Chapter 1

On my wedding ceremony, My mate received a call that his childhood sweetheart was having an allergic reaction. He dropped the ceremonial bracelet and ran off to the healer leaving me in front of the entire pack.

Through my mindlink, I started feeling pains all through my wolf. It wasn't just pain, I could feel her pleasure, his grunts and the way their bodies connected. They weren't at any healer's place. They were having sex while I stood humiliated before everyone.

I remained frozen as whispers spread through the ceremony hall. The Alpha's son had abandoned his chosen mate for another wolf.

"I'll continue the ceremony," a deep voice announced just as I was about to flee.

I turned to see Damian, Kian's brother and rival pack Alpha. He walked straight to me with red roses while everyone watched in shock.

"Your mate has chosen another. I've been watching you for months. Join my pack and be mine instead."

He knelt and offered me a silver moonstone bracelet. Way more expensive than the cheap one Kian had dropped.

"Violet, If you'll accept these roses and this bracelet, I promise to value you as he never could."

I could still feel Kian thrusting inside of Vivian through our mindlink as I accepted Damian's roses and the silver bracelet he slipped onto my wrist.

The pack elders murmured among themselves before the Chief Elder stepped forward. "The Alpha will need to approve this transfer in ten days, for you to officially leave the pack as his mate."

Damian simply nodded with a quiet smile. "Ten days is sufficient." He hugged me tightly, then broke away, jumping in excitement like a pup.

Two days later, a text from Kian appeared: "Prepare dinner. I'll be home soon. Viv's now feeling well from the allergic reaction."

Meanwhile, my phone was flooded with notifications. All over the wolf net were pictures of Kian and Vivian – kissing passionately at the Blue Lagoon, him helping her change dresses in boutiques, them wrapped around each other at every tourist spot I had once dreamed of visiting.

The pictures brought back memories of all the times he'd chosen her over me.

For my birthday last year, he'd taken me to a food truck for tacos, claiming pack finances were tight. The very next day, he'd thrown Vivian a lavish party with a professional chef he'd flown in from Paris.

When I needed surgery last spring, he couldn't take time off to drive me to the hospital. I later discovered he'd taken a week-long business trip to a beachside resort with Vivian.

Over six years together, he always found excuses not to meet my parents on holidays. Now I understood he'd been spending those holidays with Vivian's family instead.

Whenever I questioned his closeness with Vivian, he would always say he was honoring her parents' dying wish—that he look after her. Now I realized it was just another excuse to keep her in his life.

I had thought today, our wedding day would finally be different. Today, he would finally focus on me, cherish me and choose me.

What a fool I'd been.

I didn't reply to his text. Instead, I emptied our refrigerator, tossing everything into the trash. When Kian finally strolled in, he had the audacity to look annoyed.

"Where's dinner?"

"Gone, just like our relationship," I replied coldly.

He rushed forward, wrapping his arms around me. "I'm so sorry about that day. Vivian could have died from that reaction. You understand that, right? An Alpha must protect all pack members."

"Of course," I remained stiff in his embrace, noticing the scent of her perfume on his neck.

"Look how thoughtful she is," Kian said, handing me a small gift bag. "She even sent you an apology gift. She doesn't want to ruin our relationship."

Inside was a collection of lingerie, lacy bras and underwear. My stomach turned when I recognized one of the black lace thong. I'd seen it in his office months ago, crumpled behind his desk. When I'd questioned him, he'd claimed it was from a prank the pack boys had played.

Now her used lingerie was his idea of an apology.

I shoved the bag into his chest, stepping back. “If she’s so thoughtful, why’s her scent all over you? Care to explain that?”

Kian stood frozen, his mouth opening and closing without words. The silence between us confirmed everything I had suspected.

“I'm done," I said finally. "I'm leaving, Kian. It's over."

Kian looked at me like I was some crazy person. "Are you hearing yourself right now? I carried her to the hospital and stayed with her there. Of course her scent would be on me. What did you expect?"

"The hospital?" I laughed.

"Yes, Violet. The hospital. She was having an allergic reaction. Were you not listening?" He ran his fingers through his hair, frustration clear on his face. "I can't believe you're making this about you when someone almost died."

"I felt it, Kian. Through our mindlink. I felt everything."

His expression darkened. "Felt what exactly? Her pain? Her struggle to breathe? And you're standing here worried about some scent?" He shook his head in disappointment. "I never thought you could be this selfish."

I wanted to scream the truth, but something in his cold eyes made me hesitate.

"You're paranoid," he continued, shaking his head. "This is why I didn't want to tell you about helping Vivian before. You always overreact. She's been nothing but kind to you, and this is how you behave?"

"Kind?" I laughed bitterly. "By sending me her used underwear as a gift?"

Kian's face darkened. "They're brand new, Violet. Are you so blinded by jealousy you can't even recognize a peace offering? This is embarrassing."

I grabbed the bag of lingerie and threw it on the floor, stomping on it. "Take these filthy things away from me!"

"How dare you!" Kian roared, grabbing my arm. "How dare you destroy her gifts! Do you have any idea how much those cost? More than you've ever given me in eight years!"

I yelped in pain as he dragged me toward the door. "What are you doing?"

"Taking you to apologize to her," he growled.

Before I could protest, he was dragging me by the ear, pulling me through the pack grounds while others watched. The humiliation burned worse than the pain.

He stopped finally, but when I looked up, I recognized the room immediately. This was the special cabin Kian had shown me months ago - the one he said he was preparing for us to share our first night as mates after the ceremony.

But there, in the center was Vivian, lounging on a bed covered in rose petals.

"What's she doing in our home?" I rubbed my ear.

"Our home?" Vivian's eyebrows rose. "Kian has been letting me stay here since my cabin flooded last month."

Last month? While Kian was still planning our ceremony with me?

"Violet destroyed your gift," Kian told her. “She owes you an apology."

Vivian's face immediately changed into concern. "Kian! You didn't need to bring her here. I told you it was fine." She stood up gracefully. "Violet, you don't need to apologize. I understand completely. The ceremony was stressful, and my timing couldn't have been worse."

"No, she needs to learn respect," Kian growled. "Apologize to Vivian. Now."

Vivian touched his arm gently. "Don't worry about it. Actually, I have another gift prepared."

She disappeared into the bedroom, our supposed future bedroom and returned with a small glass bottle. "It's a special oil. I thought it might help you relax during these... difficult times."

The moment she handed it to me, the scent hit my nostrils. It was the same scent that had been on Kian when he returned home. The same scent that had filled my mindlink during their encounter.

She dared give me the oil they had used for sex.

Without thinking, I threw the bottle against the wall. It shattered and sent the scented oil splashing everywhere. As I stepped forward, Vivian fell backward, falling to the floor in between the broken glass.

"Violet!" Kian roared, pushing me roughly aside as he rushed to Vivian. My foot landing directly on the broken glass. Pain shot through my leg as several shards inserted themselves in my skin.

"I'm bleeding," I watched the blood pool around my foot.

Kian didn't even look my way as he cradled Vivian, who didn't have a single cut on her. "You deserve every bit of it. I hope every shard enters your skin."

The last thing I saw was Kian carrying Vivian out the door, while I remained behind, abandoned once again.

My consciousness faded in and out as I dragged myself across the grounds, leaving a trail of blood behind me. Some strong arms pulled me up and carried me the rest of the way.

The healer examined my arm as soon as I got there. “'The impact has caused severe damage to the tendons. Without proper treatment, it could snap any time. You'll need special medication - expensive and rare and we don't have any in our supplies. I hope you can find a means to obtain it soon, or permanent damage is likely.'

As she removed glass from my arm, my phone buzzed with a text from Kian: "Don't come home tonight. Vivian needs rest after your attack."

I stared at the screen through tears, finally understanding what I meant to him.

Nothing.

Damian had called early that morning explaining he was the one who'd carried me to the healer. He'd already paid for the medication and located the last available supply in the territory. With my foot still throbbing, I limped into the hospital and collected the precious drugs.

"This is our final stock in the entire region," the doctor warned. "Without the complete treatment, your tendons will deteriorate and your arm could become permanently disabled. Guard this medication with your life."

I held the precious medication and left his office, my mind spinning with relief that I could save my arm. As I turned the corner, I met with Kian and Vivian, holding hands in the hospital corridor.

"What the hell are you doing here?" he snarled, stepping forward. "Didn't I make myself clear when I told you to disappear?"

I stepped back. "You told me not to come home. You never said I couldn't seek medical attention for the injury you caused."

"I caused?" Kian laughed. "You're the one who smashed Vivian's gift and nearly killed her with those glass shards. She still has nightmares about your violent outburst."

"Are you serious right now? Because of your games, my arm might be permanently damaged," I choked out, holding up the medication package. "The tendons are barely holding together."

Kian rolled his eyes. "Oh, here we go again with the victim routine. First it was your foot, now suddenly it's your arm? You'll say anything for attention, won't you?"

I couldn't bear to look at their faces anymore. I ran back home, knowing that the man who once promised to protect me was the very one who had caused my injury.

Not even ten minutes later, the front door swung open. Kian walked in with concern.

"Baby, I'm sorry for how I spoke to you earlier," he murmured, reaching for my hands. "You know how protective I get of pack members when they're threatened. It's my Alpha nature."

Kian examined my arm with care. "Where exactly is this terrible injury you keep talking about? There's not even a bruise visible. Are you sure the doctor isn't scamming you for money?"

"The damage is internal!" I protested, my voice rising. "The glass severed tendons that connect to…"

"Violet, Violet, Violet," he interrupted. "If your arm was really injured that badly, you wouldn't be able to move it like you are right now. Stop being so dramatic over a few little cuts."

The door swung open as Vivian walked in uninvited.

"Thank God you're okay!" she exclaimed, rushing toward me with theatrical concern. "I was so worried about you after our encounter at the hospital!"

"It's nothing," I muttered.

Her eyes darted to my open drawer where the medication was visible. "What's that? Why does that medicine look so strange?"

"It's for my arm," I explained carefully. "The tendons were damaged when I fell on the glass."

Vivian's eyebrows shot up. "The only medication I know that looks like that is Moonroot Extract, and it's incredibly expensive. There's no way you could afford it."

She snatched the package from my drawer before I could stop her. "Who would give you money for this? The doctor must be giving you counterfeits."

"Her father was the pack's lead healer for twenty years," Kian added, crossing his arms. "Vivian knows what she's talking about."

"Please give that back," I begged. "It's legitimate, I promise."

With a smile, Vivian crushed the pills in her hand, letting the precious powder scatter across the floor.

"This is for your own good. We're not going to let you poison yourself with fake medications from some quack doctor."

Horror washed over me as I stared at my destroyed lifeline. "You don't understand what you've done! That was the last supply! The doctor said without the complete treatment my arm could…"

"Oh please, enough with the theatrics," Kian scoffed, throwing his hands up. "Next you'll be claiming you need brain surgery from the stress we've caused you."

He hugged me then, and I was too numb to push him away, too devastated by the loss of my only chance at healing.

The next day, he approached me with a smile. "Vivian wants us all to have dinner together. It'll help decrease the tension from yesterday. Consider it our apology."

That evening, Vivian arrived with several covered dishes. "I made all your favorites, Violet," she announced cheerfully. "I had to ask Kian what you like since we never really got the chance to know each other properly."

Kian took a bite and moaned with pleasure. "This is incredible, Viv. You're the best."

I hesitantly took a bite. Almost immediately, my throat began to tighten and my tongue swelled. I recognized the symptoms instantly – I was having an allergic reaction to shellfish that Kian had known about for years.

"I—I can't breathe," I gasped, pushing away from the table. "Shellfish—there's shellfish in this!"

Kian's expression hardened. "Are you serious right now? First you destroy her gift, now you're insulting her cooking?"

"No—I'm allergic—" I wheezed. "My medication—in my purse—"

"This is pathetic," Kian growled. "You're faking an allergic reaction because I complimented her cooking instead of yours?"

"Kian, this isn't—" I tried to explain as my vision began to blur. "I really can't see well, please help me find my medicine."

Vivian stood with her hands on her hips. "I specifically asked Kian about any allergies, and he never mentioned strawberries. Are you calling him a liar?"

I moved forward with my hands outstretched blindly. My fingertips brushed against something, Vivian and I accidentally knocked into her as I held for support.

"She hit me!" Vivian cried out with pain. "My head! She's attacking me again!"

"Kian, please," I begged, now struggling to breathe. "My medicine—I can't see…"

"Stop it!" Kian roared. "Stop trying to make everything about you! Vivian is hurt because of you!"

I heard the scrape of a chair as Kian stood. For a moment, I thought he was coming to help me. Instead, his footsteps moved toward Vivian.

"Let me look at your head, baby," he murmured tenderly. "Did she hurt you badly?"

"Kian," I choked out.

"Common, it's just a minor allergy," he responded dismissively. "You'll be fine in a few minutes."

"Shouldn't you help her anyway?" Vivian asked with false concern. "I'd feel terrible if something happened."

Kian sighed heavily. "She'll be fine. Her body will fight it off. Come on, let's go take care of your head. I'll give you one of my special massages."

They left me there on the floor, gasping for breath. In my desperation, I tried to move blindly toward where I thought my purse might be. My foot caught on the edge of the carpet, sending me falling down the three steps that led from the dining area to the living room.

I landed directly on my injured arm, hearing a crunch as something gave way inside. The pain was immediate and blinding.

Somehow, I dragged myself out the door and toward the hospital, my vision spotty from the allergic reaction and my arm hanging uselessly at my side.

The same doctor who had given me the medication earlier looked at me with horror.

"What happened to the Moonroot Extract?" he asked, examining my now severely damaged arm.

Through tears, I explained what had happened.

His face grew grim as he completed his examination. "I'm sorry, but the damage is too extensive now. Without the medication and with this new injury..." He paused, meeting my eyes with genuine regret. "We'll need to amputate your arm."