Chapter 1
Amber’s POV
“Truth or dare?”
“Truth”
The night before my mating ceremony, the pack threw a wild bachelor party for Grayson and me at the pack house. The air was thick with heat, alcohol, and hormones, buzzing with lauschter and music.
Just as the game hit its peak, Piper pressed her lips together, met my gaze, and smiled faintly.
“I’m pregnant,” she said. “It’s Grayson’s.”
The room froze for a beat–then erupted in laughter and whistles,
But Grayson didn’t laugh. His expression went rigid, his eyes flickering with something I couldn’t name.
After the party ended, he found me under the moonlight, guilt etched deep in his features. He looked exhausted.
“Amber,” he said quietly. “It’s true.”
My heart crashed into my ribs. My fingers turned ice–cold. I couldn’t breathe
“Don’t overthink it,” he rushed on. “We’ve always just been friends. That night… she went into heat. I was drunk–completely blacked out. It was just… a
mistake.”
“She doesn’t have a mate, and she doesn’t plan to form a bond with anyone. She just wants to keep the baby and raise it on her own.”
Istared at him, my voice eerily calm. “So what now?”
He sounded like he was reciting a script.
“I’m the father. I need to take responsibility. During the week, I’ll stay at her place to help out. On weekends… I’ll come home to you.”
“We can postpone the mating ceremony. Once the baby’s born, I’ll make it up to you.”
I let out a soft laugh. My lips trombled “Wow. You really thought this through.”
He sighed in relief, thinking I understood him. He picked up his suitcase and turned to leave.
He didn’t look back.
I stood there, watching his figure fade into the distance, while silent tears rolled down my cheeks.
Then I started packing too.
Three years of quiet devotion, five years of staying–none of it was enough to withstand one night of lust.
My phone buzzed mid–pack–Carter.
His voice was hoarse, starred with alcohol, rough like a low growl through the speaker.
“Amber… I fucking love you. Don’t bond with him. Be my Luna.. please?”
My fingers trembled. I said nothing for a long time, my throat too tight to speak.
“Okay,”
That one word drained every ounce of strength I had left.
packed in one go, slipped off the engagement ring, and placed it gently go the vanity.
Red ribbons still hang from the celling, rose sachets filling the room with a sickly–sweet scent of celebration. What was meant to be a bond ceremony now felt like a cruel farewell.
Just as I was about to step out with my suitcase, a message popped up from Grayson: II left my towel at your place. Bring it to Piper’s, would you? You know the address, right?
I stared at the text and laughed. Of course I knew the address
It was where his group of friends gathered every month. He’d brought me along a few times.
Chapter 1
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The guys would drink and game on the couch while Piper strutted around in crop tops and booty shorts, flaunting herself like she was on a personal
catwalk.
I’d been jealous. I’d begged him not to go there anymore.
He had just scoffed. “I’m an Alpha. I need a social life. You and I don’t even have the same interests–might as well each do our own thing.”
“And Piper? She’s like one of the guys. Even if she stood naked in front of me, I wouldn’t blink”
Looking back, it was all just lies.
I meant to text back “Not happening” But somehow, I typed-“Sure.”
Maybe I just wanted to see for myself,
See how this man who couldn’t even peel a boiled egg growing up–planned to “take care” of a pregnant woman.
At Piper’s front door, I gripped the bag with the towel so tightly my knuckles turned white.
The door opened quickly.
Piper stood there in a tight tank top and tiny shorts, grinning like sunshine.
“Oh, Amber, hey! Come in!”
She yanked the bag from my hands before I could say a word.
“Make yourself at home. Grayson’s in the shower. I’ll bring him the towel.”
wel.”
Water was still running behind the bathroom door, loud enough to muffle the world.
“Piper, bring in the towel,” came Grayson’s voice–lazy, almost commanding
A few minutes later, he came out with the towel slung around his waist, his wet hair dripping as he walked.
“Piper,” he said, still shaking water from his hair, “help me dry off.”
She giggled and reached up to mess with his hair. “Seriously? Who’s taking care of who here? I’m the one who’s pregnant, Alpha sir.” Grayson chuclded and reached for her waist in mock protest-
Then froze.
He saw me.
I was sitting in the corner of the living room, hidden in the shadows, completely silent.
The air around me was dead still.
He stared at me, stunned.
his face drained of color. He dropped the hair dryer–it clattered loudly on the table, like sonibthing burning hot.
He scowled, shoved it toward me, and said coldly, “You’re just in time. Dry my hair.”
