LISA

I held my head, thinking it would fall apart any moment. My whole body ached.

Slowly, their faces became clear. Emily and her dad, Zayne, were standing there. I couldn't stop wondering why they were both staring at me.

"She had a lot to drink last night. She slept in my room, thinking it was hers. I'm just coming back from Grandma's," he said.

Just then, I remembered what had happened last night, and I wished the ground would open and swallow me. I had never felt this embarrassed.

"Sorry about that, Dad. She has a lot going on in her mind. I'll take her with me."

When Emily stretched her hand for me to get up, all I wanted to do was run away. Zayne's aura was intimidating enough to make me quiver.

I knew I was walking on eggshells when I stepped into her room instead of dragging pillows with Emily. What exactly did I do last night?

The last time I got tipsy, I ended up in bed with him. I took another step just to check if I felt any pain between my legs. Thankfully, nothing.

"Alcohol doesn't sit well with you. I'm even surprised Dad allowed you in his room. He hates letting anyone but me on his bed or in his room. Not even Mellissa. He's strict with his rules."

Yeah, right... she probably needs to know more about him. Mellissa? The name rang a bell.

"Who is she? I mean, Mellissa?"

"Oh, Dad's supposed girlfriend who won't stop trying her luck with him. Trust me, he doesn't want anything to do with her or any other woman, but Grandma thinks otherwise. She loves her and wants her for Dad... so yeah, she might be the lucky Luna."

I couldn't explain why that felt like a betrayal. Stupid of me. Emily's face wasn't bright. She kept blinking at nothing.

"What's wrong, Emily?"

"Ark and two of his brothers are coming for the mate initiation tomorrow. Once the bond is sealed, there's no going back. The mating and bonding ceremony follows next."

I honestly thought she'd be over the moon. She spends half her time on the phone talking to him.

Oh... she was having cold feet. Mum said it's normal for brides-to-be. I had mine too, only that mine was a jerk.

I sat beside her, hugged her, and caressed her hair.

"It will be fine, my love. You'll make the most beautiful bride. You know I'll sew you the most stunning outfit. Let me go make you a sandwich."

Emily always bragged about my sandwiches. Finding the kitchen wasn't hard.

The chef on duty wanted to take my order, but I politely declined and asked for privacy. I wanted to do this myself. I began taking out the ingredients.

The cutter was on the top shelf, so I climbed the small kitchen ladder to get it. Somehow I missed a step.

My eyes shut tight as I prayed the landing wouldn't be painful. But I wasn't on the floor.

Even with my eyes closed, I knew that scent. My body reacted again, my hair stood on end, nerves tightening.

"Do you always have a death sentence?" Zayne said.

He set me down. I opened my mouth to speak, but the words tangled, as I stuttered.

I watched him pick something up and leave the kitchen, and I swallowed hard, wiping the sweat from my cheekbone.

"Calm down, Lisa..."

******

It was D-Day. I could feel it would be a big feast, judging by the table arrangements and the amount of food displayed.

Emily still hadn't shaken off her nerves, but I knew she'd be fine.

I dressed in the simple black gown I bought when I went out with Zayne. The thought alone sent butterflies to my stomach. Funny how this Christmas became the most memorable one of my life.

I stepped out of my room, eager to meet the guests and cheer Emily up. I was excited to finally see Ark, until I bumped into someone.

But it wasn't Zayne this time. A grumpy-looking woman glared at me like I had dirt on my face.

She strangely sniffed the air. "Why can't I sense who you are? Tell me, are you from this pack?"

"No, ma. I'm Emily's best friend. I'm here for the Christmas holiday." That came out too fast.

Damn. I meant to blend in. Would she know I'm human since they don't celebrate Christmas?

The woman stepped closer with a mean expression. I felt my blood drain.

"A human? The nerve of you to..."

"Grandma!" Emily's voice came at the perfect time.

"She is my friend and our guest. You won't misbehave around her, right? You know Dad will be pissed."

The woman gave me one more glare before walking off.

Was that Zayne's mother?

"I'm sorry, Lisa. Grandma can be a hard nut to crack. Come on, the guests are here."

I followed her, though part of me was still scared. Downstairs felt alive.

Zayne was laughing at something, and honestly... I wished he'd do that more often.

"That is Ark, the one in the white suit. He loves white. The one beside him is Ink... his brother."

Finally, she smiled. I had to pinch her to stop her from drooling.

Soon we were all seated around a big round dining table while the maids served food. I was lost in their world.

From what I gathered, the ceremony would commence tomorrow.

"Thanks for the food. My brother and I want to rest. Tomorrow will be a big day," Ark said.

It seemed all werewolves were born beautiful, because the two brothers are also cute.

Emily excused herself and took them upstairs, leaving me in awkward silence.

When I couldn't take her grandmother's stare anymore, I excused myself and went to Emily's room.

Now I wished I had gone to mine instead, because what I saw left my mouth hanging open.

LISA

Emily was kissing Ink while his brother sat on the bed, scrolling through his phone, completely unbothered.

Was that also part of their tradition? They stopped immediately when they noticed me standing there.

"We'll be in the guest room. Get some sleep, love," Ink said, kissing her forehead before walking out with his brother, Ark.

I probably got their names mixed up. "I'm sorry for interrupting your moment. It felt awkward downstairs. And do you know, for a second, I actually thought you were kissing your mate's brother."

I was smiling... but she wasn't. Emily pulled me down to sit with her, gripping my hands so tightly it almost hurt.

"Lisa, just listen to me."

"The person you saw me kissing isn't Ark, but his younger brother, Ink. This might sound crazy, but it has always been him. The calls, the gifts, the giggles,  but I lied about his name."

"I was betrothed to Ark when I was a child, but I grew up and fell in love with his brother. And the feeling is mutual. Lisa, I love Ink so much. I can't picture my life without him."

I tried hard not to show my shock, but my face betrayed me. My eyes kept blinking fast. My mind was racing, and from what I saw, Ark was clearly aware of the situationship.

"Then marry Ink. You shouldn't have let it get this far, Emily. Thank goodness Ark isn't angry about it. Cancel everything immediately."

She didn't move, which made me worry more. She slowly released my hands, knelt in front of me, and clasped her hands together.

"It's not that easy, Lisa. Breaking the first bond isn't simple. But Ark and I checked the sacred book. The initiation between us can be cancelled if he violates one rule."

She didn't pause. My heart was pounding. I was too stunned to tell her to stand up. Emily leaned close and whispered the condition in my ear.

"Please, Lisa. You're the only hope we have. We found out just yesterday. We would have gotten someone else if we had time. Please... just do this for us."

Desperation truly makes people ask for the unimaginable. This was too much.

I slowly moved away from her and left the room. I needed to think. Anywhere else but here.

*****

ZAYNE

I watched her from my window. Lisa paced by the terrace, biting her nails, clearly worried about something.

Could it be because of the man who betrayed her?

I sensed someone behind me, someone who had no right to enter my room without permission.

"If I didn't know you better, I'd think you were checking her out. But I know you, Zayne. You don't chase," Mellisa said.

I stepped away from the window and faced her.

Mellisa is the daughter of another powerful Alpha, though her father is still beneath me in ranking.

She bent to pick up whatever she had deliberately dropped. One of her tactics to get me to look at her. She's beautiful, yes, but it takes more than beauty to impress me.

I closed the distance between us. She rose on her toes, probably expecting something foolish.

"I'll say this once: never enter my room uninvited. Ever, are we clear, Mellisa?"

"Y... yes. Your mum said I'd find you here."

That was all I needed, fear in her eyes. Before I could say anything else, she ran out.

My fingers twitched again, that familiar rush of heat in my blood. Twenty years, and I still hadn't found a cure for the rage that lived in me.

I went to Emily's room and found her sitting on the floor with her head buried in her knees.

"Someone will miss her dad," I said softly.

"Dad, you're here."

She stood and hugged me tightly.

"Are you okay, princess? You know you can tell me anything."

"I'm fine. Sit with me."

Holding her hands reminded me that my little girl wasn't so little anymore.

It had always been the two of us. And soon, this room would be empty again, this time, for much longer.

What would Elena have said right now?

Before Emily was born, she planned everything, first birthday, eighteenth, mating ceremony...

"Why didn't you marry my mum?" She finally asked. "You said you loved her more than life. But you two never got married."

I didn't expect that question. She never asked in all these years.

"Yes, I loved her. Too much. So much that I didn't want us to end up like my parents."

"They fell out of love while still married. It became a duty, not a bond. I didn't want that for us. I thought if we stayed unmarried, things would be different."

I scoffed at the memory. I was young and naive. 

"Get some rest. Tomorrow is a big day. Daddy will be here at every step. I love you, princess."

"Love you too, Daddy."

*****

The next morning, I sat behind Emily as the seer threw coins across the mat, part of the initiation ritual.

The intending couple must walk around the coins six times before the question is asked, and the ropes are tied to the sacred tree.

With each round they completed, tension settled in. Emily's steps trembled. She was terrified. She looked at me, and I gave her a reassuring smile.

"Alpha Zayne, do you fully accept this union?" the seer asked.

"Yes."

The rope was brought out, and both stepped into the circled line. Emily hesitated, but she moved.

Then...

"Wait... they can't get married. I... slept with him. Ink!"

Lisa's voice.

My blood froze.

Was she trying to die?

ZAYNE

My mum stood up, but I held her down. I knew her next move would make Lisa drop dead on the spot.

Even the seer had stopped. What was she thinking? A human stepping onto the sacred ground unpunished was a grave offence.

Strangely, the seer still hadn't perceived her human scent.

"This isn't the time for pranks. This is serious. Go home now," I said sharply.

I signalled for the seer to continue, assuming Lisa was leaving. Whoever brought her here would pay dearly. She wouldn't have walked into the holy ground alone.

"Alpha Zayne," Lisa said loudly. "I'm sure you know the implications of your daughter getting married to Ark.. Didn't you hear me say we had sex? Not once but twice!"

My body stilled, as my anger rose very hot.

Lisa is human. If she slept with Ark, then he cannot marry my daughter or any Alpha's daughter. It is a tradition older than every living wolf here. 

The same rule applies to me. I broke it with her.

But the seer kept holding the ribbon, waiting for my final approval. How was he not sensing the human standing before him?

I removed my shoes and walked to Ark, ignoring my mother's forced calm, her whisper to continue the ceremony, and the murmurs around us about throwing Lisa out.

"Tell me," I said, voice low. "Is her claim true? For your own sake, do not lie to me."

It felt like an eternity before he lifted his head to meet my eyes.

"Yes. I did."

Bang.

My fist connected with his face before I even thought. Another strike followed. Ark staggered back, blood dripping, and the shock on his face did nothing to cool my rage.

"I take back my words," I growled. "He will never marry my daughter. Let's go, princess."

******

LISA

"Thank you, Lisa... for doing this for us."

Ink's voice pulled me out of my thoughts. He was driving us back to the pack while I stared out the window, my mind a mess.

It was so hard doing this. I hate lies. And second, what would Zayne think of me now?

I didn't want to lie. But I couldn't let my best friend spend her life miserable. And Emily knew I would help her; that was why she told Ink to wait behind and bring me straight to the temple.

My thoughts drifted home. I missed my family, especially my brother and his silly jokes.

I missed sewing dresses for clients. I'm a known fashion designer who has created outfits for top figures. I took a break for a wedding that never happened.

Is my shop still standing? Or has everything fallen apart?

Ever since that video Josh posted online, I haven't dared log in again. The few comments I did see had struck something deep in me.

"We're here, Lisa," Ink said gently.

The car stopped in front of the tall mansion. My stomach twisted.

How was I supposed to go inside without making things worse for Emily? And I already knew the grumpy grandmother would have a lot to say to me.

"I think you should spend some time in our pack until everything calms down," Ink said.

It sounded like the best option.

"Okay."

*****

We stepped into the house. It was big and beautiful, too, though nothing compared to Emily's home.

"Go take some rest, brother. I'll handle it from here," Ark said. He was sipping wine like nothing chaotic had happened today.

He looked completely unaffected.

"Sit with me," he added. "You need to see your face right now. Don't worry. If Emily follows the script, then we had sex without knowing each other. I found you in a club, liked you, and we had a fling. I'm the bad guy here, not you."

So that's how I'm going to be painted?

 No, Lisa, forget it. It doesn't matter what anyone thinks. I did this for my best friend.

For the first time, I studied Ark properly. He had changed into another outfit, still white. He looked younger than 27. Emily never mentioned which brother was 27 anyway, or maybe she did.

"Emily is very pretty. So tell me, why didn't you find her attractive? Maybe if you had tried, she would've fallen for you, and none of this would be happening." I said slowly.

He almost choked on his drink, his dimples flashing.

"So... should I fall for you instead? You're pretty. Very pretty."

He didn't sound like a pervert. But why did he wink at me?

I didn't respond. There was nothing else to say.

"Zayne is known for his temper," Ark continued. "Don't get on his bad side. But if you do, I might protect you. I mean, " he winked again, "we already had sex, right?"

He got up, smiling. "Someone will take you to your room. Tell her whatever you need to stay comfortable. See you around."

*****

I couldn't sleep all night. By morning, I was fully dressed before anyone else.

I didn't want breakfast. Food was the last thing on my mind. Something inside me was restless, uneasy.

I stood at the window when a knock came, and the door opened after I gave permission.

It was Ink.

"Good morning, Lisa. Hope you slept well. Alpha Zayne is here to get you."

Zayne. My breath caught. Was he here to punish me?

I followed Ink without saying a word.

"Let's go," Zayne said the moment he saw me.

But I didn't move.

His eyes narrowed. "What? You want to stay here and sleep with his brother, Ink? Is that all you're good at? Flirting and sleeping with men whose backgrounds you don't know?"

My throat tightened. His words hit like knives.

"Listen. I'm here because my daughter begged me to bring you back safely."

A tear slipped down my cheek, but I wiped it off quickly.

I wasn't moving.

"Now follow me," he said, almost like a scream. "Stop acting like the victim. This is exactly why your fiancé left you."