Chapter 1

On the day of our Mate Ceremony, Daniel left the pack territory with Samantha, the Beta's daughter.

Before leaving, he made sure to explain himself:

"Samantha wants a pup, and I don't trust any other man to give her one. It has to be mine. But don't worry, we're doing it through clinical means. As soon as she's pregnant, I'll come straight back and mark you. Don't be upset, okay?"

Three years later, Daniel and Samantha finally returned from abroad.

He tracked me down, his tone dripping with entitled casualness:

"Samantha is carrying my pup after all, so you'll just have to be my mistress from now on. I've already marked her. To make it fair, I'll still give you a public Mate Ceremony. That way, neither of you loses out."

Samantha immediately hooked her arm through Daniel's, putting on an envious pout:

"Summer, Daniel is being so generous to you. Giving you a full Mate Ceremony so everyone acknowledges you? You're honestly so blessed."

Watching the two of them play off each other, I let out a cold laugh.

"You can keep that 'blessing' for yourself."

After all, Harrison marked me three years ago.

Daniel's face darkened, immediately assuming I was just throwing a childish tantrum.

"Why can't you be smart like Samantha?"

"Giving you a Mate Ceremony means letting the entire pack know you're Daniel's woman! Do you have any idea how much prestige that gives you?!"

"Look at Samantha. She took my mark without even getting a proper ceremony. She suffered in silence, and here you are, acting completely ungrateful!"

The moment the words left his mouth, Samantha lowered her head and tugged gently on his sleeve:

"Daniel, don't be too hard on Summer. She probably just needs some time to wrap her head around it."

"I really don't mind. A little hardship is nothing as long as you're here for me and the baby. Please don't fight with Summer because of me."

I stared at the two of them, stunned.

Had they both lost their minds?

I looked up, my voice coated in sarcasm:

"Daniel, what on earth makes you think I'd spend three years waiting around for you while you played house overseas?"

Daniel paused, then let out a scoff as if he'd just heard the funniest joke in the world:

"Everyone in Crestwood knows you're head-over-heels in love with me, Summer. You made it clear you'd never be with anyone else."

He pulled Samantha closer, looking as confident as ever that my entire universe still revolved around him.

To him, I was just pouting, waiting for a quick apology and a few sweet words before falling right back into line.

"Besides, if you really didn't want my mark, you would've walked away three years ago."

His words instantly dragged me back to that night three years ago.

It was our anniversary. Daniel had promised to take me out to dinner, only to cancel at the last minute, claiming his friends were throwing a bonfire party and telling me not to wait up.

I waited all night. Worried that he might have had too much to drink, I went to the bonfire to look for him. Pushing through the crowd, I saw Daniel and Samantha kissing by the firelight while everyone around them cheered and whistled.

I froze. When Daniel spotted me, he pushed Samantha away and rushed over to explain: "We lost a party game! It was just a dare! It was just one kiss, don't overthink it!"

I actually believed him back then. Looking back now, I realized how pathetically naive I had been.

What truly shattered my feelings once and for all was the day Daniel announced he was taking Samantha abroad to help her have a baby.

That very night, I walked into Harrison's study alone and said, "Our engagement is off."