Chapter 1

Every wolf in the territory knew the rule: to become Cassian's Luna, you had to survive his bloody Trials.

He'd round up ten she-wolves, run them through a Trial, and cut the weak ones. Survive, you moved on. Win all hundred rounds, and he'd mark you as his mate.

Out of all of them, I was the only one who'd made it to round ninety-nine.

I'd taken every cruel thing he threw at me without a sound. He'd started looking at me like I was something rare. He even paraded me past the other Alphas and made them call me his Luna.

Then, right before tonight's Trial, I saw him.

He had Aria backed into the VIP room, kissing her like he was starving for it.

"There's a bullet in the fifth chamber," he murmured against her mouth. "Don't fire it."

"Got it."

My chest went tight. I couldn't breathe.

No time to think. The Trial had already started.

I watched Aria pull the rigged draw—second to fire, the safe spot. My stomach dropped. If I kept going, this round was already lost.

I breathed in and looked dead into Cassian's calm, empty eyes.

"Wren." He swirled the wine in his glass, his voice all warmth and favor. "Still want to play? You know I'd never let you lose."

The room broke into knowing jeers the second he finished.

His packmates whistled, eyes flicking between us, mocking.

"Alpha's always soft on his Luna. This round's already over."

"New wolf's got some nerve, going up against the Luna. Doesn't she know who he's actually got eyes for?"

"Be smart. Just forfeit. At least walk out with your head up."

Across the table, Aria was shaking, but she set her jaw. "I'm not forfeiting. I'm playing."

I caught the flicker in Cassian's eyes—something almost impressed.

"Interesting. Then let's make it quick." His mouth curved, lazy and indulgent. "Wren. I've got plans for you tonight."

Pathetic.

He'd already stacked it for Aria, and here he was, still running the lovesick act.

My heart felt like it was going under in ice water. Numb.

I breathed in and met his eyes. "Start it."

I wanted to see for myself—whether the male who kept swearing he'd never let me lose could really sit there and watch me take the fall.

The Trial started. I drew first. I lifted the revolver, pressed the muzzle to my chest, and squeezed.

Click. Empty.

The room let out a breath. Someone even laughed and started taking bets.

Cassian's eyes dropped, and he gave a soft chuckle. "Wren. Don't worry. I always bet on you."

Aria's turn. Her hand shook, but she pulled the trigger without stalling.

Empty again.

Then me. Third chamber. Empty.

But my heart only slammed harder, because he'd said the bullet was in the fifth.

I was shaking all over. My eyes stung, my vision swimming. The draw that put me first—he'd rigged that too. He wanted me to lose.

Aria fired the fourth. She knew she was safe, but she let out a scared little whimper anyway.

The jeering picked up. "Just quit! Get on your knees, grovel to the Luna, beg—maybe the Alpha lets you off!"

"Come on, little wolf, a rubber slug still stings!"

Aria didn't flinch. She just slid the revolver across to me.

My heart shot into my throat.

I stared at Cassian, waiting for him to call it off.

He just watched. There was even a faint smile on his mouth. He didn't lift a finger to stop it.

The seconds dragged. Cassian frowned.

"Wren. Don't be scared. You always come out on top."

My mouth twisted, bitter, and with a shaking hand I pressed the muzzle to my chest.

Bang.

The slug slammed into me.

Rubber. Not deadly. But it hurt so bad I almost couldn't breathe.

Aria screamed. "I—I'm so sorry, Wren, I didn't know it'd—"

The whole room had gone white, every eye snapping to Cassian.

By the rules, whoever took the shot lost. The winner became his mate.

"Cassian, I—"

He stood slowly and looked down at Aria, his voice cold as ice.

"It's fine. She bet, and she lost."

Then he bent and scooped the shaken Aria up into his arms.

The move was smooth, dripping with that flat, unquestionable dominance. His eyes swept the room, his voice frigid.

"Wren. You lost. I'm disappointed. But there's only one Luna in my heart, and it's you."

Aria flinched against him, but the look she shot me was pure dare.

It hurt, bad, deep in my chest. I sneered anyway.

He carried Aria toward the door and didn't break stride.

He didn't look back at me once.

Only when his back disappeared through the door did the tears I'd been holding finally break and pour down.

This Trial was never fair. Whoever he wanted won. That was it.

I wiped my face, picked up the wine glass, and drained it in one swallow.

Outside, I held my throbbing chest and dialed a number with a shaking hand.

"You want a Luna—fine. I'm in. Seven days. I'll see you at the ceremony."