Chapter 1

Daniel's expression remained stone-cold. 

Nearby, a pack elite shouted over the heavy music. "Alpha, Stacy would make a flawless Luna! She's so gracious! She really made you look good tonight!"

Stacy pressed herself against Daniel's chest. She flashed me a wicked smirk. 

"Ember, I'm just borrowing your Alpha for the night. I'll hand him right back when the games are over."

I said nothing. I just stared down at the amber liquid in my glass.

Daniel let out a low scoff. "Since you're being such a good girl tonight, Stacy, I'll buy you that emerald bracelet you've been eyeing."

My stomach dropped.

I had admired that exact bracelet in an auction catalog a few weeks ago.

I had casually asked him to bid on it for me. He promised he would, but he never did.

"The challenge countdown begins!" the Beta announced, shattering my thoughts. 

At his mark, Daniel and Stacy locked their fingers together. 

"First dare: partners must dance cheek to cheek! You have immunity cards on your tables. Use one if you want to skip."

I glanced at the neat row of cards sitting right in front of Daniel. 

Stacy bit her lower lip. "Daniel, maybe we should skip this one. Ember might get jealous..."

Daniel didn't even spare me a glance. "No need. You're my partner tonight. Who cares what she thinks?"

They glided onto the dance floor, pressing flush against each other. Their breaths mingled. 

I could feel the heavy weight of Daniel's gaze on me.

I looked up, my brows knitting into a frown. 

A second later, Daniel leaned down and kissed the tip of Stacy's nose. 

Her cheeks flared a brilliant red.

The crowd erupted into deafening cheers. 

I dug my nails hard into my palms. I forced down the sharp, burning sting of our mate bond just to keep my face blank. 

Daniel took my frown as defiance.

He was just using this to provoke me. Again.

The party kicked into a fever pitch. The roulette wheel landed on the night's most notorious challenge: The Blackout Dare. 

The Beta gripped the microphone with a wicked smirk. "Ten minutes locked in the pitch-dark VIP room. No cameras, no rules. Only the Moon Goddess knows what happens inside."

He winked. "You can still throw down an immunity card, Alpha."

Daniel led Stacy into the dark room.

Ten minutes passed. Then twenty. 

Over half an hour dragged by. Even through the door, my heightened senses caught the faint, unmistakable sound of muffled gasps. 

When the latch finally snapped open, a lingering whiff of Stacy’s sweet vanilla perfume drifted out, laced with the sharp heat of Daniel’s Alpha scent. 

Stacy emerged first, her breath slightly uneven.

Her styled hair had come loose around her flushed face, and her lips were swollen and glistening.

She kept her head down, smoothing the folds of her dress with performative guilt. 

Daniel followed a beat later. He had already torn off his jacket. His tie hung loose around his unbuttoned collar, the fabric slightly rumpled.

Tyler raised his brows, shooting a sly look at the crowd. "Well, damn. Looks like you didn't even think about the card."

Before the next round, Daniel strode over to my table. He reached out to grab my hand. 

I dodged his touch. 

His jaw tightened. "I was just playing along. Don't be petty."

I kept my mouth shut.

My silence only made his tone sharper. 

"It was just a game, Ember. Don't ruin the fun."

He opened his mouth to snap again, but Stacy's voice floated over. "Darling, it's almost our turn."

Darling. A pet name required by the stupid game. 

Daniel sighed and tossed a artisanal cherry lozenge onto my table. "You love this flavor, right? I always keep some on me."

The second he turned his back, I swept the candy straight into the trash can.

The party was finally winding down.

The grand finale dare required the partners to exchange fake mating vows. 

The Beta carried over two cocktails for a couple's toast. 

"Alpha, do you promise Stacy your complete devotion for tonight's game?"

Daniel glanced at me.

It was the first time he truly looked at me all night. I simply looked away. 

Then, his voice echoed through the room. 

"Yes, I do."

The pack erupted into deafening, wild howls.

Standing together under the spotlights, they looked exactly like a real mating ceremony. 

As guests began to filter out, the Beta let out a dramatic sigh. "You two look like the real deal."

Stacy covered her mouth, giggling shyly. "Stop joking! Daniel and I are just childhood friends. We just know each other too well."

She locked eyes with me right as she said it. 

I gave her nothing. Zero reaction.

Sensing my apathy, she boldly hooked her arm through Daniel's. 

"Darling, will you miss me in the morning?"

Daniel chuckled, affectionately rubbing the top of her head. "Of course."

Camera flashes exploded around them. The crowd ate up the drama, snapping picture after picture. 

"Alpha, your chemistry with Stacy is amazing!"

"Your chemistry is insane!"

Hearing the crowd, Daniel suddenly remembered I existed.

"But Ember is the future Luna, of course," he declared smoothly. "Ember doesn't mind, right?"

They both stared at me, waiting for me to break. 

I met his eyes and spoke slowly. "I don't mind."

Fire instantly flared in Daniel's dark eyes.

Sensing the shift, Stacy quickly played the sweet peacemaker. 

"Ember, it was really just a game. I'm giving him back to you in one piece."

She caught Daniel's wrist, gently guiding his hand toward me—offering him up like an act of charity.

I took a deliberate step back. 

"Keep him."

"Keep him as long as you want."

Stacy clearly thought I was just being sarcastic. Her tone dripped with smug satisfaction.

"Aw, are you still jealous, Ember? I was just trying to smooth things over. If you really don't want him back, I guess I'll just have to keep him next time too."

She completely missed how dark and dangerous Daniel's face had become. 

I gave a stiff nod. "Do what you want."

That snapped Daniel's last thread of control.

He lunged forward and grabbed my arm in a vice grip. 

"Ember, what kind of attitude is this?" he hissed. "The game is over. Drop the damn act. Stacy gave you an out. What more do you want?"

His tone was dripping with condescension.

It was always like this with him. I was supposed to quietly step aside whenever he wanted to play his twisted little games.

Then, I was expected to welcome him back with open arms the second he got bored. 

Not anymore. 

I violently yanked my arm out of his grasp. "I said, keep him."

His eyes narrowed. "What does that mean?"

"Exactly what it sounds like."

Stacy quickly wedged herself between us. "Don't be mad, Ember! It's all my fault. I shouldn't have played such a crazy game with him."

Daniel shielded her instinctively. 

"This isn't your fault," he barked at Stacy, before glaring at me. "Ember is just starting drama for absolutely nothing. Bringing her out always ruins the mood."

He turned on his heel, dragging Stacy out of the club and shoving her into the passenger seat of his car. 

Before slamming his door, he threw one last icy glare my way. "Think long and hard about what you did wrong tonight. You can come home when you finally learn how to behave."

The engine roared to life, leaving me alone in the cold air. 

I pulled out my phone and booked a room at a nearby hotel. 

I wasn't going back to the main estate.

And I was completely, utterly done waiting for him.