Chapter 1

Losing my mother, then being Rejected out of nowhere by my first Mate — I cried until I couldn't breathe.

My father couldn't stand it, so he introduced me to Caleb Whitmore, an old Alpha ally of his.

One month before our Bonding Ceremony, I heard low voices coming from my father's study.

"I've arranged it. The moment you two register the Bond, Elara will have a traffic accident."

"Good. Then I'll sign the Heart Transfer Consent as her mated Alpha."

"Once Serena has her new heart and we've moved Elara's holdings, we'll transfer everything into Serena's name. I couldn't have her mother. Giving it to the daughter is the least I can do."

"I've already planned Elara's funeral. It'll be grand. She deserves that much, after all she's put up with me."

I clamped both hands over my trembling mouth. I didn't scream.

They'd been performing for three years — all so they could take my heart and my Pack shares and hand them to another woman.

I didn't hesitate. I dialed a number I knew by heart.

"I've got an appointment at the Alpha Council Registry. But I'm switching grooms. Are you coming?"

...

I sat on the couch in my bedroom, staring at nothing. A pair of hands slid onto my shoulders in the dim light.

A familiar voice came from behind me. "What are you thinking about? You've been out of it ever since we left your father's."

Caleb pressed a warm bowl into my hands. "Drink it while it's hot."

The lights came on. I looked down at the black liquid in the bowl.

I thought about what he and my father had said that afternoon, and something started to crawl up my throat.

The bowl hit the floor and cracked.

"You have to be more careful. Did it burn you anywhere?"

Caleb dropped to one knee and checked my ankles and calves. "You're fine. The housekeeper's already gone for the night. I'll brew you another."

I caught his hand. "Can I skip it tonight? One day won't make a difference."

His face hardened. "No."

Maybe he realized he'd snapped too loud. He softened immediately, coaxing me.

"We agreed. Once we're Bonded, we try for a pup right away. Getting your body ready is everything. You can't miss a single dose. Wait here, baby."

I leaned against the stairs and watched him move around the kitchen.

Three years together, and he'd almost never cooked for me.

The one time he had, my stomach had been off and I'd whined until he caved.

He'd spent the whole afternoon in the kitchen and brought out a bowl of instant ramen.

"Eat. I boiled the water myself. I added the seasoning myself."

I didn't want him mocking me for being spoiled, so I ate the half-raw noodles while he watched, and I drained the broth.

Half an hour later, I was on my knees in the bathroom, throwing up.

I never asked him again.

But tonight, watching him brew the tonic, straining it — every motion was smooth, like he'd done it a thousand times.

"All done. Drink up."

I'd already swallowed so many. One more wouldn't matter. I tipped it back in one go.

"Good girl." He finally smiled, kissed my forehead, and went upstairs.

I took out the small box I'd prepared and carefully scraped the dregs into it.

The next morning, right after breakfast, I drove to see a Healer.

Elder Bramwell was gray-haired and leaned close over his glasses, examining the dregs.

"Moonroot. Musk glands. This is a heart-steadying tonic. Top-grade ingredients. Someone spent a fortune."

I kept my voice level. "It's not a fertility brew?"

"Definitely not. Several of these herbs would cause a she-wolf to lose a pup."

My face must have shown something, because he offered to read my pulse.

He was quiet a long time. "Your heart runs strong and steady. There's nothing wrong with it. Why are you drinking this? Someone may be deceiving you."

I shook my head.

"If you won't say, I won't push. But listen to me. Every brew has some toxicity, and this one wrecks the stomach. Long term, there will be consequences."

I went cold.

No wonder I hadn't been able to eat. Caleb had told me it was nerves before the Bonding.

He knew my mother had died of stomach cancer.

Dr. Hartley, our family Healer, had warned me more than once that it could be hereditary. Every checkup, I focused on my stomach.

They were vicious. They wanted me dead, and they couldn't even let me have a peaceful last few weeks.

I walked into the hospital lobby in a daze and came face-to-face with Caleb.

"What's wrong? Why did you come alone? You should've called me." His voice was soft and scolding.

"My chest hurts."

I looked into his eyes and watched panic flood the cold there.

"Your heart? Every checkup comes back clean. Where does it hurt? Let's find a Healer. Something can't be wrong with your heart." He grabbed my arm and pulled.

"The Healer said it's nothing." I shook him off.

"That's not good enough. I need to hear it from them myself."

Before he could finish, his phone rang.

He glanced at the screen, turned away, and picked up. "Yeah. Okay. On my way. Got it. Hot."

"Elara, something came up at the Pack House. I have to go. Do the full cardiac workup again. I'll come get you when the results are in."

He jogged off without looking back.

I pulled the corner of my mouth into something that wasn't quite a smile.

I'd barely reached the entrance when Dr. Hartley called, breathing hard.

"Your father said you weren't feeling well. I'm supposed to set up a full workup for you. I don't see you in the lobby. Where are you?"

A few minutes later, I was being shuttled from room to room by a team of Pack Healers.

The rushed results came back fast.