Chapter 10

Ethan vanished all night, not answering his phone. Zoe blew up his line until she found him the next morning, curled up on the floor of his office. The room was trashed, like a storm had ripped through it.

"Ethan, what happened?" she asked, shaking him awake.

His eyes focused slowly, locking onto her face. Hatred flared in them, raw and searing.

He reached out, but Zoe grabbed his hand, oblivious. "You've been stressed with the promotion, huh? Take a few days off. We can plan our binding ceremony together—I can't do it all alone. Let's check out hotels and pick a dress today, yeah?"

Ethan buried his hatred, a plan forming in his mind. He pushed her away, standing and smoothing his clothes. "Fine."

For the next few days, Zoe dragged him to pick out dresses, flowers, and favor boxes. Ethan played the perfect soon-to-be mate, following her every whim.

Zoe grew smug, convinced he'd forgotten Melody and her pup. She even brought Melody up without a care. "She should've died ages ago, holding you back. I'm the only one who deserves to stand by your side."

Ethan stayed silent, his eyes lingering on her fragile neck.

The day of the binding ceremony arrived. Zoe glided down the aisle in her chosen dress, basking in the guests' envy. Benedict, eyes misty, turned to Ethan. "If you ever mistreat my daughter, I won't let you off."

Ethan stared back, wordless.

The ceremony hit its peak as the couple prepared to exchange rings. The crowd chanted, "Kiss! Kiss!"

Suddenly, the lights went out.

A gasp rippled through the guests as the screen behind the couple flickered on. It was dashcam footage.

Melody's pup was struck, sent flying, landing in a pool of blood. The car reversed, rolling over the body again and again.

Zoe's voice played over the footage. "Dad! I killed someone... I ran over Melody's pup... You have to help me..."

The video ended, and the room erupted.

The pup's broken body was seared into every wolf's mind. Fingers pointed at Zoe, whispers questioning if she was the killer.

Zoe's face turned ghostly pale, her body trembling. "Who played that? It's a lie! It's fake! Edited! I didn't kill anyone!"

Benedict, ever the seasoned wolf, stepped up. "Calm down, everyone! This is my daughter's binding day. Someone's clearly trying to frame her with this video. Don't believe it—I'll find who's behind this!"

"Benedict, shouldn't you be rooting out your daughter, the murderer?" A commanding voice rang from the entrance.

Heads turned. A she-wolf strode in.

Ethan's eyes lit up, thinking it was Melody, but as she drew closer, the light faded. It was Bella, Melody's friend.

Bella marched to the stage, her voice ringing. "That dashcam footage—real or fake? You can have experts verify it!" She faced the crowd. "Many of you are legal wolves. You're celebrating a killer, letting her and her father run roughshod over justice! Doesn't your conscience gnaw at you? Can you sleep at night?"