Chapter One

Miles stared at her as he undressed, every inch of his buff body revealed to Circe's admiring gaze. His thick cock jutted proudly, with moisture beading the tip. He slid onto the bed, nestling between her thighs. As their mouths met in a kiss, he slid his hands up her hips and around her pelvis. Brushing over her pussy and sliding a finger through her slit, into her core. Her hips bucked against them, wanting more. Wanting that big cock of his. Using her natural lubricant, he pumped in and out between her pussy lips, making sure to bump against her clit.

Unexpectedly, thoughts about the past few weeks streamed unbidden in her mind, bringing her a little out of the pleasure. His father wanted him to mate someone else. He was told he had to sacrifice for the pack, but she knew he would never forsake her. He couldn't. They were moon-fated mates, and the High Luna never made mistakes.

"Hey," Miles murmured. "You still with me?"

Circe blinked. The concern on his face made her heart soar.

"Yes. Just…" Her voice faded out.

"Don't," he said. "Don't think about it."

"How can I not? Your engagement party is tonight!"

He leaned down and kissed her. "I don't want her. You know that. You're my mate. Not her."

A tear leaked down her cheek and he brushed it away.

"I love you," she said.

He rose up over her, leaning on his forearms. His knee parted her thighs and he lined his cock against her entrance.

"I love you, too, baby."

Staring into her eyes, he pushed forward. For a second, her breath caught in her throat. She braced herself. He thrust forward, breaking through her virginal membrane. Pain overshadowed any pleasure and she pushed against his chest to stop him.

"It hurts," she cried.

"I know," he whispered, kissing her tears away. "I'm sorry, baby. You need to relax your muscles and give it a moment."

His patience showed her he really loved her. That he was here with her, comforting her in the moment. Reaching between their bodies, he rubbed her clit, and slowly, sparks danced along her nerve endings, burying the pain.

"I'm okay now," she said.

"Yeah? You ready?"

"Yes."

He pulled out and then surged upward, bumping against a spot deep inside her that caused pleasure to tingle through every cell in her body. She dug her fingernails into his shoulders.

"God, you're beautiful."

He started slow. Shallow thrusts gradually turned deeper. Harder. They stared into each other's eyes. Two souls that had been separate, now combined into one.

"I don't want this to end," he groaned. "I need you to come, baby. My beautiful mate."

"I don't think I can."

He rubbed her clit with each surge of his hips, and surprisingly, need crashed through her. He pounded into her, going deep. Fast thrusts that caused her breasts to bounce. His pleasure spurred hers on as they raced toward a crescendo. He came with a hoarse cry, dragging her with him as they fell into an abyss she never wanted to come back from.

He ran his fingers lazily over her bare back as the sweat on their bodies cooled. Then he rose, and without saying anything, headed into the bathroom. She frowned at his odd behavior. The sound of the shower had her rising on her elbows to stare at him as he walked back into the bedroom to grab his tuxedo.

He started to dress.

"Wait," she said, frowning. "You … you're still going through with this?"

"I have to," Miles said with a sigh. "This marriage will bring peace. Prosperity. An end to the senseless killing."

"Yeah, you don't have to sell me on the ‘make love, not war' speech."

"I'm going to be Alpha, Circe. It's not what I want, but pack comes first." He shook his head. "Listen, this marriage doesn't mean we can't be together."

Surely, she heard wrong. "What?"

He sat on the edge of the bed. "I've thought about this. My only obligation to her is that I get her pregnant and she bears me a son. I may have to marry her, but you're still my everything."

Circe shook her head, unable to comprehend that he was going to mark another woman. That he would belong to someone else.

"She's not your moon-fated mate, Miles."

"I know."

"If you know, then how can you ask this of me? You're asking me to watch you with another woman. To be the other woman. And, how can she bear you a son if you're not true mates?"

"It's difficult, but it can happen. Even if it doesn't, then I can acknowledge any children you and I have as my heirs." He looked down at his clasped hands. "I love you, Circe. I don't want to lose you. I can move you into a house near us so I can spend time with you."

The thought horrified her. "You want me to be your side piece to fuck?"

"No," Miles snapped, his brow furrowing. "You make it sound tawdry."

"Because it is tawdry!" Circe shook her head. "If you marry her, Miles, I can't be your plaything."

He took hold of her arms. "Please, Circe. I don't have a choice. If Zade was still alive this would be his responsibility, but he's not, so it falls to me. You know this marriage is just politics. You know I don't love her."

Circe didn't bother trying to make him see how illogical he sounded. He was going to marry and reproduce with another woman, but expected her to sit on the sidelines and wait for scraps of his time and affection. There were names for women like that and all of them were insulting.

"Why can't your cousin marry her?" she asked, blinking back angry tears.

"Because I'm the alpha heir, not Grady." He ran his hand through his hair. "Eventually, when I ascend as Alpha, I can be with you full time. So, please, Circe. Please agree and be with me. I can't live without you by my side."

But she wasn't by his side. Not really. What he asked was so selfish it astonished her that he saw nothing wrong with this plan. He couldn't even see that he was breaking her heart. Instead of arguing, however, she nodded, giving him the affirmation he wanted. He beamed, leaning over to kiss her. She closed her eyes, savoring the moment, because she could never watch him get married to someone else. Watch him kiss her, love her. Exchange vows with her. Place his bite on her neck during the ceremony. It infuriated her that he'd ask her to be the homewrecker.

"The party will run through the night, but I may be able to sneak out in a few hours to visit you."

That translated to having sex. A mistress was all she could ever be with him. She had thought moon-fated mates were sacred, but apparently it was just a fairy tale. There wasn't going to be a happily ever after for her.

"Okay," he said and kissed the top of her head. "I'll see you later this evening."

Circe watched him leave her house, but didn't move as tears poured down her cheeks. Miles had broken her heart, and there was no way she could survive in the Shadowhide Pack with them. Wiping her face, she rose and took a quick shower, washing his scent from her skin. Methodically, she started packing. She didn't need a lot, just some clothes, toiletries, a framed photo where Miles stared at her from glossy paper, smiling at the camera. Her wolf howled mournfully, and she wondered how she was going to live without her heart and soul.

Once she was done, she wrote a note for anyone to find, although she probably didn't need to leave an explanation. The entire pack knew she was Miles's moon-fated mate. Whenever she was among them, she saw the pity in their eyes. She saw it in their faces. Heard it in their voices.

When she'd packed her car with everything she wanted to keep, she took one last look at her little house. The alpha had given it to her when she had come of age, able to live on her own since her parents had been killed during the very feud Miles was sacrificing for to end the conflict. Circe understood the reasons behind his decision, but she didn't have to be around to witness it.

She slid behind the wheel of her car and drove to the packhouse, where the engagement party was being held. Sneaking up the back staircase, she entered the building, to the railing that overlooked the revelry going on. It was easy to find Miles. She always knew where he was anytime he entered a room. The tuxedo he wore highlighted his dark, glossy hair. His fiancée looked delicate and beautiful in a pale-pink chiffon dress. His arm encircled her waist as they mingled among the guests. Circe hated to admit they made a striking couple.

A lone tear rolled down her cheek as her heart cracked apart and shattered into dust.

"I thought I saw you come in."

She spun around and stared at her alpha. Miles's dad was one of the strongest men she'd ever met. He exuded power. Self-consciously, she wiped at the wetness on her cheeks.

"Alpha," she greeted, showing her neck in deference. "I've decided to leave the pack."

He sighed, and regret flashed across his face. "I suppose that might be the best thing, although I hate to lose such a promising young wolf."

"I can't stay here and watch him with her."

"I know." He stared down at the party for a long moment. "Although you don't need my permission to leave, as Alpha of the Shadowhide Pack, I release you, Circe Tolliver, to be a lone wolf. Do you accept?"

"I do," she whispered. A weight slid off her shoulders. "Thank you."

She glanced back down, catching one last glimpse of Miles just as he laughed at something his future bride said. "Please take care of him. Tell him … actually, don't tell him anything."

"Let me give you some money."

"That's not necessary."

"It is. Look, I know you and my son are moon-fated mates. Usually, I'd be the first one to defend that, but there is more at stake than love. I'm not trying to be cruel, Circe. If it's any consolation, I think you would have made a wonderful luna someday."

It wasn't any consolation at all, but she didn't tell him that. He took out his wallet and held a stack of bills.

"I don't want your money," she whispered.

"And I don't want to think about you out there without a means to find food and shelter."

He raised an eyebrow, so she took the money.

"Don't tell me where you're going, so I won't have to lie to my son."

" I don't even know where I'm going. Thank you, Alpha."

He inclined his head. "I'll let the sentinels know you are leaving so they don't stop you."

Circe couldn't help but look once more at Miles, committing everything to memory since she'd never see him again. He had been her first in everything. At kissing. At love. At sex. And now, at heartbreak. Wiping the tears from her cheeks, she marched away and left Miles behind.