Chapter 1
Freya's POV
Everyone thinks that after ten years engaged to Alpha Grayson, I'll end up as Frostpeak's Luna. Then one night at a gala, in front of the whole pack, he hands me over to the lowest rogue he can find.
Someone speaks up for me.
"Alpha Grayson, if you're done with her, just let her go. Why humiliate her like this? She dragged you through three days and nights in a blizzard ten years ago. She froze her body half to death saving you. She can't even shift anymore."
"That rogue can barely feed himself. She'll go with him and suffer for it."
Grayson just pulls the crying Omega closer, disgust all over his face.
"She saved me because she wanted the Luna title, that's all. I'm sick of her acting like I owe her something."
"Watch. Give it a few days and she'll come crawling back, begging me on her knees to change my mind."
I don't cry. I don't beg. I unclasp the engagement necklace, drop it at his feet, and walk out with the rogue.
Three days later, Grayson will show up at the Fringe with a hundred guards to drag me back, screaming that I'm heartless.
Frostpeak's monthly gala. The chandeliers are too bright, the music and perfume thick in the air.
I stand at the edge of the crowd, watching the dance floor. Grayson, Frostpeak's youngest Alpha, has Lila tucked against his chest.
The Omega has tears in her eyes, a rip torn into the hem of her designer dress.
"Grayson, don't blame Freya." Lila's voice shakes. "She just stepped on my dress by accident. I'm fine, really, it's nothing."
The more she says it, the darker Grayson's face gets. He lifts his head, gold eyes cutting through the crowd and landing on me.
"Freya. Get over here."
The room goes silent. Every eye turns to me, waiting for a show. I walk over, calm, not letting his alpha command bend my spine an inch.
"Apologize." Grayson bites the word out.
"I didn't step on her dress." I meet his eyes, no expression. "She caught her own heel on the champagne tower."
"You're still lying? Lila wouldn't hurt a fly. You think she'd make something like this up?" Grayson's voice rises, and he takes a step closer.
He gives a cold laugh. "Freya, you think this engagement gives you a free pass to do whatever you want?"
I press my lips together and say nothing.
The engagement.
Ten years ago, Grayson's father, the old Alpha, arranged it himself.
Back then, Grayson got lost in a blizzard. I was the one who dragged him through three days of it.
Saving him left me frostbitten, unable to shift ever again. Wolfless.
On his deathbed, Grayson's father tried to make it up to me by promising me the Luna position.
But to Grayson, it was always just me scheming.
"Grayson, come on." One of his friends can't stand by anymore, says it low. "Just send her off. You two grew up together, she saved your life. Doesn't that count for something?"
"Count for something?" Grayson looks like he's just heard the joke of the century.
He pulls Lila in tighter, looking at me like I'm something he wants to scrape off his shoe.
"She saved me because she wanted the Luna seat, that's it. Sick little game. Since she loves upsetting Lila so much, fine, we're done with this engagement."
He points toward the corner of the ballroom.
A tall, silent man stands there in a faded, worn-out jacket, hair a mess, wiping down a glass without looking up.
That's Kade.
A rogue the pack took in. No background, no standing, stuck doing the worst jobs nobody else wants.
"Kade. Come here." Grayson snaps his fingers.
Kade sets the glass down and walks over slowly. He doesn't look at Grayson. His dark eyes just sweep over me, once.
"Lucky you." Grayson jabs a finger at me, talking to Kade. "Starting today, she's your mate. Take her home, do whatever you want with her."
The room erupts.
I've never been humiliated like this in my life.
"Grayson, isn't this a little much..." Lila covers her mouth, but there's something sharp and pleased in her eyes.
"A little much? She's getting exactly what she deserves." Grayson snorts, smirking at his friend. "Watch. It won't be long before she's on her knees begging me to forgive her."
So this is it. Ten years of holding back, of letting things go, and this is all it gets me.
I don't want to cry, don't want to make a scene. I just reach up, unclasp the crescent pendant from my neck, and drop it on the carpet at Grayson's feet.
It's the token from our engagement.
"Fine. The engagement's off. We're even now."
