefully.
“No,” she replied. “But we agreed that we mattered.”
“That was different.”
“How?”
“Before, it was just us,” he said. “No pressure. No expectations.”
“And now?” she whispered.
“Now it’s complicated.”
“So I’m inconvenient,” she finished.
“That’s not fair.”
“But it’s true.”
He didn’t deny it.
Silence stretched between them.
“I trusted you,” she said softly.
His expression softened for a moment. “Scar—”
“Please don’t,” she whispered. “Not like this.”
She turned and walked away before he could see her break.
The afternoon passed in a blur.
Scarlett laughed when spoken to. Smiled when expected. Participated in games and dances, and rituals like a ghost wearing her face.
All the while, she watched Evan.
And she saw everything.
How often his gaze drifted to Mara. How his shoulders relaxed near her. How he smiled without realising it.
Hope clung to Scarlett anyway.
Stupid. Desperate. Unkillable.
When the elders called everyone to gather in the central circle, her hands trembled.
She stood beside Evan regardless.
If he had any doubts, this was the moment to end them.
“Evan Hale,” the elder called.
He stepped forward.
So did she.
Then—
He turned.
Not to her.
To Mara.
“I choose Mara.”
The world stopped.
Scarlett’s lungs forgot how to work.
Her heart slammed violently against her ribs.
“What?” she whispered.
Evan didn’t look at her.
Not once.
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
Her vision blurred.
“Evan,” she said, louder now. “Look at me.”
He hesitated.
Then slowly, he turned.
His eyes were full of regret.
Not love.
No hesitation.
Regret.
“You’re really doing this,” she said.
“Scarlett—”
“After everything?” she asked. “After every night you told me I mattered?”
“This is bigger than us,” he said quietly.
“No,” she replied. “It’s smaller. It’s fear.”
He flinched.
Mara shifted uncomfortably beside him.
Good.
“You were my home,” Scarlett whispered. “And you traded me for safety.”
“I’m sorry,” he said.
Too late.
“I hope it was worth it,” she said softly.
Then she turned away.
She didn’t know how long she stood alone.
Minutes.
Hours.
A lifetime.
When an elder finally approached her, she barely reacted.
“Scarlett Ashborne,” the woman said gently. “Do you wish to declare yourself unbound for another year?”
Publicly.
Officially.
Unwanted.
“No,” Scarlett replied immediately.
The elder hesitated. “It is tradition—”
“I don’t care,” she said.
Her voice shook, but she didn’t lower her gaze.
“I won’t stand here and let everyone decide my worth.”
Whispers spread.
Then—
The air shifted.
A heavy presence rolled across Verdant Hollow.
Power. Danger.
Every wolf felt it.
Scarlett turned slowly.
A man emerged from the shadows at the edge of the clearing.
Tall. Broad-shouldered. Dressed in black.
His presence silenced the Hollow.
Kael Nightborne.
Alpha of Blackmoor.
His gaze swept across the crowd.
Then stopped.
On her.
Scarlett felt exposed. Stripped bare.
She lifted her chin.
Refused to look away.
Something flickered in his dark eyes. Interest.
“I invoke the Old Right,” Kael said.
Her blood turned to ice.
“No,” she said instantly.
He looked at her fully now.
“I claim her.”
“You don’t get to,” she snapped. “I’m not property.”
“You stand unbound.”
“By betrayal,” she shot back. “Not by choice.”
“I’m offering protection.”
“I don’t want it.”
A ripple of shock spread.
Kael stepped closer.
“You’re angry,” he murmured.
“Yes.”
“You’re hurt.”
“Yes.”
“And you’re still standing.”
She swallowed.
“For now.”
For the first time, he smiled.
Slow. Dark. Dangerous.
“That’s why you’re mine.”
The elders began to chant.
Ancient magic wrapped around her.
She fought.
It didn’t matter.
When it ended, her name burned beside his.
Bound.
Claimed.
Kael leaned down, his voice meant only for her.
“You hate me,” he whispered.
“Yes.”
“Good,” he replied softly. “We’ll start there.”
Then he straightened.
“Come,” he ordered.
And Scarlett’s old life ended.
