Synopsis

“I,AriaShadowMoon,formallyrejectyou,FinnNightfang,asmymate.”Fiveyears.IgavemyhusbandFinnfiveyears.Inearlydiedbringinghisdaughterintothisworld—andhetoldmeIwasexpendablebecauseIhadn'tgivenhimason.Hebroughthishumanmistressintoourhome.Mademyownchildcallher“mommy.”ToldmeIwasn'tworthytoliveunderhisroof.Divorce!I'dratherriskdeaththanstayanothersecondinthatnightmare.That'swhentheinfamousAlphaheir—arrogant,ruthless,knownfordespisingOmegas—mademeanofferIcouldn'trefuse.Threedates.Oneceremony.Twenty-fivethousanddollars.Ithoughthewasusingmeforsometwistedgame,butanyway,Ijustwantmoneytohelpescapethisplace.UntilIrejectedFinninfrontoftheentirePack—andpainexplodedthroughmychestasthematebondshattered.That'swhenKael'seyesignitedpuregold.Aferalgrowlrippedfromhisthroat:*“MATE.MINE.”*AlphaHeirKael'seyesblazedgold.Hiswolfandminehowledtoeachother.IlookedupinshocktofindKaelstaringdownatme.Finnlungedforme.“Youfucking—”Apowerfulhandblockedhispath.“Backoff,”Kaelsnarled,pullingmeagainsthischest.“She'smymatenow.”