I hadn’t slept all night.

The poorly wrapped bandage on my hand itched and stung, a constant reminder of the frustration and pain bubbling just beneath the surface. But that was nothing compared to the ache in my chest.

I had waited for Harlan, my mate, all night. I’d paced the floors, checked the windows, and even debated of calling him, though I knew it wouldn’t matter. He wouldn’t pick up. He didn’t care enough to tell me where he was or why he hadn’t come home.

By the morning, exhaustion tugged at me, but my pride kept me standing. I threw on some clean clothes, tied my hair back and grabbed my coat to go and meet Ava, my closest friend and one of the pack’s Deltas, had suggested meeting by the river. She said I needed fresh air, and I wasn’t about to argue. Anything was better than being trapped in this house, haunted by my own thoughts.

Just as I was pulling on my boots, the door creaked open.

Harlan.

He walked in like nothing had happened, like he hadn’t left me waiting all night.

“The pack is hosting a gathering tonight,” he said,and businesslike as he handed me a folded invitation card, “We’re both expected to attend.”

I stared at him, incredulous. That was it? No apology, no explanation, not even a glance at my hand, which was so poorly bandaged it looked like a child had done it. He didn’t ask if I’d slept or if I was okay. His eyes barely skimmed over me before settling on the wall behind me, as though I were just another task he had to check off his list.

“I’m not going,” I said,

Harlan paused, turning to face me fully. For the first time, his dark eyes locked onto mine, but there was no warmth in them. “You don’t have a choice, Anya. It’s your duty as my mate.”

“Duty?” I spat, “You’re going to talk to me about duty when you can’t even fulfill yours? Do you know how long I waited for you last night? Do you even care?”

He folded his arms across his chest. “This isn’t about us, Anya. It’s about the pack. You need to stop making everything personal.”

I took a step closer, anger boiling in my veins. “Oh, I’m sorry, Harlan. I didn’t realize that being abandoned by my mate was just ‘pack business.’ My mistake.”

“Enough,” he said, “Be ready by sundown. This conversation is over.”

“No, it’s not,” I said, “You don’t get to walk in here, order me around, and pretend like I don’t exist. I’m not a piece of furniture, Harlan. I’m your mate.”

“A mate who knows her place would be helpful.”

The words hit me like a slap, stealing the air from my lungs. I opened my mouth to respond, but no sound came out. Instead, I turned on my heel and stormed out of the house, slamming the door so hard it rattled the frame.

The forest was my only escape, the one place where I could breathe without feeling like the walls were closing in on me. I wandered to the riverbank, the soft rush of water filling the silence that had settled in my chest.

Dropping to my knees by the edge of the river, I let the tears come, hot and angry. My wolf stirred uneasily, in the back of my mind.

“This isn’t what I wanted,” I whispered. “This isn’t what I thought it would be.”

I wiped at my tears with the back of my hand, but the frustration only built. “You’re pathetic,” I muttered to myself. “Crying over a man who doesn’t even care.”

All of a sudden, a sharp scent hit me then, cutting through the damp pine and fresh water. It was rich and wild, like frost and steel and something darker, something that made my wolf lift her head, ears pricked.

Before I could turn, a voice rang out.

“Talking to yourself already?”

I spun around to see him leaning against a tree…Kael.

He was leaning against the trunk of a tree, his broad shoulders relaxed, yet his posture exuded an alertness that spoke volumes. He was always like that calm, calculating, and completely unreadable. Harlan trusted him, despite the fact that no one in the pack really knew him. Kael had shown up months ago, exiled from the Silverlight Pack for reasons no one dared to ask about, and Harlan had given him shelter in the Moonshine Pack.

But trust didn’t mean familiarity. Kael didn’t talk much, and when he did, his words were sharp and purposeful, like arrows aimed with precision. He carried himself like a lone wolf, even in a pack full of strong personalities. Harlan often relied on him for pack security, especially with tensions rising between the enemy pack. And now, here he was, sent me like some kind of protector or spy.

“Did Harlan send you?” I asked, with irritation as I wiped at my tear-streaked face.

Kael smirked, his silver eyes glinting like shards of ice. “You know the answer to that.”

Of course, Harlan had sent him. It was such a Harlan move too busy to deal with me himself but too controlling to let me wander off unchecked. And Kael, as always, had no problem obeying orders without question.

“I don’t need a babysitter,” I snapped, glaring at him.

Kael’s expression didn’t waver. If anything, his smirk deepened slightly, as though my anger amused him. “I’m not your babysitter. I’m your shadow.”

“Whatever you want to call it, I didn’t ask for this,” I shot back.

“No,” he said, “but it seems like you need it.”

My wolf stirred uneasily, and her instincts sharper than mine. It wasn’t fear…no, that would’ve been easy to brush off. This was something else, something deeper and more primal. A pull. It was subtle, like a whisper at the back of my mind, but it was there, tugging at me in a way that made my skin prickle and my heart race.

I clenched my fists, trying to ignore the way my wolf perked up at his presence, her interest clear and annoying. “Why does Harlan trust you so much?” I asked,him.

Kael raised an eyebrow, “You’re assuming he does.”

I blinked, caught off guard by his answer. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

He stepped closer, his movements as fluid and deliberate as a predator stalking prey. “Harlan trusts what I can do for him. That doesn’t mean he trusts me.”

His words sent a chill down my spine, though I couldn’t tell if it was from his tone or the truth behind them. Kael was an mystery loyal to the pack on the surface, yet detached in a way that made me question his motives. Harlan might have given him a place in the Moonshine Pack, but it was clear Kael operated on his own terms.

“And what exactly is it you do for him?” I asked, narrowing my eyes.

Kael’s lips twitched, but he didn’t smile. “What he needs me to do.”

“That’s not an answer.”

“It’s the only one you’re getting,” he said,

My wolf growled softly in the back of my mind, her frustration mirroring my own. She didn’t trust him either, not entirely but she couldn’t ignore him. The pull was stronger now, like an invisible thread tightening between us with every word exchanged.

I took a step back, needing to put some distance between us. “You’re infuriating, you know that?”

Kael shrugged, looking completely unbothered. “So I’ve been told.”

I crossed my arms, glaring at him. “If you’re here to spy on me, just go ahead and report back to Harlan. Tell him I cried, or complained, or whatever it is he wants to hear.”

Kael’s silver eyes darkened, and for the first time, his smirk disappeared completely. He stepped closer, “I don’t work for Harlan like that. I’m not here to tattle on you, Anya.”

“Then why are you here?” I demanded, my frustration bubbling over.

“To make sure you don’t get yourself killed.”

I opened my mouth to argue, to tell him I didn’t need his protection, but the look in his eyes stopped me. There was something there, just for a fleeting moment.

“And what makes you think I can’t take care of myself?” I asked,

Kael tilted his head, “Because you don’t even see the threats around you.”

The words hit harder than I expected, and my wolf stirred again, uneasy and restless. Kael’s gaze lingered on me for a moment longer before he turned away, as he walked toward the riverbank.

I watched him, my mind racing with questions I didn’t dare ask. Kael was a mystery, a puzzle I wasn’t sure I wanted to solve. But my wolf… my wolf wasn’t so cautious. She was drawn to him in a way I couldn’t explain, her instincts pulling her toward him despite the warning bells ringing in my head.

“You don’t have to like me,” Kael said suddenly, his back still turned to me. “But if I were you, I’d start paying attention. There’s more going on in this pack than you realize, Anya. And not all of it has your best interests in mind.”

I stared at him, “What are you trying to say?”

He glanced over his shoulder, his silver eyes glinting in the sunlight. “Figure it out. You’re smarter than they give you credit for.”

And just like that, he was gone, disappearing into the trees like a shadow fading with the dawn.

I stood there by the river, my thoughts a tangled mess. Kael’s words lingered.

Who kael really is? And why did I feel like he saw through me?

By the time the sun began to set, I had convinced myself to attend the pack gathering. I didn’t want to go not after the argument with Harlan but the weight of my responsibilities as his Chosen Mate left me with little choice. My wolf protested in my mind, “ We shouldn’t have to beg for his attention, she growled. Why do we let him treat us like this?”

But I ignored her. This was my reality. Harlan needed me by his side for the sake of the pack, even if it felt like he barely noticed I existed anymore.

I put on a simple green dress, one that Harlan had once complimented before everything between us became so strained. For a fleeting moment, I wondered if he would notice tonight if he would look at me like he used to.

When Harlan came to fetch me, he barely glanced at me. “Ready?” he asked, his eyes already on the road ahead.

I nodded silently, following him out.

The pack gathering was in full swing when we arrived. Wolves of all ranks milled about, talking, laughing, and enjoying the night. The scent of roasted meat and bonfires filled the air, mingling with the earthy smell of pine and the faint undertone of wolves in their shifted forms patrolling the perimeter.

Harlan led me through the crowd with the ease of an Alpha, his commanding presence parting the sea of pack members like it always did. But while I walked beside him, it was clear to everyone including me that I was merely a shadow at his side.

Lila was already there, waiting for us near the central fire. She was dressed in a flowing red dress that clung to her every curve, her hair styled to perfection. As soon as she saw Harlan, her face lit up, and she hurried toward him like he was the only person in the world.

“Harlan,” she purred, “I was wondering when you’d get here.”

He smiled at her, a warm, genuine smile that I hadn’t seen directed at me in longer than I cared to admit.

Lila stayed glued to him the entire evening, her hand casually resting on his arm, her laughter ringing out whenever he said something. And he let her. No, he encouraged her, leaning down to whisper in her ear, brushing a strand of hair from her face, giving her all the attention I craved but never received.

The pack members noticed. Of course, they did. Their eyes flickered between me and Lila, their expressions a mix of pity and judgment. Some whispered to each other, their words too low for me to hear but loud enough to sting. Others avoided my gaze entirely, as if my humiliation was too uncomfortable for them to witness.

I stood there, silent, smiling when it was expected, nodding when someone addressed me. But inside, I was crumbling. My wolf howled in frustration. This isn’t right, she growled. This isn’t how it’s supposed to be.

I stood in a corner near the refreshments table, nursing a cocktail in my hand. It was fruity, sweet, and far too weak to drown out the ache in my chest as I watched Harlan and Lila across the firepit.

I took another sip of my drink, trying to focus on the sharp tang of citrus instead of the sharp pang in my chest. But no amount of sweet cocktails could make this scene any easier to endure. After downing four drinks, finally Harlan acknowledged me.

“Why are you hiding over here?” He asked me, and I turned to see Harlan standing behind me, his arms crossed and his brow furrowed.

“I’m not hiding,” I said quickly, setting my glass down with more force than necessary.

He raised an eyebrow, his gaze sweeping over me like he didn’t believe a word I said. “You’ve been standing here all night, Anya. What’s going on?”

“What’s going on,” I repeated, as I gestured toward Lila, “is that you seem to be having a wonderful evening without me. I’m just enjoying the show.”

He stepped closer to me, “Don’t start this here, Anya. You’re overreacting.”

“Overreacting?” I hissed, “You’ve spent the entire night glued to her side, Harlan. You didn’t even notice I was here until now!”

He exhaled sharply, “She’s family. You know that.”

“Family doesn’t cling to you like a lovesick pup,” I snapped.

For a moment, I thought he was going to argue back, but instead, he straightened and glanced around. “We’re not doing this here,” he said.

“Fine,” I shot back. “Let’s not do it at all.”

I grabbed another cocktail from the table and turned away, pretending not to notice the curious glances of the pack members nearby. But even as I walked away, I could feel his eyes on me, heavy.

The ride home was silent, the tension between us so thick it was suffocating. Harlan drove with his hands gripping the steering wheel tightly, his golden eyes fixed on the road ahead. I stared out the window, the night blurring past as I tried to collect my thoughts.

As soon as we stepped into the house, I couldn’t hold it in any longer.

“Harlan,” I said.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Anya, not now…?”

“No,” I cut him off. “We’re talking about this now.”

He turned to face me, but he didn’t interrupt.

“What are we even doing anymore?” I asked, “Do you even see me, Harlan? Because tonight, it felt like I didn’t exist to you. Like I never do when Lila’s around.”

He groaned, rubbing his temples like I was giving him a headache. “Anya, you’re being ridiculous. Lila’s been through a lot…”

“I know that!” I shouted. “I know she’s grieving, and I know you feel responsible for her. But does that mean I have to stand there and watch you treat her like she’s the one who matters most to you? Like she’s your mate?”

“She’s family, Anya. And I’m trying to keep this pack together. You need to stop taking everything so personally.”

“How can I not?” I shot back, “Do you have any idea what it’s like to stand there and watch everyone pity me? To see the way they look at me like I’m nothing but an afterthought to you?”

“You keep saying she’s family,” I continued, “But what about me, Harlan? What am I to you?”

He didn’t answer right away, and the silence felt like a slap in the face. When he finally spoke,

“You’re my mate,” he said, but there was no warmth in his tone, no conviction.

I laughed bitterly, wiping at the tears that had started to fall. “You don’t act like it.”

“You need to stop letting it bother you.”

“What if I can’t?” I asked him.

“Anya,” he began, “Do you ever stop to think about what you caused?