Betrayed Before Our Bonding

On the third day of kneeling before the statue of the Moon Goddess and praying for Ryan Summers, a sudden row of glowing text appeared right in front of my eyes.

[Ryan really is a piece of trash. His little childhood sweetheart, Rowena Blake, ran off the moment she learned he was going to hold a bonding ceremony, so he actually faked his own death just to chase her.]

[Ryan and Rowena are out there whispering sweet nothings to each other under the flowers and moonlight, while Jenna Cuttridge cried her eyes nearly blind over that scumbag.]

[Too bad Jenna never finds out that Ryan tricked her. When he comes back from playing dead, she even happily marries him.]

So this was the miracle the Moon Goddess had bestowed upon me.

Thunderstruck, I grabbed my phone and called my Alpha father, Jake Cuttridge.

"Dad, remember that alliance bonding you mentioned last time? I agree to it."

Half a month later, the news that I would be entering an alliance bonding with an Alpha from the Northridge Pack spread throughout the entire wolf kingdom.

Ryan's friend, Luke Carter, who had been in on his plan, rushed over and demanded, "Ryan just died not long ago, and you're already so eager to find the next guy?"

"He's dead. I can't possibly stay single for him my whole life."

Right before the bonding ceremony, Ryan Summers faked his own death just to chase after his little puphood sweetheart, Rowena Blake. However, he never imagined I would learn every part of his plan from the floating barrage in front of me. With my disappointment hitting rock bottom, I turned away and agreed to the alliance bonding my father, Jake Cuttridge, arranged.

Lines of text flashed across my vision, one after another. At first, I thought I was hallucinating from grief.

Alas, the divine messages kept streaming in front of me, faster and faster.

[Those two bastards are getting all hot and heavy in the Moonlight Forest right now. Girl, see for yourself! Then, you’ll know the truth!]

[Moonlight Forest is where Ryan and Jenna always used to meet. Just thinking about it already makes her chest tighten. Why would she ever go there on purpose?]

My head exploded with a sharp ringing like something inside cracked open.

I pushed myself to my feet, staggering as I headed toward Moonlight Forest.

After cutting through the narrow path, I reached the deepest part of Moonlight Forest. There, a quiet pool glowed with fireflies. That was Firefly Pool, where Ryan and I always met.

Every flower, every tree here felt familiar. Each carried a memory of us.

My chest throbbed with pain, but I forced myself to go deeper. When I was only a few yards from the pool, I suddenly heard a she-wolf’s soft, syrupy voice.

"Ryan, if Jenna finds out you faked your death just to stay with me, won’t she be mad?"

Then I heard the one voice I knew best in this world.

"How could she? My friend and my sister are helping me cover everything up. With a plan this perfect, there’s no way Jenna could ever find out.

"Besides, she loves me so much. Right now, she probably thinks I’m already dead and is sobbing in her room. Once I make up some random excuse and return to her side, she’ll be too thrilled to be mad.

"Let her feel what it’s like to lose me for a few days. When I come back, she’ll be even more obedient."

Rowena let out a soft laugh and wrapped her arms around his neck, teasing, "Ryan, if you can fake your death and lie to Jenna just to chase me… doesn’t that mean you actually have feelings for me? Why not cancel the bonding ceremony with her and be with me instead? My love for you is no less than hers."

The divine message was right about everything.

I froze where I stood, struck like lightning, my face drained of color.

Ryan’s expression shifted immediately at her words, turning sharp and serious. "I just wanted to let loose a little before the bonding ceremony. I never said I would be with you. Know your place. My mate will always be Jenna."

Rowena pouted and playfully hit his shoulder. "Fine, I know. But for the few days you’re ‘dead’, you’re mine."

Ryan smiled again, slipped an arm around her waist, and said gently, "Of course. After the bonding ceremony, I’ll only be allowed to be with one she-wolf. I won’t get chances like this anymore. So we’d better enjoy these days."

Their sticky-sweet voices were like silver blades, stabbing into my chest over and over. The pain nearly brought me to my knees.

I had prayed countless times for my mate to return to me, but I never imagined this would be how it happened.

[My heart hurts for our Jenna. I hope that after seeing Ryan’s true colors, she wakes up!]

[I can’t watch this anymore. Girl, go tear the two of them apart!]

Unfortunately, I didn’t expose them. I simply turned and walked away in silence.

[Don’t tell me Jenna still loves him after learning the truth? No, please, this kind of scumbag isn’t worth it.]

[She must’ve softened when she heard him say he’d return to her for the bonding ceremony. She’s choosing to endure it quietly.]