Chapter 4
He kept saying he was “torn” between me and Melody.
But everything he did screamed otherwise.
The day of our bond ceremony, he left me standing there in full ceremonial robes… to comfort
Melody after a fight with her mate.
On our one–year anniversary, I sat alone beside a plate of cold grilled venison while he ran off to
“calm her down“-because she was afraid of thunderstorms.
Even on my birthday, he showed up late, gift in hand–but it wasn’t for me. He’d gone to celebrate
Melody’s big promotion, some “special recognition” from the pack council.
Every holiday, he prepared two sets of gifts.
For me, it was always something generic–silver jewelry engraved with the clan crest.
For Melody? A custom–made wolf–fur shawl, woven by hand.
I got store–bought honey cake.
She got a specialty dessert made with moonflower pollen–rare, expensive, and only harvested
once a year under a full moon.
And he had the nerve to call that fair.
I used to complain.
Every time, he’d hang his head and say, “You’re right. I’ll do better next time.”
Next time never came.
Instead, he’d frown and mutter, “Can’t you be a little more understanding? Her mate’s barely
around. I’m just looking out for her.”
Looking back now, I think the only time I ever truly felt happy with him…was the day he proposed.
He’d chosen the summit of the sacred wolf mountain–four thousand meters above sea level.
Up there, the stars felt so close, I could’ve reached out and plucked them from the sky.
He knelt on one knee and held out a ring, set with a luminous moonstone said to be blessed by the
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Luna herself.
His eyes burned like fire as he whispered, “Aurora. My mate. My home.”
That was the only time I ever saw him look at me like I was the only one in the world.
Too bad that version of him only existed for a moment. Reality came knocking–literally.
Orion called when I didn’t respond to his message.
“I booked us a table at The Lodge,” he said. “All the guys will be there. Let me make it up to you, okay? Just… stop being like this.”
“Is Melody coming?”
A pause.
“…Yeah.”
“Great. Pick me up tomorrow.”
If he was going to apologize, she deserved to hear it too.
When Orion pulled up the next day, Melody was already in the front seat.
She turned to me with an apologetic smile. “Sorry, Aurora. I get motion sick in the back, so I had to
take the front.”
“It’s fine.” I opened the rear door and got in, my tone flat and detached.
There was a time I’d cry over something like this–her always getting the seat closest to him, always coming first.
Now? She could climb into the driver’s seat and take the wheel, for all I cared.
It’s funny, though… she only ever ‘got carsick’ in Orion’s car.
When we arrived at the restaurant, Leo and the rest of Orion’s buddies were already in the private
room.
Leo was the first to stand, grabbing my arm and tugging me toward the seat next to him. “Come on,
Aurora. Sit here. Let me do my good deed for the night.”
There wasn’t even a hint of guilt in his voice–just arrogance, like he was granting me an audience.
Once everyone settled in, Leo poured me a glass of the pack’s strongest liquor, downed his own,
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and finally spoke.
“I’ve always had a big mouth,” he said. “You know that. Truth is, I never thought you were good enough for my boy.”
He shot Orion a smirk.
“But he insisted, so… I’m here to eat my words.”
He poured another shot, raised his glass to me.
“I was out of line that day. My bad.”
The others mumbled a few half–hearted “sorrys” too, like they were reciting lines at a council hearing.
Orion jumped in quickly, eager to change the subject.
“Alright, alright. That’s enough. Let’s eat, yeah? No need to drag up old stuff.”
But Melody wasn’t done. She stood up, holding a glass of juice, and looked at me with syrupy
sweetness.
“Aurora, I owe you an apology too. Orion’s been looking after me so much… I know that must’ve
made you feel left out.”
“You did nothing wrong,” Orion said quickly, pulling her back into her seat.
He turned to me with exaggerated seriousness.
“It was me. I screwed up. I’m sorry.”
I set down my fork and knife.
Then looked calmly toward the door.
“Well, in that case… there’s someone else who should hear your apology too.”
Right on cue, the door opened.
And in walked a man in a tailored black suit, a polished wolf council pin gleaming on his cuff.
Melody’s official mate–A senior official in the Department of Commerce.
Her smile froze.
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And Orion’s face drained of color.
