Chapter 1

One month before the Pack’s annual Hunt Festival, an intern from the Healing Center sent me a photo.

In the dimly lit treatment room, my fated mate, Alexander, who was also the Pack's lead healer, was pinning a female warrior against the table. His hands were gripped tightly around her waist. They were staring into each other's eyes, their bodies pressed flush together.

I sent the photo straight to Alexander.

Late that night, he came home smelling of therapeutic essential oils. He gave me a lazy, practiced explanation.

"Evelyn, you know this is just part of my job."

"Her injury is in a sensitive spot near her lower back. I had to find the exact angle to apply pressure. The photo just makes it look worse than it is."

I pulled the blanket tighter around myself.

"Okay. Go to sleep. You have to train with her tomorrow."

He looked surprised. "You're not mad?"

I shook my head.

Since he couldn’t let go of his first love, it was time for me to go back to my Alpha.

Seeing that I had nothing more to say, Alexander went to take a shower.

The posture in that photo didn't look like medical treatment at all. It looked like an embrace.

The intern who sent it only added one line:

[Evelyn, I'm not trying to start drama. But Alexander has been doing this with her every single day for the past six months.]

Alexander walked out of the bathroom and sat on the edge of the bed. He reached out to ruffle my hair.

"Evelyn, Olivia’s spine was severely damaged by silver weapons years ago. Normal healing spells don't work. I have to get close to find the trigger points."

"I was only treating her."

I turned my head away, avoiding his touch, and stared at the ceiling. "Okay."

"She’s been training too hard for the Hunt Festival, and her back muscles are spasming. I don't trust any other healer with her."

"Okay."

"You know my skills. The whole Pack trusts me."

I finally turned to look at him and forced a smile.

"I know, Alexander. You're a great healer."

He kept explaining.

"She and I broke up a long time ago. We’re just friends now."

I didn't reply. I knew exactly how heavy their past was.

Olivia had never truly left his life.

Whenever she got a cramp during training, had a flare-up of an old injury, or couldn't sleep, she would text him to come over.

On the night we completed our Mate Bond ceremony, she texted him at eleven p.m.: "My back is killing me. I can’t move! It hurts so bad!"

Alexander had just taken off his coat. After reading the message, he didn't hesitate to lace his boots back on.

I pulled his sleeve. "Does it have to be tonight?"

"She’s alone in her apartment. No one is there to look after her."

I sat on the edge of the bed and lowered my head.

He bent down and tucked me in.

"I’ll be quick. I’ll take you to register our bond at the Pack Hall first thing tomorrow morning."

He didn't return until three in the morning.

There was a smear of essential oil on his collar. He said it got there "while stretching her out."

I knew she was fine. With a werewolf warrior's healing ability, even the worst silver injury would have healed after several years.

But he wanted to go, and no one could stop him.

Every time I brought up Olivia, he would say, "She’s a warrior of our Pack, and I’m a healer. It's my duty."

The more fragile she acted, the more patient he became.

The more demanding she was, the harder it was for him to say no.

Everyone in the Pack whispered that they were still hooking up. I, his fated mate, felt like an outsider in my own marriage.

Alexander wanted to say more, but his phone buzzed on the nightstand.

He glanced at it, his expression shifting slightly, and quickly pressed the lock button.

"It’s probably just her. She gets anxious before the Hunt."

I closed my eyes. "Answer it. What if she can't sleep tonight and it ruins her training tomorrow?"

He didn't answer. Instead, he placed the phone face down, turned around, and wrapped his arms around me.

"Don't overthink it, Evelyn. She and I are in the past."

I didn't hug him back.

Suddenly, a sharp cramp flared in my lower abdomen, like a tight knot twisting inside me.

I frowned but kept quiet.

Even if I told him, he wouldn't care right now.