I stood in the sleek office of the event planning pack office, facing the staff member's puzzled stare. "So, Mr. Rivers, you're saying the binding ceremony stays the same, but the groom will be someone else. Is that right?"

I nodded without a flicker of doubt. "Exactly. The ceremony's still on in two weeks. I'll get you the updated materials in a few days."

"Alright, should I inform Ms. Dewitt about-"

"No!" I cut her off, my voice sharper than I meant. Her startled look made me take a breath, steadying myself. "She's swamped. Just deal with me for all ceremony stuff from now on."

This binding ceremony was my final gift to Isla Dewitt. A gift like that? It's gotta be a surprise, revealed at the last moment to hit just right.

I left the office and booked a ticket out of Joravia Town on my phone. The confirmation pinged just as Isla's call came through.

Her voice was soft, warm like always. "Evan, my folks miss you. They want us over for dinner tonight."

"They've got something for you," she teased. "Guess what it is?"

Isla's the only pup of the Dewitt pack, raised to take over their empire. It made her sharp, distant-untouchable to most. She's got wolves throwing themselves at her, but she's only ever shown her soft side to me. At least, that's what I thought until yesterday.

Our moms were tight, like sisters. Isla and I? We were pups together, bound by childhood promises. But when my mom passed, my deadbeat dad brought in a new mate within a month. That's when things went south. His new mate set me up, and I got snatched. The kidnappers didn't care I was a wolf-they had sick plans. I woke up to one of them, reeking of booze, groping me. In a panic, I smashed a bottle over his head. He hit the ground, twitching, then went still. The others beat me within an inch of my life.

That's when Isla kicked down the door, a fierce she-wolf blazing in like some kind of savior. From that moment, she became the one warm spot in my heart.

Even after I was saved, the nightmares clung to me. Isla stayed by my side, dragging me to the best healers, cracking jokes to pull me out of the dark. Day by day, she thawed my frozen heart. But seeing my dad betray my mom made me wary of love. Before I agreed to be Isla's mate, I laid it out plain.

"Isla, I only accept all-in love. If you ever stop loving me, we part clean. But if you betray me, you'll never find me again."

She swore on her life, fingers raised like a solemn vow. "Evan, you're my one and only. I'll love you forever-time will prove it."

Her words echoed in my head, but time had already given its verdict. Isla couldn't keep that promise. She wanted it all-me and someone else. Yesterday, I found her binding certificate with Nathaniel Wade in her coat pocket.

The Dewitts sponsored plenty of strays, Nathaniel among them. I remembered him not for anything impressive, but for his scheming. I saw him try to woo Isla once. She shut him down cold, saying she had a mate. That should've been the end of it. But a month ago, she brought him up out of nowhere. His mom was dying, she said, and wanted to see him bound before she passed. Isla asked my thoughts on helping him out.

I shut it down hard, reminding her of my line in the sand. "I only take undivided love. If you give any piece of it to someone else, we're done."

She swore she'd never betray me. I thought that was that. But she went behind my back, bound herself to Nathaniel, gifted him a million-dollar villa, and tangled with him night after night-while our binding ceremony was just two weeks away.

I smirked bitterly. At least I found out before the ceremony.

"Evan, you there?" Isla's voice pulled me back.

"I'm not home," I said coolly. "I'll head to the old den myself. No need to pick me up."

"When'd you head out? Why didn't you tell me?" Concern laced her voice, but I caught the rustle of fabric and her stifled gasps-mixed with someone else's heavier breathing.

"I'm setting up a surprise for you at the ceremony," I said, keeping my tone light. "Just sorting some details with the planners."

"What kind of surprise?" Her voice lit up.

I forced a grin. "If I tell you now, it won't be a surprise. You'll see at the ceremony."

She laughed, barely containing her excitement. "Fine, Evan, I'll wait. See you tonight."

Before she hung up, she made exaggerated kissing noises. But I knew those weren't for me-she was kissing another wolf. I stared at the dead call, my face calm, but inside, a storm was brewing.

Isla, I hope you're truly surprised when you see what I've planned for the ceremony.

I didn't head straight to the Dewitt den after the call. Instead, I went back to our place-a sprawling 3,000-square-foot loft Isla and I had poured our hearts into decorating. It used to feel like home. Not anymore. Not since last night, when I found out she'd broken our bond.

The rings we were supposed to exchange at the ceremony? Isla had already given them to me. She'd designed them herself, sketching every detail while curled up in my lap. "These rings have hidden slots," she'd said, eyes sparkling. "Put them together, and they form a heart-proof we'll never be apart."

I shook off the memory, grabbed the rings, and called a courier. "I need a pickup," I said, my voice steady. Since Nathaniel was taking my place as groom, he could have the rings too.

I scheduled the delivery for 9 a.m. on the ceremony day. Watching the courier take the rings away, I felt a weight lift. This place, filled with memories of me and Isla, would soon be stripped of my presence. I'd leave it like I was never here.

---

When I got to the Dewitt den, my eyes were still red. Grace, Isla's mom, noticed right away. "You look rough, Evan. Where's Isla? She giving you trouble?"

Grace had always been kind to me, maybe because of my mom. But blood runs thicker than kindness, and I knew she'd side with her pup.

I forced a smile, rubbing my eyes. "Nah, just got some dust in my eyes outside."

She relaxed, chuckling. "If Isla's acting up, you tell me. I'll set her straight. She's busy with work, but you know how she is."

Before long, Isla's car rolled into the underground garage. Grace sent me to fetch her when she didn't come up. In the dim light, I spotted her car, still lit up. Isla sat inside, cigarette in hand, staring at her phone. She didn't see me coming.

"My back's still sore," she purred into the phone, her voice playful. "All your fault."

Nathaniel's laugh crackled through. "My bad. Come over tonight, I'll make it up to you."

Isla smirked, eyes glued to the screen. "You better do more than that. You owe me big time."

She lit the cigarette, taking a drag to calm herself. Isla never smoked or drank around me-she kept that side hidden. But the Isla I saw now shattered everything I thought I knew. The she-wolf who swore she loved only me was giving her warmth to another wolf.

My stomach churned, but I kept my face blank. As she put out the cigarette and killed the engine, I slipped back upstairs before she could spot me.

We walked into the dining room almost together. Grace shot Isla a look. "What took you so long? Making Evan go fetch you?"

Isla froze, her eyes darting to me. "You came looking for me?"

"Yeah," I said casually. "Saw you on the phone, so I came back. What's up?"

She stared at me, tense. "Did you hear who I was talking to?"

I shrugged, keeping my cool. "Didn't catch it. Work stuff, right? Who else would it be?"

Her shoulders relaxed, and she slipped back into that familiar, gentle smile. She took my hand, her fingers tracing circles in my palm. "Just the folks handling our couple's accessories for the charity gala next week. You'll be the star of the show, Evan, like always."

The Dewitt pack held a charity gala every so often, all in my name, to raise funds for causes tied to my past. Isla started it to wish me well, to keep me safe. Back then, it moved me. Now? I just nodded. "Do what you think's best."

After dinner, Grace handed me a rosewood box with a pair of jade pendants inside. "These are for the Dewitt mate," she said, smiling warmly. "Since Isla's our only pup, they're for you two."

The pendants were priceless, but they felt heavy in my hands. I pushed them back into the box. "This means a lot, but let's save it for the ceremony."

Grace didn't push, agreeing to present them on the big day. I noticed Isla checking her phone constantly, antsy. I took the chance to leave. On the drive back, she kept rubbing her lower back, wincing.

"You okay?" I asked, glancing over.

She froze, then pulled her hand away. "Just a work thing. Sitting too long. No big deal."

I bit back a bitter laugh. Sure, Isla. Whatever you say.

Back home, she pushed me to sleep, but I couldn't. Her phone buzzed, and her breathing shifted as she grabbed it, her arms tightening around me. Pretending to sleep, I felt her slip out of bed, change, and rush out the door. I stood by the window, watching her car speed off, and slammed my fist against the wall.