Chapter 1

　　"Today, before the Moon goddess and the witnesses gathered here, the heirs of Moonfall and Silvercrest shall enter a Chosen Mate bond."

　　Their parents stood proudly in the front row, watching as their children marked a huge milestone in their lives.

　　Moonfall's Alpha, Richard Hayes, maintained his composure, while his wife, Victoria watched her daughter with misty eyes.

　　Adrian's mother stood across the aisle with a satisfied smile.

　　Everything was proceeding exactly as planned.

　　The elder continued, "Do you, Ivy Hayes, willingly choose Adrian Viremot as your lifelong mate?"

　　Ivy felt her heart swell, she'd waited for this moment all her life. It was so overwhelming. Her eyes were getting flooded by tears but she blinked them back, refusing to get emotional until this was done.

　　"I do." She replied.

　　The elder nodded before turning to Adrian to ask the same question. And when he responded, the elder once again nodded.

　　"You may exchange your marks."

　　Adrian stepped closer, his hand gently brushing a strand of hair behind Ivy's ear, and her breath faltered.

　　"You look breathtaking," he said as her beauty had once again struck him.

　　Ivy couldn't even bring herself to respond, her breath caught in her throat. She was trembling imperceptibly from how intensely she was feeling everything.

　　They leaned towards each other simultaneously, their canines sharpened and pierced skin . Warmth spread through Ivy's body as she marked Adrian's neck while his mark settled against hers with a faint sting.

　　The bond was complete. The crowd erupted in cheers, the joy in the hall was almost palpable at this point, and it was only now that Ivy began to breathe once more.

　　She smiled at Adrian with misty eyes as they backed away from each other a bit after the marking. She was about to say something when the high-pitched voice of a child interrupted her.

　　"Dad!"

　　The cheers faded till the hall was silent as everyone watched a little boy sprinting in through the doors. He looked no older than five, and he looked awfully familiar. Ivy watched as he rushed over to Adrian and wrapped his arms around his legs in a hug.

　　"I finally found you." he said.

　　A frown settled over Ivy's face as she watched the exchange. She didn't understand why the boy looked like Adrian so much, or why he was hugging him and looking up at him with hopeful eyes.

　　Ivy's gaze flickered to Adrian's and she realized the color had completely drained from his face.

　　"What's happening?"

　　Before Adrian could respond, several members of the Silvercrest pack rushed forward to lead the boy away but his hold on Adrian only tightened.

　　"No! I want to stay with Dad."

　　"Don't make a scene." One of them said to him as she grabbed his arm.

　　But he wasn't having it.

　　"No! I'm staying."

　　"Enough!" Adrian's mother cut in as she made he way over to them quickly. She seemed just as unsettled as Adrian and the rest of the Silvercrest pack., but she forced on a smile as her gaze found Ivy's briefly before narrowing on the lady grabbing the boy's arm.

　　‘Take him away. Now." She whispered harshly.

　　But the boy began to cry, he shook his head as he desperately clung to Adrian.

　　"Grandma please, I don't want to leave."

　　Things had suddenly spiraled and Ivy couldn't understand what was happening, but she was no fool, the child was calling Adrian his father, and he knew his mother as his grandma. Still, she didn't want to believe it.

　　"Explain." She managed to say to Adrian.

　　He swallowed hard.

　　"Ivy….."

　　"Who is he?" She demanded.

　　He lowered his gaze from hers but she could see the guilt and shame he was drenched in.

　　"He's my son." He said quietly. "With Olivia."

　　Ivy felt faint, like the air had been knocked out of her lungs completely. Anger and hurt flared at once and her hand flew up to slap him before she could stop herself. Everyone gasped. But before she could say anything, a guard rushed in, and he immediately had the attention of the entire hall.

　　"Sir, Miss Olivia just tried to take her life." He announced.

　　Adrian's eyes widened in shock and he attempted to rush away immediately but Ivy stopped him.

　　"If you walk away now, it's over. Our bond, everything." She warned.

　　The look in his eyes was conflicted, pained even, but Ivy watched as he hurried away with his family behind him. It felt like she'd been splashed with a bucket of freezing water.

　　Victoria rushed towards her to comfort her while Richard barked orders for the event to stop and for Ivy to be taken home. But Ivy shook her head, refusing to leave, she needed answers, and she wouldn't find them at home.

　　"I need to find out what's happening." she said to him before also hurrying after Adrian and the Silvercrest members.

　　She spotted James, one of Adrian's friends, who was just about getting into his car. She rushed over to him, demanding answers immediately.

　　"Where's he going?" she asked.

　　Also washed in guilt, he supplied the information about the hospital Olivia was admitted to. She nodded before rushing to one of the cars, she supplied the driver the information and it wasn't long before they were on the road. The drive was quick, and it saved Ivy the pain of having to dwell long on Adrian's betrayal without answers.

　　On getting to the hospital, she hurried down the quiet corridor to the ward and room she'd been told Olivia was, and she could already hear voices drifting out of the door which was left ajar.

　　She looked inside. Adrian sat on the hospital bed with Olivia resting against his chest, looking pale and weak. He held her with such tenderness.

　　"I'll explain everything to Ivy." Adrian said softly.

　　The words barely left his mouth completely when she pushed the door open angrily and walked into he room.