I grabbed my car keys, floored the gas, and sped to Ridgeback Manor.

Ridgeback Manor was another one of Aidan’s properties, the heart of his Red Ridge Pack's territory. His most elite warriors—his groomsmen—all lived there.

They were having his bachelor party there tonight, a wild celebration for the pack.

Aidan was there.

And Chloe was there, too.

Through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, I could see them by the pool.

Aidan looked drunk, a flush creeping up his handsome face. His eyes were hazy as he leaned in and whispered something in Chloe's ear, a primal sort of communication.

Chloe pouted and playfully pushed him into the pool.

The werewolves watching let out a deafening howl of cheers.

Aidan broke the surface, shaking the water from his hair with a wicked grin. He grabbed Chloe's ankle and dragged her into the pool with him.

As she shrieked, he lifted her into his arms, pressed her against the edge of the pool, and kissed her passionately in front of his entire pack.

The crowd went absolutely wild.

Someone popped a bottle of champagne. Someone else set off fireworks in the distance.

A few of them even joked, mentioning my name.

"Aidan, you're having your mating ceremony with Lia in two days! Is it really okay to be making out with her best friend right now?"

"Hahaha, as long as none of us talk, that little human Lia will never know, even if the Alpha screws Chloe right here!"

"The Aidan we all know and love is back! All that time you were so obedient to Lia, acting like she was your one and only—was that all an act? I really thought the wild beast had been tamed!"

Aidan finally broke the long kiss.

His voice was husky and sexy, laced with a lazy, playful tone.

"I do love Lia. She's my only fated mate, the only woman I want to bond with. I can spoil her, love her, and spend my life with her. But for my wolf to submit to her and her alone…"

Aidan laughed loudly and planted a loud kiss on Chloe’s shoulder as she gasped for air against him.

"I can't do it."

Aidan lifted Chloe out of the pool and set her on a lounge chair. Someone rushed over with a towel for him, which he draped over Chloe instead.

Someone asked, "Alpha, are you coming home tonight?"

Chloe stared up at Aidan with wide, watery eyes.

Aidan crouched down and playfully pinched her cheek.

"Lia cares more about Chloe than she does about me. Since Chloe's upset, of course I have to stay here and keep her company."

He waved a hand over his shoulder. "Kian, text my woman. Tell her I'm drunk and crashing here tonight. I'll pick her up for the ceremony rehearsal tomorrow."

Just as tears streamed down my face, my phone vibrated.

It was a text from Kian: [Lia, Aidan is wasted. He's not coming home tonight. Get some sleep. He'll pick you up for the rehearsal tomorrow.]

I stood there for a long, long time.

I thought about so many things.

My parents died when I was very young, and I was raised by my aunt and uncle.

My cousin used to bully me, and my aunt would just look the other way.

When I was too scared to speak up, Chloe would be the one to tattle. When I was too scared to fight back, Chloe would be the one to throw the punches for me.

Academically, I was smarter than Chloe. I gave her half of the scholarship money I won. She was an only child and didn't really like to study.