Chapter 1

I stood before the double doors of the banquet hall, my heart pounding with excitement and nerves.

Tonight was the full moon. The night Wyatt and I were supposed to have our marking and bonding ceremony. I had even worn his favorite red velvet dress just for the occasion.

I imagined the hall filled with my favorite roses, maybe even romantic petals scattered on the floor...

But when I pushed the doors open, I wasn't met with the scent of roses. Instead, I was hit by the deafening, mocking laughter of the pack members.

"Haha! I told you Valerie would wear red! You lose, Wyatt!" Harper's shrill laughter pierced the air.

I froze in the doorway.

The hall was brightly lit. Over a dozen core pack members stood around with drinks in their hands, their eyes all locked on me. There was no blessing in their gazes, only the amusement of watching a good show.

And Harper stood next to Wyatt, looking at me with a provocative smirk.

Around her neck hung the glowing Luna necklace.

It was the symbol of the Crescent Ridge Luna. Tonight, Wyatt was supposed to put it around my neck, declaring to the entire pack that I was his mate.

But now, it rested on Harper's pale skin, feeling like a hard slap across my face.

Wyatt strolled toward me with a champagne flute, wrapping an arm around my waist with his usual gentle touch.

"Harper and I made a bet. If you wore the red dress tonight, she gets to borrow the necklace for a year."

He rubbed the velvet of my collar, sounding regretful, even though he was the one who told me this dress looked gorgeous on me. "Well, the result is obvious... The necklace is hers for now. Our bonding ceremony will have to wait until next year."

"I'm so sorry, babe. It was just a bet, but I'm an Alpha. I can't go back on my word."

"Don't worry. Next year on the full moon, I promise I'll give you an unforgettable bonding ceremony."

I stared at his casual expression, feeling a cold numbness wash over my heart.

"A bet? You used our sacred bonding ceremony as a betting chip with Harper?"

"Don't make a big deal out of nothing, Valerie," Wyatt frowned. "It's just a necklace. Harper is only borrowing it. Pushing the ceremony back a year won't kill us. Are you really going to make me break my word in front of everyone?"

Won't kill us.

For the past three years, it had always been like this.

The first time, he lost a street race to Harper. She demanded he delay our ceremony by a year, and he agreed.

The second time, he pretended to be drunk and bet whether I would drive out in a thunderstorm to pick him up. I went, he lost the bet again, and he sighed helplessly, "Valerie, because you're so clingy, we have to push the ceremony back again."

And today was the third time.

I was done holding it in.

I raised my hand, slowly slid the band off my ring finger, and dropped it onto the floor.

It was the ring he gave me when he proposed. I used to treat it like my most prized possession.

"Wyatt, we're done."

Wyatt froze. "What did you just say?"

Harper bit her lower lip, putting on a pitiful act as she tugged at Wyatt's sleeve. "Wyatt, let it go. It's all my fault. I shouldn't have joked around with you guys. I'll take the necklace off right now..."

She fumbled with the clasp, pretending to be in a rush, and let out a soft cry of pain as she supposedly pinched her skin.

Wyatt immediately grabbed her hands, inspecting them nervously before turning to glare at me. "Valerie! It was just a bet. With you acting this spoiled, how can I trust you to be my Luna?"

"Now you've made Harper hurt herself. Apologize to her!"

Whispers broke out among the pack members.

"Seriously. An orphaned, low-ranking wolf should be on her knees thanking the Goddess an Alpha even looked at her."

"She has zero grace. She's not even fit to be compared to a hair on Harper's head."

Once upon a time, I would have done as he said.

I would have swallowed the humiliation to save his face, telling myself that he had his Alpha pride to maintain, and that deep down, he still loved me.

But now, I didn't want to lie to myself anymore.

"I'm not acting spoiled, Wyatt," I said, gazing at him calmly. "Keep the necklace. I won't be your Luna."

With that, I turned and strode away.

Behind me, Harper's voice drifted over. "Wyatt, you should go after her. She looks really mad."

Wyatt gave a short, dismissive scoff. "She's just throwing a tantrum. Where else could she possibly go without me? Besides, your neck is more important. Let me see..."

His words were like sharp knives, cutting clean and deep.

And whatever tiny sliver of hope I had left for him vanished completely.