Chapter 1
The moment Ava stepped out of the Marriage Registry, the Mark on the back of her neck—Liam’s mark—burned like fire,
as if her wolf itself was reminding her of her mate’s betrayal.
She braced herself against the wall, gasping for breath as her vision went dark.
Only after she climbed into a taxi did the dam finally break—
her sobs filled the car, raw and uncontrollable.
Four years ago, to save the honor of the Walker Pack, Ava had been pushed in front of Alpha Liam by her father, Alpha Mason.
He forced her to bow her head and accept Liam’s Mark.
“Take your half-sister’s place,” Mason Walker had ordered coldly.
“Keep the alliance with the Wick Pack stable. Otherwise, our entire family will be banished.”
At first, Liam treated her with icy indifference.
But Ava never complained. She managed his every need with quiet devotion.
Slowly, his guard began to fall.
He let her disrupt his schedule,
his wolf ears would twitch faintly when she tried to make him laugh,
and even confidential pack documents—he began to trust her with those.
Then came the warmth.
Liam started bringing her gifts, taking her to taste every food she loved.
Even when she craved jam tarts in the middle of the night, he’d remember—
and order the servants to have them ready by morning.
Ava believed the Mark that burned gently on her neck during their tender moments was proof—
that Liam had finally learned to love her.
Until two months ago.
That was when Ella came back.
Broken. Hollow-eyed.
Their father Alpha Mason called for a family Elder Council that same night.
Mason’s tone was grave:
“Your half-sister’s bloodline is collapsing. She has six months left.
Her only regret is not bonding with Alpha Liam.
So, Ava, you’ll step aside—just for a while.
When Ella passes, Liam will still be yours.”
Her step-mother, Yael, clutched her hands and begged,
“Ella is your half-sister. Just this once, let her have this.”
Ella sobbed until she could barely breathe.
“This is my last wish, Ava. Please... please let me go as his mate.”
Ava’s wolf eyes flared with fury.
“You pushed me to take her place four years ago.
And now you want me to hand Liam back to her?
What do you take me for? I won’t agree to this!”
Alpha Mason ignored her completely.
He locked her in her room, saying she could leave only after she’d accepted their plan.
On the third day, rumors spread through the pack—
Liam had lost his temper with Alpha Mason.
On the thirteenth day, Liam made it public:
“My Luna is Ava Walker. No one else.”
On the twenty-eighth, he threatened Alpha Mason:
“If you don’t return my Luna, I’ll strip the Walker Pack of its title.”
A month later, her door was finally opened.
When she saw Liam waiting for her, tears filled her eyes.
The Mark on her neck burned again, this time for joy.
But his words cut colder than ice.
“I’m sorry, Ava. Your parents knelt before me...”
“I have to put on a show with Ella. My heart still belongs only to you.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll never remove our Mark. The ceremony with her—it’s only pretend.”
Ava’s heart sank like a stone into an endless pit.
After a long silence, she stroked his face gently, holding back tears.
“You’ve done enough. I understand.”
But the next day, under the gaze of the entire pack,
Liam placed a wedding ring on Ella’s finger.
He said it was all just an act,
but the grand ceremony burned like acid behind Ava’s eyes.
After that, Liam remained gentle.
The Mark still warmed sometimes when he held her.
But his visits grew fewer.
From occasional nights apart—to nights he never came back at all.
When Ava finally bared her fangs and growled in jealousy,
he soothed her softly.
“I don’t love her, Ava. I’m only being there for her... until the end.”
And she believed him.
Until the day the truth struck her—like a slap that shattered her world.
