Kellan's wolf howls — and it's not for me. I'm standing under the full moon, and the future Alpha's eyes are blazing gold. But he's not looking at me. His whole body is being pulled toward the other end of the Ceremony grounds, toward Meadow — the Omega, the quiet girl who always sits at the edge of the pack. His wolf howls again. Raw. Guttural. Like something cracked open inside his chest. The Moon Goddess has spoken. Kellan and Meadow. True mates. I watch my brother Ronan sprint after him, shoulder-checking wolves out of his path. Flynn is right behind, clearing the way. Not toward me. Toward her. Kellan and I have been together eight years. Eight years of him telling me he'd mark me soon — not yet, not now, the timing isn't right. I never pushed. Then a few weeks ago, he had Ronan sign me up for the Mating Ceremony behind my back. By the time I found out, it was too late to pull my name. "Just a formality," he said. "If the Goddess pairs us, I'll mark you that same night. It's best blessing, isn't?" I believed him. But lately something had been off. The way Kellan's eyes lingered on her a beat too long at pack gatherings. The way he tensed when she stood too close. I noticed. I always noticed. I just told myself it didn't mean anything. Now the Goddess didn't pair us. She paired him with her. My scent is still drifting through the crowd. Unmatched. Unclaimed. I feel exposed — stripped bare on a stage no one's watching anymore. Then I feel it. A pull. Not warm. Not safe. Something raw and jagged, like a hook dragging through my ribs. A howl rises from the far edge of the grounds — low, broken, starving. Gold eyes lock onto mine. Garrick Thane. The rogue who wandered onto our territory three moons ago. No pack. No rank. Three previous mates — all dead. His wolf is responding to my scent. I feel the bond trying to latch on — my wolf stirs, restless, confused. She wants to answer. My body wants to step forward. I don't move. The Ceremony grounds go dead silent. Then the whispers start. "A Gamma's daughter — Moon-paired with a rogue?" "Well… at least it matches." The crowd parts as Kellan walks away with Meadow, Ronan and Flynn flanking them. Nobody looks back. The crowd is thinning out. Kellan, Meadow, Ronan, Flynn — they've already disappeared around the Elder's tent. I follow, not sure what I'm going to say. Not sure what there is to say. Then I hear their voices. Kellan's voice. Ronan's. Flynn's. Low. Careful. Pleased. "I knew it." Kellan exhales like he's been holding his breath for months. "I've been sensing her for weeks — every time Meadow walked past, my wolf went insane. I just needed the Ceremony to make it official." Ronan keeps his voice down. "So that's why you had me sign Briar up." "If the Goddess confirms it in front of the whole pack, nobody can say I chose this. It's not me leaving Briar — it's the Goddess's will." Kellan pauses. "Who's going to argue with that?" "What about my sister?" Kellan's voice doesn't waver. "She's a Gamma's daughter. No wolf is lining up for her. As long as she thinks nothing's changed between us, she'll stay." "Worst case — she rejects the rogue. She'll feel some pain. After that, she's got no Moon-given mate. Nowhere to go. She'll have no choice but to stay by my side." Flynn laughs softly. "Just sweet-talk her a little. She'll get over it. She always does." I stand in the dark, and a bitter laugh scrapes out of me. So the Ceremony wasn't a formality. It was a trap. He needed the Moon Goddess to hand him an excuse — and she did. Fine. If this is what the Goddess gives me, I'll take it.
The walk home is short. When I push through the door, the smell of stew hits me first. Ronan gets to me before I've taken two steps inside. Voice low. "So? What are you going to do?" Dad and Mom both look up from the table. I hang my coat on the hook by the door. "Nothing." Dad slams his mug down. "Eight years with the future Alpha, and you couldn't even hold onto him at the Ceremony? How do you let something like this happen?" I don't answer. I learned a long time ago — all he does is point fingers. He never stands up for me. Never once took my side. Maybe because Meadow is the daughter of his old flame. Anything involving that family, he bends over backward. Every single time. This time, none of it is my fault. Mom opens her mouth. All she does is push a bowl of stew closer to me. She's never had a spine. Whatever Dad and Ronan say goes. I smile — thin and knowing. I stopped expecting her to speak up for me a long time ago. As long as she's safe. That's enough. Who I end up with doesn't matter anymore. I've barely sat down when there's a knock at the door. Ronan opens it. Kellan and Flynn walk in side by side. Meadow is right behind them. She steps inside and her whole face lights up when she sees my father. "I came to join dinner — is that okay?" Dad beams. "Of course. Sit down, sit down." He pulls out a chair for her himself. By pack law, Kellan and Meadow are Moon-blessed. As for me — I didn't accept Garrick's claim. I didn't reject it either. To everyone at this table, that's not worth discussing. Meadow sits next to Kellan. He sets a cut of venison on her plate, then seems to remember I exist and drops something onto mine. "Briar. Eat." I look down. Root vegetables. Overcooked, the way I've hated since I was a pup. He found his true mate tonight and he's so happy he can't even remember what I don't eat? Ronan starts cracking jokes. "Did you see that rogue at the Ceremony? Garrick Thane actually showed up. What she-wolf would ever accept him?" Flynn jumps in. "No pack, no rank. Been on our territory less than three moons. And every mate he's ever had? Dead." Dad takes a slow sip from his mug. "The Goddess chose Kellan and Meadow. You can't fight the Goddess's will." "Meadow and her mother have had it hard enough. Nobody is going to force them to reject a Moon-given bond." He glances at Kellan. "The Moon Blessing would be held in two days. After that, things will settle. Briar will figure it out." Mom's eyes go red. She stares down at her plate. I'm about to tell her not to worry when Kellan takes my hand. His voice is patient. Almost rehearsed. "Briar, nobody wanted this. I didn't expect my wolf to respond to Meadow." "But nothing changes between us, okay? You're still mine." I take a sip of stew. "Okay." He blinks. I never give in this fast. Before, I'd push back — make him coax me, reassure me, say it again. But he blinks once, and his hand slips out of mine. Quick. Relieved. Like setting down something heavy he'd been dreading. "Meadow, you alright?" Her cheeks flush. "My mom made me join the Ceremony. I didn't have a choice either. I'm just glad it was you — at least you're someone I know." "I'll go along with whatever you all decide." They start planning. The bonding ceremony. The feast. The pack howl. Like this was always the plan. I finish eating in silence and set down my bowl. "You all keep talking. I'm done." The chair scrapes the floor. The table goes quiet for a beat. As I walk away, I hear Meadow whisper, "Is she upset?" Kellan, calm and sure: "Don't overthink it. Briar's not the sensitive type. Probably just tired." I slow for half a step. Tired. So that's what it means now. It explains away everything — every last thing I've swallowed. And everyone at that table sleeps just fine.
I walk out into the yard. The moon is high but the light feels cold. "Briar." Kellan comes after me. He still carries Meadow's scent on his skin — soft, sweet, clinging. "You barely ate. Are you mad?" "Yes." He lets out a short laugh. "Don't be like that. The Goddess pairs it — nobody could've predicted what happened." "I told you — nothing changes between us. You're still—" "Kellan." I cut him off. He stops. I look him in the eyes. "I told you from the start. I didn't want to join the Mating Ceremony." It's ancient. Sacred. The Goddess reveals your true mate through scent. For thousands of years, the pack has honored this. I respect it. But I didn't want to join — I already had a mate. Apparently I was the only one who thought that mattered. He stiffens. "It already happened. What's the point of bringing this up now?" "Exactly. Nothing I say matters. Because you never listen." That look — the one I've seen for eight years — slides across his face. Annoyed, but holding it in. He knows he's in the wrong. He just doesn't think being wrong means he has to bend. "Briar, what's the point of dragging this out? It was the Goddess's will, not mine. If you're really that upset, I'll talk to Meadow. We'll smooth things over—" "Smooth things over?" I stare at him. "You heard my dad at dinner. Meadow can't reject the bond. You want to put an Omega and her mother through that kind of pain? How are you going to smooth that over?" He pinches his temple. "Briar, be reasonable—" "Reasonable?" A laugh scrapes out of me. "I try to reason with my dad — he says I'm talking back. I try with my mom — she tells me not to make a fuss. I try with my brothers — they calls me petty. I thought it'd be different with you, Kellan. But you're telling me to be reasonable too?" His mouth opens. "I'm not—" "You're not listening. You just assume I'll give in. Every time." The way Dad assumes I'll shut up. The way Mom assumes I'll swallow it. The way Ronan assumes I'll let it go. "Briar…" His voice goes soft. He reaches for me. I step back. Turn into the dark. His footsteps follow — two steps, then stop. Someone calls his name. Meadow's voice, probably. Soft and worried. Or someone inside, wanting to talk about the ceremony. He doesn't come after me. Three years ago, when he asked me to be his chosen mate, his eyes were full of light. Warm and sure and mine. I can't even tell where that light went now. When I circle back to the yard, they're gathered around the bonfire. Meadow pokes at the flames with a long stick, her face lit by the glow. "Kellan, do you think Briar minds us being out here…?" Ronan waves it off. "Forget about her. The more you tiptoe, the worse it gets. Just ignore her." Flynn grins. "Kellan's wolf answered your scent. If that's not the Goddess's will, what is?" Meadow's cheeks burn. "Don't say that — she'll hear…" Kellan smiles but doesn't correct a word. "I'm going to make sure it's done right. You deserve that." A Moon Blessing. A feast. A pack howl. Everything a she-wolf dreams of. Everything that was supposed to be mine. Meadow ducks her head. "But my mating cloak… there's no time to have one made." Ronan laughs. "Kellan already handled it. Briar's cloak has been resized to fit you." Meadow looks up. "Really? But what about Briar?" "She won't need it." Kellan's voice is easy. He tucks a strand of hair behind Meadow's ear. Firelight spills across his shoulders. I go still behind the old oak. That cloak. I had it commissioned from the old she-wolf who crafts the finest pelts. Kellan offered to take my measurements himself. It came back a little too tight. I thought it was an honest mistake. Now I know whose body he was measuring for. Meadow's voice drops. "But nobody in this pack has been rejected by the Goddess in thirty years. She must be hurting so much…" Kellan looks at her — soft and sure, like she's already his. "She worries about everyone when she almost got claimed by a stranger." He tucks the hair tighter behind her ear. "Briar does what her family tells her. She's got no Moon-given mate now, nowhere else to go. She'll stay." "Did she fight me earlier? She didn't. She's more scared of losing me than anything." Meadow mumbles. "I just feel bad for her…" "Don't." He watches the fire. "She's only giving up a title. She'll still be by my side. That's more than most Omegas get." The night wind carries his voice and his laughter to where I stand. A chill crawls down my spine. Slow. One vertebra at a time. I shut everything down. And I walk straight in.
Everyone in the yard sees me at the same time. The voices cut in half. Kellan is standing by the bonfire, hands in his pockets. Meadow runs toward me and grabs my sleeve. "Briar! You're back! I was just about to come find you—" I lift my hand to pull free. She stumbles backward with a gasp and drops to the ground. "Meadow!" Kellan crosses the yard in three strides. He shoves past me so hard I stagger back, my foot catches on the pile of burned-out logs from the bonfire, and I go down. My palm lands flat on the embers. The pain is instant — white-hot, searing through skin. My whole body curls inward. Ronan and Flynn rush over. All three of them crouch around Meadow like she's made of glass, lifting her up, brushing dirt off her clothes. Nobody looks at me. Kellan turns. His eyes land on me, and all I see is anger. "What is wrong with you?" "Meadow was worried about you — worried you were out there alone. And the first thing you do when you come back is shove her?" The pain pulses up my arm in waves. Moonlight catches the blisters already swelling across my palm. He notices my hand. His voice drops half a degree. "…You okay?" I don't look at him. I push myself off the ground on my own. A laugh scrapes out of me. "Worried about me? So worried she's out here celebrating around a bonfire?" Kellan stiffens. "What are you talking about? A bonfire after the Ceremony is pack tradition." Sure. Tradition. But what does any of it have to do with me? "Move." My voice is quiet. His jaw tightens. "You shoved her and you're walking away without even an apology?" I lift my head and look him straight in the eyes. My palm throbs with every heartbeat. "Apology?" I say. "Ask her. Did I touch her?" He doesn't turn around. But behind him, Meadow sniffles — soft, barely there. That one sound swallows everything he was about to say. "Briar. For both our sakes — apologize. Now." "If this is really for both our sakes," I look at him, "then come with me. Right now." "Reject the mate bond. Leave the pack. Forget the Ceremony, the Goddess blessing — all of it. Walk away with me. Do you dare?" His lips move. I wait for him to speak. Wait for him to step toward me. He hesitates. His head turns — just slightly — and I see what he sees. Meadow standing behind him, chin tilted up, watching him with those wide eyes. "Briar…" His voice sinks low. "Don't push me like this. We don't have to figure everything out tonight. Meadow, she's—" "Forget it." I cut him off and brush the ash from my clothes. "I was joking." I already knew the answer. Why wait for him to say it out loud? I turn to leave. Behind me, Meadow's voice wavers. "Her hand is burned — I'll get the med kit—" Kellan catches her arm. His voice is a low rumble, thunder buried under skin. "Don't. She shoved you first. She's putting on a show. Don't give her the satisfaction." I push open the bedroom door and walk in. The footsteps outside fade. I sit on the edge of the bed and look at my hand. The burn sits right in the softest part of my palm. It hurts. It hurts so much that everything else has gone numb.
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