The blood drained entirely from Calista’s face. She stumbled backward, her bare shoulders hitting the glass of the sliding patio. Her wide, terrified eyes darted from the flashing screen of the phone in my hand up to my face.

"You're his uncle," she breathed, the words barely making it past her lips. "You're Lord Valerius."

I couldn't step toward her. I forced my Lycan to sit down, forced the aura of my dominance to pull back so she could breathe. I hated the fear in her eyes. I despised it, especially because it was directed at me.

"I am," I answered.

"You knew," she choked out, her hands gripping the edges of my dress shirt.

"You knew who I was this whole time. This is a game. A sick, twisted game. Eric put you up to this, didn't he? To humiliate me?"

A growl tore its way out of my chest before I could stop it.

"Do not ever," I warned, taking one slow, step toward her, "associate my mark with that boy's pathetic games. I don't play games with what belongs to me, Calista. And Eric doesn't possess the spine to even look me in the eye, let alone ask me for a favor."

"Then why didn't you tell me?" she cried, a fresh tear spilling over her lashes.

"Because I didn't know you were the girl he rejected until you whispered your name in my ear in the dark," I told her honestly, stopping just inches from her trembling body. I raised a hand, gently brushing the tear from her cheek with my thumb. She flinched, but she didn't pull away. "By the time I pieced it together, my fangs were already sinking into your skin. And even if I had known before I kissed you... it wouldn't have changed a damn thing. You were always going to be mine."

She let out a broken sob, shaking her head. "I don't understand. Men like you... you don't look at girls like me."

"Men like me?" I scoffed quietly, tilting her chin up so she had to look into my silver eyes. "I have spent my entire life controlling every single aspect of my world. I don't make mistakes. I avoid anything that could even slightly tarnish my reputation. But the second I saw you

walking down that hallway, smelling like vanilla and sorrow, my self-control completely vanished."

It was the truth. It was almost embarrassing how fast I lost my mind over her.

My Lycan had been restless, pacing and snarling in the back of my mind ever since we arrived in this miserable territory. I had been with numerous women over the centuries. Beautiful, flawless, high-society women. But none of them had ever sparked even a fraction of the connection I felt when Calista crashed into my chest.

When I kissed her, my entire world tilted on its axis. The bond snapped so violently I felt it in my bones. Pure, unadulterated bliss.

"I'm not supposed to be here," I murmured, tracing the mate mark I had left on her collarbone. "I didn't even want to come to this territory."

"Then why did you?" she whispered.

"Because my Beta, Zelda, wouldn't stop nagging me," I muttered, recalling the irritating morning two days ago. Zelda had practically kicked my office door down, reminding me of the PR nightmare I would cause if I skipped my stepbrother's son's Binding Ceremony.

Eric's father had begged me to attend. The Crimson Shadow pack was merging some of their western borders, and the media was crawling all over the territory. As the CEO of the largest Lycan enterprise on the continent, my presence was required to legitimize the event. It was good for my business image, and more importantly, it was a chance to remind the northern packs exactly who held their leashes.

When my motorcade had rolled into the pack square yesterday, it was pathetic. The entire pack had dropped to their knees, exposing their necks in total submission. The she-wolves had practically thrown themselves under the tires of my car.

I became a rogue intentionally. I left this weak pack decades ago because I refused to bow to their idiotic politics. I built my wealth in the human world, operating in the shadows, until I was feared enough to become the undisputed King of the Northern Coast.

And out of all the desperate, power-hungry women in that crowd yesterday, my mate turned out to be the one girl who had been pushed into the dirt.

"Calista," I said softly, pulling her out of her spiraling thoughts. "Look at me." She blinked, her wet eyes meeting mine.

"I know you're hurting. I know that boy shattered your heart last night," I told her, my voice turning incredibly serious.

"But you are not a victim anymore. You are the Luna of the Northern Coast. You are my mate. And no one, especially not my pathetic excuse for a nephew, will ever disrespect you again."

"I can't go back there," she whispered, shaking her head frantically. "All my things are at the packhouse, but I don't care. I'll leave them. Please, Valerius, don't make me go back. They laughed at me. They all laughed at me."

The raw pain in her voice made my blood boil. My Lycan wanted to shift right here on the balcony and tear the entire Crimson Shadow pack to shreds.

"We are going back," I commanded gently, wrapping my arms around her waist and pulling her against my chest. "You are not going to run away. You are going to walk into that packhouse, and you are going to pack your bags while they watch. You are going to leave with your head held high."

"They'll mock me."

"They wouldn't dare" I growled, a dark smirk pulling at the corner of my mouth. "I want to see who is brave enough to speak to you that way."

The black Veldec Car idled smoothly down the dirt road leading to the Crimson Shadow packhouse.

Zelda was driving, his eyes occasionally flicking to the rearview mirror. He hadn't said a word when I walked out of the hotel with Calista holding my hand, but the slight smirk on my Beta's face told me he already knew exactly what was going on.

Calista sat rigidly beside me in the backseat. I had made a few phone calls while she showered. A private boutique had opened its doors early specifically for me, and I had a dress delivered directly to the penthouse.

She looked breathtaking.

The deep red fabric hugged every curve of her body perfectly. I had practically growled when she walked out of the bedroom wearing it.

"Pull up to the front," I ordered Zelda as the packhouse came into view. "Yes, Alpha," Zelda replied, steering the vehicle toward the main courtyard.

The post-ceremony brunch was in full swing. Dozens of high-ranking pack members, reporters, and elite guards were scattered across the lawn, holding champagne flutes and laughing under the morning sun.

"Calista," I said, turning to her. Her hands were shaking in her lap. I reached over, taking her soft hands in my large ones, forcing her to look at me. "I want you to get out first."

Her eyes widened in sheer panic. "What? No! Valerius, please—"

"Listen to me," I interrupted gently. "I am going to be right behind you. I will not let a single hair on your head be harmed. But I need you to walk onto that lawn alone for exactly thirty seconds."

"Why?" she breathed, terrified.

"Because I want to see their true faces," I told her. "I want to see exactly how they treat you when they think you have no protection. I need to know exactly whose lives I am going to ruin today."

She swallowed hard, searching my eyes. She was scared, but I could see the tiny spark of courage trying to ignite in her chest. She nodded slowly.

"Okay."

Zelda parked the car just outside the wrought gates. He stepped out and opened Calista's door.

I stayed in the tinted backseat, rolling down the window just an inch so I could hear everything.

Calista stepped out.

The moment her heels clicked onto the driveway, the chatter on the lawn began to die down. Heads turned. Drinks were lowered.

I watched the moment the pack recognized her. The shock rippled through the crowd, quickly followed by the disgusting, arrogant sneers I had fully expected.

"Well, well, well," a venomous voice rang out across the courtyard.

The crowd parted as Marie strutted forward, wearing a tight white dress that intentionally highlighted her small, pregnant stomach. Eric walked right beside her, his arm draped casually over her shoulder. He looked incredibly smug until his eyes landed on Calista's new dress. He frowned, clearly confused by the sheer wealth dripping off her.

"Look who decided to show her face," Marie mocked, stopping a few feet away from Calista. "I thought you ran off into the woods to cry like a little wounded pup."

"I just came to pack my things, Marie," Calista said, her voice shaking slightly. "Let me pass."

"Pack your things?" Eric scoffed, taking a step forward. He looked Calista up and down, a nasty smirk forming on his lips. "And go where? No pack is going to take in a heavy, pathetic, rejected wolf. Who bought you that dress, Calista? Did you steal from the pack funds before you left last night?"

My Lycan was roaring, clawing violently against my chest.

Patience, I told my wolf. Let them dig their own graves.

"I didn't steal anything," Calista said, holding her ground.

"You're a liar and a joke," Marie laughed, taking a glass of red wine from a passing waiter's tray. "You really think dressing up changes what you are? You're still the same fat pig who thought my mate would actually want her."

Without a second of hesitation, Marie threw her arm forward, splashing the entire glass of dark red wine directly onto Calista's dress.

Calista gasped, stumbling back a step as the red liquid dripped down the silk. The crowd erupted into laughter.

Eric chuckled, shaking his head. "Clean that up, Calista. Maybe if you get on your knees and scrub the courtyard, I'll let you stay in the servant's quarters."

That was it. The limit had been crossed. I kicked the door open.

The laughter in the courtyard died instantly.

Wolves gasped. Several of the weaker members immediately collapsed to their knees, clutching their throats as the air was sucked from their lungs.

Eric froze, the smug smile completely vanishing from his face as the color drained from his cheeks. Marie stumbled backward.

I reached out, wrapping an arm around Calista’s waist.

Eric's eyes widened his gaze dropping to the fresh mate mark resting prominently on Calista's collarbone.

I looked into my nephew's terrified eyes. "How dare you treat my mate that way"

The sheer dominance rolling off him forced the breath from my lungs. Every single pair of eyes on the lawn was fixed entirely on me.

I couldn't handle it. The shock, the paralyzing stares, the sudden shift in power. Panic flared in my veins, and my first instinct was to run. I scrambled, trying to pull away from his possessive grip.

"Valerius, let me go," I whispered frantically pushing at his solid chest. "Everyone is looking. Please."

His arm only tightened around my waist, anchoring me to his side.

"They have to," Valerius murmured, loud enough for the courtyard to hear. "Let them see exactly who their future Luna is."

Gasps erupted across the lawn.

Marie’s face twisted into an ugly, furious sneer. The glass she had dropped lay in pieces around her heels.

"Luna?" Marie shrieked, her voice shrill and desperate. She pointed a shaking finger at me. "Her? You have got to be kidding me! She’s playing you, Lord Valerius! Look at her! Did you really stoop so low just to entice him, Calista? Spreading your legs for a billionaire just because you couldn't handle getting dumped?"

A growl tore from Valerius's chest.

"Speak to my mate again, and I will rip your tongue from your mouth." Marie shrank back instantly, hiding behind Eric’s shoulder.

Eric stood frozen, his eyes darting frantically between the fresh mate mark on my collarbone and Valerius's murderous expression. The doors of the packhouse suddenly flew open.

Eric's father, the current Alpha, rushed down the steps, his pale face with sheer terror. "Lord Valerius! Please, there must be a misunderstanding. My son meant no disrespect—"

"Save it," Valerius snapped coldly. He finally looked down at me, the ice in his eyes softening.

"Go inside, Calista. Go to your room and pack your belongings. I have some pack business to discuss with the Alpha."

"But"

"Go," he urged gently, kissing the top of my head in front of everyone. "I will be right behind you."

I didn't need to be told twice. I pulled out of his grip and practically ran past Marie and Eric, keeping my eyes glued to the ground as I hurried up the stone steps and into the pack house.

My chest heaved as I hit the cool, empty corridors. The noise from the courtyard was muffled behind the walls. I just needed to get to my old room in the omega quarters and leave.

I turned the corner toward the back staircase. Suddenly, a hand clamped down on my wrist.

Before I could even scream, I was yanked backward. The rough movement sent me stumbling into the dark, narrow parlor room just off the hallway.

I spun around, my back hitting the wall.

Eric stood over me, his chest rising and falling rapidly. His eyes were completely black, his wolf fighting for control. He slammed both hands against the wall on either side of my head, completely caging me in.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" I yelled, trying to shove his chest. He didn't even budge.

"Do you love me that much?" Eric demanded, his voice trembling with an unhinged, furious edge. "Is that what this is? You just couldn't accept my rejection, so you run to be with my uncle? The one man you know I detest so much?"

I stared at him, obviously disgusted. "Are you out of your mind?"

"Are you trying to test my patience, Calista?" he growled, leaning in so close I could smell the champagne on his breath. "Is this your sick way of getting back at me for choosing Marie? What did he offer you? Money? A title? Because there is no way in hell a man like him actually wants a pathetic, weak wolf like you!"

Rage, hot and blinding, exploded in my chest.

"Why do you care?" I screamed, shoving him back with everything I had. It was enough to knock him off balance for a second. "I’m plus-sized, remember? I’m an embarrassment! Last time I checked, you never wanted anything to do with me!"

"That doesn't give you the right to humiliate me in front of my entire pack!" he fired back, his face twisting with arrogant fury.

"You humiliated me on that stage last night!" I yelled back, my voice suddenly breaking. "You threw me away like dirt!"

Eric took a step forward. He looked at the mate mark on my neck, his eyes darkening with a toxic, terrifying possessiveness.

"I never said you could be with anyone else."

I gasped, genuinely unable to comprehend the sheer audacity of his words.

"What?" I breathed out, shaking my head. "You rejected me! You claimed another woman!"

"Because I needed a Luna who fit the part!" he yelled, pacing a tight circle before cornering me against the wall again. "But you are still mine, Calista! You were meant for me!"

"You are just an egoistic bastard!" I spat, tears of pure frustration stinging my eyes.

Eric’s furious expression suddenly cracked. His shoulders dropped, and the dark dominance in his eyes shifted into something completely desperate. He reached out, his fingers trembling as he tried to grab my hand.

"Please, Calista."

"Please. I’m sorry. I lost my mind out there. Just... tell him it’s a mistake. Tell him you reject the bond. We can figure this out. I'll set you up in a private house off the territory. I’ll visit you every night. Just don't leave with him."

I looked down at his outstretched hand, feeling nothing but revulsion.

"It's too late, Eric," I said coldly, swatting his hand away. "I am leaving. And I am never coming back."

I tried to step around him, but Eric’s hand shot out, grabbing my throat and slamming me back against the wallpaper.

"Oh no," Eric snarled, his face suddenly twisting into something completely ruthless and unhinged. The begging was gone, He stepped flush against me, trapping my legs. "You really think I’m going to let you walk out of here and parade around with him? You think I'm going to let him parade my leftovers in front of my face?"

"Let me go!" I choked out, clawing at his wrist. "You aren't going anywhere”.

"I'm the future Alpha of this territory. And if you think I won't lock you in the underground cells until you submit to me, you severely underestimate how far I am willing to go to keep what is mine."

Lord Valerius

The Alpha had been talking for several minutes, and I had not heard a word of it. Looking at my watch, then back to him, it’s been this way for ten minutes, yet it felt like an hour had gone by.

"Lord Valerius, my son is young," he said, wringing his hands in front of his stomach. "He has been under great strain since his illness. If you would allow me to explain what you saw..."

"You may explain once I decide I want to hear it," I said, barely interested in anything he had to say.

"Of course. Of course. The western border agreement does not have to be affected by this misunderstanding. The pack is grateful for your presence, and I assure you that..."

Suddenly, I felt my wolf rumble from panic.

“Something is wrong,” I muttered beneath my breath. It felt so sudden, and I could tell that it wasn’t from me. It was a cry for help from Calista.

"Valerius?" the Alpha asked, watching my face change.

"We will finish this later."

"My lord, please, I have not finished. The council will want to..."

I did not hear the rest. I was already walking, and the guards at the steps moved out of my way before I reached them.

Inside the packhouse, the corridors were cool and nearly empty. Her scent hung in the air, vanilla layered over something sour with panic, and I followed it past the main hall and down a side passage. At the end of it, a parlor door stood open by a few inches.

I pushed it open.

Eric had Calista pinned against the wall with his hand wrapped around her throat. Her fingers were clawing at his wrist, and her heels were barely touching the floor.

"You aren't going anywhere," he was saying, his voice low and shaking. "I will lock you in the cells myself if I have to."

I crossed the room before he finished the sentence.

I caught him by the collar and tore him away from her. He hit the opposite wall hard enough to crack the plaster, and I pinned him there with my forearm across his throat.

"Uncle," Eric wheezed, his hands scrabbling at my arm. "This is between me and her."

"She is my mate," I said. "That makes it between you and me."

"She was mine first. She was always meant for me."

"You rejected her in front of your entire pack." I pressed harder, and his eyes bulged. "You do not get to want her now."

"Valerius," Calista rasped behind me.

I did not look away from my nephew. "Listen to me carefully, because I will not say this twice. If you touch her again, I will remove your hands. After that, I will remove the rest of you, and there is no one in this territory who will stop me. Do you understand?"

Eric's lips pulled back from his teeth, but he nodded.

I released him. He slid down the wall, coughing and clutching his throat, and I turned around.

Calista had sunk to the edge of a velvet chair with one hand pressed to her neck. Her breathing was ragged, and her eyes were wide and wet. I knelt in front of her and took her wrist gently, drawing her hand away.

Dark marks were already rising on her skin in the shape of his fingers.

My Lycan howled inside my head, demanding that I turn around and finish what I had started. My hands began to shake, and I closed them around hers to hide it.

"Look at me," I said quietly.

She lifted her eyes to mine.

"Breathe slowly. In, and then out. That is all you need to do."

"I'm okay," she whispered, her voice scratched and thin.

"You are not okay, and you do not have to pretend that you are."

A tear slid down her cheek, and I caught it with my thumb. "He said he would put me in the cells."

"He will never get the chance," I told her. "I promise you that."

Behind me, Eric pushed himself up the wall. "You can't take her from this pack. She belongs to this territory."

I stood and faced him. I let a little of my aura loose, only enough to make the room feel smaller, and he went silent.

"Guards," I called, without raising my voice.

Two of the pack's warriors appeared in the doorway almost at once. They had clearly been waiting close by, and neither of them would meet my eyes.

"Take him out," I said. "Keep him away from this wing until we have left the territory."

"Yes, my lord," one of them said. They took Eric by the arms.

“You cannot touch me. I am Alpha!” He yelled like a whiny kid. It was obvious the title had gotten to his head and had filled up the space left where he could no longer reason.

Watching the guard bow to me before hauling him out.

“I will behead you! I promise, I will behead both of you!!” He fought as he was dragged out of the room.

When the door closed, I turned back to her.

"Can you stand?"

"Yes."

"Then we will go to your room together."

I offered my arm, and after a moment she took it. Her fingers were cold against my sleeve. We stepped into the corridor, and I settled my hand at the small of her back.

“What next?”

“Well, we need to get you out of here before some demented folk walk up to you. Apparently, you are a magnet for bullies.” She lowered her head.

“It’s easier,” she muttered.

“Well, not anymore. Before someone points a finger at you, they will have to rethink if they are willing to lose the finger.”

She smirked.

It was nice seeing her smile. She had a wholesome smile, and I wanted to see it more often.

We finally reached outside, and apparently more people were standing outside than there were when I walked in.

They must have heard their ‘Alpha’ yelling as he was being pulled away.

Calista had her head bowed, but I couldn’t have that. I raised her chin up so she could see the crowd.

“Look at them,” I commanded. “I want them to know you were the reason that brat was being hauled away.”