Today was supposed to be a perfect day.
“Jennifer, do you think Adrian will really propose to me tonight?” I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting my dress for the hundredth time, making sure every fold hugged the curves of my body just right.
It was perfect, and yet I couldn’t stop the nervous flutter in my chest.
Adrian and I had always dated in secret, and the only reason I had this bold idea was because last week, when I’d been ordered to clean his penthouse, I’d found a diamond ring in the drawer of his nightstand.
Jennifer came over, patted my shoulder, and tried to comfort me. “Relax, darling. If he didn’t want you, I bet the moment he first recognized you as his mate, he would’ve rejected you. But he never did. And he even bought a ring.”
“I haven’t even met his father,” my anxiety spiked again, my voice coming out hollow. “I’m not sure his father would approve of Adrian taking an omega wolf as his luna.”
Alpha wolves stood at the highest power level, while omegas were the weakest of the pack. Matches like ours were almost unheard of. Adrian was an alpha wolf, but not the brightest star in the pack—that honor belonged to his father. I’d never met the man, but Adrian’s descriptions alone made me shiver: domineering, cruel, arrogant.
“Maybe Adrian is declaring war on his father.” Jennifer laughed, giving my ass a playful slap. “He doesn’t need anyone’s approval. An alpha can choose any mate he wants. God, doesn’t that make him sexy as hell?”
I opened my mouth, ready to search for yet another reason why Adrian wouldn’t want me, but Jennifer impatiently pulled me away from the mirror and out to the graduation ball.
“It’s time,” she said, grabbing my wrist. “I bet the alpha pup is already drooling over his mate.”
Cheers erupted as the graduation ceremony began—applause, flashing lights, a sea of people. My heart pounded in time with Jennifer’s crude prophecy. I scanned the crowd and then I saw him. My mate. Adrian.
He was kneeling. My chest soared with joy and I started toward him, but suddenly another she-wolf shoved me aside. She walked straight to Adrian, holding out her hand to him.
Adrian smiled and slid the ring onto her finger.
I recognized her immediately—Nicole Montgomery. Daughter of the Moonlight Pack’s Alpha. Born into power and wealth. Her brown hair spilled over her shoulders like a waterfall, glowing under the lights. The crest of her pack hung proudly around her neck—a rank far higher than mine.
Adrian gazed up at her, his face radiating unquestionable admiration.
“Nicole Montgomery,” his voice rang through the hushed hall, “will you be my wife, my future luna?”
Her perfect little mouth formed an astonished O. Then she said yes—without hesitation.
The cheers exploded again, but to me they sounded muffled, distant—like I was underwater. Each cheer stabbed into my chest like a knife. The ring—the one I’d found in his apartment, the one I thought was meant for me—was now resting in his palm, offered to someone else.
My wolf whimpered in agony, every cell in her body wracked with pain. I felt her curl up inside me, trying to hide from the unbearable torment. My vision blurred.
“Claire?” Jennifer’s voice sounded miles away. “Claire, are you okay?” She gripped my elbow, but I could barely feel her touch.
Faint? Scream? Let him go so easily? Hell no. I would look him straight in the eye. He would see my frozen fury—not my tears.
I yanked free of Jennifer’s hand. Straightening my shoulders, face blank, I pushed through the stunned crowd toward Adrian.
He was basking in applause, his arm possessively wrapped around Nicole’s slender waist, accepting everyone’s congratulations.
The moment I drew near, the air went still. Adrian’s gaze turned cold.
“We need to talk,” I said. “Now.”
Nicole looked bewildered, but Adrian bent down, whispering something in her ear. She gave me a dismissive glance, then turned away to chat with others—as if I were just some whore clinging to Adrian’s side.
I swallowed the humiliation and dragged Adrian into a dim storage room off the hallway. The door shut behind me.
“I want an explanation!” I shouted. “Four years, Adrian. Four whole years! You can’t treat me like a fool!”
He leaned against the wall, arms crossed, a look on his face I’d never seen before—contempt.
“Oh, Claire. Really?” He laughed, disbelief dripping from his tone. “Did you honestly think the heir of the most powerful Crescent Pack in North America would choose an omega from some no-name pack?”