Chapter 1

On the day I gave birth to our son, Ethan spoke.

"Aria," he said. "There's something I need to tell you. I've been with someone else."

The stitches in my abdomen still ached. I stared at him, unable to process the words.

"What did you say?"

He held our newborn and kept talking. "It's been two years. I never knew how to tell you."

"Then why are you telling me now?"

"Because you've finally given me a son. Which means you'll never leave me."

He leaned down and kissed my pale lips. "Don't worry, Aria. Even now, you're still the one I love most."

I looked at him — the same warm face I'd always known — and my whole body started shaking. My eyes burned. Tears fell without me deciding to cry.

I grew up without my parents. My grandmother raised me. I spent over twenty years starving for love.

Then I met Ethan Thorne. My boss. He fell for me the moment he saw me and pursued me relentlessly. He was gentle and considerate.

I fell hard. I threw myself into this mismatched bond — a common She-Wolf marrying into one of the most powerful Packs in the territory.

I never expected that the man who stayed up with me every night during my pregnancy, who jumped out of bed every time I got sick, who said he only wanted this one child — that this man had been cheating on me for two years.

I remembered something I'd once said to him.

"Ethan, if we have a pup, promise me we won't break the bond. I grew up without parents. I don't want our pup to grow up like I did."

And he'd pulled me close and sworn.

"Aria, I promise. I'll never sever our bond. I'll never let our pup grow up without a complete family."

I never thought that because of that promise, he'd assumed I would never leave him no matter what.

He was wrong. I was not the kind of She-Wolf who could look the other way.

"Who is she?"

Before I could finish the question, the door of the infirmary burst open.

A crowd of people swarmed in. Some carried a cake. Some held flowers.

"Congratulations, Ethan! Another son!"

"Did you finally tell her, man? You've been waiting for this day forever!"

"We brought her here — let's celebrate together!"

The next second, a woman walked in holding a baby.

She slowly lifted her eyes to mine. "Hello, Mrs. Thorne. You must be exhausted after everything."

The moment I saw her face, every drop of blood in my body rushed to my head.

It was Vivienne Holloway. My personal yoga instructor.

And the child in her arms was already a year old.

The shock kept coming in waves. I felt my heart being squeezed, squeezing until I couldn't breathe.

"Why?"

I looked around the room, and my eyes landed on Ethan.

"Ethan. Why would you do this to me? On the day you claimed me, you said you'd never betray me. Did your 'forever' only last five years?"

Ethan sighed. "We've been bonded for five years. I held back for three. Doesn't that prove how much I love you? Come on, Aria. That's enough for today. Rest. I'll come back and take you home when you're stronger."

"By the way," he added, "Vivienne's had a pup before — she knows what she's doing. She said she'd help you through your recovery."

Vivienne smiled at me and took Ethan's arm. "That's right, Mrs. Thorne. I know this is a lot to take in. But don't worry — I'm not trying to take your place. I'm happy just being Ethan's other woman. I wouldn't have come to the infirmary today if I didn't care about you — we've known each other for two years, and I've never once caused you trouble."

After Vivienne finished speaking, the others in the room chimed in.

"Come on, Aria, don't be upset. A man like Ethan having someone else on the side is totally normal. And honestly, he's been pretty loyal — it's just one woman."

"Right. The lives we live aren't the same as ordinary people. He waited this long to tell you because he was worried you couldn't handle it."

"You two were close, weren't you? You're the one who felt sorry for her and hired her as your personal yoga instructor. She got together with Ethan out of gratitude."

"Ha."

Aria's lips curved into a cold smile. "Gratitude? Her way of showing gratitude was to steal my mate and have a child with him? And you're all calling her my co-Luna? That's disgusting."

When Vivienne heard the word "mistress," her face went red and tears sprang into her eyes.

"Ethan, I told you — I hate being called that. You said Aria would accept me. That's why I agreed to come here. But since she can't accept me or my pup, I'll take my son and go. We won't bother you again."

She turned to leave, clutching her baby.

Ethan stepped to follow her. Aria gave him one last chance.

"Ethan. If you walk out that door, we're done."

His step slowed. Then he spoke. "Aria, stop. Vivienne running out like this — I'm worried about her. I have to check on her. And what you said back there was too much. She's not a mistress to me."

He walked out without looking back.