Chapter 1
Today was supposed to be the day my destined mate and I got engaged. But instead, I’m watching him kiss another woman. Marrying her could make him the future Alpha because she’s the daughter of Gavin Landry, the most influential Lycan chairman in the world.
A few months ago, our Alpha fell in battle, and now every candidate is vying for the position—including my mate, Ethan.
Everyone knows the Lycans control the werewolf population. And Gavin? He has the power to appoint the next Alpha with a single word.
So, Ethan made his choice.
Her, not me.
“Whiskey for me and a martini for the lady,” a deep voice rumbled nearby. “Is it the future bride or groom that has you upset?”
“I’m just not a fan of parties,” I replied.
“Nor am I,” he murmured. “I’m here out of obligation.”
The bartender set my drink down, and I took a sip, sighing as the warmth spread through me. I waited for the alcohol to dull the ache in my chest.
Every time Ethan kissed her, it shattered me a little more.
How had my life taken such a cruel turn? How could my fated mate do this to me? Did our two years together mean nothing? Did the mark on my neck mean so little to him?
“Thanks for the drink,” I said to the stranger.
I took one last sip of my martini and started to step down from the stool when my blouse snagged on the counter. I heard a tearing sound as I lost my balance, bracing for impact—but it never came.
Strong arms caught me, lifting me with ease. My breath hitched as I looked up at the man who held me.
He was breathtaking.
His grip was firm yet effortless, as though I weighed nothing. His chiseled features and the dimple on his right cheek made my heart stutter.
I wanted to trace that dimple with my fingers.
“Madam, are you falling for me?” he teased.
I narrowed my eyes, catching his playful tone.
“You think you’re funny, don’t you?”
He grinned, then his gaze flickered to my torn shirt, and his expression darkened.
“Come with me to my suite,” he said, making my heart skip a beat.
“What?” I whispered.
His eyes met mine, and for a moment, I was lost in them.
“Your shirt is ripped. I have one you can wear upstairs,” he explained.
I blinked, chuckling nervously. “Oh… right. Thanks.”
He turned to the bartender. “Charge our drinks to my suite.”
“Yes, sir.”
I let him guide me out of the room, his warmth seeping into me. As I rested my head against his broad chest, inhaling his minty scent, my wolf stirred. She’d been silent, wounded by the broken mate bond, but now she was awake, intrigued.
“Take off your shirt,” he said once we entered the suite, heading toward the closet.
I squeaked. “Excuse me?”
“So you can change into a new one.”
“Right,” I mumbled, pulling my torn shirt off and tossing it onto the bed, leaving me in just my bra. He turned back, holding a shirt, but froze as his eyes traveled over me. I barely noticed, too distracted by the way familiarity was creeping in.
Then, realization struck me, and I gasped.
“It’s you…” I whispered, stepping back.
His gaze lifted to mine, an eyebrow arching. “You know me?”
“I know of you,” I clarified.
The corner of his lips twitched upward as he took slow, deliberate steps toward me. My heart pounded.
“And what do you know?”
“Only what I’ve heard…”
“Tell me.”
I swallowed hard. “You’re Gavin Landry, Lycan Chairman. A notorious playboy. You never see the same woman twice.”
His brows rose. “Is that so?”
Hell, he’s the father of the bride? Ethan’s future father-in-law? My mind spun. The Lycans weren’t high-profile like werewolf Alphas; they preferred the shadows to politics and fame.
Should I tell him who I am? No, not yet.
He kept moving toward me, and I instinctively backed up until my spine met the wall.
“What else have you heard?” he asked.
I licked my lips, my voice barely above a whisper. “Your eyes… people say they’re mesmerizing. I have to agree.”
“What else?”
I swallowed. “Your smile… there’s a dimple on your cheek.”
He was so close now that his warmth wrapped around me. My breath hitched as his gaze dropped to my lips.
“And your lips…”
Before I could finish, his mouth crashed against mine. His kiss wasn’t gentle—it was hungry, possessive. I met his intensity, my fingers gripping his shirt. He lifted me, pinning me between him and the wall. Instinctively, I wrapped my legs around his waist as he deepened the kiss.
His lips trailed down my neck, heat spreading through my body as he claimed my skin.
All logic and restraint vanished. There was only Gavin. His touch. His scent. His presence consuming every part of me.
I tugged at his tie, desperate to remove it. He helped, then pulled his shirt over his head, revealing sculpted muscle. My fingers explored his body, tracing each ridge and plane.
I moaned against his lips as he kissed me again.
“Are you sure?” he murmured between kisses.
“Yes,” I breathed. “We’re both adults. Why not?”
His lips met mine again, his hands moving to unclasp my bra—
Then, a panicked voice echoed through my mind, piercing the haze.
“Judy! Please, come home!”
My adoptive mother. Crying. Terrified.
The urgency in her tone was like a bucket of ice water. I gasped, my hands pressing against Gavin’s chest.
“Stop,” I panted. “I have to go.”
He frowned. “You’re joking.”
“I’m not. I’m sorry. But I’m sure you have plenty of other options.” I turned for the door, but he caught my wrist, stopping me.
“You forgot something.” He pointed to the bed.
I glanced down at my bare torso and flushed. “Oh…”
He sighed and pulled his shirt over my head.
His scent wrapped around me like a second skin.
———
The moment I stepped into the house, I heard my mother sobbing.
“Judy?” she cried from the kitchen, her voice broken. My chest tightened.
Then she said the words that sent my world crumbling.
“Your father was taken away by the Gammas tonight.”
