I woke up to the cold seeping through my blankets and sinking into my bones. I exhaled, watching my breath condense into a plume of solid white mist.

Overnight, the temperature had plummeted, turning the trailer into an uninhabitable icebox. Ice had formed on the inside of the windows, and the air was so frigid it froze any lingering moisture.

I shoved the blankets off, only to shiver violently, the freezing air biting into my skin.

For a moment, I stared at my phone on the nightstand, the thought of calling Sebastian creeping into my mind.

He had offered me a room at the house—a warm, luxurious heated room with an ensuite. I bit down on my lip, knowing Sebastian would drop everything if I called him now to rescue me from this freezing prison.

My fingers hovered over my phone screen for a second, but then I thought better of it, choosing to flip on the small heater next to my bed instead. I reminded myself that I needed to maintain some distance from Sebastian.

I pulled the blanket back over my head in a feeble attempt to trap any semblance of warmth.

My phone vibrated, and a message from Amber lit up the screen.

Amber: Hope you're okay. Will be back in three days from my honeymoon. Have Mum and Dad spoken to you yet? x

A hollow laugh escaped me. Mum and Dad? They had made their feelings clear at the wedding reception, avoiding me like a bad smell. I quickly typed out a reply.

Mabel: Everything's fine. It's weird being back here, but I can't wait to see you again. X

I deliberately left out any mention of our parents. I didn't see the point in ruining my sister's honeymoon with my troubles.

Outside, the rhythmic thud of feet against the ground pulled me from my thoughts. I peeked through the curtains and spotted Lachlan leading a group of teenagers on a morning run. He was dressed in grey sweats, moving with effortless ease, while wolves flanked either side of the group to keep them in line.

When he caught sight of me, his lips curved into a friendly smile, and he waved.

Awkwardly, I raised my hand in return, conscious of the fact that I was wrapped in a blanket like a cocoon.

A few of the teenagers slowed down, curiosity evident on their faces.

"Who's that in the window?" one girl asked, her voice cutting through the cold morning air.

"That's the one who got a wine bath from Carolyn at the wedding," another girl replied with a smirk.

"Wait, isn't that the never wolf?" someone else chimed in. "What's she doing here? I thought she was only allowed on pack land for the wedding."

Lachlan barked out a sharp command, and the wolves running alongside the group backed him up with low, menacing growls.

The teens snapped their attention forward, their curiosity squashed by the beta's authority.

I watched them fade into the distance, their laughter and chatter a stark reminder of what I was not—a part of them. The familiar ache bloomed in my chest, a dull throb that never quite went away.

It was the same feeling I had growing up, the knowledge that I didn't belong, that I was an outsider tolerated out of obligation rather than affection.

My phone buzzed again, a reminder flashing across the screen: "9:30 am - Breakfast with Sebastian."

My stomach twisted as memories of last night flooded back. The botched attempt to retrieve the pack's sacred medallion from Devon's trousers, the humiliating interrogation that followed.

Sebastian had been surprisingly gentle, but the way he looked at me when I mentioned sleeping at the bus station for a year—I could see the gears turning in his head, the protective instincts kicking in.

There was no doubt in my mind that this breakfast was just another step in his plan to figure me out, and find a way to convince me to become his luna.

I couldn't let that happen. I needed to keep my past buried and spin some kind of story about a bright, exciting future away from the pack—no matter how false it might be.

I threw on some clothes, the cold making every movement feel sluggish, and stepped outside.

The winter sun barely warmed the frost-covered ground, and the scent of the cowshed hit me like a manure-covered baseball bat to the nose.

I covered my mouth with my hand and hurried up the dirt track towards the main house.

Two security guards greeted me with stony expressions, their breath visible in the frigid air. One of them, a guy I remembered from junior school, stared right through me as if I were a stranger.

His lack of recognition stung, but I forced a smile and nodded.

He stepped aside, his voice clipped. "The alpha is waiting for you upstairs."

I passed through the foyer, where a group of Selenite wolves were dismantling the wedding decorations.

Among them, I spotted a familiar face—the woman who had drenched me with red wine at Amber's wedding reception.

Her pale silver eyes locked onto mine and the corner of her mouth lifted in a sneer.

I lowered my eyes to the floor, not wanting to draw attention to myself or pick a fight with the young woman.

"Mabel?" A soft, melodic voice interrupted my thoughts.

I turned to see Grand Luna Julianne standing near the staircase, a large vase of white roses in her hands.

"Grand luna," I said, bowing my head respectfully.

"Are you on your way to see Sebastian?" she asked, setting the vase down on a nearby console table.

"Yes, he invited me to breakfast," I replied.

"In the dining room?" she probed, her tone casual, but there was an edge to it.

"No," I said quickly. "His apartment. The dining room's probably still out of commission after the wedding."

Julianne's eyes narrowed slightly, a thoughtful look crossing her face. "The dining room was back in use yesterday morning."

My stomach dropped. She knew something was up. Mothers like her always did.

"He never invites guests to his apartment," she continued, a sly smile playing on her lips. "Is this a date?"

My face heated up, and I stumbled over my words. "No—no, just a casual breakfast."

"A casual breakfast—after your casual midnight meeting in his office last night?" she teased, a glint of mischief in her eyes.

I shifted awkwardly, desperate to change the subject. My focus dropped down to the flowers in her vase.

"Are those roses from your garden?" I asked, hoping to divert her attention.

Julianne's expression softened as she admired the floral arrangement. "Yes, although my greenhouses are a bit sparse after your sister's wedding. I'm hoping more roses will bloom again in time for the next ceremony."

"Another wedding?" I asked, trying to sound cheerful.

She nodded, her smile fading slightly. "It will soon be Sebastian's turn."

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. "Is he engaged?"

"Not yet," she replied, her tone measured. "But the council has made it clear that he needs to choose a luna before the new year, or they'll choose one for him."

My heart lurched at the thought of Sebastian with someone else, the image of another woman by his side, touching him, loving him.

I shook my head, trying to dismiss the ugly swell of possessiveness rising within me.

I'd already decided—I wouldn't be his luna, so what did it matter?

"Does he have someone in mind?" I asked, unable to keep the question from slipping out.

Julianne sighed. "The council has a shortlist of candidates, but I think Sebastian is still holding out, hoping to find his true mate."

I bit my lip, feeling a wave of sympathy for Sebastian. He'd been waiting for his true mate, only to end up with me—a never wolf he could never truly claim.

"I hope he finds her," I said softly, forcing a smile.

Before Julianne could respond, a staff member approached her with a question about what to do with the floral arrangements in the chapel.

I took the opportunity to excuse myself, slipping away with a mix of relief and despair twisting in my chest.

As I climbed the stairs to Sebastian's apartment, my thoughts whirled. He'd have to pick a luna after I left. Someone from the council's shortlist, no doubt.

She'd become his mate, his partner, the mother of his children.

The thought tore at me, each imagined scene a dagger twisting deeper into my heart.

I took a deep breath, reminding myself that these feelings were just the bond messing with my head. They weren't real—they were designed to trap me, to make me stay. But I wouldn't let them control me.

I reached the top floor and walked down the corridor, noticing the recent renovations.

The dark, oppressive decor of Hector's reign was gone, replaced by the same sterile white that Sebastian seemed to favour.

There was no trace of his father here, no commemorative plaques or portraits—just a cold, empty space.

As I neared Sebastian's apartment, I heard raised voices.

I slowed my pace, curiosity getting the better of me.

Ducking into an alcove, I peered around the corner.

Sebastian stood outside his door, arms crossed, his posture rigid. In front of him, a petite elderly woman in a bright red pantsuit wagged a finger at him, her voice rising with indignation.

"Carolyn is devastated, Sebastian!"

I was surprised by her audacity. Not many people would dare to speak to the alpha in that tone.

"I'm sorry to have caused your granddaughter distress, Grand Alpha Wyld," Sebastian replied.

Grand Alpha Wyld?

Was that battle axe still alive?

She was the former alpha of the Blackthorn pack—a pack nearly as old as mine, with lands that almost rivalled those of the Cedar Falls pack.

I had met her once as a child. She had left quite the impression when she announced to my mother that I was the runt of the litter and my mother should have drowned me at birth.

She jabbed a long painted fingernail into Sebastian's chest. "You've gravely offended my pack. You've humiliated Carolyn—and for what?"

"The situation that night evolved, and circumstances changed," Sebastian said calmly, his tone remaining neutral.

"Evolved?" Grand Alpha Wyld barked incredulously. "What on earth could have happened to make you back out your promise to Carolyn? You were meant to propose to her that night."

The blood in my veins froze.

"It has something to do with that newcomer, doesn't it? The one Carolyn dumped a glass of wine over?" she hissed at him.

Suddenly everything fell into place. Carolyn was the woman who had poured wine over my dress. She was the one who had glared at me from across the room with enough venom to kill an entire wolf pack.

She had been Sebastian's original choice.

Sebastian's fist clenched at his side, his jaw tightening, but he kept his voice steady. "Mabel is my honoured guest, Grand Alpha Wyld. You'll treat her with respect."

I pressed my back against the wall, my heart pounding in my chest.

This was my fault. I should have stayed away.

I should never have agreed to dance with him.

Grand Alpha Wyld scoffed, crossing her arms. "Respect? For a never wolf? Don't be ridiculous, Sebastian. You're bringing disgrace to your family by indulging that creature. She doesn't belong here, and you know it."

Sebastian's eyes hardened, his voice turning cold. "That's enough."

But Grand Alpha Wyld wasn't finished.

"You're supposed to be mated to Carolyn, not cavorting about with that failed excuse of a wolf. Thank the goddesses your poor father is not alive to witness such a spectacle."

Sebastian remained silent.

"You're throwing away a powerful alliance for...what, exactly?" she sneered. "A freak who can't even shift? You're a fool, Sebastian."

"I've made my decision," he said, his voice low and controlled.

The grand alpha's expression twisted into one of fury.

"Then don't come crying to me when your pack turns on you. You've lost Blackthorn as an ally, Sebastian. You've made an enemy today."

She stormed off, her red heels clicking on the floor.

I pressed myself further into the alcove, praying that neither of them saw me.

My head spun. This was a disaster—Sebastian had chosen me over the granddaughter of one of the most powerful pack leaders in the northern hemisphere.

"Mabel?" Sebastian's voice called to me in a low growl. "I know you are there. Come on out."