The wedding dress suddenly felt too tight around my chest.

I stood outside Cassian’s penthouse suite with my hand frozen over the door handle, trying to ignore the sick feeling twisting inside me.

The music from downstairs still echoed faintly through the hotel.

Our engagement party.

Tomorrow, I was supposed to become Luna of the Ashford pack.

My childhood best friend.

My future Alpha.

The man I had loved for eighteen years.

So why did my wolf feel like it was dying?

Another sound came from behind the door.

A low groan.

Then a woman’s breathless laugh.

My stomach dropped.

No.

No, Cassian wouldn’t—

Another sound.

The bed creaking.

My heart slammed painfully against my ribs.

I pushed the door open.

And the world ended.

Cassian was in bed.

Half naked.

His hands wrapped around another woman’s waist while she sat in his lap, her fingers tangled in his dark hair.

For one second, nobody moved.

Then the pain hit.

It exploded through my chest so violently that my knees gave out beneath me.

I collapsed onto the floor with a choking gasp.、

Something was wrong with the mate bond.

It felt like claws tearing through my heart.

“Lyra—”

Cassian’s voice sounded distant.

The woman slowly turned around.

And I stopped breathing.

Because she had my face.

Not identical.

But close enough that my wolf instantly recognized the blood connection.

Wide silver eyes.

The same mouth.

My lips parted shakily.

“…Selene?”

Fifteen years.

I hadn’t seen my twin sister in fifteen years.

Not since our parents divorced.

Not since my father took me away and banned any contact with my mother and the daughter who left with her.

For one brief second, I saw it.

The mockery in Selene’s eyes.

Sharp.

Then suddenly, tears filled her eyes instead.

She hurried behind Cassian like she was frightened of me.

“I told you this was a bad idea,” she whispered weakly. “She’s still my sister…”

Cassian immediately pulled her against his chest protectively.

And something inside me cracked.

“She’s my mate, Lyra.”

The words sliced straight through me.

“You know twins often carry similar scents. For years, I thought you were my mate because of that. But I finally understand now… Selene is the one my wolf has been searching for. I was wrong about you, Lyra. Just a mistake.”

Eighteen years of growing up together.

Eighteen years of him holding my hand beneath school desks.

Sneaking into my room during storms.

Promising me forever.

Reduced to:

a mistake.

Cassian sighed impatiently.

“So I think you should change out of the wedding dress.”

I stared at him. Waiting for the punchline.

Waiting for him to laugh and say this was some disgusting joke.

But he only looked relieved.

Like he had finally solved a problem.

“What about us?” My voice shook. “Even if she’s your mate, you still chose me first.”

Cassian’s expression hardened.

“That was before I understood the bond.”

“And my father?” I asked desperately. “He’s one of the major shareholders in Ashford Group. What exactly are you planning to tell him?”

Cassian actually laughed.

“Come on, Lyra. You’ve lived in luxury your entire life while Selene had nothing.” His hand brushed gently through her hair. “It’s just a marriage arrangement.”

His eyes softened as he looked at her.

A look I had spent years believing belonged to me.

“And honestly?” he continued quietly, “I think I only loved you like a sister.”

My wolf whimpered painfully inside me.

“I confused comfort with love.”

Then he kissed Selene.

Right in front of me.

The pain became unbearable.

I grabbed my chest, gasping for air.

It felt like my heart was literally being ripped apart.

Cassian frowned.

“Seriously?”

I looked up weakly.

He sounded annoyed. “You’re not my mate, Lyra,” he said coldly. “So stop pretending the bond hurts you.”

Pretending?

I could barely breathe.

“Get out,” he snapped. “You’re ruining the night.”

Selene suddenly climbed off the bed and walked toward me carefully.

“Lyra…” she whispered softly, reaching for my arm.

Then her lips moved near my ear.

So quietly that Cassian couldn’t hear.

“My poor little sister.”

The softness vanished instantly from her voice.

“When you were living in mansions, I was begging for food in the slums.”

My body went cold.

“And do you know why Father finally brought me back?”

Her nails dug lightly into my arm.

“To marry me off to Lucien Ashford.”

I blinked.

Cassian’s uncle.

The brilliant executive CEO.

The man everyone respected.

The man born without a wolf.

Selene gave a small laugh.

“Who would want a broken Alpha with no wolf?” she whispered cruelly. “I suffered for half my life.”

Her eyes darkened.

“So now you can suffer for the rest of yours.”

I shook my head desperately.

“I didn’t know—”

Suddenly Selene stumbled backward.

A cry escaped her lips.

Cassian immediately rushed forward.

“Selene!”

Tears streamed down her face.

“I was only trying to help her up…”

She looked terrified.

“I didn’t mean to upset her. I just—I can’t fight the pull toward my mate…”

Before I could even react—

SLAP.

My head snapped sideways violently.

The entire room went silent.

Cassian stood above me breathing hard.

Disgust filled his eyes.

“I never realized you were this vicious.”

My cheek burned.

“You shoved your own sister?”

I stared at him in disbelief.

Cassian opened the door roughly.

“Enough.”

His voice turned icy.

“Go put on an appropriate bridesmaid dress and attend tomorrow’s ceremony like an adult.”

Bridesmaid. Not bride.

His eyes swept over my wedding gown one last time.

And for the first time in eighteen years—

there was absolutely no love left in them.

“Now leave.”

The door slammed shut in my face.

A second later—

the sounds started again.

The bed. The laughter. Cassian’s low voice.

I stood there in my white dress while my mate slept with another woman only a few feet away.

And somewhere deep inside me—

something began to break.

By the time I got home, my chest still felt like it was being crushed from the inside.

Every breath hurt.

My wedding dress dragged across the marble floor as I stumbled through the front doors of the Vale estate.

I barely made it three steps.

SLAP.

My head snapped violently to the side.

The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth instantly.

“You useless girl.”

My father stood in front of me breathing hard, fury burning in his eyes.

“I spent years raising you, educating you, shaping you into the perfect daughter—”

Another slap.

“—and you still lost to that bastard child who ran away with her mother.”

I looked at him in disbelief, my cheek burning.

“She’s my sister,” I whispered. “Your daughter too.”

The punch came this time.

Straight into my stomach.

Pain exploded through me and I doubled over with a gasp.

“How dare you talk back to me?”

His voice thundered through the entrance hall.

The servants nearby lowered their heads immediately.

Nobody moved.

Nobody helped me.

“I warned you your only purpose was securing my position in Ashford Group.”

He grabbed my jaw painfully hard and forced me to look at him.

“At the next shareholders’ meeting, I need more control. I need the Ashford bloodline tied to this family.”

His grip tightened.

“So whichever daughter Cassian chooses becomes valuable.”

I froze.

Cold spread slowly through my body.

“…What?”

“You heard me.”

His expression was terrifyingly calm now.

“You’ll replace Selene.”

Replace her?

“With who?”

My father released me roughly.

“Lucien Ashford.”

The name alone made my stomach twist.

Cassian’s uncle.

The invisible monster of the Ashford family.

The man nobody ever saw publicly.

The genius executive CEO who controlled half the company from the shadows.

The wolfless freak.

Rumors about Lucien had followed him for years.

That he was unstable. Cruel. Obsessive. That he hated being touched, the women left his estate crying. That he kept strange hobbies inside the old Ashford castle.

No one knew which stories were true.

Because Lucien Ashford never appeared long enough for anyone to ask.

“I can work instead,” I said quickly, panic rising in my throat. “I can join the company. I already received my scholarship offer. I’m graduating from—”

“I don’t care.”

My father’s voice cut through mine instantly.

“You think your degrees matter more than marriage?”

He laughed coldly.

“Lucien Ashford has no wolf. Yet somehow he still survived in that family and became one of the most powerful men in the country.”

His eyes narrowed.

“My daughter will marry into that power.”

A shiver crawled down my spine.

“Please…” My voice cracked. “Dad, I’m your daughter.”

“You are an investment.”

The words landed harder than the slap.

He stepped closer slowly.

“And your only remaining value is your bloodline.”

Something inside me finally broke.

Not loudly. Not dramatically. Quietly.

Like glass cracking underwater.

A few minutes later, servants dragged me upstairs.

I fought them the entire way.

“Stop—!”

“Please!”

But nobody listened.

By the time they finished changing me, I barely recognized myself in the mirror.

The dress they forced onto me was nothing like the wedding gown from earlier.

This one was soft black silk.

Thin straps. Low neckline. Too revealing. Like I was being gift-wrapped for someone.

Humiliation burned through me.

When I refused to move, my father entered the room himself.

His gaze swept over me critically.

“Good.”

I wanted to throw up.

“You disgust me.”

His expression didn’t even change.

“Then make yourself useful.”

He leaned closer.

“If you fail to stay beside Lucien Ashford…”

His voice dropped dangerously low.

“…I can survive with only one daughter.”

Fear finally hit me.

An hour later, I sat silently in the back of a black car while rain hit the windows outside.

Nobody spoke during the drive.

The farther we traveled from the city, the darker the roads became.

Until finally—

The castle appeared.

Massive stone walls rose from the darkness like something ancient.

Cold. Silent.

The Ashford estate looked less like a home and more like a prison.

My hands shook as the gates slowly opened.

I shouldn’t be here.

Every instinct screamed it.

The front doors opened before I could knock.

A servant bowed silently.

“This way, Miss Vale.”

The inside of the castle was strangely quiet.

Only the sound of my heels against black marble floors.

Then—

I saw him.

Lucien Ashford stood near the fireplace with one hand in his pocket.

Tall, dark suit, sharp shoulders.

His face half hidden by shadows.

God.

He was beautiful. Not soft like Cassian, dangerous beautiful.

The kind that made people nervous without understanding why.

His eyes lifted toward me.

And immediately narrowed.

“You’re shaking.”

His voice was low. Calm.

“Are you afraid of me?”

“Yes,” I admitted automatically.

Then quickly:

“No. I mean— not exactly.”

Something unreadable crossed his face.

Lucien stepped closer slowly.

“Why are you here?”

I swallowed hard.

“My father said… there was supposed to be a marriage arrangement.”

A faint crease appeared between his brows.

“With Selene,” he said quietly. “Your father wanted me to marry your sister.”

Then his eyes sharpened slightly.

“But you’re not her.”

I froze.

“You can tell us apart?”

Even I had been startled seeing Selene earlier tonight.

For a second, it had felt like looking into a distorted mirror.

But Lucien answered immediately.

“You smell different.”

The words hit strangely.

Before I could respond—

Pain exploded through my chest again.

I gasped sharply and stumbled sideways.

The mate bond.

Cassian.

Oh God—

I grabbed the edge of the table desperately.

Lucien moved instantly.

Strong hands caught me before I collapsed.

“You need rest.”

His hand pressed lightly against my back.

And suddenly—

everything changed.

His body went rigid.

Completely rigid.

A strange expression crossed his face.

Confusion.

His fingers tightened against me.

Then he inhaled slowly against my neck.

And the air in the room shifted.

“What’s wrong?” I whispered.

Lucien looked almost sick.

“You…”

His jaw clenched violently.

“You smell…”

Another inhale.

His eyes darkened.

“Dangerously good.”

My heartbeat stuttered.

Something unfamiliar flashed across his face.

Not emotion. Instinct.

Lucien Ashford didn’t have a wolf.

Everyone knew that.

But right now—

something inside him was waking up.

He suddenly shoved his suit jacket around my shoulders roughly, covering my body.

Then he stepped backward like he was trying to escape himself.

“Leave.”

The word came out strained.

I stared at him.

“What?”

Lucien dropped to one knee abruptly.

A low, painful sound tore from his throat.

Almost like a growl.

My eyes widened.

“Lucien—”

“Don’t come closer.”

His breathing became uneven.

His hands shook against the floor.

“What’s happening to you?” I asked anxiously. “Do you need a doctor?”

His head snapped toward me instantly.

And for one terrifying second—

his eyes flashed gold.

I stopped breathing.

No.

That wasn’t possible.

Lucien looked horrified by my expression.

Then something inside him finally broke.

“You should regret your kindness,” he said hoarsely.

Before I could react—

he grabbed me.

And the world disappeared.

When I woke up, sunlight was already pouring through the massive windows.

For a second, I didn’t know where I was.

Then the memories came back all at once.

The castle.

Lucien. His hands. His voice.

The way his eyes had turned gold.

My body instantly tensed beneath the blankets.

A low groan escaped me before I could stop it.

The door opened immediately.

Lucien walked in carrying a tray of food.

And the moment he saw me awake—

his entire expression changed.

Guilt.

“I didn’t mean to wake you.”

His voice sounded rougher than usual.

Like he hadn’t slept.

I pulled the blanket tighter around myself instinctively.

Lucien froze at the movement.

Pain flickered across his face.

“I’m sorry.”

The words came quickly.

“I lost control.”

I stared at him silently.

This man terrified half the country.

Yet right now he looked almost… ashamed.

“That should never have happened,” he continued quietly. “Not like that.”

His jaw tightened hard.

“I’ll take responsibility.”

The words should’ve comforted me.

Instead, my chest hurt again.

Because responsibility wasn’t love.

And I had already learned that lesson once.

Lucien stepped closer slowly and placed the tray beside the bed.

“You should eat something.”

I looked away.

“I should go home.”

“No.”

The answer came instantly.

Too fast.

His own expression darkened slightly, like he surprised himself.

Then more calmly:

“You’re safer here.”

Safe. I almost laughed.

Before I could answer, my phone suddenly started vibrating on the nightstand.

Cassian.

My stomach twisted violently.

Lucien noticed the name immediately.

Something cold entered his eyes.

I hesitated before picking up.

Cassian didn’t even greet me.

“Where are you?”

My fingers tightened around the phone.

“At home,” I lied automatically.

“Well, hurry up and get ready.”

His tone sounded irritated, like I was inconveniencing him.

“The engagement ceremony starts in three hours.”

Engagement.

Right. Today was the day.

“Selene wants you there as her bridesmaid.”

Every word felt unreal.

I closed my eyes briefly.

“Cassian—”

“You owe her that much.”

Then he hung up.

Just like that.

I sat there silently for several seconds before realizing Lucien was still watching me.

“What happened?”

I forced myself to stand.

“I need to attend their engagement ceremony.”

The room suddenly felt colder.

Lucien’s expression became unreadable.

“You don’t have to go.”

“Yes,” I whispered. “I do.”

I really do feel guilty toward Selene. I never knew what happened to her. I always thought she was living a good life.

An hour later, I stood outside the Ashford Grand Hotel wearing pale silver chiffon instead of white.

Bridesmaid colors.

Not bridal colors.

The irony almost made me sick.

The ballroom downstairs buzzed with voices.

As I walked through the hallway, whispers followed me everywhere.

“That’s the original fiancée.”

“I heard Cassian found his real mate.”

“They’re twins, right?”

“Poor thing.”

I kept walking.

Every word felt like glass under my skin.

By the time I reached the bridal suite, my hands were shaking again.

I knocked softly.

“Come in.”

Selene’s voice sounded sweet.

When I entered, she was sitting in front of the mirror while makeup artists adjusted her hair.

She looked radiant.

The room emptied quietly after she waved the staff away.

Then we were alone.

Selene smiled at me through the mirror.

“So.”

Her eyes moved slowly over my body.

“I heard Father already sent you to Lucien.”

I stayed silent.

Her smile widened slightly.

“What’s it like?”

She tilted her head mockingly.

“Marrying a wolfless cripple?”

Something sharp twisted in my chest.

“He’s not crippled.”

The words left my mouth automatically.

Selene actually laughed.

“Oh?”

She turned around slowly.

“So you’re defending him already?”

I looked down.

“I didn’t know what happened to you after you left,” I whispered quietly. “If I had known—”

“Known what?”

Her voice suddenly snapped cold.

“That I was starving?”

“That Mom worked three jobs?”

“That men touched me before I was even sixteen because we couldn’t afford rent?”

I froze.

Selene stepped closer.

“You grew up in mansions while I learned how to survive.”

There was no softness left in her eyes now.

Only hatred.

“So tell me, Lyra…”

Her lips curled.

“What exactly does your apology fix?”

I had no answer.

Because she was right.

Nothing I said could undo fifteen years.

Selene leaned closer until we were nearly face to face.

“I want every good thing you ever had.”

Her voice lowered into something poisonous.

“Piece by piece.”

The door suddenly opened.

Cassian walked in.

Immediately, Selene’s entire expression changed.

Her eyes widened slightly.

And before I even realized what she was doing—

she stumbled backward.

“Lyra…”

Her voice trembled.

“I’m sorry if I upset you—”

Cassian instantly moved toward her.

“What happened?”

Selene shook her head quickly.

“It’s okay. She’s emotional, I understand—”

I wanted to argue back, but the words died in my throat almost immediately. If this would make Selene happy… then maybe I deserved to stay silent.

Cassian’s gaze snapped toward me.

And the disappointment in his eyes hit harder than anger.

“You’re doing this again?”

I stared at him in disbelief.

I had prepared myself for this moment, but seeing Cassian trust Selene without even a second of hesitation still hurt more than I expected..

“Cassian—”

“Enough.”

His voice hardened instantly.

“Stop making everything difficult.”

Then he saw the faint bruises near my collarbone.

His eyes narrowed slightly.

“Where did those come from?”

Panic flashed across me.

But before I could answer—

another voice spoke behind him.

“What are you guys doing?”

The entire room went silent.

Lucien Ashford stood in the doorway.

The atmosphere shifted the second he entered.

Cassian straightened automatically.

Even Selene looked nervous.

Lucien’s eyes moved toward me briefly.

Then to the bruise on my cheek.

The bruise Cassian gave me.

Something dangerous flickered beneath his calm expression.

Cassian cleared his throat awkwardly.

“Uncle.”

Lucien ignored him completely.

Instead, he walked toward me slowly.

Then stopped beside me. Too close.

Cassian’s expression darkened immediately.

“She’s my childhood friend,” he said coldly. “Whatever issues we have are between us.”

Lucien finally looked at him.

And somehow that was worse than shouting.

“Is that so?”

Cassian’s jaw tightened.

The tension in the room became suffocating.

But Lucien suddenly turned toward me instead.

“What do you want?”

The question stunned me.

Nobody had asked me that in years.

Selene immediately stepped forward softly.

“I just want my sister beside me today.”

Her eyes filled with fake tears again.

“I want her to witness my happiness.”

My chest tightened painfully.

Lucien’s gaze stayed on me.

Waiting.

I lowered my eyes slowly.

“…I’ll stay.”

Something unreadable crossed Lucien’s face.

Then he nodded once.

Without another word, he turned and walked out.

Cassian followed after him several seconds later.

The moment the door closed—

Selene’s smile disappeared completely.

Silence filled the room.

Then she laughed quietly.

“You really are pathetic.”

I looked up slowly.

Selene stepped closer.

“Even after sleeping with him…”

Her eyes swept over me cruelly.

“…he still refuses to acknowledge you.”

Humiliation burned through me instantly.

Because deep down—

I had thought the same thing.

If Lucien truly wanted me—

why hide it?

Why say nothing?

Why not claim me publicly?

Selene smiled knowingly.

“You gave your body away for nothing.”

The words landed exactly where she intended.

My chest hurt again.

But weaker this time.

Distant.

Then the door opened once more.

Cassian returned.

The moment he saw Selene, his entire expression softened immediately.

Like instinct.

Like gravity.

He walked straight toward her and pulled her gently into his arms.

Then kissed her.

Right in front of me.

I waited for the agony.

For the unbearable tearing inside my chest.

For the mate bond to destroy me again.

But this time—

the pain was smaller.

Still there.

But survivable.

I stared at them silently.

And for the first time—

a terrifying thought entered my mind.

What if Cassian really wasn’t my mate anymore?