Chapter 1

Kate’s P.O.V.

“He’s here! Alpha Jace is back!”

The cry tore through the pack grounds like wildfire.

People rushed toward the gates, cheering loudly as the victorious warriors returned home.

But I only saw one person, my fiancé, Jace, the love of my life.

A month ago, he held my hands beneath the moonlight and promised me something I had dreamed about for two years.

“When I return from war… we’ll get married.”

I had survived an entire month on those words alone, pushing through every sleepless night, every whispered prayer, and fear that he might not come back alive.

I touched the bracelet around my wrist unconsciously—the handmade charm band I had spent three nights making for him before the war.

A stupid little couple thing.

But Jace kissed my forehead when I tied it around his wrist.

“I’ll wear it until my last breath, Kate.”

The memory made my chest ache.

The crowd erupted as warriors poured in, dust-covered and victorious, greeted by families rushing forward with laughter and relief.

But my eyes were fixed on my powerful alpha fiancé, standing tall among soldiers.

He was alive.

He was finally home.

A laugh almost escaped me as I pushed through the crowd, desperate to reach him.

As I moved forward, the view became clear, making it clear he wasn’t alone.

There was a woman in his arms!

My steps stopped so suddenly that someone crashed into my shoulder.

Jace held her carefully against his chest, his attention focused on her like nothing else mattered.

For a second, my brain refused to process what I was seeing.

No!

No, there had to be a reason.

“She must be injured.” I told myself.

Clinging to that fragile hope, I called out.

“Jace!”

Even through the noise, he heard me instantly.

His gaze lifted, meeting mine across the crowd.

For a brief moment, warmth flickered in his eyes, but then coldness replaced it so quickly that my stomach dropped.

And the worst part?

He looked away first.

Like I was nothing more than another pack member waiting to greet him home.

The cheering around me suddenly sounded distant.

I stood still as a stone while he walked past me carrying another woman in his arms.

And somehow acting like I no longer existed…

...

I didn’t remember how I reached Jace’s office. Only the pain registered, like my chest had been split open and left bleeding.

The woman sat on the couch wrapped in Jace’s black cloak while healers treated the cuts on her arms.

She looked fragile!

Effortlessly beautiful in a way no omega could ever compete with.

That was when I noticed the matching charm bracelet tied around her wrist.

The one I made for Jace.

That sight alone struck the air out of my lungs.

I almost flinched when Jace stepped inside, closing the door behind him.

“Kate,” he said calmly. “Meet Jennifer.”

Jennifer looked at me nervously before lowering her eyes.

My gaze darted between her and Jace, the bracelet around her wrist screaming suspicion.

Jace exhaled heavily.

“I know this is unexpected, but this is reality.”

My fingers curled so tightly that my nails bit into my palms.

“I found Jennifer in the rogue camp. She was held hostage, abused and starved.”

His voice softened as he looked at her. “If we had arrived any later… she wouldn’t have survived.”

The way he looked at her tenderly made my heart clench.

I crossed my arms to stop them from trembling.

“That’s horrible. We’ll help her recover and send her back to her pack.”

“No!”

Jace didn’t even hesitate.

“Jennifer isn’t leaving.”

Silence settled between us.

A cold feeling crawled up my spine.

“But why?”

Jace looked into my eyes directly.

“Jennifer is my mate!”

The words shattered me completely.

Of course, fate had perfect timing.

It arrived when I finally believed someone could love me enough to choose me over destiny.

Jace stepped forward.

“Jennifer will stay here.”

He passed an order like the last two years of love were nothing more than a temporary adjustment.

Jennifer shifted on the couch, whimpering as she wrapped the cloak more firmly. Jace’s attention snapped to her immediately.

“Easy, Jenny.”

Jenny?

My stomach twisted.

That soft voice, that tenderness, was all I had begged for two years.

And now, Jenny had it!

He lifted her gently in his arms again.

“I will take her upstairs.”

And just like that, I was left alone, standing in the same room where everything had just ended.

Perhaps I was a fool, assuming that love could compete with fate!

Minutes later, Jace returned; his expression had hardened into Alpha mode again.

“An Alpha is strong with his fated Luna.”

He spoke seriously. “And Jennifer is my mate. Our bond strengthens the pack.”

There it was!

Power.

Politics.

Pack.

“Jennifer is Alpha Graham’s daughter,” he reasoned, “he is a powerful Alpha. An alliance with his Star Wolf Pack will secure our borders.”

I stared at him, wondering how there wasn’t a speck of guilt on his face.

“So, you are afraid of angering an Alpha you never met…”

My voice shook. “But not afraid of destroying your fiancé, who is standing right in front of you?”

A faint, bitter smile touched my lips.

“That’s efficient!”

His expressions hardened.

“Watch your tone, Kate!”

I laughed bitterly.

“Why? Truth hurts?”

My eyes burned with tears, but I held his gaze.

“You proposed to me, Jace. We planned our future together…”

“And what we had was real,” he snapped back. “But mates are chosen by fate. You always knew this was possible.”

I did!

I just never thought it would happen to me.

Jace took a slow breath.

“If it helps,” his voice lowered, “nothing has to change between us.”

That made me pause.

“What?”

His eyes locked onto mine.

“You can still be mine, Kate.”

The room went very still.

“You’ll still be important to me, Kate,” he continued calmly. “You know me better than anyone. I trust you. That doesn’t change because I have found my mate.”

I gawked at him in disbelief, hoping absurdly that I had misunderstood him.

“You will stay by my side.”

Then came the final knife.

“Just not… publicly.”

My stomach churned.

“You want me to be your mistress?”

Jace frowned.

“It’s not like that.”

“Oh?”

A broken laugh escaped me.

“Then what exactly should I call myself? Your hidden emotional support omega?”

His patience snapped.

“It’s still an honorable position!”

I actually choked on air.

Honorable?

Two years of loyalty, and I got promoted from future Luna to a secret side chick?

Amazing career development.

Jace’s gaze softened, but there wasn’t a hint of affection in it.

“You should feel honored, Kate. Most women can kill for the attention I am offering you.”

Then he stepped closer.

“Kate, I know you love me,” he said softly. “We can still be together. Even if you aren’t Luna, you will be the one I come to for comfort. The one I trust…”

Jace went on and on, but I couldn’t hear him anymore.

Something inside me went very still.

Not broken.

Just… done!

Jace reached out, his hand settling on my shoulder.

“You can still be mine, Kate. My woman…”

“Don’t!”

I stepped back immediately, nausea rising at his touch.

“Don’t touch me!”

His eyes darkened dangerously.

“You dare to reject me?”

“Don’t be surprised.” I spoke firmly. “You made your choice, Jace!”

“You belong to me, Kate,” he growled, stepping closer. “No one else in this pack would take a wolf-less omega like you.”

That hurt.

Jace knew exactly where to strike for maximum damage.

But I refused to bleed for him.

I lifted my chin.

“I would rather be alone forever than become your dirty little secret.”

Tears blurred my vision as I stepped backward toward the door.

“You won’t get this offer again,” he warned coldly.

I gazed at him, at the man I would have died for yesterday.

Tears flooded my eyes.

I almost smiled.

“Good!”

And for the very first time in two years… I walked away from him.