Three days before my mate ceremony, my fiancé’s “first love” decided to challenge me, claiming Ricardo didn’t truly love me. She even went so far as to push me down the stairs.

In the hospital, with Ricardo, the Beta of our pack, looking at me with what seemed like concern, I suddenly felt the urge to test him.

“Are you my mate? I don’t remember anything.”

When he heard I’d lost my memory, his eyes flickered with relief and gratitude, but not the slightest worry for me.

“We’re your good friends. You hit your head while helping Maisy and me set up for the pack’s harvest celebration.”

I watched as Ricardo subtly slipped off the ring I had lovingly crafted for him and placed it onto my rival’s finger.

“Actually, he’s your mate,” Ricardo said, pointing to Marshall, the Alpha of the rival pack, who had been observing the whole scene with interest.

Unfortunately, he pointed to the wrong person. Marshall absolutely despised me.

Marshall looked down at me, raised an eyebrow, and took my hand. “He’s right.”

...

Before I could wrap my head around the situation, Marshall pulled Ricardo into the hallway.

“What are you thinking? Aren’t you worried this will backfire? Eva doesn’t put up with nonsense.”

Ricardo leaned against the wall, his impatience clear. “I’m just enjoying my time with Maisy. The mate bond is for life. Let me have some fun while I still can.”

“And besides, if Eva wasn’t so demanding, who would want to settle down so soon?”

Hearing Ricardo’s words, I was stunned, unable to process for a moment. Back when Ricardo was promoted to Beta, he was over the moon, saying he couldn’t wait to mark me as his mate once he solidified his position in the pack. And now—I was the one forcing him?

“Anyway, when she remembers, she won’t recall any of this. We’re packmates. You have to cover for me.”

Marshall chuckled, his Alpha aura pressing down even in the hallway. “I don’t babysit someone else’s mate.”

“You could pretend she’s your mate. Eva’s beautiful and strong. You wouldn’t be missing out.”

“Hah, you’re something else.”

Ricardo turned his head, pretending it didn’t matter.

I had to lean on the wall to find my way back to the hospital room, my heart pounding painfully, as if it might burst any moment.

Outside the room, Maisy, an Omega in our pack, eyed me with a sneer. “Look at you, all pathetic. You obviously heard something. I knew you were faking it; no one conveniently loses their memory.”

“Eva, you should break the bond voluntarily, save yourself the embarrassment.”

“Get lost.”

I was too distraught to argue. But my words had no effect on her.

“Still holding on, huh? Just wait and see.”

Marshall returned.

I glanced back, but there was no Ricardo.

“What are you doing here? Still dizzy? Hungry, maybe?” Marshall felt my forehead, then tested the water temperature in a cup before offering me a sip.

His actions left me at a loss. It wasn’t that I was moved, but rather puzzled—why would someone as proud as the Alpha humor Ricardo’s game?

Just then, Maisy swaggered in, clinging tightly to Ricardo, practically hanging off him. Ricardo didn’t push her away, even seemed to enjoy it. There was a visible mark on his neck, a sign of their bond.

I was taken aback.

Flashes of past conversations with Ricardo came to mind, where he repeatedly said, “Maisy is the kind of she-wolf I can’t stand. Back when we were young, she looked down on us lower-ranked wolves, and now she’s cozying up. Shameless. Only a fool would want her.”

So what did that make him now?

Seeing my gaze, Maisy clung even closer. “Eva, you’ve been helping with the ceremony planning so much. Can you keep it up?”

I was about to refuse when Ricardo jumped in. “Why wouldn’t she? You can go this afternoon, right?”

“Eva, are you up for it? Don’t push yourself,” Marshall unexpectedly showed concern.

Ricardo’s expression shifted, as if only now realizing I was a patient. “Yeah, are you up for it? The healer did say you need to rest.”

“You’re Marshall’s mate and our packmate. You wouldn’t mind, right?” Maisy’s eyes challenged me.

To keep up the pretense of amnesia in front of Ricardo, I reluctantly agreed.

The ceremony venue was decorated with the spiced honey cakes Ricardo had ordered from across the territory. Just yesterday, when they arrived, he said only such unique treats were worthy of me.

Maisy ran her fingers over the icing. “Did you know? These are my favorite cakes.”

My hand froze above the treats, not even feeling the thorn that pricked my finger.

“Everything here—the decor, even the ceremonial howl—is planned according to my tastes.”

“He said this ceremony is his love letter to me.”

No wonder.

No wonder Ricardo, usually disinterested, took charge of everything.

Occasionally, I made a suggestion, only for him to immediately dismiss it.

I once told Maisy so confidently that Ricardo and I were unbreakable.

I was the ultimate fool.

Under Maisy’s mocking gaze, I fled to the restroom.

Once inside, I overheard Ricardo’s packmates chatting by the window.

“Ricardo said he’s just playing around with Maisy for three days. Who knows if it’ll turn into something more?”

“Don’t you get it? It’s what you call ‘rightful ownership.’”

“What do you mean?”

“Back when we were young, Ricardo chased Maisy for ages and failed. That’s why he settled for Eva.”

I stood there, frozen, my limbs turned to ice.

So, the perfect mate and bond I thought I had were actually leftovers. I was never the first choice, just the backup plan.

I looked at my pale reflection in the mirror.

If that’s the case, then I refuse to go through with this ceremony.

I stormed back to my room, grabbed my bag, and yanked open a drawer, shoving everything inside haphazardly. I couldn’t stay here a moment longer. The scent of betrayal lingered in the air, and my wolf stirred uneasily in the back of my mind, growling in agitation. Suddenly, there was a noise at the doorway.

Marshall Vasquez, Alpha of the Crescent Moon Pack, stood leaning casually against the doorframe, his broad shoulders filling the space. His presence was overwhelming, his Alpha aura pressing down on me even as he remained relaxed. “Where are you going?” he asked, his voice calm but carrying the weight of command.

“None of your business,” I snapped, not in the mood to play games or waste breath. But Marshall, as always, seemed unfazed by my tone.

“Are you sure you want to let Ricardo run off to Maisy? He claims he wants to mark you as his mate.”

My knuckles tightened around the strap of my bag. “Just because he wants to mark me, I have to say yes? Do you really think I’m some lovesick fool?”

Marshall stepped inside, closing the door behind him with a soft click, effectively trapping me in the room. His voice remained steady, low and commanding. “You’re leaving now, but what will the pack think? They’ll say you ran from the marking ceremony, that you let Ricardo down.”

“And he, in turn, becomes the poor soul everyone pities. He can easily end up with Maisy, and no one will bat an eye.”

The impulse to leave began to fade, replaced by a simmering anger. He was right.

“And the pack’s alliance with the Silverfang Pack just solidified. You know what you’ve given up to get there. Walking away means Maisy gets to enjoy all your hard work. Eva Rogers, are you really okay with that?”

“After being played for so long, don’t you want a little payback?”

His voice was low, peeling back layers of my heart. I couldn’t understand why Marshall was telling me this or why he seemed to be on my side. But he was right.

I sat down heavily on the bed, feeling utterly deflated. My wolf whimpered softly, a sound of both pain and frustration.

“When did you figure out I was faking my amnesia?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

By his expression, he’d known for a while.

Marshall casually sat next to me, his massive frame dwarfing the small bed. The scent of his Alpha pheromones mixed with a faint hint of cedar and tobacco, a scent that felt out of place in this modest room.

“I knew from the start. When you were pretending, you nearly shredded the bedsheet.”

I flinched as if burned, quickly pulling back the hand that was now twisting the fabric of my dress.

I’d had this habit since childhood. Whenever I lied or got nervous, I’d twist the sheets. The people close to me knew this. Even Marshall, whom I thought disliked me, had noticed—but Ricardo hadn’t.

It dawned on me that Ricardo’s lack of genuine care had been there all along, but I’d failed to see it, focusing only on the surface.

Ricardo would bring me snacks late at night when I was on patrol and a hot water bottle when I had cramps. But he never noticed when I was feeling down, nor did he ever ask what I liked.

Some people are kind but never truly invested in your every move.

I turned to Marshall. “Why are you helping me?”

He was Ricardo’s friend, after all. He should’ve looked down on me like everyone else. I remembered how much Marshall seemed to dislike me. When I first got together with Ricardo, I’d overheard him advising Ricardo, “Eva doesn’t suit you. If you’re going to break up eventually, better not to start at all.”

Marshall seemed annoyed by my questioning and frowned slightly, his Alpha aura flaring for a moment. “Who’s helping you? Maybe you’re overthinking it. I just enjoy a good show.”

After saying that, he turned his head away, avoiding my gaze. Yet, I felt an inexplicable emotion rising inside me.

“Okay, let’s grab something to eat,” Marshall said, standing and brushing off his tailored pants. “You’ve been living on caffeine all day.”

We went downstairs together. As we entered the pack’s dining hall, eyes turned toward us almost simultaneously.

Maisy was seated next to Ricardo. Pack members whispered among themselves, saying how they “looked better together” and that “Maisy is the perfect match for the Beta.”

My hand, resting by my side, clenched into a fist. Half of these pack members had been personally recruited by me during my time as Gamma. They owed their positions to me, yet deemed me unworthy of Ricardo.

Given Ricardo’s prickly temper, he’d alienate people with just one sentence during pack negotiations. It was me who joked, apologized, and toasted on his behalf time and again, sometimes to the point of stomach pains, to ensure alliances were made.

Without me, Ricardo might have found himself in serious trouble. They would have left long ago.

At the table, Ricardo prepared pulled pork for Maisy, cautioning her, “Stay away from the spiced honey cake. I remember you’re allergic.”

Seated across from them, I raised my wine glass and took a long drink. My stomach twisted with pain, as if churned by a knife. Ricardo never remembered my dietary restrictions, nor did he know about my stomach issues.

Someone suggested a game of spin the bottle. Everyone cheered as the bottle spun, landing on Ricardo and Maisy.

“Kiss! Kiss!” someone shouted. Ricardo grinned, pulled Maisy into his arms, and kissed her without hesitation. The smack of their lips was unmistakable.

I stared at them, feeling as though someone was cruelly twisting my heart.

For the next round, the bottle turned and landed between me and Marshall. The room fell silent.

I paused, turning awkwardly to look at Marshall. He leaned close to my ear, his breath warm against my skin. “You can bow out. I’ll take three shots; it’s no big deal.”

I glanced at Ricardo. He was busy wiping lipstick off Maisy’s mouth, not even sparing me a look. My chest tightened, my stomach churned with nausea.

“Why would I refuse? I can handle it.”

“Alright.”

Marshall’s face came closer. Our breaths mingled. I felt my heart pounding, like a drum beating out of sync.

Just as Alpha Marshall Vasquez’s lips were about to meet mine, I had a sudden, oddly timed thought: his eyelashes were remarkably long, even more curled than a woman’s. His Alpha aura pressed against me, overwhelming and intoxicating, but I couldn’t help noticing how his presence filled the room—commanding, dominant, yet strangely tender in this moment.

Our breaths mingled, and Marshall’s lips grazed the corner of my mouth. Abruptly, a hand pulled him away—Ricardo Smith’s gaze was intense, his Beta aura flaring with barely restrained anger. "Let’s talk business," he said, his voice strained, almost losing control. He practically dragged Marshall away, and I followed quietly behind, my Gamma instincts on high alert.

Through the door, I heard their argument. Ricardo’s voice was low, but the tension in it was palpable. "What do you think you’re doing? Don’t cross the line; Eva is my mate."

Marshall lit a cigarette with a dry laugh, his Alpha tone cutting through the air like a blade. "Oh, you remember that? Then what are you doing with Maisy Dunn?"

Ricardo paused for a few seconds, his denial weak. "Everyone thinks Maisy is my mate now. I can’t humiliate her... Besides, I know the limits. I won’t do anything too bad or really hurt Eva."

Marshall interrupted with a cold chuckle, his Alpha aura flaring with authority. "Ricardo, are you fooling us or yourself? Is this entertaining to you?"

Outside, I clenched my fists until my knuckles turned white. The sound of approaching heels echoed. Maisy stood beside me, her Omega aura faint but sharp with malice. "Men are terrible. Even after I humiliated him in college, he still loves me."

Maisy turned to look at me, her voice dripping with false sweetness. "By the way, did Ricardo ever mark you like he marked me? He’d leave your neck and chest covered. I’d say it tickled, and he’d get even more excited."

A wave of disgust washed over me, making my stomach churn. Ricardo had always been careful with me. I thought it was out of respect and affection, but maybe I wasn’t what he truly wanted.

But I wouldn't let Maisy stand so confidently in front of me. "Maisy, perhaps you should consider your own issues," I said, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me. She looked puzzled at my question.

"For some men, certain women are worth marking, while others are a temporary thrill. He treated you as a toy, but the one he wants to mark is me. Have you ever thought that maybe, just maybe, you’re not enough?"

"Even a rogue wouldn't take you."

Maisy's face froze, her eyes blazing with anger. "Eva Rogers, you’re asking for it!" She shrieked and shoved me, and we both plunged into the swimming pool behind us.

With a splash, the cold water pierced my skin like needles. Struggling underwater, I saw Ricardo anxiously dive into the pool. I reached out to him. But he swam past me and pulled Maisy into his arms. "Maisy! Are you okay? Don’t worry, I’m here."

The water quickly engulfed my face. I watched Ricardo bring Maisy to the edge of the pool. Suddenly, I felt exhausted, unwilling to fight anymore. My consciousness began to fade.

Until someone pulled me up, lifting me from the depths—it was Marshall. His hands trembled slightly as he held me, his Alpha aura wrapping around me like a shield. "Eva, wake up."

His voice was unusually tense, his eyes filled with a strange panic. I coughed out a mouthful of water. Ricardo hurried over, attempting to wipe my face with a towel.

"Eva, are you okay?"

I raised my hand to stop him. "My Alpha’s here; go tend to your mate." Ricardo hesitated, his expression a mix of embarrassment and shame.

Marshall took the towel forcefully, wiping my hair and face with an icy demeanor. "Eva, I wasn’t—" Ricardo stammered.

"Maisy can’t swim; I had to save her first."

Maisy wrapped her arms around herself, her Omega aura flickering weakly. "Ricardo, I’m a bit cold…"

Ricardo glanced at me briefly before going to Maisy, lifting her up. As he passed, I murmured, "But I can't swim either."

Ricardo paused momentarily but didn’t look back.

"Did she deliberately push Maisy into the pool?"

"Jealousy, clearly... what a scandal."

I clenched my teeth, standing straight. Marshall draped an arm around my shoulders, his Alpha aura shielding me from their stares. "Let’s head inside; you’ll catch a cold."

As we passed Maisy’s room, her door was slightly ajar. Inside, I heard broken moans and gasps.

I stopped in my tracks, my hand impulsively pushing the door open a bit.

In the dim light, Ricardo lay naked on top of Maisy, his movements frenzied, his words crude.

I stood frozen in the doorway, my mind blank. My chest felt like a hammer was pounding relentlessly, each blow threatening to suffocate me.

Marshall reached from behind, covering my eyes, his Alpha aura wrapping around me like a protective barrier. "Don’t listen, don’t look."