"The oath your father swore still binds you," my mother said, her tone as sharp as glass. "They expect the bonding before the next lunar cycle."

Her voice was a faint hum against the pounding music from the stage.

My eyes locked on the scene before me.

Lyandra, barely draped in a gauzy summer shawl, her two-piece swimsuit leaving nothing to the imagination, was dancing far too closely with Kael.

My fiancé. The man I was meant to marry in five days.

His hands roamed dangerously near her hips, his mouth hovering at her neck as if he had forgotten I existed. He whispered something in her ear. She laughed, her fingers lingering on his arm.

I traced the edge of the table with my fingertips.

"Then tell them I'll be there," I told my mother. "Make sure it's formal. I don't want a cheap ceremony."

Her lips twitched, as if hiding a smirk. "Practical. Pity you weren't this clear-headed five years ago."

I ended the call and kept watching until Lyandra finally noticed me. Kael didn't look guilty, he just nudged her away, as if inviting her to deal with me.

"Serena," Lyandra said sweetly, sauntering over with a stolen bottle of vintage wine. "Oh, there you are. I was starting to think you drowned yourself just to avoid the party."

"What do you want?" I asked flatly.

"You didn't join the toast. Thought you might be sulking because Kael's been helping me host." She held out the bottle. "Here. A drink."

"I'm not thirsty."

She tsked, like I was a stubborn child. "You've been so serious lately. Smile more, it's my night. You used to be fun before you turned… bitter."

I faced her fully. "Are you here to brag or waste my time?"

Her eyes went wide with mock innocence. "Oh, so you are jealous. And here I thought you didn't care that Kael's been with me all night."

"I suppose I'll leave, then. No reason to disturb you two."

She shifted into my path. "I'm only trying to include you…"

She stumbled back suddenly, gasping like I'd shoved her. The bottle slipped from her hands and shattered, wine soaking into the floorboards.

Coincidentally, it was perfect timing. Kael and his brother Draven appeared.

"What happened?" Draven asked sharply.

"I just wanted to share something special," Lyandra said breathlessly. "She slapped it away. I think she's upset about Kael spending the evening with me."

My jaw tightened. "You tripped, Lyandra. Stop lying."

She gave Kael a soft, pitying smile. "See? Everything I do, she twists. It's exhausting."

Kael's gaze hardened toward me. "Why make this harder than it has to be, Serena? Can't you just join in the fun?"

"I'm not the one staging accidents," I shot back.

Lyandra laughed lightly. "It's fine, Kael. She's always been territorial. Ever since you two became a couple, she has been like this. I am her best friend, I can handle her moods."

"You don't have to protect her like this," Kael told her gently, then glared at me. "Apologize to Lyandra."

I stared at him. "For what? Not falling for her act?"

"Gods, Serena," Draven snapped, shoving me. "Show some grace. Everyone's celebrating, and you're down here starting trouble."

"I'm avoiding trouble," I muttered.

"Forget it," Lyandra sighed sadly. "I'm used to her temper."

Kael's patience snapped upon seeing Lyandra's almost-crying state. He grabbed my arm, dragging me away.

"You're unbelievable."

"Let go." I felt disgusted by his touch as I struggled, but his grip was tight. "You're hurting me!"

"Stop treating Lyandra like this. Go serve the guests in the main hall. They've been asking to meet you. You'd better behave since they're my elders. Show them how a bride should be."

I scoffed, glancing at Lyandra gliding behind us. "Why not introduce her instead? Isn't she better than me?"

"Shut up. Don't be jealous, or I won't want you anymore."

I smirked at the irony but said nothing. Back in the hall, Kael all but shoved me toward the guests before escorting Lyandra to get food.

Eyes followed me, knowing that even though we were to be married, Kael would always spoil Lyandra. There were pitying gazes too, some amused.

I ignored them, forcing civility.

Then I smelled it.

A sharp, acrid scent cut through the laughter.

My gaze shot to the far corner. One of the oil lamps had fallen, fire crawling up the tablecloth. It quickly spread to the nearby curtain.

"Fire!" I shouted, pushing past startled guests.

Panic erupted. Chairs overturned, bodies surged toward the exits. Kael instinctively turned toward me…

And then Lyandra screamed.

Her shriek was piercing, desperate. She stumbled into another blaze, her shawl igniting instantly. She collapsed, coughing, hands reaching out in helpless appeal.

Kael didn't hesitate. He turned from me and rushed to her. Draven was already there, hauling her up.

"Get her out!" Kael barked.

The crowd shielded her, guiding her toward the exit. I was shoved down, a heel grinding into my leg until something cracked. Pain ripped through me.

My leg was broken.

No one came back for me.

Flames roared, beams groaning overhead. Smoke clawed at my throat. I staggered toward the exit.

And saw them.

Kael's arm locked protectively around Lyandra, Draven forcing the door wider. She clung to him, trembling, then turned her head just enough to meet my gaze.

Her lips curled into the faintest smile.

The door slammed shut.

The beam above me split with a deafening crack, sending sparks raining down. I squeezed my eyes shut, ready to surrender to the fire…

When I heard it. A sigh, close, almost bored.

"Why do you always end up getting bullied?"

A hand reached out, pulling me away, saving me before the fire burned me alive.

When I woke up, the first thing I saw was the ceiling.

My throat was raw, my chest tight, the faint scent of antiseptic doing nothing to erase the memory of smoke clawing its way down my lungs.

The nurse came in, checked my IV, and smiled faintly.

"Mild carbon monoxide poisoning. You're lucky someone saved you in time. It could have been worse. You also have a sprain. Good thing it didn't break the bone. But you'll have to rest for three days."

I was lucky?

I sneered internally.

If I had truly been lucky, Kael would have been here. He would have been the one who saved me, not some random passerby.

He would have held my hand, told me I scared him, that he thought he'd lost me in the fire.

Instead, there was only the hollow realization that I hadn't even crossed his mind when it mattered most.

Because of course, he would have saved Lyandra first.

Even if I was his fiancée, he would always choose her, no matter what.

I suddenly felt like I was just a joke.

Three days in the hospital passed with no visitors. Not Kael. Not Draven. Not even some half-hearted pack member sent out of politeness.

I began to wonder if they even knew I was safe from the fire. Perhaps they didn't even know whether I had died.

I told myself not to be surprised. It was easier than letting hope gut me again.

The morning I was finally cleared to leave, I sat on the bed scrolling through my phone while waiting for the nurse to sign my release papers.

That was when the headline stopped me cold.

"Alpha Kael's Quick-Thinking Saves Lyandra From Blaze."

I didn't even have to click it to know. But I did anyway.

The video opened with Lyandra. Her hair perfectly tousled, cheeks flushed, wrapped in Kael's jacket like the most treasured thing in the world.

Kael stood beside her, one arm draped protectively over her shoulders, speaking into the reporter's mic with that calm, steady tone everyone admired him for.

"She could have died," he said, his gaze fixed on her with an intensity I had never seen turned on me. "Thankfully, I was there. The people were panicking and she could have been trampled. Good thing I made it in time."

The crowd murmured their sympathy and admiration. They looked like a perfect couple, a Prince Charming saving his Damsel in distress.

Then the reporter asked, "We've heard your fiancée was also inside, and we were told she was the first one to notice the fire and warn everyone. How is she?"

Kael blinked, as though the question had caught him off guard.

"She's fine," he said without hesitation. His certainty was almost insulting.

"That's good. We would like to talk to her for an interview."

"Just search around. You'll see her."

The reporter tilted her head, as if confused. "That's odd. We didn't see her among the evacuees."

Something in Kael's expression shifted. The faint crease between his brows deepened. His shoulders stiffened.

"What? Are you saying…" His voice sharpened mid-sentence. "She's not around? How could that be…?"

The feed cut there.

I didn't watch the rest. I didn't care to see if he went looking. The fact that he could stand there, confident I was "fine" without ever having laid eyes on me, told me everything I needed to know.

It was never me he feared losing.

I locked my phone and stood, grabbing the bag of belongings the hospital had returned to me. I didn't go home. I didn't even think about where to go next until the cab driver asked for an address.

The words came out without hesitation. "The bridal shop."

The woman behind the counter recognized me instantly.

"Serena! Here for your final fitting?"

I met her bright tone with a flat stare. "No. I'm cancelling the wedding."

Her smile faltered. "Oh… but isn't it in three days? Why?"

I could only laugh mockingly. "I don't know."

I was no longer even sure if I was the bride at this point.

Her eyes softened in understanding. She didn't press. "I'll get the paperwork."

She led me to a small waiting area and set a neat stack of forms on the table. The pen felt heavy in my hand, every stroke of my signature cutting another thread between Kael and me.

I thought I'd feel lighter. I didn't.

Halfway through signing, I heard a familiar laugh.

I looked up. The curtain to the fitting area slid open.

And there she was.

Lyandra. Wearing my wedding gown.

The ivory silk clung to her as though it had been crafted for her alone. The veil I had once imagined trailing behind me framed her face like a halo. She twirled slowly, the hem brushing the floor, catching the light like ripples of water.

Beside her stood Kael, watching her with a look I had never been given. Draven leaned against the wall, smirking like this was just another casual afternoon.

Lyandra's eyes found mine first. Surprise flashed across her features, perfectly performed.

But beneath it, I caught a flicker of satisfaction.

"Serena, you're actually here—"

"Ma'am, here are the papers you needed to sign for the cancellation of the wedding."

Her words were cut off by the staff.

Kael and Draven had noticed me the moment Lyandra looked my way earlier. Kael had opened his mouth to ask about my health when he heard those words.

He frowned. "Whose wedding are you cancelling?"

I didn't answer Kael's question right away.

Instead, I let my lips curve into a slow, deliberate smile, my gaze locking on Lyandra.

"Is that my wedding dress?" I asked.

Her eyes widened with theatrical surprise, then she lowered her gaze and folded her hands like a schoolgirl caught doing naughty things.

"Oh, Serena…" she breathed, soft and syrupy, "I… I didn't know you'd be here for the final fitting."

She glanced down at herself, the ivory gown flowing over her frame as though it had been made for her instead of me. "I'm so sorry… I shouldn't have worn it."

I chuckled, letting the sound carry just enough dryness to sting. "So if I'm not here, it's fine for you to wear it?"

Draven snorted from the corner, arms crossed. "It's just a dress. You're not so stingy you can't let Lyandra check the fit, are you?"

Before I could respond, Lyandra shook her head and bit her lip, playing the guilty one perfectly. "No, no… Draven, she's right. It's not proper. I'll take it off right away."

Her fingers brushed the veil's clasp, trembling in a way that would melt any gullible onlooker's heart.

Draven turned to me sharply. "You hear that? She's trying to be considerate, and you're just standing there. Selfish, Serena. That's what it is."

I hadn't said a single word to him yet. My arms folded loosely, my face calm. If they wanted to perform, I would be their quiet, unwilling audience.

"Enough," Kael cut in, his voice edged with irritation. His frown deepened as his gaze locked on mine. "Answer my question. Whose wedding is getting cancelled?"

The staff beside me turned, waiting for an answer.

"Just checking on last-minute preparations," I said lightly, my smile fixed. I let my eyes drift deliberately over to Lyandra in the gown.

"It's only two days until our wedding. And look at her…" My voice was honeyed, my eyes cold. "She looks stunning. Like a bride."

Kael's jaw twitched, guilt flickering before he quickly smothered it. He stepped closer. "Where have you been these past few days?"

A short laugh escaped me. He didn't even know I'd been in the hospital. Before I could speak, Lyandra's airy voice slid neatly between us.

"She must have been busy preparing for the wedding," she said sweetly, her tone implying I'd been doing nonsensical things.

Draven smirked. "And for what? What's the point of you preparing?"

"Draven," Kael snapped, shooting him a glare. Then he turned back to me. "We're heading to dinner. Come with us."

He didn't wait for my answer, just walked toward the door like I'd follow automatically.

We left the bridal shop in silence, cancellation papers heavy in my lap.

From the passenger seat, Lyandra suddenly gasped in mock surprise. "Ah? But Kael… don't you have your bachelor party tonight?"

Kael blinked, like the thought had just struck him. "That's… tonight?"

Draven laughed. "Been planned for weeks. Don't tell me you forgot."

Kael's eyes met mine briefly, guilt shadowing them. "I guess I did. But Serena…"

"It's fine," I said quietly, saving him the trouble. "Go to your party. It's not every day you're the groom."

"That's true," Lyandra chimed in, her voice lilting. "You should enjoy your last hours as a single man."

Draven chuckled. "Exactly. No need to worry. Bachelor parties are sacred."

Kael gave a small, helpless smile. "Then how about Serena and Lyandra?"

"I have plans," Lyandra interrupted, almost too quickly. "Meeting a relative tonight. She lives along the way, so Kael can drop me off."

I opened my mouth. "Then I—"

Draven's voice cut me off. "This is your stop, Serena."

The car slowed near a nearly deserted street, its only light the flicker of a cab sign. One taxi waited at the far end, headlights slicing through the dark.

"Here's a good place to catch a cab," Draven said.

Kael looked back at me. "The party is on the opposite way. Just ride a taxi to go home."

Lyandra leaned back, offering a dainty wave. "Take care, Serena."

The door clicked open. The night air was sharp and cold, nipping at my skin as I stepped out. My grip on my bag tightened.

The car pulled away, off to drop Lyandra somewhere "safe" while I am left alone in a dark sidewalk.

I stood there until the taxi driver gestured impatiently. Sliding into the back seat, I glanced through the window at the empty road behind me.

None of them had looked back.

Hours later, the apartment was silent but for the rasp of hangers as I pulled clothes from the closet. Dresses folded into a suitcase. Shoes shoved into the side pocket.

Every zipper that closed sounded like the final page of a chapter.

Halfway through folding a coat, my phone buzzed.

A new post.

Lyandra.

She was clinging to Kael's arm, her cheek pressed to his shoulder, looking intimate.

"He's getting married soon but still makes time for me."

So much for "meeting a relative."

I folded the coat slowly, set it in the suitcase, zipped it shut. Then I pushed it toward the door, leaving the cancellation papers for the wedding neatly on the table behind.