CATHERINE. ‘Mate!’ Purity howled in my head. I felt goosebumps rise in my skin as my heart thudded loudly. So loud that the whole ballroom noise vanished, and the only thing I could hear was my own heartbeat. ‘Catherine…’ Tyler’s voice reached my head, but I was so shocked that I was not able to answer him. I kept walking alongside Dad until I finally found him. My gaze locked with the ocean-blue eyes that were staring right back at me, looking at me earnestly as if I were his prey. I felt the mate bond snap between us, and I was left immobile, unable to take another step. The whole ballroom vanished. It was just me and my mate. His addicting scent was swirling around me, and it was making my knees buckle that I had to grip Dad’s arm tightly, or I might stumble forward. “Catherine…” Despite standing beside me, Dad’s voice was so faint because all I could hear were growls everywhere. My mate was Alpha Maddox of the Dark Forest Pack. He was part of the clan that attacked and took

TYLER. “She said she missed you,” Jace said, and it just added to the pain inside. “Stop, Jace.” My shoulders shook as sobs wracked my whole body. The tears I had been trying to stop since earlier came flooding out. “We will find a way. I know it hurts…” In a few steps, Jace was already standing beside me, patting my shoulder. “You don’t get it, man. I don’t even care about myself anymore. Why the fuck was she mated to that asshole? Did you see how he treated her? They had just met, and he was acting in such a manner towards her. If he ever lays a hand on her, I will fucking kill him!” I meant that. Zoey and I never saw eye to eye all the time, but I had always treated her with respect and had never shouted at or embarrassed her in public places. “Of all people… Was this supposed to be the part where I’d wish she was mated to one of your friends or to Andrew? Because even if we don’t end up together, I know she will be taken care of.” “Are you giving up already?” “No. I will

CATHERINE. I was in my bedroom, sitting by my window and looking at the entrance of the packhouse grounds. I could not see the front of the house, but I could see the car coming in, and I already saw Grandpa Theodore’s vehicle entering the grounds earlier. I could only imagine what was going on in Jace’s office at the moment. As much as I wanted to be there, I didn’t want to look at Grandpa Theo. I felt guilty even though I knew it wasn’t my fault. I was sure nothing they would say about Maddox could make me feel bad for him, but I didn’t want them to look at me with pity. As Amara said, it wasn’t my fault, but still, this was what I had, and until I broke my bond with him, it would cause more chaos in my family. I turned my head when the Omega, who was fixing my wardrobe, asked permission to leave. Some of my clothes that were already in Tyler’s room were sent up. And seeing those clothes hurt like I was back on my own without Tyler. My only consolation was that Tyler sent up

CATHERINE.Amara and I were in my room, lying on our stomachs in my bed, while we scanned the photo albums of our childhood. They were Mom’s, and it had too many photos of me and Jace, but Tyler and Amara were everywhere as well, so it was amazing to look back at them with her. I was just in my underwear, so taking it off would be easy once my heat worsened. The bathtub was already filled with ice, and I had mild painkillers sitting at my bedside table in case it got intense, but I knew Mom was trying to get ones with a higher dose. I was nervous, but I knew I would survive it. I was determined, and Purity promised me she would try to share the pain with me. The thing with my wolf was that we had different emotions ruling us at the moment, but like me, she respected my choice as much as I understood her. And I was glad she was not fighting against me on this. We were both waiting until our decision became one, but I hope she will also end up choosing Tyler and not the other way arou

TYLER.“Now, get ready. We are going inside.” The Luna said, and I nodded in response.“I’m not sure this is a good idea, Clair.” Alpha Jake’s voice stopped us from walking toward the door. “What if they can’t control themselves? Do you know how hard it was to keep myself away from you? And I’m sure even if Tyler can’t smell her, if Catherine keeps coming to him, he will definitely give in.”“Like how you gave in to my heat?” The Luna chuckled softly before her eyes flitted with determination as she stared back at her mate. “You have no idea how painful this kind of heat is, Jake. Your cock was hurting, but imagine what it is like for females when our cores and our whole bodies are on fire, plus the intense lust dominating all of our senses. I suffered for hours on my own, and I would never wish it for anyone, more so for my own daughter, but I’m not giving her to Maddox. Tyler is my ONLY option.”The Alpha remained quiet. He knew better than to argue this time.“If they cross the lin