Evelyn had to marry the infamous Alpha Kane to save her mother‘s pack, but Kane let her go through half of their wedding alone, ridiculed by the entire pack. When Kane finally showed up with a fresh hickey on his neck, their eyes locked and realized they were fated mates.

Bound to him by an unwanted arranged marriage and the mate bond, Evelyn endured betrayal, pain, and the humiliation。

Then Evelyn saw the truth: she had to reject Kane.

What she never expected was that Kane would be the one who refused to let her go.

Evelyn’s POV

I had to go through half of my wedding without my groom.

Before I stepped onto the empty altar, I walked down the aisle in silence and passed by a crowd of judging, displeased face.

Now, I stand here alone and still have no idea where my so-called groom could be.

I’m trying not to let my shoulders shake as I wait, but the whispers from the guests are anything but helpful.

“Look how frail she is,” a woman whispers.

“She looks weak,” the man sitting behind her states. “Does she really have Silver blood? I doubt she has one useful gene in her entire body.”

“It’s ridiculous,” the woman replies. “Kane is the Alpha of the strongest wolf pack in the North. How could he be marrying her?”

“Perhaps he’s not,” the man whispers. “After all, he’s not here. He’s probably unhappy about having to marry such a weak girl and ran away while he still could.”

Ouch, that stung. But they are telling the truth.

This marriage between Kane and I is arranged by the Alpha King himself. I can’t disobey him or else I risk losing everything.

Everything my mother built.

My mother was a rare Silverwolf, a female Alpha. It’s not common for a female to be an Alpha nor for a male to support her in the traditional Luna role like my father, which is a testament to my mother’s strength.

Her leadership over our pack was admired and envied by all - we flourished under her reign.

That is, until my mother’s death years ago. However, with her last bit of strength, she left behind a will that named me as her sole heir to the pack.

There’s only one problem, though. A major problem.

My wolf is weak. So weak that I can’t even shift. I can feel her there, but I can barely ever talk to her.

Desperate to continue my mother’s reign, I’ve been taking medication to try and grow my strength, but nothing has changed. I’m still too weak.

Which means I’m also too weak to take my rightful place as the next female Alpha. My mother’s will is useless due to my inadequacy.

My father and stepmother have had to take over leadership in my place.

They’ve also nearly destroyed my mother’s pack. Over the years, their flawed leadership has caused the condition of the pack to worsen, and we’ve become weaker and weaker with every passing day.

Now, to save my mother’s pack, my father is forcing me into this arranged marriage. A marriage proposed by the Alpha King. I am to wed Kane - the strongest Alpha in the North and renown playboy - and produce a powerful heir.

I know they just want my mother’s bloodline, and I hate being a pawn in their game. But I cannot allow my mother’s pack to perish or be absorbed.

I need this marriage to work.

And I need to at least try bearing with the embarrassment.

More similar comments are being made by other guests. Swiftly, my eyes slide over to find Kane’s parents in the front row.

They also look displeased. Kane’s father has his arms crossed and a sneer on his face. Meanwhile, Kane’s mother openly scowls.

“Rodrigo,” she suddenly snaps, catching the attention of a tall, brown-haired man off to the side. Quickly, he approaches.

“Go find Kane. Now,” she instructs. “And make it quick.”

Immediately, Rodrigo takes off down the aisle and goes out the doors. As they close behind him, the chapel falls silent.

There are no words to explain how terribly awkward this is. Awkward and difficult. Especially as I chance a glance to my group of guests and make eye contact with my stepbrother and stepsister.

“Fragile little Evelyn,” my stepsister, Katya, teases. “Can’t even keep a husband who hasn’t seen her yet.”

My stepbrother, Flynn, snickers. “He doesn’t need to see her. Her wolf is so weak that any sane male would run the other direction.”

I resist the urge to close my eyes tightly. If there was ever a time when I wished my wolf would suddenly appear and allow me to shift, it would be now. I want to run as far away from here as quickly as I can, but that’s out of the question.

I’m just wondering how long I should put up with this, questioning if he truly has made a run for it, when the doors to the chapel slams open.

My eyes snap to the end of the aisle, along with every guest still sitting in their seat. However, the crowd around me seems to slowly disappear as I become fixated on the man making his way up the aisle.

He’s tall, very tall. He wears a well-tailored black suit that hugs him in all the right places, showing off the muscles in his biceps. His jet black hair is styled in a way that seems effortless without being too unruly.

When he smiles and shows off a set of perfectly straight, white teeth, I’m pretty sure my stomach tumbles to the ground.

He’s handsome - incredibly handsome. And as he’s making his way toward me, a terrifying yet exciting realization floods over me.

This is Kane.

I’m nearly startled as he chuckles, offering a few apologies to guests.

“Fashionably late,” he says, causing some of them to laugh and smile with him. However, Kane’s parents look anything but pleased as they shoot daggers in his direction. As he gets closer to their seats, his father sighs.

“Stop flirting with the crowd and hurry up,” he says to his son. “Let’s get this wedding over with.”

Kane doesn’t seem bothered by his father’s comments or his mother’s cold stare. Instead, he simply makes his way up the rest of the aisle and then he’s stepping up to the altar.

The minute he’s standing in front of me, I realize that my heart is racing. My eyes may even be blown wide as I stare at him, but he doesn’t stare back.

He towers over me, even in my two inch heels. I can see the sharp angle of his jaw as I study the side of his face, my chest quickly rising and falling. However, my breath catches as my gaze lowers and I notice something on the side of his neck.

Oh, Goddess.

It’s a hickey.

And based on the color, it looks fairly new. That’s what he had been doing while I’d been standing here being ridiculed by dozens of guests?

Asshole.

However, my anger is hard to hold onto as Kane’s head slowly turns. Suddenly, and finally, his green eyes meet mine.

I twitch. I can’t help it as my chest slightly lurches as if being tugged toward him. It’s at that moment that his scent meets my nose, threatening to make my knees give out.

He smells wonderful. I’ve never smelled anything like it, causing the pace of my heart to only quicken as I long to bury my nose right in his chest.

What is wrong with me? How can I feel an urge that strong for someone I don’t even know? It’s as if I’m oddly drawn to him.

I swallow, soothing the dryness in my throat as I watch Kane’s head slightly tilt, as if he’s considering something. Considering me.

Another flutter meets my heart at the same moment that I nearly choke from the word suddenly echoing through my mind.

“Mate.”

No. No, I didn’t hear that right, did I? There’s no way.

“Mate,” the word repeats in my head, stronger than before. My wolf’s voice continues to echo again, sounding prideful as my jaw drops open at her declaration.

My…mate? Kane is my mate? My fated mate?

Surprise continues to overwhelm each of my senses as Kane and I stare at one another. Even though he doesn’t say anything, something within me somehow knows he’s learned the truth too.

However, while I’m shocked to learn Kane and I are fated mates, Kane looks anything but pleased.

In fact, he looks like he’s just been given his death sentence.

Slowly, he sighs.

“Fuck.”

Kane’s POV

Fuck.

If it weren’t for the Alpha King, I would never have been here. But the King values tradition just as much as he admires me.

It’s a blessing, or I always saw it as one. The Alpha King doesn’t hand out his favor to just any one.

Only, this whole arranged marriage is fucking stupid.

I’ve never had a Luna and I don’t need one. I’m fine on my own and I can rely on my own strength. But the Alpha King insists on this marriage.

He chose a bride for me who is supposedly the descendant of a Silver Wolf. He believes in tradition, that this union will provide a powerful offspring.

What a bunch of bullshit.

Those customs are outdated remnants of the werewolf world. Plus, my bride is nothing more than a trembling, weak disgrace - how could she possess Silver blood?

I’ve done my research. I know her pack is weak, just as she is weak. A Luna like her could only drag my own pack down.

Still, as much as I want to decline this marriage, I can’t. My open refusal would anger the Alpha King. I would be damned.

So fine. I’d go through with this fucking union. But I told myself I would never truly accept this woman - Evelyn - as my wife. She is nothing but a tool for bearing my child.

Or so that’s what I thought. Only, my wolf thrashing with excitement inside of me proves otherwise. As I stare into Evelyn’s big, hazel eyes, I know she has come to the same realization as I have.

Again, fuck.

She’s my fucking fated mate.

My heart violently races as my wolf’s eagerness grows. At this rate, I could lose control of him, causing me to clench my jaw tightly and tense my shoulders.

“Kane?”

I blink as I realize Evelyn has said my name. My wolf pathetically pants at the sound of her voice.

“It’s time for you to…mark me,” she whispers and I rush out a breath through my nose. Feeling everyone’s eyes on me, I’m the epitome of stiff as I lean toward her. I’m too busy trying to hold it together to possibly refuse her.

She’s so much smaller than me, so frail. My lips brush over her skin - right where her neck meets her shoulder. She shudders at my touch.

Not wasting another second, I sink my teeth into her skin and both hear and feel her gasp. I try to pay her no mind, though, as I finish sealing our union with my mark.

As I pull away from her, I can hear the whispers of the crowd, feel their eyes. However, I keep my eyes level with Evelyn’s.

“We may be married now,” I say, dangerously low. “But this is nothing more than an arranged marriage, so don't expect me to treat you like my true Luna. Not. Happening.”

Evelyn’s eyes go wide in response, but says nothing. She just keeps holding my gaze.

It’s unnerving - her stare and her silence. But I turn around anyways.

“How can you just leave her behind?” my wolf snaps angrily. “She’s our fated mate!”

“She’s weak,” I press. “Someone as weak as her can and will not ever be my fated mate.”

~

This day has been a fucking disaster. But thank fuck it’s almost over.

The union is done and we made it through the painful ceremony. Which means all I have to do is go the fuck to sleep.

However, it’s hard to even get myself into bed as I pace through my room, annoyed by the betraying images in my head. Somehow my mind keeps lingering back to Evelyn and this strange desire I have to go to her.

That’s not happening, though. I meant what I said - I’m keeping her at a distance.

I keep repeating that to myself as I move to sit on the edge of my bed, running my hands over my face as I let out a groan.

Only, a sudden knock on my door causes me to lift my head. The person on the other end doesn’t wait for me to respond as they push the door open, causing me to stand.

I watch as Bianca slips inside, giving me a sexy smile as she closes the door. I can’t help but let out a sigh in relief.

“Oh, it’s you,” I say, sitting back down.

Biance tilts her head to the side. “Were you suspecting someone else? Your wife?”

I roll my eyes. It’s strange to hear those words coming off of Bianca’s lips. She’s our Beta’s daughter and a long-time friend.

We’ve also been fucking for years. A casual sexual relationship, nothing more.

Bianca walks forward, pouting out her lower lip as she grows closer.

“It was hard just sitting by while you stood up there with her,” she comes to stand between my legs, fiddling with my collar. “Especially because you look so good in a suit.”

“Not as good as you look in this dress,” I reply, my fingertips beginning to brush the red fabric.

She hums, a hint of sadness still in her eyes. “You’re married now, and then there’s me. Do you even still want me now that you have the Silver Wolf’s daughter?”

In response, I grab her by the waist and pull her down to my lap. She gasps, melting into me as I brush a strand of blonde hair from her face.

“Of course I do,” I say. “I’m just using Evelyn - she’s nothing.”

And before she can say anything else, I crash my lips into hers.

Evelyn’s POV

Not to sound dramatic. But this - without a doubt - has to be one of the worst days of my life.

The ceremony was humiliating. Oh, and my mate absolutely loathes me. Not to mention that my reputation is now in ruins.

I’m so humiliated. How can Kane be so cold and treat me like this after discovering that we’re mates?

And even Kane’s parents had been so cold to me. The only thing they said was that I needed to get pregnant as soon as possible since that’s my only purpose. As if I need reminding.

I sigh as I let my head fall into my hands, still fighting back tears. However, I then hear a knock on the door. Looking toward it, I watch as a maid enters.

“The Alpha will not be joining you tonight…ma’am,” the maid informs me. I can tell that her calling me “ma’am” is practically painful for her.

“What?” I ask. “Why?”

Again, the maid seems to hold back her annoyance, but only slightly. She doesn’t allow herself to roll her eyes, but she does sigh impatiently. As if she’s saying, “Isn’t it obvious?”

“He has his own room at the end of the hall,” she explains. “And he doesn’t wish to share a bed with you.”

This last sentence pleases her and she tries to hide a smile from her lips before she scurries off – without me having dismissed her. Anger floods through me as my door slams shut, but I know it’s not her that I’m necessarily mad at.

I’m mad at Kane.

Goddess, he seems to enjoy humiliating me. I know that the anger I feel right now would only satisfy him. However, alongside my anger, I can’t help but be disappointed.

Had I really expected that we’d share a bed? I’m so delusional.

A sob shakes through my body, making me tremble. However, as another cry tries to escape me, a gasp suddenly jumps from my throat.

My whole body convulses, shaking as a sharp sensation runs through me. It originates from the mark at my shoulder, which is currently burning.

I pant as sweat collects on my forehead, my brows pulling together in confusion. The sensation strikes again, this time pinching tightly at the spot between my legs and making me moan.

I continue to whine as I struggle against a sudden need flooding through my body. That’s when I whisper a curse.

I’ve heard about this. How a female wolf will go into heat from their mating mark.

I have no idea what to do, how to satiate this desire. I’m still scrambling for a resolution when another sensation runs through me - but this one is different.

It's painful. A sharp stab hits me so intensely that I nearly dry heave. What is going on?

The pain rushes through me again, just before my wolf’s angry voice fills my head.

“Kane is with someone else.”

Evelyn’s POV

I wake up the next morning feeling like hell. I’ve hardly slept between the excruciating pain repeatedly surging through my body and the knowledge that Kane was with another woman. Just another way for him to embarrass me.

Forcing myself up, I start by taking a shower in order to slowly put myself back together. Then, I decide some breakfast might do me some good.

Leaving my room, I follow the smell of food to the pack’s dining hall. The room is grand, decorated with beautiful dark wood and a few long tables where other wolves already sit.

I walk forward to join them, grabbing a tray from the stack and placing a blueberry muffin on top of it. As I try to move on to the eggs, someone suddenly steps in my way.

I pause, staring at the woman a few inches taller than me. She’s beautiful and sharp with her shining blonde hair, red lips, and crystal blue eyes.

However, her stunning features are curled in a sneer. “So the weak little bride actually decided to show her face,” she mocks.

“Excuse me?” I ask, raising a brow. “Do I know you?”

“Oh, no. But you should,” she says with a growing smirk. “I’m Bianca. The one who fucked your husband last night.”

My throat grows tight as her words set in. This is who Kane was with last night?

“What? Did you really think he’d want to sleep with you?” Bianca says with a laugh. “You may have Alpha blood, but you have no wolf. You’re unworthy of Kane. You’re nothing more than a decorate breeder.”

My hands clench the tray in my hands, my teeth pressing tightly together.

“He needed to spend the night with a woman who could truly satisfy him,” she brags, flipping her blonde hair. “And, Goddess, it was perfect.”

She’s just trying to get a rise out of me - I know it. But I can’t just stand here and take it. Instead, I merely ignore her as I start to walk away.

I only manage a few steps before her hand suddenly wraps around my wrist and she yanks me back. As I face Bianca again, anger is evident in her features as she knocks the tray out of my hands.

“How dare you ignore me! Who the fuck do you think you are?” she practically yells in my face.

My own anger comes flooding in as she still holds tightly to my wrist. There’s slight pricks of pain where her nails dig into me, but it’s nothing compared to the pain that she caused me last night.

I want to shake her off or tell her exactly who I am - Kane’s wife, whether she liked it or not. Only, before I can say anything, someone enters the room.

I scent him before I see him and Bianca must notice my shift. She releases my arm and leaves me shocked and confused as she suddenly bursts into tears. She then turns and runs.

Runs right into Kane’s arm.

“Oh, Kane. She’s crazy! She found out about our relationship and tried to attack me!” Bianca whines, pushing hysterics. “She was trying to act like a Luna!”

I can hardly believe what I’m seeing. If anyone is crazy then it’s her, she’s practically psycho. I want to plead my case and point out the marks on my wrist, my breakfast soiled on the floor, but I can’t get the words out as I notice Kane’s stare.

It’s cold, deadly. He looks at me with pure anger and I can hardly breathe under the weight.

He squeezes Bianca’s shoulders, but leaves her so he can walk toward me. He stands a foot away and I can feel his body heat as he scowls down at me.

“You are not a real Luna, little wolf,” Kane clips out. “And you also have no say in who I sleep with.”

Despite my mind screaming out in danger, I can’t help but glare at him.

But before I could say anything back, he goes back to Bianca, scoops her up in his arms and carries her away.

After that, every night is the same.

I writhe and cry in my bed as I endure the pain of betrayal. I envision Kane and Bianca elated with the idea of my pain, getting off on knowing that I’m suffering.

It goes on for hours, tearing me up inside. Some nights, I’m even left emptying all of my stomach’s contents into the toilet.

Tonight, Kane and Bianca must have finally finished as the pain has dulled and I’m left a panting mess on my bed. I close my eyes, hoping sleep will overtake me, when my cellphone begins to chime from my side table.

Noting the caller ID, I’m quick to answer.

“Hello,” I say, my voice weak.

“What is wrong with you?” my father asks harshly. “Why do you sound sick?”

I clear my throat. “N-nothing, I was just about to go to sleep.”

“Sleep?” he presses. “Don’t you have better things to be doing? Like sleeping with your husband.”

“Well, I…,” I trail off, thinking of Kane and Bianca.

“Need I remind you that you need to get pregnant as soon as possible? The Alpha King is waiting,” my father states.

“I know,” I begin. “But Kane is -”

“Don't blame Kane!” he snaps. “It’s not his fault that you’re incapable of seducing him. Don’t be so useless and figure it out!”

The line goes silent as he hangs up on me. I throw my phone down to the mattress, closing my eyes. This whole thing feels like a nightmare.

And maybe it is, as just as I feel myself drifting off to sleep, that jolt pain overcomes me once again. I groan as I roll from side to side, the pain quickly becoming unbearable.

I don’t know how much more of this I can endure. I’m desperate to take this pain away.

So desperate that I drag myself up and stumble to the hall. As I reach the main entryway, I find a male wolf standing by the door who regards me with wide eyes.

I shudder with another wave of pain. “Please. Can you take me to the hospital?”

He shakes his head, looking so young and innocent. “I can’t leave my post, but I can call a car for you.”

I accept his offer and can do nothing but double over in agony as I wait. When the car arrives, I somehow manage to get inside. It’s not until halfway to the hospital that my suffering finally subsides.

Kane and Bianca must have finished again, allowing me some peace as I walk into the hospital. Thankfully, the ER isn’t too busy and I’m brought to a room to meet with a Dr. Borsheim.

He clicks his tongue after hearing of my symptoms. “Unfortunately, there’s no medication to ease the pain caused by a mating bond,” he informs me. Disappointment is quick to rush through me.

“It’s strange, though,” he continues. “Your wolf is weak, so your heat and this pain shouldn’t be so severe. I’ve never seen anything like it. Do you have any other health issues or are you taking any medications?”

“I do take medication,” I reply. “Just one. I’ve been taking it for years and it was prescribed by my father’s doctor. It’s meant to strengthen my wolf.”

“Hmmm,” the doctor begins. “Do you have this medication with you?”

“Yes,” I say, grabbing my handbag. I pull it out and hand it to him.

“Why don’t you let me hang on to this for now? I’ll scan its ingredients and see what it’s meant to do. I think it would be best if you stopped taking it until we know more,” he advises.

I nod.

The whole ride back from the hospital, my mind is getting the best of me.

I’m silently fuming as I think of Kane, of how he was the reason I had to visit the hospital in the middle of the night. Now the sun has risen and a new day is upon us.

A new day that is perfect for confronting Kane. I can’t keep going through this pain while he relishes in the pleasure. He clearly doesn’t want me so we need to end this - refuse each other and end the bond.

I figure he’ll be fine with that as I storm down the hallway, on my way to his room. When I reach the end of the hall, I waste no time knocking and throw his door open. However, I don’t find Kane alone.

Bianca is with him and they’re currently in a moment of passion. She staddles his lap, writhing over him as she moans with pleasure. As her eyes meet mine, I expect them to stop.

Instead, that devilish smirk slips onto Bianca’s face as she takes Kane inside of her again and again, seeming to exaggerate her pleasure as she screams his name.

The sound is like a knife to my chest, stabbing straight into my heart as I gasp.

Oh no.

Seeing your fated mate having sex with someone else in front of your eyes usually causes the next level deadly pain, even if I technically have no wolf.

I’ve never experienced pain like this before - my vision dots with black as I begin to wobble.

Finally, the agony overcomes me and I collapse to the floor, the feeling of betrayal prickling my skin.

My consciousness is slipping through my fingers.

However, before my world goes completely black, I faintly sense myself being lifted by a strong pair of arms.