Chapter 1

Seeing me leave, his friend spoke up.

"Damon, the Luna's upset. Coax her. She only ever listens to you."

Serena, cradled in his arms, murmured meekly, "Damon, she's probably just jealous because I'm carrying your pup. Why don't I apologize to her?"

"Serena, you're too soft-hearted. Her parents are gone. Where can she go if not to me?"

Behind me, Damon raised his voice. "Evelyn, if you take one step out that door tonight, don't bother coming back."

I drew a breath. Even with my heart already numb, the cruelty behind his stripped mask still cut.

I turned and walked back.

He scoffed. "See? She doesn't dare."

"Serena's a pregnant She-Wolf and she's worrying over your tantrums. You're out of line. Get over here and kneel to apologize," he said, impatient.

I looked at him, cold. "I want to sever the bond."

He lifted a brow and smiled. "In such a hurry to break the bond? Is the wolf you're sleeping with running out of patience?"

It was absurd. He had another woman in his arms and called my hurt disloyalty.

"Fine. Before we sever, let's settle what you owe me." He stepped up to me and seized my hand.

"The ring I put on you myself." He wrenched the gold band off my finger.

The hard stone dragged a deep cut across my finger. Bone showed through.

"The earrings I designed for you myself." He ripped the earrings from my ears.

My ear split. Blood dripped onto my shirt.

"And this dress." He tore my dress open, ignoring my struggle.

"The underwear too. I used to love it." He held my hand and sneered. "You're shameless. Talking about severing the bond while wearing this under your clothes to tempt me."

Onlookers murmured. Lewd laughter rose around us.

I shoved him off, covered my chest, and let tears fall. "Enough, Damon!"

"How is it enough?" He laughed coldly.

"What you owe me, I should take back." He uncapped a bottle of wine and poured it over my head.

The cold liquor soaked me and I shook.

"Your body's been used up by me. I'm just washing you clean." His eyes were contempt.

His pack of hangers-on howled with laughter.

I reached for a coat to cover myself. Damon grabbed it first and draped it gently over Serena.

"It's cold out there. Don't let my treasure and our little pup catch a chill."

He stroked Serena's belly with affection. She giggled.

He lifted Serena and walked out, dropping a careless warning as he passed.

"Don't forget the contract we signed with the Moon Council of the Hollow Realm when we bonded."

"Unless both parties agree, you'll never break away from me."

Wind cut across my bare skin, but the cold inside me was worse.

"I'll give you one chance. Be home by midnight and I'll sign the severance."

He slammed the car door and left me in a cloud of exhaust.

His pack of hangers-on kept jeering.

"Luna, spend the night with me and I'll take you home right after."

"Damon put out word to the media — anyone who drives her home gets blacklisted in Ashcroft. Don't let your greed get you in trouble, kid."

I closed my eyes and smiled bitterly.

An hour ago, I'd just come off the table.

I'd stared at the formed pup on the surgical tray and cried until I couldn't breathe.

Damon's friend had messaged me: "Luna, Damon's been drinking all day. No one can stop him."

I thought he was drinking because we'd lost the pup. Ignoring the healer, I'd discharged myself to go get him.

He wasn't drinking out of grief. He was celebrating his lover's pregnancy.

"I'm sorry, Luna. We couldn't do anything." One of the friends who couldn't watch any longer took off his coat and put it over me.

"Back then, Damon would've died to win you. How did he end up like this?" His eyes were full of disappointment.

I felt strange. Out of everyone who'd chased me, Damon had been the one I most wanted to avoid.

He was young, reckless, brash, and relentless.

I'd known then that a love like that was a blade with two edges. He could love me without holding back — and one day he could use every bit of that love to cut me.

That day, I'd been in an accident.

Inside smoke and flame, he'd charged the wreck without hesitation.

He'd smashed the window, covered in blood, trying to pull me out.

My leg was pinned under the warped seat. The car was going to blow. I pushed him away.

"Go. Or you'll die here with me."

He cried out my name.

"Fine by me. If I die, I'll have my brothers bury us together. I'll have them tell everyone I died for you."

Looking at that proud face of his, now streaked with soot and tears in the smoke, I suddenly wasn't afraid anymore.

I said it.

"Mark me. Be my mate."

I shook my head. "Real feelings change in a blink, don't they?"

I pulled my coat tight and started walking home.

In the black winter night, headlights flickered faintly ahead.

As if worried, they lit the road in front of me at an easy pace.

My steps grew unsteady. Then everything went dark and I collapsed into the snow.

When I woke, the Pack Healer was scolding me.

"You miscarried and then you went out in a snowstorm? Do you know you nearly bled out before we got you back?"

I closed my eyes, weak, and forced the tears down.

"I'm sorry..."

"What are you apologizing to us for?" The healers looked pained. "You should be apologizing to yourself. Rest properly this time. No more injuries, or your womb really won't make it."