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.

at her and

nightmare as I try to free myself from his clutches. The room stinks of sweat and s*x and every second I stand here, the threat

Grady,” she scoffs. “We are more than f**k

Grady’s hold, trying to 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 and cinnamon that

to be

in defeat, shoulders deflating. His bare chest heaves up and down as though the air from the room is thin. For a

want you!” he steps closer and I shake my

away, his hands in his hair. He yells out in frustration. I notice something on his back and my heart stutters. Long pink trails where her nails dug into his back and there is no going back as the bile rushes

of today. The world spins around me as I lean over the toilet, feeling faint with the tears streaming as I heave painfully

for a square of toilet paper and wipe my lips, tossing it into the trash and freeze when my eyes glimpse the long, white item sticking partially out. My heart thuds in my ears as I

the only male you have been seeing?” My eyes slide closed, a prayer on my lips begging her to say that she has been with

The star in the bleak sky that lit my life. And now that star

steadying

she says

says, reminding her of her duty. She agreed to this union even though she doesn’t like the idea of it. And

don’t want to be stuck with some ugly scarred alpha no

pack!” I hiss. “WHat he looks like doesn’t matter. You have to get dressed, otherwise there

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 he

when they mate or marry,”

so she knows he wants his mate. That he wants me, but he has no idea that it’s too late.

tenses, his hands dropping from me and my tears slide down my cheek, just waiting for

“What?”

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

word, his arms wrapping around me from behind as he presses into my back, clinging to me, killing

hisses, and he tightens his

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