Chapter 1

"Alpha Heir, something terrible — my mistress is giving birth, the Pack Healer says it's a hard Birthing, please, Alpha, go see her!" A pretty little Omega maid burst into the Bonding Hall, cutting through our Marking ceremony.

She knelt on the floor, tears streaming, pressing her forehead down. "Alpha Heir, please save her. The pup she carries is yours."

The red bonding ribbon tightened in my hand. The man across from me let go of it. Adrian Thorne went pale and said, "What did you say? How could Rose be in labor?"

Adrian was about to drop the whole Hall of guests and leave with the little maid.

In my last life, I stopped him right at this moment. I wouldn't let him go. I made him finish the Marking. He hated me for the rest of his life.

This time, I wouldn't stop him.

I tore off the crimson Mating veil myself. "Alpha Heir, who is Rose? Why does this maid say she's carrying your pup?" I kept my face stunned and shocked, and everyone looked at me, the unmarked bride, with pity.

The guests whispered to each other. "Poor Miss Ashford — she hasn't even been Marked yet, and his mistress is about to whelp."

"What can she do? The moment she steps into Thorne Pack she's already stepmother to a bastard pup. Who knows whose pup will inherit the Alpha line later."

"Adrian Thorne has gone too far."

"But it's an Alpha Council Arranged Bond. If Miss Ashford makes a scene and the Bond falls through, the Thorne Pack will be slapping the Alpha Council in the face."

"What Pack daughter wants to stand at her own Marking and watch this? The Thornes have thrown Ashford Pack's honor on the floor."

Hearing me question him, Adrian's face twisted with impatience. "Ivy, the pup in Rose's belly is mine. I can't let her die. I'll explain later." He turned to leave.

"Wait." I stepped forward. "Alpha Heir, today is our Marking day. Before we've even sealed the Bond you're walking out on me — for a Chosen concubine. Where does that leave Ashford Pack? If you had someone in your heart, why didn't you speak sooner, instead of humiliating me in front of the whole Hall?"

"Ashford Pack's daughter was never desperate to Bond with a Thorne."

Adrian flung his sleeve. "I'm not refusing to Bond with you. Rose's life is on the line. I can't just let her die."

My eyes went red, tears shaking at the edges. "But this Bond was ordered by the Alpha Council, and the hour was set by the Pack Seer under the full moon. If you walk out now, the Bond is void. You can face the Alpha King tomorrow and explain it yourself."

The tears rolled down like beads. I had learned to play the fragile one. I wanted everyone to see that it was Adrian Thorne who had wronged me. The Thornes were in the wrong.

Alpha Edmund and Luna Margaret heard the whispers and flushed with shame. Edmund finally spoke. "Adrian, enough. This is your Marking day. You cannot walk out on the Ashford girl."

"Pull yourself together. Finish the ceremony. Now."

The little maid dropped to her knees. "Alpha, Luna, my mistress carries Thorne Pack's firstborn. How can your hearts be this cold?"

"Alpha Heir, she gave up her name for you, lived without a title, bore your pup. Are you really going to let her die?"

Adrian chimed in. "Father, Mother, that's your own blood grandson. Can you live with yourselves?"

Then he turned to me. "It's an Alpha Council Bond. It's iron-locked. Why rush it tonight? Does the Ashford heiress really want into Thorne Pack this badly? Aren't you ashamed to hear yourself?"

He paused, softened his voice. "Ivy, I know you're gentle. Once you're Luna, you and Rose will be like sisters. Peace in the Pack. Isn't that nice?"

I laughed coldly. "Alpha Heir, we aren't Bonded yet. The ceremony isn't complete. I won't be sisters with your Chosen concubine."

I threw the crimson veil on the floor. "Since you're so desperate to save her, and she's carrying your pup, how could Ivy be the one standing in your way?"

"But love and duty rarely hold together. Go, if you must. I won't stop you. But this Bond between our two Packs cannot fall apart because of you."

"Defying the Alpha Council is a crime none of us can carry."

Edmund's face went hard. "Adrian, this is defying the Council. You cannot drag the Pack into this over a Chosen concubine."

Adrian shot back, "Father, I only have to agree to Bond with her. What does it matter when? You're being paranoid." He waved off the Council decree completely. "What, the Alpha King is going to dictate when I share a Marking bed too?"

He had finally pushed the Alpha too far. I smiled thinly and stepped forward, looking at Edmund and Margaret. I said it slowly, word by word. "Alpha, Luna. Since this Bond is between Thorne Pack and Ashford Pack — the Council never specified which Thorne son."

"The Alpha Heir already has someone he loves. Ivy will not steal another's mate. The Bond between us is over. The man standing with me tonight will be Rhys Thorne."

The Hall went silent. Adrian threw back his head and laughed. "What? You want to Bond with my little brother? He's a Pack Warrior, nothing more. I'm Alpha Heir of Thorne Pack. Think carefully."

I looked him in the eye. "So what? You may be the Heir, but you were keeping a Chosen concubine before you ever asked for me, and you've already sired a bastard on her. Why would I Bond with a man that faithless? Rhys is a Warrior, but he has no Chosen concubine, no bedside mate, no one. He's worth a thousand of you."