Ivory's POV

The bond had tormented me for twenty-four hours straight. Had I slept? Not a wink. Every second, there was a dull, painful throb in my heart that made it impossible to focus.

And today was his ceremony.

Earlier that morning, I had cornered him near the armory, desperate for a real conversation.

"Ivory, I will send for you later," he had said coldly, turning his back to me before I could even open my mouth.

"Who is she, Draven?" I had demanded, ensuring our voices didn't carry to the guards.

He remained silent.

"Have you told the elders about us? What did they say?"

"Your presence at the ceremony is very important," was his only response.

I had left him in bitter silence.

He hadn't broken the bond, I told myself, clinging to a fragile, desperate shred of hope as I went to my quarters to change. Maybe he spoke to the elders. Maybe he's going to shock the pack and claim me anyway.

With that hope driving me, I dressed in my full Beta regalia.

When I stepped into the main square, I saw Draven briefing Zane and a contingent of warriors. He didn't even glance my way. I began walking toward him, ready to tell him I was willing to face the elders by his side.

But the moment he saw me approaching, he grimaced, turned on his heel, and walked away.

He's just avoiding me to keep his control, I rationalized. If we get too close before the ceremony, our wolves will take over.

Passing Selene's medical tent, I idly lifted the canvas flap to check on her.

Instead, my breath caught.

A strikingly beautiful woman from a powerful neighboring pack sat on a stool, casually spinning a heavy silver necklace between her fingers.

My brows knit together.

It was the ceremonial mating collar-the traditional piece given only to a newly bonded Alpha pair.

Why is a stranger holding that?

The woman suddenly caught me staring. She set the piece down with a polite, vacant smile and picked up a jar of ointment instead.

I forced my features to smooth out, offering a tight nod before letting the flap fall shut.

You're overthinking it, I scolded myself, my heart hammering against my ribs as I walked toward the sacred clearing. It's going to be fine.

By dusk, the sacred clearing was suffocatingly full.

Colossal iron torches burned in a massive circle. Warriors stood in a flawless formation, while the elders occupied the inner ring in their ceremonial robes.

I didn't hear a single word of the High Elder's opening speech.

My eyes were locked entirely on Draven.

He stood beside the ancient ceremonial stone, every inch the majestic Alpha-poised and utterly unreadable. Every time his dark, obsidian eyes drifted over the crowd and met mine, my heart did a hopeful flip. His gaze lingered just long enough to make me believe tonight was ours.

The elder's booming voice cut through my thoughts.

"Werewolves of the Obsidian Pack, it is time for the formal proclamation! Let the Alpha and his chosen fated mate step forward to seal their bond before us!"

My heart skipped a beat. This was it.

"The Alpha's mate will now be presented."

My boots automatically took a step forward, drawn by the pull of our bond.

However, the heavy ceremonial velvet curtains parted and a woman of striking elegance stepped onto the stone platform. Her movements were smooth, like silk gliding over ice. Her dark hair flowed in immaculate waves down her back, her face radiating a charming smile.

I froze in my tracks, and my stomach completely bottomed out.

It was the woman from Selene's tent.

No, no, no.

Draven didn't spare me any more glances.

Instead, he stepped forward, reaching out his large hand to take hers.

"I, Alpha Draven of the Obsidian Pack," his voice boomed across the pin-drop silent clearing, "accept you, Dolores of the Shadowmoon Pack, as my mate and Luna."

Each word felt like a physical blow, utterly shattering the pathetic delusions I had built.

He lifted the heavy silver mating collar and fastened it gently around her neck.

She offered a flawless bow.

"I, Dolores, accept you, Alpha Draven, as my mate and Alpha."

My eyes burned with a sudden, vicious heat.

This isn't real, it can't be.

But before the entire pack-before my very eyes-Draven drew her close.

Just before his head dipped, his eyes found mine across the clearing and a look of regret passed through his dark irises.

It shattered something inside my chest, like glass breaking across a stone floor.

Then he sank his fangs deep into the crook of Dolores's neck.

I stood paralyzed, my lips parted, the air completely trapped in my lungs as our bond twisted painfully, while he marked another woman.

I clutched my chest, my knees trembling as the reality crashed into me like waves.

My mate marked a stranger and the Pack erupted into thundering cheers and applause.

They were celebrating a future built on my broken soul.

Tears finally spilled over my lashes, blurring the celebratory torches into a bloody haze.

I couldn't stay.

Giving one final, hateful glance toward the platform, I turned around and aggressively shoved my way through the dense crowd, ignoring the startled protests of the pack members I slammed past.

"She took what belonged to me," my wolf whispered, the heartbreak instantly souring into an ugly rage.

And I was going to make her pay.