Chapter 1

On the day of our Mate Ceremony, I stood before the Moonlight Altar behind my veil, my heart bursting with joy as I waited for the ritual to begin.

But instead of Alpha Ethan, Liam—the pack's resident fool—stepped forward and lifted my veil.

The hall erupted into cruel laughter. Ethan’s friends sneered with gloating amusement:

"Well, according to tradition, whoever lifts the veil gets to claim the bride for her Mating Night."

"I wouldn't mind taking one for the team and keeping Alpha Ethan company tonight."

Only then did Ethan stroll in, completely unbothered.

"It's just a joke, Emma. Don't be such a sore loser."

"He's a useless weakling who can't even shift. His brain is stuck at age six. Sleeping with him for one night won't kill you."

Looking at his sneering face, I actually smiled.

"Since he lifted my veil, why stop at one night?"

"If I'm taking a mate, I'm taking him for life."

My friends, who had arrived early, stared in disbelief.

"Forcing Emma to spend her Mating Night with a wolf-less cripple? How could you even think of that!"

"Even a joke has lines you don't cross!"

Ethan arched an arrogant brow.

"What's it to you? I'm the Alpha, and if I don't care, why should she feel wronged?"

He stepped right up to me, his voice laced with a threat.

"You humiliated Sophie in public last time and got half a year of her rations docked. I'm settling the score for her today."

"Either sleep with this fool for one night, or our alliance is over!"

Hearing his ultimatum, I felt less anger and more pure absurdity.

Last month, our packs hosted a joint trade summit. Sophie represented the Crimson Pack, but she ignored every instruction I gave her. She bid wildly at the auction, costing both packs massive resources.

Afterward, I held her accountable on behalf of the Silver Creek Pack.

By law, she should have been handed over to Silver Creek for punishment.

To save face, Elder Luna Diana punished Sophie herself—docking her rations and demoting her to low-level labor. Out of respect for Ethan, I let it drop.

But if Sophie hadn’t been reckless, none of this would have happened.

Yet Ethan stubbornly believed I was just picking on Sophie out of spite.

No matter how I explained, he refused to listen. To him, I was just cold and heartless.

He even forced me to kneel in the pack hall all night,

making me apologize publicly to Sophie.

Only then did he let the matter rest.

I thought the chapter was closed, never imagining he'd pull this stunt today.

In that moment, my heart turned to ice.

Just to avenge Sophie, he orchestrated this humiliating farce at our own Mate Ceremony.

I could already picture the rumors that would spread tomorrow.

I would become the laughingstock of the entire werewolf world.

Ethan's smug smirk showed he was certain I loved him too much to ever disobey.

He was completely convinced that no matter how deep the trap was,

I would jump right into it just to keep him.

What he didn't realize was that even the fiercest love dies when trampled upon.

I let out a cold scoff and looked away from him.

Instead, I dropped to one knee before the man foolishly munching on wedding candy.

I took his hand, looking up into his eyes.

"Liam, will you be my mate?"

Ethan’s eyes bulged in shock.

"Emma, have you lost your damn mind?! I only told you to sleep with him for one night! You're actually marrying this loser?"

Sophie quickly grabbed his arm, whispering urgently,

"Ethan, calm down. There's no way Emma would marry someone like him. She's just bluffing to make you back down."

"If you freak out now, you're playing right into her hands."

Ethan froze, letting Sophie's words sink in.

A smirk crept back onto his lips.

"Emma, make sure you scrub yourself clean before coming back to me tomorrow. I don't want your filth on me!"

Seeing that I ignored him, Ethan rolled his eyes.

"Since the bride wants to marry someone else, let's turn tonight into my bachelor party! Drinks on me until dawn!"

With that, he dragged Sophie out of the chamber without a backward glance.

I remained on one knee, my hand hovering in the air, my chest hollow and numb.

Just then, a warm, gentle palm came to rest over mine.

I looked up and met Liam's gaze.

He smiled, a soft, sweet curve forming on his lips.

His voice was soft, but crystal clear:

"I do."