Chapter 1

On the day I tried on my bonding gown, my sister Celeste said she wanted to help me decide.

When I stepped out of the fitting room, Celeste was adjusting the silver-patterned collar pin for Ronan Blackridge, the Alpha no wolf in Blackridge Pack dared defy—the man I was supposed to bond with.

I had just opened my mouth to say, “Let me,” when the stylist smiled and stepped toward Celeste.“This way, future Luna. Let’s try your styling over here.”

I stopped short.

Ronan did not correct her. Celeste only smiled shyly and leaned into him.

My childhood sweetheart, Kieran, walked past me, lifted his camera, and started taking pictures of them.

I stood there, stunned, like an outsider.

Most of Kieran’s shots were of Celeste and Ronan. There wasn’t a single frame of me, the woman who was actually supposed to stand beside him under the full moon.

Celeste sounded so natural, as if she were the one about to become Luna.

“Elowen, bring me that bouquet.”

When Ronan saw that I was silent, he came over and gently took the flowers from my hands. Those golden eyes of his, eyes that had once silenced rebellious wolves in the Elders’ Hall, were unusually soft now.

“Elowen, why are you spacing out? Go pick the invitation design first. I’ll come over after we finish the photos.”

Kieran lowered the camera just enough to show one eye from behind the lens.

“Elowen, move two steps to the side. You’re blocking the light.”

I moved away without a word and stood in the corner.

In that moment, I finally understood how unnecessary I was.

If this ceremony didn’t need me, then I wouldn’t be there.

...

I quietly picked up my bag from the shoe bench and pushed the door open.

The wind chime rang once.

No one called after me.

I looked back.

Celeste was turning in front of the mirror, and Ronan stood behind her, fixing the bow at her waist.

Kieran held up his camera.

“Yes, yes, that angle. Perfect.”

The shutter clicked five or six times in a row.

I turned around and walked out of the store.

When I got into the car, my phone screen lit up. It was a message from the bonding ceremony planner.

Miss Ashborne, the ceremony is coming up soon. Have you chosen the invitation design?

Before I could reply, another message came in.

Or you could let your sister choose for you. She has excellent taste.

The car was silent.

So quiet that I could hear myself breathing.

One breath after another, as if I were counting something.

What was I counting?

The number of times I had been forgotten in this relationship?

I typed three words and sent them.

Whatever she wants.

And I meant it.

Whatever Celeste wanted. In the end, Ronan would listen to her anyway.

The planner replied almost instantly.

Got it. Thank you.

I stared at those words and thought the planner must have been relieved. The bride’s decisions were always being changed. They were probably tired of revising the plans over and over, too. It was easier to let my sister decide for me.

Before I could put my phone down, messages kept popping up.

Kieran was uploading photos to the group chat one after another.

I opened one of them.

His composition was beautiful. Light fell across their faces. Ronan wore a black ceremonial suit with the silver wolf emblem of Blackridge Pack pinned to his shoulder, while my sister Celeste leaned against him as if they were the lovers about to bond beneath the full moon.

I closed my eyes.

My heart hurt so much I could barely breathe.

I had tried so hard.

I had poured so much care into this ceremony, trying to make every detail perfect.

I wanted a perfect ceremony. I wanted to prove that I was worth being remembered by the man I loved.

But in the end, I was still outside the frame.

My phone lit up and went dark, then lit up again.

Messages kept coming into the group chat.

I didn’t reply.

No one cared.

I sent my assigned pack escort back, then drove alone to the apartment I rented.

On the refrigerator was a sticky note I had written myself.

Seven days until the bonding ceremony.

I peeled it off, crumpled it into a ball, and threw it into the trash.