“Bianca and I have a past; we were together for years, Aubrey!” I navigate through the crowded sidewalk, my boots clicking against the concrete as Rhett’s words from last night echoed in my head.

“As my fiancé, yes! How can you not see she still has feelings for you?” I yelled back at him, and he just shook his head and laughed, making me feel even smaller than I had moments before. I couldn’t believe what Rhett had said to me, clearly forgetting that I cut everyone out of mine for him. I gave up my position as the next alpha of my father’s pack to be with him, and he can’t give up his ex for his mate. His words sting still, but not as much as his following ones.

“Look, I didn’t ask for this bond any more than you did. Bianca and I built something real over the years. You can’t just step in and expect to replace all that history. You need to get over this jealousy, Aubrey. I’m not going to fire her just because you feel threatened. That’s not fair to her or to me.” He had later apologized, but the apology was empty, devoid of warmth. It is just another reminder that things between us are fracturing, the bond we shared disintegrating because he refuses to acknowledge that Bianca is the root of all our issues.

But there is still hope, isn’t there? A part of me clings to that possibility like a lifeline—a thin, fraying thread that I am terrified to let go of. The idea of fixing what has been broken seems like a distant dream, but I have to try for the sake of our mate bond. It has to work out because I have nothing left to go home to since my father declared me rogue if I chose him, but how could I not? He is my mate; mate bonds are sacred, yet mine is starting to feel like a curse with how much we fight. But there is still hope, he wouldn’t have asked me to meet him if there wasn’t.

So, my heart races with both excitement and fear. I am excited about the opportunity to see my mate, and I am also afraid of why he asked me to meet him at work in the first place. Especially after our argument last night when he forbade me from coming here after I had an argument with his secretary Bianca, who is also his ex.

As I pause at the intersection, waiting to cross, the hum of the city seems to quiet just a fraction, allowing the past to play out vividly in my mind’s eye. Rhett’s smile, once so easy and genuine, now seems forced at the best of times. His touch, which had once sparked fires within me, has turned cold lately.

I glance down at his message on my phone and can’t help but smile.

Come have lunch with me at work.

“Maybe today,” I whisper to myself, the words barely audible over the sound of honking horns and chattering pedestrians. Perhaps today, we could clear the air and start fresh. Hopefully, today, I could look into those piercing blue eyes and see a glimmer of the man I once knew—the alpha who had declared me his. Yes, a fresh start would be good. We are due to wed in a couple of weeks, and I’d rather not go into a marriage with all this drama hanging over our heads.

A deep breath fills my lungs as I wait for the light to turn green at the pedestrian crossing. Tucking my phone in my handbag, I double-check that I have everything, like the venue contract for the wedding and the seating arrangements, which I need his help with since I don’t know any of these people and no one from my side will be attending when a commotion breaks out behind me.

“Stop him!” The urgency in the shout cuts through my reverie, making me jump. My gaze snaps away from the traffic light, and I twist around, searching for the source of the commotion.

A young boy, no more than six, is barreling through the crowd, his small frame a darting shadow against the city's concrete jungle. Desperation and defiance are etched into the boy’s features as he runs from the men chasing him.

As the child nears the curb, a cold spike of fear pierces me. His feet are not stopping as he runs straight for the bustling street. The boy being cut off by another man in a suit has him darting left straight onto the road.

“Watch out!” My voice is lost in the screeching of tires and city sounds. Time seems to decelerate; each second slows, and then it feels as if it stops altogether.

The car—a sleek black sedan, makes its turn, tires biting into the asphalt. Horror constricts my throat as the vehicle veers, the driver’s eyes locked on anything but the boy who has stepped onto the road.

“Max!” another cry rings out, tinged with a familiar terror that resonates within me. It echoes the same primal panic that surges through my veins, having lost my little sister similarly when I was twelve; she was only eleven years old. She had been run over by a drunk driver while we were riding our bikes at my grandmother’s place.

I don’t think, I react out of pure panic. My feet are pounding against the concrete like paws thundering through the underbrush on a full moon.

“Hey!” My voice is a commanding bark, slicing through the noise of the city as I shove past pedestrians to get to him. With a lunge born of desperation, I reach the boy, my hands finding the fabric of his shirt in a vice grip. I hurl him back toward the sidewalk.

The momentum, however, betrays me. My world tilts violently as I stumble forward, my body careening into the path of the oncoming vehicle. Tires screech as metal meets flesh. Searing pain erupts up my side when I am thrown through the air.

I hit the ground, the impact stealing the breath from my lungs as I slid across the asphalt. The rough ground tears at my exposed skin as I stop. The ground bites into my palms as I push myself up, needing to ensure the child’s okay, not knowing if I was quick enough. But when my gaze finds him, he is a crumpled figure on his knees on the sidewalk. I stumble over to him while the shouts of men racing toward us resonate through the air, and I feel someone’s aura ripple out violently.

Chapter 2

“Are you okay?” I panic, hoping he hasn’t hit his head in the gutter, just as the car tears off down the road, not even bothering to stop to see if I’m okay. I grip his face, checking him over, before realizing we have gathered a crowd.

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry!” His little voice cracks with the weight of the chaos he had unwittingly unleashed. Tears carve clean paths down his dirt-smudged face, his innocence laid bare in the sun’s harsh light.

“Shh, it’s okay,” I rasp out, my throat tight with having the air smashed from my lungs and my skin burning violently. He has a scraped knee, but other than that, he looks to be okay.

“Are you hurt?” I manage to ask, though my body screams in protest. The pain is sharp, consuming almost, but my wolf will heal me in no time. This little man, however, is too young to have a wolf yet.

His small head shakes, sending droplets of tears flying. I let out a breath of relief and stand when I hear the crowd’s murmurs before shouts resonate loudly and the crowd of people part, making way for someone.

I hadn’t even regained my footing when he appeared— shoving people out of the way; he was chaos personified in a tailored suit.

“Max!” he stammers, closing the distance in heartbeats, sweeping the child into his arms.

My eyes take in the man before me; he is huge beside my 5 foot 3 frame; the man is tall and muscular, towering over me as his dark hair and 5 o’clock shadow give him a rugged yet handsome appearance. His tailored suit only adds to his commanding presence. Even having a mate, I must admit the man is gorgeous and would be any lady’s wet dream. Though his aura is another thing entirely, everyone scatters to get away from him as it ripples out violently. My knees shake slightly as I fight not to submit to him and fall at his feet.

My eyes move to Max, he resembles his father in a smaller, younger version, with the same piercing blue eyes. His small head is crowned with dark, messy hair, and his cheeks glisten with tears.

The child’s tiny frame shakes in his father’s arms, his small hands gripping onto the fabric of his shirt. My own body trembles at the intensity of the man’s aura, a strong force that seems to emanate from him in waves, and a growl rips out of him when people edge closer; the sound is a deep menacing thrumming, warning those close to back away. That sound has goosebumps lacing my skin instantly, and my neck prickles with the urge to submit to him, which speaks volumes; I may be rogue right now, but I do have alpha blood.

I stare at him, stunned, wondering where this alpha came from, but I am certain that his aura is potent, dangerous, and exceeds that of Rhett’s. It also makes me wonder who he is when I notice men clad in tailored suits suddenly surrounding us; he is clearly someone of importance to warrant this much security. Hearing me whimper under the weight of it, he drops his aura, and I take a shaky breath when his dazzling blue eyes that match his son’s flick to me.

The man’s gaze locks on me, and I can’t help but feel the intensity of his presence wash over me. The air around us seems to thicken with tension, yet his smile comes slow, warm, and reassuring.

“It’s alright, sorry I didn’t mean to,” he says; his voice is deep and rich, a perfect counterpoint to the fearsome aura that had just moments before left me trembling. He steps closer so his aura doesn’t affect me as much as those around us, almost like I’m suddenly shielded by it. It's a weird sensation as it ripples over me, but I don’t have that overwhelming urge to submit to him. He must be a powerful alpha to be able to control his aura like that. Perhaps an Alpha of Alphas?

A hint of cologne, strong and manly, lingers in the air around the man as his aura radiates dominance and danger. I catch a whiff of sweat and adrenaline from the crowd as they scatter away from him.

“Sorry,” he murmurs, his large hands still clutching his son tightly; I nod, trying to catch my breath when he pulls back, taking in his son’s face.

“Max! Oh, Max, you scared me to death,” his voice deep, each word laced with an intoxicating blend of fear and overwhelming relief. His arms, strong and sure, crush the trembling boy against his chest, holding on to him like he is afraid the boy will vanish if he doesn’t.

My knees wobble beneath me, protesting the sudden shift from adrenaline-fueled action to stillness.

“He’s okay, just a scraped knee,” I manage, my voice sounding foreign to my ears—roughened by strain. A smile attempts to breach my lips, but it falters, morphing instead into a grimace as pain radiates through my bruised body.

Shakily, I straighten my jacket, attempting to compose myself, though the fabric now bore the asphalt’s unforgiving kiss. My racing heart refuses to settle as it thumps erratically against my ribs.

“Thank you!” The man says, and I nod once. I didn’t need his words; the intensity in his gaze, the way he held his son like a lifeline, it told me everything.

The man’s eyes, a stormy blue that mirrored the sea, hold mine with an intensity that threatens to unravel the last threads of my control. “You saved him. Thank you, truly,” he repeats earnestly, his voice a low rumble that seems to vibrate through the chaos. “I can’t thank you enough. Are you alright?”

The concern etched in his features is a balm to the sting of asphalt against my skin. “I’ll be fine,” I assure him, even as pain lances through my leg, sharp and unwelcome. I wince a mere flicker of discomfort but quickly mask it with a tight-lipped smile. “Just a few scrapes.” He doesn’t seem convinced, his hand reaching toward my face. A shudder runs through me when he grabs my chin, thumb brushing over my jaw gently.

“Please, let someone look at that,” he presses, and I wince, feeling the gravel burn where his thumb touches. Despite the pain, warmth floods my cheeks. Rhett is never gentle like this. Instinctively, I lean into his scent, which is just as enticing as his touch.

Chapter 3

“Boss,” someone says behind him, and he clears his throat, stepping back. The man before me exudes a more powerful presence than any alpha I’ve ever encountered. Despite his apparent concern for his son, he radiates an aura of authority that I can’t help but be drawn to, and yet, it also fills me with a deep-rooted fear. His guard motions toward the paramedics, and he sighs, a sound that carries a weight of responsibility I can't comprehend.

“Really, it’s nothing,” I lie, my voice more steady than I feel. I need to go meet my mate, and I am already late, and Rhett hates having to wait for anyone.

“Thank you,” he repeats, the words carving themselves into the space between us.

I brush away the discomfort nagging at my limbs, trying to mask the pain as he reaches out a steadying hand when I pick up my discarded handbag. His touch is light but firm as he grips my arm, waiting for me to steady myself as I sway slightly.

“Soren,” he says, his name rolling off his tongue with a slight accent I can’t place. Why does that name sound familiar, like I’ve heard it before? The men who had been in pursuit now stood back, making me glance around nervously when I realized the crowd we had gathered was now gone, and only men in suits stood in a circle around us. My skin prickles with unease, wondering who this man is, that he has this many security guards following him, and to think one small child escaped the lot of them; I try not to snicker at the thought. Soren turns to tell the paramedics they aren’t needed before returning to me.

Soren’s gaze holds mine with an intensity that makes me pause. “Let me take you to get checked out,” he insists gently. I’m about to decline again when he speaks. “Or, at the very least, let me buy you a coffee; there’s a café just around the corner.” I can't help but feel torn. On one hand, I don't want to impose on him or make him feel obligated to help me. But on the other hand, I'm curious about who he is, and I can't deny that a cup of coffee sounds good right now.

I hesitate, keenly aware of the time slipping away. I am supposed to meet Rhett for lunch and don’t want to be late. “I really should be going. I’m meeting a friend,” I say, the words feeling awkward as they tumbled out. But this man doesn’t need to know about my complicated mate bond, and no one wants to admit they are the unwanted mate of an alpha; how embarrassing. He’d probably think there is something with me.

“Please,” Soren urges, his voice filled with genuine concern. “It’s the least I can do.”

Despite knowing I should decline, I find myself agreeing. His concern is rare in a pack where I often feel unwanted. As we make our way through the crowd, Soren places his hand gently on the small of my back, guiding me. He smiles, pushes the door open, and sets Max down. He rushes off toward a nearby booth. I follow the boy only to see his security remain outside. Once again, I try to recall where I have heard the name Soren before, my heart fluttering with a mix of curiosity and unease.

The café is quaint, and I take a seat next to Max while his father orders drinks. I sit awkwardly, debating if I should just get up and leave while the man isn’t looking, but I quickly toss the idea away when I find Soren approaching us. He holds a tray with three cups and takes a seat across from me instead of the other side of his son. For a few moments, Max clutches a cup of hot chocolate like a lifeline, his earlier panic subdued to quiet curiosity. He studies me over the rim, blue eyes wide and searching.

“Max was supposed to have a fun day at the park,” Soren said, his voice tinged with a father’s guilt as he ruffled his son’s hair. “But work called, and plans changed.”

“Seems to be a theme today,” I murmur, more to myself than to them. Rhett’s accusations, his insinuations that I was just being jealous, echo in my head.

“Max thought I was choosing work over him again,” he says, his voice tinged with regret. Shadows play across his face, revealing a torment that resonates with my own inner turmoil. “I’m trying to make it right. Thank you for stepping in today.”

I glance at Max, his tiny fingers curled around the paper cup, chocolate mustache painting his upper lip. The fear from earlier in his eyes has faded, giving way to a child’s curiosity.

A shiver runs down my spine at the boy’s probing gaze; he is a child, yet he has an aura? Soren notices, his brow furrowing with worry. “Are you sure you’re alright?” he asks again, his voice low and laced with an accent that I still can’t place.

I glance down at my leg, which was grazed and bleeding, to find it is healed now. I let out a breath, checking my ribs. Relief floods me, knowing I won’t be a limping mess walking into Rhett’s office and embarrassing him.

“Fine, all healed, see?” I show him only to realize what I am doing and quickly shove my shirt back down, realizing we are in public and that it was highly inappropriate to flash a stranger. He chuckles when my phone vibrates in my handbag. I pull it out and see that the wedding planner wants to know if Rhett is okay with the new wedding venue. I sigh, knowing I need to leave, and I rise from my seat; Rhett will already be angry with me for being late.

“Sorry, I need to go, I am so...” I trail off, not wanting to reveal too much. No one likes rogues; until Rhett marks me, that is what I am. Soren watches me closely, “Thank you for the coffee,” I tell him, grabbing the cup.

Max looks up at me with a pout, and I can tell he doesn’t want me to leave either. “It was nice meeting you both; really, it was.” Soren stands up with me. “Before you go, may I at least know your name?” He extends his hand again, and I take it gingerly this time.

“Bree,” I give him my nickname.

“It was a pleasure meeting you, Bree,” he nods. I give Max a small wave before rushing out the door, wanting to see my mate.

Chapter 4

I rush to Rhett’s office, which is a block away, hoping against hope that Rhett didn’t wait too long and that our lunch can be salvaged. I just hope he can’t smell another alpha on me because that will spell disaster, even if nothing nefarious was going on. Rhett tends to be possessive and controlling, or that is probably just part of his nature as an alpha, but still, I don’t want to anger him when he is finally no longer giving me the silent treatment.

I pray we can work things out because I hate to think of what will happen in the future if we can’t. If he hasn’t changed his mind about Bianca working for him, I worry it will be my breaking point. She has caused so many issues between Rhett and me, and I just hope he has come to realize that. It needs to work, I gave up everything for this man. Without the mate bond, I have nobody. My parents won’t take me back, and even if they did, the shame that would bring me, I could never live with.

As I reach Rhett’s office building, my mind still lingers on the earlier incident with Soren and his son Max. Despite the chaos, Soren’s composure and concern had been a breath of fresh air compared to Rhett’s recent coldness. His warm, reassuring presence lingers in my thoughts, adding a layer of confusion to my already turbulent emotions. Was it possible that someone could show more care in a few fleeting moments than someone I had devoted myself to?

Striding into the foyer, I muster whatever confidence I can, clutching the venue contract and wedding details like lifelines. My heart beats erratically, fueled by a mix of dread and hope. As I offer a nervous wave to Nathan, the security officer, his usual warm smile is replaced by a cold, unwavering stare. Something is off.

Confused by his unusual demeanor, I step into the elevator, and Nathan’s gaze lingers on my disheveled appearance—a result of my earlier run-in with the car. His stare is unsettling, deepening the knot of anxiety in my stomach. I press the button for the top floor, my mind racing as the doors closed. Weird.

However, the look he gives me has my brows furrowing as I press the button for the top floor. I notice him still glaring at me as the doors close, making me wonder what has gotten into him. He’s not usually this unwelcoming. I shake off the bizarre thought, putting it down to him having a bad day. With only two weeks left until my wedding to Alpha Rhett Miles, I can’t shake the storm of emotions brewing within me, fueled by last night’s heated argument over his secretary, Bianca.

She has been a constant thorn in my side since I met him, and Rhett’s refusal to distance himself from Bianca, who is also his ex-girlfriend, has sent our lives into a dizzying spiral. He accuses me of being jealous, and I am. But he is too blind to see that she isn’t as forgiving of their breakup. We’ve done nothing but fight for the last two weeks. It’s clear to me that she still has feelings for him, even though he found his fated mate in me six months ago.

Rhett, however, refuses to believe she still has feelings for him. The fact that he can’t see it… or even trust that I can see it… drives me nuts. I’ve sacrificed everything for him: I uprooted my life, defied my family, and abandoned my birthright as the next alpha of my father’s pack for him. Yet even after finding his mate in me, Rhett seems unwilling to cut ties with the woman who continues to haunt our relationship. Knowing the sacrifices I’ve made while he’s done nothing but make excuses to keep her around stings.

As the elevator ascends, I can’t shake the storm of emotions brewing within me, fueled by last night’s heated argument over his secretary, Bianca. As the elevator doors open, I step out onto Rhett’s office floor, a scene of bustling activity that contradicts the tensions simmering beneath my surface and the conflicting war in my head. Employees huddle around computers or engage in animated conversations. However, I notice something odd as I pass the first few tables.

One by one, the voices fall silent as they catch sight of me, and everyone’s eyes seem to shoot at me like moths on a flame. The weight of their stares is suffocating, and I can’t help but stop in my tracks. What is going on? Why on earth are they staring at me like I’ve done something wrong?

Navigating the corridor toward Rhett’s office, I overhear snippets of a conversation that makes me pause, and my blood runs cold. “...especially with the Lycan King visiting. Rhett’s in a foul mood today. Heard it’s about that missing money,” one employee whispers to another. My heart pounds—The Lycan King is here? And involved with Rhett somehow? Oh, this can’t be good. Anxiety twists into dread. I hope Rhett won’t get in too much trouble, and what was he thinking borrowing money from the Lycan King? I didn’t even know that was a possibility. Their voices cut off when they notice me staring and eavesdropping. “Is everything okay, Sarah?” I ask, and she scoffs, giving me a glare as the woman she was talking to hurries off. The deeper I move through the corridors, the more anxious I become.

I tighten my fingers on the contract. Turning my gaze to those who stopped what they were doing to stare so rudely, I find that everyone’s gaze is still on me. I nervously glance down to ensure I have my pants on — I definitely do. My clothes aren’t inside out, and glancing into the glass of the conference room, there’s nothing on my face that could earn their gazes, so nothing out of the ordinary warrants this sort of undivided, silent attention. My brows furrow, and I shake it off as pre-wedding jitters, I tell myself as I walk down the corridor to his office. My eyes instantly go to Bianca’s desk, only to find it empty, and I fight back the urge to yip with joy.

Maybe our argument last night made him finally see some sense. I smile and can’t help but hope that Rhett has finally terminated her employment. However, my relief is short-lived as stomach cramps suddenly grip me, making me stagger and grip the wall as I gasp for breath.

Jeez, not again. These cramps always come at the most unexpected times. I rest a hand on my belly, taking a breath to fight through the cramp that has me doubled over. It doesn’t pass. If anything, it grows worse as sweat beads and rolls down my neck.

Bracing myself, I push open the door of Rhett’s office. Then the sweet scent of expensive perfume entangled with the musky undertones of Rhett’s perfume reach my nose…