The Miami sun beat down on my skin as I stood at the construction site, blueprints rolled tightly in my grip. Sweat trickled down my back, but I barely noticed. The heat was nothing compared to the burning ache in my chest.

"Ms. Patterson, the foundation is ready for inspection," the site manager called, approaching with clipboard in hand.

I nodded, forcing my lips into what I hoped resembled a smile. "Excellent. Let's review the perimeter supports first."

Luna whimpered inside me, her pain a constant companion since that day in my office. Three days had passed since I'd discovered the truth—three days of pretending everything was normal while my world collapsed around me.

*Focus on the work*, I told myself. *The venue must be perfect.*

The irony wasn't lost on me. I was creating a sacred space to celebrate the mating ceremony of the woman who had taken my supposed mate. Every beam, every arch, every detail I designed was a reminder of Grey's betrayal.

"The eastern elevation needs adjustment," I said, pointing to the area where the ceremonial platform would stand. "The proportions are off by at least two feet."

The site manager nodded, making notes. "We'll fix it immediately."

I walked the perimeter alone after he left, checking measurements against my plans. The venue was taking shape—a beautiful blend of modern architecture and traditional werewolf symbolism. Under different circumstances, it would have been one of my proudest creations.

Luna whined again, more insistent this time. *Run*, she begged. *We need to run.*

"We can't," I whispered, pressing my palm against my sternum where the pain radiated outward. "We have work to do."

But as the afternoon sun began its descent, I felt the pull of the wilderness beyond the construction site. The protected forest was neutral territory—a sanctuary for werewolves to run without fear of territorial disputes.

"Just an hour," I promised Luna, who immediately perked up at the possibility of freedom.

I changed in my temporary office, slipping into running clothes and securing my hair in a tight ponytail. The transformation came easily—my wolf eager to break free after days of confinement.

The forest welcomed us with cool shade and the scent of pine. Luna's paws barely made a sound as we navigated the familiar paths. This was where I'd run as a student, where I'd first felt Grey's presence before we met in human form.

I was so lost in memories that I almost missed them.

Two wolves playing in a moonlit clearing—one silver-gray, one honey-blonde. Grey's wolf was larger, powerful and graceful as he chased Maisy through the trees, nipping playfully at her tail.

Luna froze, her body trembling beneath me. I couldn't move either, couldn't tear my eyes away from the sight before me.

They looked... perfect together.

Grey's wolf suddenly stopped, his ears perking up as if sensing something. For a moment, I thought he'd noticed us hiding in the shadows. But he merely turned to Maisy, nudging her gently with his muzzle before they both disappeared deeper into the forest.

He hadn't even looked in our direction.

The rejection stung worse than I'd imagined possible.

I returned to the construction site the next morning with red-rimmed eyes but determined focus. The venue needed to be completed on schedule, regardless of my personal tragedy.

I was reviewing material samples when a familiar scent hit me—vanilla with hints of lavender. Maisy.

"Ms. Patterson," she called, her voice sweet as poisoned honey. "I thought I'd check on our special project."

I turned slowly, professional mask firmly in place. "Ms. Lawrence. Welcome to the site."

She wore a flowing sundress that highlighted her petite frame and the slight swell of her belly. My eyes fixed on it involuntarily.

"Yes, I know what you're thinking," she said with a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "The timing is perfect, isn't it? Grey always said he wanted cubs right away."

Luna growled inside me, the sound reverberating through my chest.

Maisy's wolf emerged then—not fully, but enough to assert dominance. She circled me slowly, deliberately marking territory around the venue entrance.

"He always preferred smaller women," she continued, her voice dropping to a confidential tone. "Said he felt like a giant next to you. Made him uncomfortable."

I stood perfectly still as her wolf completed the circle, her scent now permeating the space I'd been working in for weeks.

"And of course," she added, resting her hand protectively over her stomach, "his wolf recognized mine immediately. Sometimes the Moon Goddess has very clear plans for us."

Luna's pain exploded inside me, but I refused to show it. Instead, I met Maisy's gaze steadily and said, "The eastern elevation needs adjustment. Perhaps you'd like to approve the new design before we proceed?"

Her smile faltered slightly at my composure, but she recovered quickly. "Of course. Grey always said you were... professional."

As she followed me toward the blueprints, her wolf remained close to the surface, watching me with triumphant eyes that seemed to say: *He chose me. He always will.*

The morning air felt heavy with tension as I approached the construction site. Workers huddled in small groups, their voices carrying an edge I hadn't heard before.

"What's happening?" I asked the site manager, who stood with his arms crossed, facing off with a group of unfamiliar wolves.

"Border dispute," he muttered. "The Silver Creek Pack claims we've crossed their territory line by three feet."

I frowned, checking my blueprints. "That's impossible. We've got the official boundary markers here."

But the argument was escalating quickly. Two male wolves stepped forward, their postures aggressive, fingers curling as if ready to shift.

"This land belongs to Silver Creek," one snarled. "You've built on sacred ground."

Before I could intervene, Luna suddenly surged forward in my consciousness. *Danger!* she warned.

Too late.

A deafening crack split the air as the eastern elevation—the very section Maisy had inspected yesterday—began to collapse. Wood splintered and metal groaned as the structure gave way.

"Everyone out!" I screamed, but chaos had already erupted.

Workers scattered, some shifting partially as instinct took over. I lunged toward a trapped foreman whose leg was pinned under a fallen beam.

Then pain tore through my abdomen—sharp, sudden, and devastating.

"Luna," I gasped, feeling something warm trickle down my thighs.

My wolf howled in agony. *The cub! Our cub!*

I hadn't even known. A tiny spark of life, barely formed, now slipping away as I collapsed to my knees amid the chaos.

Through a haze of dust and pain, I saw them—Grey and Maisy, standing at the edge of the site. They must have been inspecting the venue again.

"Help," I whispered, though no sound came out.

Grey's eyes met mine across the rubble. For one heartbeat, I thought he would come to me.

Then Maisy stumbled, her hand flying to her stomach. "Grey!" she cried. "The baby!"

Without hesitation, Grey turned to her, catching her as she swayed dramatically. His arm wrapped protectively around her shoulders, his body positioned to shield her from falling debris.

He didn't even look back at me.

Luna's howl of betrayal drowned out my physical pain as darkness crept at the edges of my vision.

I woke to the sterile smell of antiseptic and the gentle pressure of bandages across my abdomen. Dr. Samuel Hayes sat beside my bed, his kind eyes filled with concern.

"You're in the pack medical center," he said softly. "We brought you here after the collapse."

Memory flooded back—the pain, the blood, the realization of what I'd lost.

"The cub?" I whispered, though I already knew the answer.

Samuel's hand covered mine. "I'm sorry, Sylvia. There was nothing we could do."

Luna whimpered, her grief a physical weight in my chest.

"The structural damage was contained," Samuel continued, clearly trying to distract me. "Only three workers needed treatment. You were the most seriously injured."

Because I'd been alone. Because when I needed him most, Grey had chosen Maisy.

"The Moon Goddess has her reasons," Samuel said gently, mistaking my silence for spiritual doubt. "Perhaps this cub wasn't meant to be."

I turned my face away, unable to speak through the knot in my throat.

"Your father is here," Samuel added after a moment. "He's been waiting to see you."

I nodded numbly as Samuel rose to fetch him.

Alpha Marcus Patterson filled the doorway, his imposing figure silhouetted against the hallway light. Even in my pain-hazed state, I could see the fury in his eyes—not at me, but for me.

"Father," I managed.

He crossed the room in three strides, taking my hand in his. "My daughter," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "What has been done to you..."

I couldn't answer. The words stuck in my throat.

"The Silver Moon Pack has reached out," he continued after a moment. "Their Beta, Julian Carlson, has offered a formal mating arrangement."

My head snapped up despite the pain. "Arranged mating?"

"It's the only way to restore your standing," Marcus said firmly. "After this... humiliation."

Luna growled weakly, but even she couldn't muster much resistance.

"Grey Hoffman has made his choice," my father continued. "And it wasn't you. An arranged mating with a powerful Beta will show the packs that you are still worthy of respect."

I closed my eyes, tears slipping silently down my cheeks.

"The Silver Moon Pack has resources, influence," Marcus pressed. "And Julian Carlson comes highly recommended. He's willing to formalize the arrangement immediately."

Immediately. As if I were damaged goods that needed to be quickly disposed of before anyone else noticed.

But what choice did I have? My wolf was broken, my body betrayed, and the man I'd thought was my mate had chosen another—even when I lay bleeding at his feet.

"Fine," I whispered, the word tasting like ash in my mouth. "Do what you think is best."

As my father nodded with satisfaction, I felt something inside me harden—a protective shell forming around a heart that could never again be whole.