Chapter 1

Two days before our mating ceremony, my best friend, Chloe, dared me to test my fiancé.

She didn't believe that Alpha Aidan Blackwood, a man famous for being wild and untamable, would ever truly tame his nature for a human girl.

Her instincts were usually spot on, so I created a fake social media account and tried to flirt with him.

Aidan shut me down, hard.

Just as I was about to burst into tears of relieved laughter, an unexpected message from him popped up:

[Stop this pathetic little game.]

[In my life, the only women who matter are you and Chloe.]

[Babe, next time you want to play a game, just use your real account.]

"Chloe" was my best friend.

My brain spun as I read those three messages, my blood turning to ice in my veins.

I squeezed my eyes shut in a panic and pinched myself, hard. Finally, with my heart hammering against my ribs, I accepted the reality: this was not a dream.

Aidan and Chloe were sleeping together.

But… how? Weren't they supposed to hate each other?

Chloe always said Aidan was too dangerous and feral for me, nothing but a bastard who used his power to get whatever he wanted.

And Aidan always said Chloe was a pain in the ass who told me to leave him every time we had a fight.

My phone buzzed with a video call. It was Aidan.

I numbly declined it.

[Why didn't you pick up?] Aidan texted.

[Don't tell me you're crying?]

[Come to Ridgeback Manor. I'll make you feel better.]

[Don't worry, I'll still be good to you after we're mated.]

[Lia, everything I have as an Alpha, you will have as my Luna.]

[Including me.]

I stared blankly at the screen, a buzzing numbness pulling my soul right out of my body.

Fat tears began to roll down my cheeks.

Through my blurry vision, I couldn't help but remember the first time I brought Chloe to the Alpha's manor.

Without me saying a word, she knew exactly where my bedroom was, and where the walk-in closet was.

When I swiped open her phone, I saw it was already connected to the Wi-Fi. She said she must have guessed my password by accident—a date that was important to me.

Aidan’s huge, stern-looking wolfhound was unusually affectionate with her. She said it was probably because she smelled like me. But that dog usually ignored me, its future mistress; no toys or treats could break its cold demeanor. Yet, it rolled over and showed its belly to Chloe the first time they met.

And then there was Chloe’s apartment, filled with the same clothes, bags, lipsticks, and makeup as mine. Aidan, playing the part of the dutiful future partner, had gifted her some through me. Chloe claimed the rest were from her admirers.

I was excited for her back then, wanting to hear all the stories, but she was always vague and unwilling to share details. I thought she was just being shy.

It turns out, she was just guilty.

I remembered all the times we went shopping together, and how Aidan and she would bicker and "compete" for my attention. Several times, their tense standoffs ended with them looking at each other and bursting into laughter.

And I stood there smiling like an idiot, thinking that the two most important people in my life were finally getting along.

All along, those two had been using me as foreplay for their flirtation, playing me for a fool.

I cried until my eyes were swollen shut and my head was spinning.