Thanksgiving rolls around, and the Blake pack is gearing up for a big family feast.

Normally, on days like this, I'm not even allowed to catch a glimpse of Ivy from afar.

But this year, Veronica's feeling generous-or maybe just cruel in a new way-and lets me work the event, hauling trays and cleaning up after the pack.

The Blake pack's got deep roots and deeper pockets.

The feast is a full house, dozens of wolves and she-wolves gathered, laughing and clinking glasses.

When Veronica strolls in, arm-in-arm with Preston Hale, nobody bats an eye.

They swarm the pair, raising glasses like they're already bound.

"Bringing Preston to the feast? Looks like Veronica and him are about to form a sacred bond," someone whispers nearby.

"No surprise there," another voice chimes in. "Preston's from a top-tier pack, and him and Veronica? They're a match made by the moon. Plus, Ivy adores him. It's only a matter of time before she's bound to him."

The words hit me like a punch to the chest.

Veronica and Preston grew up together, thick as thieves.

When he found out she was my mate, he raised hell more than once.

Now, looks like he's getting what he always wanted.

But that's got nothing to do with me anymore.

I lower my head, grabbing a tray of drinks to deliver, when Ivy comes barreling toward me, all excitement. I don't move fast enough, and we collide.

"Hey, you okay? Did you get hurt?" I ask, checking her over, my heart racing.

She shoves my hands away, her face twisting with disgust.

"Keep your claws off me!" She hisses, shoving me so hard I stumble. Her eyes flash, pupils slitting. "Ugh, you. Always you. The worst of your kind."​

She doesn't spare a glance as she bolts, knees pumping, and throws herself into Preston's arms. He's outside, by the bonfire-flames crackling.

He's handing Ivy a moon token-carved bone, glowing faintly.

"Scratch your wish, pup. Let the moon taste it, and it binds."​

Ivy's eyes blaze. "I want you for dad, Preston! Us, a pack-forever bonded!"​

"Bonded?"

Veronica's laugh is soft, stroking Ivy's hair.

"You know bonds mean blood oaths, little one?"​

"I know!" Ivy bounces, token clutched tight.

"Mom, bond with him! Please?"​

Preston's ears perk; Veronica's gaze flicks to me-sharp, triumphant.

"Alright, pup. He's yours."​

My blood runs cold, chest squeezing like a trap.

I turn to go, but Andrew blocks me, calm as a storm.

"See that?" He nods at their laughter.

" You? A rogue. Ivy doesn't need your shame."​

His voice drops, dangerous.

"Stay away. Or I'll let the pack scent your secret. Let 'em howl about her bloodline's rot. You want that for your cub?"​

I stare blankly. "I won't tell anyone I'm her dad."

Andrew squints at me, like something's off, but he can't place it.

"Good. Veronica's had a lot to drink. Take her this sobering tea."

He shoves a cup into my hands.

I weave through the crowd to where Veronica's chatting with some pack members.

She spots me, her eyes icing over, but she doesn't say a word.

I don't either-just set the tea down and slip away.

The feast drags on, and I'm scrubbing the villa's floors until three in the morning.

I'm so beat I could crash right there, but I manage to stumble to bed.

The next morning, my phone's buzzing wakes me.

The newsfeed's blowing up: #Blake Pack Heir Caught In Ca rScandal-BondImminent?

It's Preston, of course.

The story's everywhere.

With their pedigrees, the whole pack's howling their approval online.

I shut off my phone, numb.

That doesn't matter to me. What matters is Dad.

Veronica's got him stashed in a private hospital, hooked to machines that keep him breathing. I sit by his bed, my hand trembling as I touch his weathered face.

I don't blame her for hating me, but I can't believe Dad would do what they say.

"Dad," I whisper, "when are you gonna wake up? You gonna lie here forever, carrying the weight of their lies?"

A tear falls onto his hand.

Then-did his finger just twitch?

I blink, thinking I'm seeing things. But it moves again.

I scramble for the healer.

After a flurry of tests, the healer pulls off their mask, smiling.

"Owen, good news. Your dad's vitals are improving. With active treatment, there's a real chance he'll wake up."

"Really? You mean it?"

I'm practically shaking with relief, thanking the healer over and over.

Hope sparks in my chest again.

I curl up by Dad's bed and drift off, clinging to that flicker of light.

The night's quiet, the hospital bathed in moonlight, stars scattered across the sky.

I'm dozing by Dad's bedside when a hand clamps around my throat, yanking me awake with a jolt of pain.

I'm slammed against the wall, gasping, my face flushed red. It's Veronica, her eyes blazing like she's ready to tear me apart.

"Disappointed your little plan fell through, huh?" she snarls.

"Couldn't wait to crawl into my bed, could you? You really think seducing me will make me let you off?"

I choke, barely able to breathe.

"What are you talking about? I don't get it."

"Don't play dumb," she snaps.

"You know exactly what you slipped into my drink!"

Last night, after she drank the sobering tea I brought her, Veronica started burning up.

Sure enough, on the drive back with Preston, she lost control, and they ended up in that scandal plastered all over the newsfeeds.

Preston brushed it off, saying, "Veronica, don't feel bad. I wanted it too."

But that kind of thing? It's a slap in the face to the Blake and Hale packs' honor.

Veronica smoked a whole pack of cigarettes, staring at the stubs littering the ground. "I own what I did," she said finally.

"Let's form a bond."

But she's convinced last night's mess was no accident.

She only drank her own wine and the tea I handed her.

"Your little scheme backfired, didn't it?" she mocks, her voice dripping with disgust. "Bet you didn't expect Preston to be the one in my bed!"

I grit my teeth.

"Veronica, that tea came from Andrew. Believe me or not, I never set you up!"

She doesn't buy it.

Her fist slams into the wall, rage boiling in her eyes.

"You're still lying? How long are you gonna keep this up? Do you even have a heart? I'd have given you the moon itself, thrown money at you and your dad-whatever you wanted! So why'd you have to ruin my pack? Why'd your dad go after my mom and destroy my dad?"

I've explained a thousand times, but I'm done. I'm just. tired.

Veronica's not letting it go.

"It's all your fault-you and your dad's! You love playing the seducer? Fine, I'll make it easy for you."

She kisses me, rough and relentless, stealing my breath.

I try to speak, but another kiss swallows my words.

Tears of shame spill down my face as I thrash, kicking and clawing, but she's too strong, pinning me down.

"Veronica, you can't-" I gasp, shaking so hard my teeth chatter.

Her eyes are bloodshot, a cruel smile twisting her lips.

"Scream louder. Let your dad hear you finally got into my bed. Think he'll leap up to celebrate?"

Dad's right there, hooked to machines.

I glance at him, biting my lip until it bleeds.

Tears blur my vision, and I shake my head.

It's not like that.

Dad never told me to seduce anyone.

He always said, no matter how broke or beat we were, we don't stoop to dirty deeds. A wolf like him wouldn't chase a mated she-wolf.

I clamp my mouth shut, terrified Dad might actually hear.

Veronica leans in, her voice a mocking whisper.

"Better behave, Owen."

Her kisses are brutal, her hands roaming my waist. I close my eyes, helpless, letting it happen.

She leaves as abruptly as she came, cold and heartless.

I'm left a wreck, burning with a fever for one days, hooked to an IV in the hospital.

The day I'm discharged, I run into Brielle Carson.

Back in school, she was the untouchable princess, always trailing Preston.

"Well, look who it is," she purrs, eyeing me like a toy. "Owen, the pack's heartthrob, all alone in a hospital? How pathetic."

"Get out of my way," I mutter.

"Still got that temper, huh? Think you're still Veronica's favorite?" She smirks, blocking my path. "She's about to bond with Preston. You'd be better off with me. At least I'd keep you fed." Her hand reaches for my face, but I jerk back.

Just then, Veronica and Preston round the corner, here for their pre-bond health check. Preston chuckles. "Bad timing, huh? Didn't mean to interrupt."

Brielle waves it off. "Nah, just chatting with Owen."

Veronica's gaze cuts through me, icy and sharp. "Chatting? I underestimated you. Seems you've got something to say to every she-wolf."

My face burns, then pales. Preston piles on, grinning. "Come on, he's the campus heartthrob. Of course the she-wolves love him."

Veronica's expression darkens, and I can't take it anymore. I bolt, practically running from the room.

But Preston's waiting for me at the hospital exit. The polite mask he wore earlier is gone, replaced by a sneer. "Owen, I'm warning you. Veronica and I are about to form a sacred bond. You try seducing her again, and I'll end you."

I meet his glare. "You're bonding with her. What does it matter where I am or what I do?"

He clenches his jaw, like I struck a nerve. "Don't play stupid!"

He hates admitting it, but Veronica loses it around me-hate, love, whatever it is, I'm something to her. Preston's eyes narrow, but then he laughs, smug. "I know you've had it rough, sticking around for your dad and your pup. But soon, Veronica and I will be bound. Your pup will be my pup. And your dad? He'll be free soon enough."

I frown. "What's that supposed to mean?"

He flashes a triumphant grin. "You'll see." Then he walks off, ignoring my questions.

It doesn't take long to find out what he meant.