Chapter 1

I was the proudest princess of our tribe, but I harbored a secret I could never share.

I fell in love with my sister Emily's former mate and slept with him, recording countless videos.

I stood before Walker, the alpha holding his phone, uncomfortably shielding my body. "Walker, can we skip filming today?"

He chuckled softly, his large hand gripping my waist, his tone suggestive. "Baby, aren't these videos proof of our love?"

He pulled me close, and we went at it again.

When I came to my senses, he was gone.

I caught my breath and noticed he left behind his prized watch.

As I hurried to return it, I overheard sounds of Walker and me from inside a private room.

...

I froze, peering through the door's crack.

Walker stood at the center, basking in praise for his performance in the videos and their mockery of me.

When the video ended, he led the cheers, and my heart ached as tears streamed down my face.

"Walker, you know how captivating Audrey looks beneath you? Blindfold her and let me have a turn someday!"

"Audrey's so high and mighty, she probably doesn't realize everyone's seen her already. If Emily knew, she'd rip you apart!"

I clamped my hand over my mouth, not daring to make a sound.

"He's only with her to get back at Emily for choosing her tribe over him years ago."

"If she ever finds out, Walker can just use these videos to trap her. She'll never escape."

They laughed, oblivious to the fact that their subject stood just outside the door.

My mind went blank as I looked at the man I trusted most.

"Exactly," Walker's familiar voice cut through. "She's just a tool. I feel nothing for her. My true mate is someone else. On Emily's birthday, I'll play all the videos on a big screen for a surprise."

I gasped.

Walker spun toward the door. "Who's there?"

His voice was cold as ice, perhaps his true self showing through.

I fled the hotel, collapsing in a dark alley, sobbing uncontrollably.

I thought Walker was the person who loved me most after Emily, but he was only using me.

I felt sorry for betraying Emily. I was such a fool.

My sister was someone I admired deeply.

When I was young, enemy tribes killed our parents.

As an alpha, Emily carried the weight of our tribe's future and, three years later, avenged our parents herself.

She even rescued me when I was kidnapped.

So when I faced danger again and Walker, a stranger, saved me, I fell for him instantly, seeing echoes of Emily in him.

It happened the day I awakened my wolf.

A gang of rogue wolves broke into our home while Emily was away, knocking me out and taking me.

When I woke, I was bound, staring up at a group of furious rogue wolves.

"This is Emily's sister. Since she killed so many of our tribe, her sister will pay with her life!"

One drew a silver blade and swung it toward me.

"Am I going to die here?" I thought, closing my eyes in fear.

The expected pain never came. I opened my eyes to see Walker standing before me like a guardian angel, taking the blow for me.

Blood dripped from his mouth, yet sunlight gleamed in his eyes.

A stranger alpha had shielded me from a silver blade.

I watched him drive off the rogues before collapsing in front of me.

In that moment, even without the Moon Goddess's decree, I believed Walker was my destined mate.

A werewolf struck by a silver blade could not heal; the wound would bleed and fester.

Yet when I visited Walker a week later with medicine from a witch, he had miraculously recovered.

He told me the Moon Goddess had blessed him.

Now, I realized those rogues might not have used a silver blade at all. It could have been Walker's setup.

My body trembled with anger as I bit my lip hard.

For three years, I lived at the tribe's edge, far from home, to be with Walker.

I did it because his parents had killed mine.

I wanted to bring Walker to meet Emily countless times.

I knew Emily despised everyone from Walker's tribe, especially her former mate.

But Emily loved me dearly. If I insisted, she would have agreed.

I was wrong. Walker wasn't worth it.

I hugged myself, tears falling, my wolf letting out mournful howls.

Then Emily's call came through. "Sweetheart, I brought a man home. Come see if you like him. I'm sure you'll love him. But if you have your own plans, I won't push you. I just want you to have the happiest life."

Emily's gentle tone warmed my frozen heart, and my eyes welled up again.

I sniffled and mumbled, "Mhm." "Emily, you're the best. I love you. I'll be back in three days."