Chapter 1

*Colette*

“Leslie!” I call out down the empty hall, my heart racing and stomach twisting in fear. Of all the days for the Alpha’s daughter to disappear, she had to choose her wedding day. I frown at the door at the end of the hall, a sock on the handle, and I roll my eyes. Clearly, she has found herself a partner for the night and overslept. Not unusual for her lately.

I jiggle the door handle, finding it locked, and groan in annoyance as I reach into my hair and withdraw out a pin to pick the lock. The handle clicks, the door swinging open and I am slammed in the face with the divine smell of eucalyptus and cottonwood.

My wolf perks up, and my eyes grow wide when I step into the room, flipping on the switch and my heart stutters. Leslie sits at the foot of the bed wrapped in a white sheet, hair and makeup askew. She looks at me and her eyes grow wide, and then she covers her mouth as she runs toward the bathroom, retching along the way.

The sound of her vomiting floats through the silence, and I feel my stomach churning as well. I struggle with my wolf, trying like hell to resist the urge to look to the right and find the source of the smell.

My mate is in this room, but after seeing the state of Leslie, I’m not sure I’m ready to meet him. Not like this. My heart flutters and my chest aches simultaneously. If he is in here, then he’s been IN Leslie…and that’s enough to break my heart.

“Cole…” His voice is soft and full of regret, and it’s all it takes to break me. Grady. Heavens no…

“No…” I whimper, the tears welling up in my eyes as I clutch the bodice of the ridiculous dress Leslie asked me to wear as her personal aide.

His gentle hands grab my arm, the telltale sparks zipping through me and my heart sinks further into my gut. Grady tugs me toward him and the seconds bleed into what feels like minutes as I look up into my best friend’s face. The guy I have loved since I was little. The man who I was hoping to find as my mate today…and I did. In the most horrible way possible.

“You slept with Leslie?” I ask, swallowing down the burn of acid in my throat.

“We didn’t know how to tell you.” Leslie says from the bathroom door, her eyes red and face white as the sheet hiding her naked body, but I can see the glimmer of pleasure in her eyes, the way she is relishing in my pain.

“You guys are…” I turn my face away, hating the taste of the words on the tip of my tongue. “Together?”

“No,” Grady chuckles dryly, tugging me to him, my body igniting with his addictive touch.

“Yes.” Leslie counters with a growl.

I blink at her and her jaw

clutches. The room stinks of sweat and s*x and every second I stand here, the threat of falling to pieces turns

you’ve been screwing me for months, Grady,” she scoffs. “We are

rub the filth of him off my skin. The hurt in his eyes makes me second guess myself for a moment before I stumble back to get further from him. He is suffocating, his scent swirling around me, almost calming until I smell her on him. The overly sweet vanilla

you want to be precise.” Leslie says with an

head whipping to Grady for confirmation, and he drops his chin in defeat, shoulders deflating. His bare chest heaves up and down as though the air

want you!” he steps closer and I shake my head no, a

and my heart stutters. Long pink trails where her nails dug

vomit the three cups of coffee I anxiously drank this morning in anticipation of today. The world spins around me as I lean

and wipe my lips, tossing it into the trash and freeze when my eyes glimpse the long, white item sticking

prayer on my lips begging her to say that she has

I take our relationship seriously,” she announces proudly, and I bite back a sob. Grady was my light spot. The star in the bleak sky that lit my life. And now that star has turned into a black hole, sucking

be getting married today.” I whisper, steadying myself in the bathroom’s doorway, my knees weak

she says with

doesn’t like the idea of it. And You don’t simply

ugly scarred alpha no one wants…”

he looks like

“No, he will kill me when he finds out.” She slides her eyes to Grady, who has found himself at my back, his hand resting on my arms as

aren’t virgins when they mate

presses a kiss to the side of my head and my heart aches. He is choosing me, making a show so she knows he wants his mate. That he wants me, but he has no idea that it’s too late. I can see the

tenses, his hands dropping from me and my tears slide down my cheek, just waiting for it, the moment he realizes what all of this

“What?”

Grady. I can’t marry him. Not now, not with your

presses into my back, clinging to me,

her.” She hisses, and he tightens his

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