Chapter 3 Chapter 3

They dragged me to the show set before my cuts healed-some low-rent studio in the pack's main square, lights blaring. There they were, cozy on a couch, Yvonne curled into Xavier's side, his arm slung over her shoulders. His smell clung to her, thick, like he was marking his territory.

Xavier held out a camera, his tone casual, like he wasn't gutting me. "Quinn, you're good with this thing. Make sure we look. close. Like we're meant to be."

I took it, numb. I'd learned to take photos for him-to freeze the nights we'd laughed under the stars, the mornings he'd brought me pancakes in bed. Now he wanted me to document his softness with someone else.

On set, couples babbled about their "spark." Xavier didn't ramble. He pulled out a box: a tiny shoe from when Yvonne was a pup, a crumpled drawing she'd made at seven, a glittery hair tie she'd lost three years back.

The crowd oohhed-their scents warm. "That's so sweet! He kept all that?" "Who does that for someone unless they're crazy about 'em?"

Yvonne blushed, and Xavier stared at her-his eyes unreadable, but his posture loose, like he belonged there. That's when it hit me. His "disgust" for his adopted sister? The way he'd avoided her for years? All a lie. Those little things-proof he'd cared, always.

I swallowed hard, lifted the camera, and snapped. Frame after frame of them: her leaning into his shoulder, him tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. Every click erased a memory of us-our first kiss, the night he'd said "forever."

Outside, the pack's big screens lit up: XAVIER SLATER LOVES YVONNE.

The crowd erupted.

"Whoa, they're shouting it to the whole pack? That's bold!"

"Xavier's never been this loud about anyone. He's whipped-in the best way!"

"They're gonna bond, right? This is totally bond-level stuff!"

Then someone in the back called out, voice loud enough to cut through the noise: "Wait-isn't Xavier supposed to have a promised mate? Did I mix up my gossip?"

The air went still. Yvonne's smile sharpened, her scent turning sour with irritation. "What are you talking about? Xavier's never had a promised mate. He's loved me forever."

Xavier's jaw tightened. He nodded to his guys, who hauled the questioner out. Then he turned to the cameras, his voice steady, like he was stating a fact, not a lie.

"I've only ever loved Yvonne. No promised mate. Never will be."

The camera shook in my hand. I stumbled back, his words hitting like a fist.

Oh. That's why. He'd never gone public with us-never talked about our bond plans, kept us hidden. All to protect Yvonne's feelings.

I stared at the screen, at their faces glowing under the lights, and felt the last of my love for him crumble. Gone. For good.

The dating show rolled out couples' highlight reels-sappy montages of first meets, inside jokes.

When Xavier's turn hit, I tensed, expecting baby pics of Yvonne. Instead, the screen lit up with dates from the last six years.