Chapter One
Aria POV
I was getting married, but my mate of eight years still didn’t know.
Lately, Nicho had been busy with his new secretary, Selena, a rogue wolf who recently joined his pack. They bonded immediately, their laughter echoing down the corridors of the packhouse. For her birthday, he even ordered a ten–layer moonflower cake, despite knowing my severe allergy to moonflower essence. At the party, they smeared cream all over each other, completely forgetting my presence.
When the scent of moonflower hit me, my throat closed up, and I shifted partially in a desperate bid to breathe. My wolf, Nyra, howled in distress as I collapsed,
unconscious.
I woke up in the pack healer’s quarters, a bitter feeling blooming in my chest.
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That’s when I agreed to the arranged mating bond my family had proposed years.
ago.
Mom wasted no time. As soon as I got back to my quarters and swiped my keycard to enter, my phone buzzed relentlessly. Opening it, I saw dozens of wedding plans flooding the screen.
I scrolled through her messages, stopping at the last one:
“I always knew Nicholas wasn’t your fated mate. If he truly wanted to claim you, why would he delay for eight years? It‘ s not too late, Aria. I’ve already prepared everything for the ceremony.”
“The bonding ceremony is in three days. Take your time packing. No need to rush.”
The truth was as clear as a full moon now. While I clung to Nicho’s empty promises, the rest of the pack had seen through his lack of commitment.
Sighing, I sent her a voice message.
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“Mom, pick whatever you think is best. I trust your judgment. Let’s keep it simple.
I didn’t hear Nicho approach. His sharp hearing must have picked up my words. because his voice sliced through the silence. “Wedding? What wedding?”
I stiffened and quickly hid my phone, but Nicho reached for it. Before he could snatch it, his phone rang, the shrill sound cutting through the tension.
A panicked female voice came through, loud enough for my enhanced hearing to catch every word.
“Nicholas! Someone‘ s following me! I’m so scared. I tried circling back, but I can’t shake them!”
Nicho’s expression darkened, his
protective instincts kicking in.
“Selena, stay in a well–lit area near the pack’s patrol routes. I’m coming!”
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Without another word, he shifted into his wolf form and bolted into the night.
I kept my face calm, even as Nyra growled low in my mind.
After he left, I dialed my aunt, Lyra, to say goodbye. My parents had left the pack territory ten years ago to lead another pack, leaving me in Lyra‘ s care.
Nicho and I had grown close as young wolves, especially since he lived next door. When Lyra got mated and moved to her mate’s pack, I chose to stay behind. What was supposed to be a temporary arrangement with Nicho stretched into eight years.
When Aunt Lyra picked up, her voice was warm but surprised. “Married? To Nicho? It’s about time! Eight years is long enough. for any wolf to claim his mate.”
I hesitated before correcting her. “No, Aunt Lyra. It’s an arranged bonding. I don‘ t even know who he is.”
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The silence on the other end was deafening before she finally spoke. “Have you thought this through? Nicho cares for you. Maybe he just needs a little nudge to make things official. I could talk to him.”
A bitter laugh escaped me. “No need, Aunt Lyra. If Nicho cared, he wouldn’t have waited eight years while toying with my heart. It wasn‘ t a true bond–just a shadow of one. If I don‘ t let go now, I’ll waste my entire youth waiting for a wolf who’ll never mark me.”
She sighed, clearly struggling to understand how we could live together for so long without solidifying our bond. Still, she didn’t push further, promising to support me no matter what.
Before bed, I set a countdown on my phone. Three days to leave the past behind.
The next day, I asked my mom to send
some parting gifts to thank Aunt Lyra for caring for me all these years.
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That evening, as I waited for the delivery truck, I found Nicho lingering outside the packhouse.
His golden eyes narrowed as he saw me directing the driver. “What‘ s all this?”
“Just some farewell gifts for Aunt Lyra,” I said, keeping my tone neutral.
“Farewell?” His voice dropped, the faint growl in his tone betraying his unease.
I gave him a soft smile. “I’ll be leaving. the pack soon.”
His wolf flickered briefly in his gaze, but he didn’t press further. Perhaps he thought I was bluffing.
Just then, Selena‘ s scent wafted in on the evening breeze. She trotted toward us in wolf form, shifting mid–step. Her arms immediately wrapped around Nicho‘ s, her large green eyes wide with mock innocence.
“Alpha Nicho, thank you for coming last
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night. I don’t know what I would‘ ve done without you,” she purred.
I stepped away, the sight too much for Nyra to bear. Her furious snarls echoed in my mind, but I held her back.
“We’re better than this,” I whispered to her, turning to leave.
As I walked away, I heard Selena giggle.
“She’s always so quiet, isn’t she? Almost like a ghost.”
Nicho s response was muffled, but I didn’t care anymore. He had helped her get her wolf and she didn’t have to go through bullying like other rogues do because of their inability to connect to
their wolf.
