Perry's POV

"Damn you, Francis Lake. There's no way I'm becoming someone's damn mate just because you said so."

I stood outside the Crown Regent Hotel, fists clenched so tight my fingers were starting to ache. If life were fair, I'd be planting a punch right into my father's smug face, not standing here waiting to meet my ridiculous fiancé.

From the second I was born, Alpha Francis couldn't have cared less about me. While my mom lay sick in a hospital bed, he was off throwing wild parties with half-naked she-wolves.

It broke her heart—broke her completely. And that's exactly what Francis wanted. He made sure she stayed out of his way. By the time I was ten, she died from the pain of it all.

You know what killed me? Francis didn't even flinch. He moved on, found a new mate like nothing happened.

And me? I got dumped in the middle of nowhere, tossed aside like trash and left to scrape by.

Three days ago, the man I hadn't seen in forever finally called me. "Perry, dear," he said like we were best buddies. "I've promised you to the Bloodmoon Pack's alpha. Don't let me down now, for the good of the pack."

I wanted to puke. His smug little voice made me want to throw my phone across the room. And before I could tell him exactly where to shove that idea, he'd already hung up.

Twenty years. He never once looked for me. Now that our pack's barely hanging on, suddenly I exist again? I'm not his daughter—I'm a bargaining chip. Trash he's trying to trade for Bloodmoon's favor.

Now he expects me to become the mate of some alpha I don't even know? I hate this, every part of it. Alpha or not, I'm not giving in.

I never got to enjoy any perks of being an alpha's daughter, but now I have to pay the price for it?

Hell no. I made up my mind—I was going to make that alpha hate me so much, he'd turn me down and march right back to yell at dear old Francis.

My phone buzzed in my pocket. I picked up. "Hello?"

"Hey, Perry, it's me," Gina Layton's voice chirped through. "You outside already?"

"Yep, waiting out front. Come grab me," I said, trying to keep my tone light.

Gina and I go way back, childhood friends. Her dad owns this hotel, so she had the hookups when I asked about the Bloodmoon alpha. Turns out, he was checking in today. Perfect timing.

I wanted to speak with him before Francis's goons had the chance to drag me into anything.

Gina came rushing out a minute later. She caught my arm, looking at me like I was nuts. "Girl, what are you wearing? And what's on your face? Oh god, is that..."

"Yeah, it smells like sour milk," I said, wrinkling my nose. "Fully on purpose. I'm not trying to look cute. I want him to be disgusted. I need him to be pissed enough at Francis to back off."

"Right... sure," Gina muttered, eyes still wide. I could tell she thought I'd lost it.

I mean, who the hell doesn't want to be an alpha's mate?

She actually asked me that same question the first time I told her.

She clearly didn't agree with my plan, but she still backed me up—just because we were friends. That really hit me.

Gina kept her word and brought me to the top floor. She looked kind of anxious, her voice nearly a whisper. "Alright, Perry. Go in and do your bold thing. Just... remember, some things you can't undo once they're done."

"That's exactly the point," I said through clenched teeth.

I've never once regretted my decisions—and I wasn't about to start now.

Gina let out a sigh, shrugged, and gave me a little wave. "Okay then. Good luck!"

"I'll need it," I muttered. She turned and walked away, clearly worried.

I turned, too, and moved toward the room where the alpha was staying.

Inside was the alpha of the Bloodmoon Pack—Richard Scott. I'd heard of him, but we'd never met.

The door wasn't locked. It opened with a soft creak. I frowned.

Something felt... off. I froze, instinctively sniffing the air.