Chapter 1

The gathering hall of the Silver Moon Pack was thick with the stench of ale and sweat, the whole place humid enough to make my lungs protest.

I, Elena Kingsley, stood at the entrance, staring at the two people trapped in the center of the crowd.

My fiancé, Lucas Hale, was bare-chested, sweat rolling down the ridges of his muscles.

And Sarah Quinn, my so-called best friend, was wrapped around him like a clinging vine.

A fresh, crimson bite stood out against the soft skin along her neck's artery, still seeping blood.

It was an Alpha's lifelong mating mark, a vow etched straight into the soul.

When Lucas's cronies spotted me, they didn't quiet down at all. If anything, they whistled louder.

"Hey, look who's here, the official Luna-to-be!"

"Elena, get over here! This was last night's ultimate dare punishment!"

Lucas finally noticed me, his hand still glued to Sarah's waist. He didn't look even remotely guilty.

"What are you doing here?"

I pointed at the wound on Sarah's neck. "What is that supposed to be?"

Sarah jumped in before he could answer. "Elena, don't get the wrong idea. We were drunk, playing truth or dare. Lucas lost, and the punishment was to mark a random girl on the spot. You know how Lucas is. He wouldn't even look at the other she-wolves here. So I had to... volunteer myself."

I looked at Lucas, waiting for him to say something-anything.

Instead, he frowned. "Elena, seriously? We were just messing around. Sarah was helping me out. What, you wanted me to mark some stranger instead? You should be thanking her."

"Thank her?" My stomach twisted so hard I nearly gagged. "You turned the most sacred mark in our kind into a party punishment?"

Someone nearby burst into loud, mocking laughter.

"Come on, Elena, that's ancient thinking. Nobody believes that old legend stuff anymore."

Sarah lifted her head from Lucas's chest, her eyes sparkling with challenge.

"Elena, you're not jealous, are you? I was just helping you test Lucas's Alpha stamina. Can't deny it... Lucas was incredible last night."

Sarah dragged out the last word, letting her gaze sweep over him in a way that made my skin crawl. Lucas puffed up instantly, soaking in the praise.

Lucas lifted his chin, pretending to be magnanimous.

"Enough, Elena, quit making a scene. You're embarrassing me in front of the guys. After this week's... temporary heat with Sarah dies down, I'll have the Healer wipe the mark. Then I'll reject her, and we can still have your Luna Coronation next month like nothing happened."

He paused, the contempt in his voice sharp enough to cut. "Besides, you're a Beta. No pheromones, no instinctive response to a mating mark. You don't even need that kind of intensity, right?"

So that was all I was to him-an adopted Beta orphan, someone he could walk over without consequence.

I stopped watching their pathetic performance and slipped the moonstone ring off my finger.

I walked to the trash bin. With every eye in the hall on me, I opened my hand.

The ring dropped straight into a pile of vomit and crumpled paper.

"No need to wash it if it's already filthy. Just throw it away."

The hall fell silent.

Lucas's smirk vanished. He shoved Sarah aside. "Elena! What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"The literal meaning." I kept my voice icy. "Lucas, we're done."

With that, I turned and walked away.

Lucas tried to follow, but Sarah grabbed his arm.

Sarah leaned close to his ear and whispered, "Lucas, relax. She's throwing a tantrum, that's all. She's an orphan. Without you, she's done for. Give it three days-she'll crawl back crying and begging."

Lucas froze, then shouted at my back with all the venom he could muster, "Elena! If you walk out that door today, don't you dare come begging later! You won't set foot in my house again unless you crawl from the door to my bed!"

A louder wave of laughter erupted behind me.

I didn't look back.

I walked straight out of the hall, pulled out my phone, and dialed a number I hadn't called in years.

"Hello."

The voice on the other end was old, but threaded with authority.

"Your Highness? Is that you?"

"It's me." My voice was steady, utterly calm. "Inform my father-the trial is over. I'm coming home."