Chapter 1

The days that followed became a slow, torturous descent into hell itself. Far from being allowed to grieve in private, the Ivanov mansion transformed into a hive of wedding preparations, and Sofia was forced to be the front-row spectator of her own ruin.

Every corner of the house reeked of the opulence of the wedding that should have been hers. White silk fabrics, flower arrangements brought from the most fertile valleys, and feasts of fresh meat that the servants prepared under Tania's strict and mocking gaze. Her sister made sure Sofia was present at every fitting, forcing her to hold the train of a wedding dress tailored to the exact measurements of betrayal.

"Make sure you iron the pleats properly, Sofia," Tania told her, admiring herself in the full-length mirror as she adjusted the lace across her chest. "You wouldn't want the happiest day of my life ruined by your clumsiness. After all, Gavin is very particular about his future Luna's appearance."

Sofia didn't respond. She kept her knees on the floor, adjusting the hem with trembling fingers, swallowing the bitter taste of bile and tears. Tania's scent was already saturated with Gavin's essence — they had claimed each other in secret long before the engagement was announced, breaking every sacred law of nature. But the Ivanov pack didn't care about the morality of the gods, only the birth of strong pups.

The worst blow, however, came the afternoon before the ceremony.

Sofia was walking through the back hallway connecting the stables to the kitchen, carrying heavy boxes of the fine crystal that would be used for the toast. That was when she caught the scent. A mix of pine and storm, a smell that had once made her feel safe and loved. Gavin.

He stood by the stone arch, waiting for her. For a second, a cowardly flash of hope lit up Sofia's chest. She set the boxes aside and took a step toward him, searching his eyes, hoping to find at least a trace of guilt, an apology, an explanation that all of this was a nightmare.

"Gavin..." she whispered, her voice broken.

The wolf looked at her, but in his gray eyes there was no longer the warmth of before. Only the hard coldness of a warrior who had made a purely transactional decision. Gavin stepped back, as if being near a wolfless woman might infect him with weakness in the eyes of the guards patrolling the perimeter.

"Don't look at me like that, Sofia," he said, crossing his arms, his tone stripped of any remorse. "This is what's best for everyone. You can't expect me to tie myself to a woman who's the laughingstock of the region. A warrior of my caliber needs a female who commands respect on the battlefield, not one who has to be protected from her own shadow. Tania will give me the status you could never give me."

"You promised me... you told me the Moon doesn't make mistakes," she protested, feeling the air leave her lungs, while her inner wolf twisted in agony in her chest, mortally wounded by the rejection of her own mate.

"The Moon gives us options, but common sense dictates the path," Gavin declared, turning his back on her without a shred of compassion. "Do what your father ordered. Tomorrow, keep your head down, serve the wine, and don't cause a scene. If you behave, maybe I'll convince Boris to let you stay in the pack as a servant in our house, instead of banishing you to the forest to die. Be grateful I still care about your survival."

Gavin walked away with firm steps, leaving her alone in the dark hallway.

Sofia let herself slide down the stone wall, hugging her legs as the night cold began to seep through her clothes. The spiritual bond that tied her to him stretched until it cracked, causing a physical pain in her chest so sharp she had to bite her sleeve to keep from screaming. Her own family despised her, her mate had sold her out for ambition, and her wolf remained silent, unable to defend her.

The stage was set. The farce would be held at dawn, and Sofia Ivanov was nothing more than a lamb ready for the slaughter of family pride. She had no idea that in just a few hours, the altar she so despised would be stained with a blood that would change her destiny forever.