Jayde POV:

Three days.

I received a secure text.

The bird lands at midnight on the moon. Be ready.

Deleted.

My room was empty. Only essentials left.

I sat on the floor with my sketchbook. Charcoal sketches of him. Brendan training. Brendan laughing. The ghost of the boy who saved me.

I started a new drawing. A high cliff. A magnificent Alpha howling at the moon. And a small wolf walking away into the forest.

I signed it: Be happy.

The front door slammed downstairs. Heavy, stumbling footsteps thudded up the stairs.

My door flew open.

Brendan. Tie undone. Hair a mess. Eyes swirling grey and gold.

He reeked of alcohol and raging Alpha pheromones.

"You..." He pointed a wavering finger. "You're erasing yourself."

He kicked the door shut.

"I can't smell you," he growled. "I walk past your door. Nothing. Why does your scent keep fading, Jayde?"

He didn't know I'd been bleaching the walls.

"I'm cleaning," I whispered, backing up.

"Liar."

He pinned me against the wall. Hands slamming on either side of my head.

He buried his face in my neck.

"There it is," he murmured. "Vanilla. Rain. Why do you smell like rain? It drives me crazy."

He was burning up. Not fever. Mate heat.

Mine, a voice projected into my mind.

My traitorous wolf stretched toward him.

"Brendan, stop," I gasped. "You're marrying Chloie in three days."

"Chloie..." he muttered, confused. He looked at me, eyes unfocused. "You are so beautiful. Why are you so far away?"

He leaned in.

Instinct screamed YES.

His lips crashed onto mine. Desperate. Starving. A claiming.

The Bond exploded. A physical jolt that curled my toes.

For a second, I melted. I let myself have this.

He groaned, pressing his hips against mine. "I knew it," he breathed against my lips. "I knew you were..."

My heart soared. He knew.

"...Chloie," he whispered.

The world stopped.

Ice flooded my veins.

He was kissing his Mate, but his broken, stubborn brain was substituting the name of the woman he chose.

I shoved him.

"Get off me!" I screamed.