The grand ballroom glittered around me, golden chandeliers casting warm light over marble floors and shimmering gowns. Everyone saw a fairy-tale princess on the arm of a handsome vampire, but all I could think about was what came after the party ended—the life we were about to run away to. A week ago, everything had changed. When Ian Cromwell revealed that a vampire drinking a werewolf’s blood would slowly become mortal again, I was sure Damen would end things.
Instead, his eyes lit up with a cautious hope I’d never seen before. “You mean I’d age? Grow old like a regular human and die? ”
He looked stunned, almost vulnerable, as if this was too good to be true.
He confessed he hated being a vampire, that he longed to sleep, to eat actual food, to think about something other than blood for once. His grandfather warned him of the implications: if a vampire bonded to a werewolf began aging, it wouldn’t take long for someone to suspect something. War could break out again. And if anyone found out he’d been drinking from me, I’d be in danger.
Ian’s suggestion was simple: go through with the bonding ceremony as if I was human, then disappear forever. Damen didn’t hesitate to leave his cold world behind. He was ready to give up everything for me. And I loved him for it.
But I couldn’t shake the guilt clawing at me. I told him I wouldn’t miss my pack, but that was a lie. I’d miss laughing with Emma, confiding in Harry, even hearing Jake and Vivien argue. I’d never see the pack children grow up.
I’d never introduce Damen to my parents. None of that was possible now. My real secret wasn’t that I was about to become a vampire’s bride. It was that I was still mated to Nate.
My pack had no idea. When they found out, I’d be kicked out anyway. I was already running from my old life, trying to stay alive, trying to escape the death Nate promised me. Damen caught my gaze from across the room, his blue eyes warming my heart.
Somehow, he’d given me hope again. I still couldn’t quite believe he loved me without conditions. I was raised to see love as tied to contribution—you earn your place, and you earn affection. Damen expected nothing from me.
It baffled me. Maybe he stayed because of my blood, I thought. Maybe I’d trapped him. “My Chloe,” Damen murmured, tracing a finger along my cheek.
“You look upset again. ”
“I’m fine. ”
“If this is too much, we’ll find another way. Just say the word.
”
“This isn’t too much,” I confessed, lowering my eyes. “It’s me. I’m not enough. I’ve been hiding things from my pack, from you.
You deserve better. ”
“Chloe,” he said, his voice steady. “I promise you, I could live a hundred lives, and the only thing worth sticking around for in any of them would always be you. You’re more than enough.
You’re everything. ”
Words stuck in my throat. “You barely know me,” I heard myself reply, instantly regretting it. He just smiled and kissed my forehead.
“I do know you, my Chloe. I only hope that when you get to know me, you won’t hate what you discover. Because I don’t think I’ll ever be able to let you go. ”
Before I could answer, something in the crowd stole my attention.
A trio of familiar figures moved through the mass of elegant vampires: Harry’s sharp profile, flanked by Vivien and Jake. My Alpha. My pack. My body froze.
Panic clawed at my chest. Why were they here? Did they know? Were they going to tear us apart?
“What’s wrong? ” Damen whispered. “My Alpha is here. ”
Damen’s gaze followed mine, his hand tightening around mine in a silent vow of protection.
“Werewolves sometimes attend these events for diplomacy,” he said, though his tone was careful. “If they see the ceremony, if they realize what’s happening—” My voice broke off as the scenario played out in my mind like a car crash. “Is there really not one of them you trust? ” Damen asked gently.
“No one who will stand by you no matter what? ”
I thought through every face in my pack, each one stinging with betrayal. Except one. “Emma,” I said softly.
But she wasn’t here. Damen nodded. “You’re the Alpha’s mate’s friend? ”
“Harry’s the one in the blue suit.
”
“Let me handle it,” he said, and before I could protest, he strode toward Harry, posture relaxed but commanding. I watched them shake hands, my heart pounding. They exchanged a few words, then Damen led Harry away toward a balcony for privacy. I wanted to follow, to help, but a hand on my shoulder stopped me.
“You look ravishing, my dear,” Ian Cromwell said with a warm smile. His daughter Alexandra lingered behind him, glaring at me as if debating whether to throw me down the stairs. “I don’t approve of this union,” she gritted through her teeth. “Now, now,” Ian said smoothly.
“Chloe makes Damian happy. ”
After Alexandra stormed off, Ian smiled at me. “I for one am happy you’ll be joining our family, Chloe, even if we won’t be seeing each other often after tonight. I take it your affairs are in order?
”
I nodded, and he gestured toward the balcony. “I think my grandson is about done with his conversation. ”
I found Damen waiting outside alone. “What did you tell him?
” I whispered. “Nothing important,” he said, pulling me into his arms. “Damen, I insist. ”
“I asked him to relay a message to your friend Emma on my behalf.
”
“What kind of message? ”
“All in good time. ” He kissed my forehead. “Did you finish that book I gave you?
I was hoping it might be a source of comfort to you should anything happen. ”
I frowned, confused by the question. That was when strong hands grabbed Damen and yanked him away. In his place stood someone I’d hoped I’d never see again.
“Hello, baby,” Nate greeted me with a thunderous expression. Fear flooded my veins. I’d forgotten the strength of his hold, the way his rage could turn the world upside down. “What are you doing here?
” I demanded, glancing back at Damen, who was wincing after being shoved into a wall. “What are *you* doing here? ” Nate spat, grabbing my wrist and twisting until I gasped. “And don’t think about lying to me.
”
“Get away from her,” Damen said, getting back to his feet. Nate ignored him, yanking me closer. “You’re not even sorry, are you? Some mate you are.
”
Damen grabbed his shoulder. “I said let her go. ”
Nate’s hand shot out, closing around Damen’s throat. “Is this who you’ve been ignoring me for?
” he sneered. “A vampire? Really? ”
Damen smirked despite the pressure.
“What does that say about you, do you think? ”
Nate screamed in rage. Before I could move, he threw Damen against the edge of the balcony and bit right into his neck. My scream caught in my throat.
Damen gasped, touching the bleeding wound, and then Nate shoved him off the balcony. His body plunged down and out of view. I launched myself at Nate, wrapping my arms around his neck and squeezing with everything I had. “I’m going to kill you,” I muttered into his ear, and I meant it.
He took everything. He ruined my life for years, and just as I was finally happy, he took the person I loved most. “Chloe, stop! ” Harry’s voice boomed behind me, laced with the weight of an Alpha’s command.
My arms loosened, releasing Nate against my will. I screamed in frustration as Vivien and Jake moved in to immobilize him. A horrified scream echoed from below. I kicked off my shoes and jumped over the railing into the gardens.
A small crowd had gathered. Blood dripped from the wound on Damen’s neck. His eyes were closed. I fell beside him, shaking his shoulders, but he wouldn’t wake.
Blood covered my hands, so much blood. A strange fascination gripped me. I glanced around to make sure no one was watching, then brought a finger dripping with his blood to my lips and licked it clean. Arms pulled me away.
Ian Cromwell knelt beside Damen, terror on his face. “He’s dead,” a man told him grimly. Ian’s head snapped toward me. “What’s the meaning of this?
”
“Nate killed him,” I choked out. “He killed Damian. ”
Harry arrived at my side, wrapping his arms around me. Alexandra emerged, murderous, pointing at Nate as he was dragged forward.
“He’s the one who killed my son! ”
When they tried to haul Nate away, she pointed a finger at me. “Don’t you dare deny it—you know this wolf! ”
This was the end of everything.
The truth spilled out like water from a broken dam. “Yes, I know him. He’s my mate. He killed Damian because of me.
”
Gasps rippled through the crowd. Vivien protested. “He’s not your mate anymore. ”
“Yes, he is,” I interrupted.
“We’re mated. This is all my fault. ”
I turned toward Ian Cromwell, broken. “I trusted you.
I stood by you. I supported your engagement with Damian, despite everyone being against it. ”
“Was this your intention all along? ” Ian’s voice boomed, his face twisted with disgust.
“To have him killed? ”
“It was never my intention,” I sobbed. “Then how come no one realized what you are? ” His words froze me.
“There must be some magic involved for you to dupe us all like this. And you want us to believe your intentions weren’t deceitful from the start? ”
Confusion overtook me. He knew why I was there.
He was the one who hired me. Why was he acting like he didn’t? “Take her away,” he barked to the vampires. “She will stand trial.
”
“You were the one who hired me! ” I cried out. “You hired me to be his bodyguard! ”
“I did no such thing,” Cromwell said coldly.
“I would never hire a werewolf to be my grandson’s bride. ”
“You didn’t hire me to be his bride,” I whispered weakly, realization dawning. “You hired me to be his bodyguard. Vivien was there.
Vivien, tell them! ”
Vivien looked at me with a blank expression, confusion and denial filling her face. She had no idea what I was talking about. My mind reeled.
I remembered meeting Cromwell with Vivien, remembered him explaining how Damen’s life was in danger, how he wanted a werewolf to protect him. He’d forbidden me from telling anyone, even Damen, so that no one would guess the truth. And now, the only person who knew who I really was acted like he’d never seen me before. One by one, pieces fell into place.
Marco Rossi had no idea Damen was at his club. Nate had no idea why he was here. Neither Jake nor Vivien remembered hiring me. Their minds had been tampered with.
*I’d been conditioned from the start. *
“It was you! ” I screeched, trying to lunge at Cromwell as the vampires dragged me away. “You did this!
You killed him! ”
Damen’s grandfather watched me go, a glint in his eyes that said everything. “You may not have killed him directly,” he said quietly, “but I will make you pay for harming my grandson. ”
He smirked as we both knew the truth: no one would believe me.
In the dark cell that became my home, time blurred. The memories hit me in waves—things I’d forgotten, things I hadn’t been able to remember before. I saw myself meeting Cromwell under compulsion, answering his questions about my pack, about Nate, about my secrets. I saw him molding my mind, planting suggestions.
And I saw him coming to me after I moved in with Damen, urging me to seduce him, to tempt him into drinking from me. He never wanted me to protect Damen. He wanted me to help destroy him. But why?
Why not just kill him outright? Why go to such lengths? “What does it matter? ” Nate groaned from the cell next to mine.
“We’re as good as dead here. ”
Harry came to visit, and I broke down. “I’m so ashamed. This is all my fault.
”
“No, Chloe,” Harry said, squeezing my arm. “I’m the one who should be sorry. I’m your Alpha. I should have protected you.
”
“You can’t blame yourself for my mistakes. ”
But his gaze slid to Nate. “If anyone knows how difficult it is to break a mating bond, it’s me. ”
Fresh tears came.
“This is all my fault. ”
Nate snorted. “Heck yeah, it is. ”
“Shut up, Nate, for once in your life,” I snapped, and for once, he complied.
Harry continued, his voice grave. “Ian Cromwell wants both your heads. With how public Nate’s attack was, I don’t see how we can object to public retribution. ”
I nodded.
I’d expected nothing less. “Vivien and Jake will come back tonight to get you out,” Harry said. “What? Nate committed the crime.
Let the vampires satisfy themselves with his death. ”
“What if they request that you pay for his crimes instead? ”
“Then so be it. ”
Harry sighed.
“I’m responsible for you. ”
“You can’t choose me over Emma. You know you can’t. And I want justice for Damen.
I’ll have no chance of getting it by running away. ”
Harry looked conflicted, but he’d always put his duty first. “Once you’re declared guilty, we won’t be able to get you out. ”
“Then so be it.
”
The day of the trial arrived. We were led into a vast gothic church, transformed into a courtroom. Vampires and werewolves filled the pews, murmuring and staring. At the front, Ian Cromwell stood with a gavel, his cold eyes settling on me with chilling finality.
Emma was in the crowd. I didn’t understand why, but her presence steadied me. Cromwell opened the trial with accusations so absurd I almost laughed. He painted me as a manipulator who’d weakened Damen with my werewolf blood, acting like the sorrowful grandfather.
I’d never hated anyone so much in my entire life. “Chloe couldn’t have known her blood would affect Damian,” Harry objected. “The Accords clearly state we aren’t allowed to tell other wolves about that. ”
Cromwell’s eyes flashed with annoyance before he smoothed his features.
“Forgive me, Dr. Sachs, but how do we know you haven’t shared the information with her? That you haven’t purposely sent someone from your pack to harm my grandson? ”
Harry smiled tightly.
“I’m happy for you to use your powers on me so I’m forced to tell the truth. I have nothing to hide. ”
Cromwell backed down, unwilling to push the conflict. “How did you meet my grandson?
” he asked me. “You introduced us,” I answered truthfully. “You hired me to be his bodyguard. ”
“I did no such thing.
”
“But you can’t deny there were attempts made on Damen’s life before I started working for you. He’d been kidnapped. Poisoned. ”
“That doesn’t change the fact that everyone saw him bite Damen.
”
“All I’m saying is that people were after him, and you hired me to protect him. ”
“I did no such thing. I thought you were going to be his bride, and so did everyone here. Surely if you’d only been there for his protection, you wouldn’t have agreed to such a binding commitment.
A blood bond is for life. Why would you agree if Damen was just a job for you? ”
“I *loved* him,” I gasped. “You know I did.
We came to you together to tell you. You told me to hide that I was a werewolf. You used your powers on me! ”
Cromwell’s eyes widened briefly, unprepared for me to speak so openly about his compulsion.
But then something fiercer flickered behind them. “Enough,” he snapped. He waved Nate forward. “He is your mate, isn’t he?
And everyone saw him kill Damian. ”
“Do you deny that you bit him? ” he asked Nate. Nate stood beside me, defeated.
“No. I bit him. ”
“Why? ”
His eyes went vacant.
“I’ve been rejected from my pack, which has put a strain on Chloe and my relationship. I thought if I could convince you, Cromwell, to stop the increase in vampire attacks, it would get me back on my Alpha’s good side. I thought that harming your grandson would pressure you into helping me. I didn’t mean to kill him.
That was accidental. ”
“Did Chloe know about your intentions? ”
“She did. She didn’t like it, because she cared about Damen.
But Chloe’s my mate. Our bond will always come first, no matter what. ”
I screamed in rage and lunged at him, ready to strangle him. Strong arms held me back.
“I loved him! ” I yelled, tears blurring my vision. “I loved him more than I’ve ever loved you! And if I could give your life to get him back, I wouldn’t hesitate for a second!
”
“Enough! ” Cromwell shouted, silencing the room. “He confessed to his crime. My grandson is dead.
I demand that the werewolves allow Nate’s execution and Chloe’s lifelong imprisonment. ”
My breath caught. I’d hoped for death. But instead, a voice cut through the turmoil.
“I object! ” Emma stood, determination on her face. Cromwell laughed. “You object to what, exactly?
”
“All of this,” she said, waving her hand. “For starters, who says Damen’s even dead? ”
The room erupted. “What are you talking about?
Everyone saw him bite him! ” Alexandra screamed. “Yeah, I don’t know, man,” Emma shrugged. “Chloe was probably distraught.
Harry’s got terrible eyesight. Jake and Vivien were too busy arguing to check if Damen was properly dead. ”
Cromwell’s eyebrows shot toward the ceiling. Around the room, doubt began to seep into the crowd.
“All I’m saying is, who’s to say you vampires haven’t faked his death to stir up trouble with us? You’re the ones who’ve been attacking humans for months, breaking the Accords. Sounds like the perfect excuse to get you all off the hook. ”
The werewolves erupted in agreement.
“Show us the body! ” they shouted. Grudgingly, Cromwell ordered his staff to bring Damen’s body. They carried in an open coffin, and I could barely stand to look at him.
He looked peaceful, beautiful, as if asleep. My heart shattered all over again. Satisfied, Cromwell asked, “May I check the body up close? ” Emma batted her eyelashes innocently.
“No offense, but you’re vampires. If you lie down with your eyes closed, you all look like corpses from a distance. ”
“Fine,” Cromwell sighed. “Proceed.
”
Emma practically skipped to the coffin, then pretended to inspect Damen casually. “Wow, that’s one attractive-looking man. Good on you, Chloe. ” She winked at me.
“Are you quite done? ”
“Of course not, I haven’t even tickled him yet. You can always tell if someone’s faking sleep by tickling them. True story.
”
“Are you mocking our pain? ” Alexandra cried. “Oh my God! ” Emma suddenly gasped, pointing at the back of the church.
“What is that?! ”
While everyone turned to look, she slipped a small vial from her sleeve and tipped its contents between Damen’s parted lips. “What did you just give him?! ” Cromwell screeched.
Emma smirked. “Hell if I know. But I’m sure we’ll find out any second. ”
Damen’s eyes snapped open.
He gasped and sat up, his shoulders sagging with relief when he saw Emma. Then his gaze found mine. “Chloe,” he whispered, his voice thick with relief. “Oh, look,” Emma said in a bored tone.
“He’s alive. Wow. Who would have thought? ”
Damen inclined his head toward her.
“Thank you, Emma. You did good. ”
“Oh, it was nothing,” my best friend replied before swinging back her arm and punching my newly revived lover in the jaw. Three days earlier, Emma had been tossing in bed when Harry came home with Jake and Vivien, his face haunted.
He led her to their room, closed the door… and then his expression went blank. “Hello, Emma,” he said in a strange, absent tone. “You don’t remember ever meeting me, but I know you, and I need your help. My name is Damen Cromwell.
”
Emma jumped back. Harry’s voice continued, flat and empty, while his eyes remained fixed ahead. “Chloe is in danger. A few hours ago, her mate Nate attacked us during our blood bond ceremony.
Chloe is still bonded to Nate; she’s been hiding it from everyone because she’s ashamed. About two months ago, she started working for my grandfather, the vampire King Ian Cromwell. He hired her to be my bodyguard in secret, pretending to be my bride. But the truth is, my grandfather wanted me dead.
If you’re hearing this message, it means he’s gotten his wish. ”
“Wait, are you saying you’re dead? ” Emma asked, suspicion warring with panic. “Everyone, including Khloe, your pack, and my grandfather, believes me to be dead.
But I’m very much alive, or I will be once you do what I say. Because there’s a very good chance Khloe will be executed as punishment if you don’t. ”
He made Harry’s phone pull up an address. “Go there.
Inside the left bathroom stall, behind a loose brick, you’ll find a small potion bottle my sister Rose left for you. Retrieve it and keep it hidden. On the day of Khloe’s trial, you’ll need to retrieve some of her blood—a drop will suffice. Put it inside the bottle, then use it to wake me up.
It’ll only work with a drop of Chloe’s blood in the potion. ”
“How am I supposed to do all this without telling Harry? He’ll never let me go to a trial full of vampires! ”
“I’ve compelled him to comply with all of your requests until the end of the trial.
After this message, he’ll go to sleep. Go retrieve the potion immediately. ”
And then Harry blinked, warm and present again. “Something crazy just happened,” Emma told him cautiously.
“Like, insane sci-fi movie type of stuff. ”
“You started talking nonsense about Chloe and a blood bond ceremony,” Harry yawned, swaying. “Are you okay? ”
“Uh, fine.
Just… a little tired. ”
Emma cursed under her breath. Well, at least the mind control worked. She watched Harry collapse into slumber, then delivered a test question to his sleeping form: “How would you feel if I accompanied you to Chloe’s trial?
”
“Whatever you want, darling,” he sighed before drifting off. She was on her own. As Damen rubbed his jaw and Emma scowled at him, everything spilled out in the chaos of the courtroom. Damen explained how he’d known Ian was going to use Nate to get rid of him, so he’d used his own powers on Nate to make him only *pretend* to bite him, ingesting a potion that made him appear dead.
“Why would I go through all this trouble if I wanted you dead? ” Cromwell challenged. “Because you needed Chloe’s blood to make me mortal for me to stay dead,” Damen replied coldly. “This is my fourth life.
I’ve died before. When we die, vampires in our bloodline wake up on the day we became vampires. You’ve been using that power to your advantage for centuries. But with her blood in me, I’d stay dead forever.
You set all of this up. You’ve been trying to kill me for years. ”
The church erupted. Cromwell moved to flee, freezing the crowd with his compulsion.
But not me. I was already bonded to Damen. As Cromwell commanded his frozen servants to attack me, Damen explained, “A vampire’s bride becomes immune to every vampire’s compulsion powers once the blood ceremony is done. And since I ensured we’d be bonded before our ceremony…”
I was the only one in the world who could stop him.
I fought off vampires as Cromwell tried to escape, chasing him down, pinning him, holding his mouth shut. “Make him wake everybody up! ”
Damen, weakened and bleeding, finally forced it from his grandfather’s lips. “Wake up, all of you.
”
The room slowly returned to life. Cromwell collapsed, unconscious. “Case in point,” Damen announced to the stunned crowd, pointing at his grandfather. “He tried to kill me.
Court dismissed. ”
Two weeks later, the party was in full swing. Damen stood beside me, pulling his sister’s hand away from the refreshment table. “You’re not even 16,” he chided.
“You mean five? ” I teased. Across the room, Harry and Emma were watching us. Emma still shot Damen murderous glances, but at least she was talking to me again.
I had one last piece of unfinished business. Damen and I walked into the woods, stopping at my favorite childhood spot near a familiar tree stump. I’d come here to escape the pressures of the pack as a girl. Now, I was meeting Nate for the last time.
“What is he doing here? ” Nate snarled when he saw Damen. “This is between you and me,” I said, stepping in front of Damen. “I have something to ask you.
It’s simple, but I’d prefer it if you did it. Keep in mind, I intend to live my life far away from you, even if you don’t. ”
“You mean you want to be with him? ” Nate spat.
“I do want to be with Damen. But he isn’t the reason I want things to end between us. I want nothing to do with you, even if it wasn’t for Damen. ”
Nate rolled his eyes, but I pressed on.
“I would like you to reject our bond. ”
“Then do it yourself. ”
“I can’t. Not because I still have feelings for you—I don’t.
But the separation will make you go feral, and you’ll kill me. And anyone who stands in your way. I won’t have it. ”
“I wouldn’t kill you,” he protested, looking troubled.
“Yeah, you would. You already hurt me, multiple times. I’m done telling myself I deserve it. Your issues aren’t mine to bear.
”
He opened his mouth to bring up Eevee, but I cut him off. “Don’t even try mentioning Eevee. I’m sorry about what I did, and I’ll never forgive myself for it. But me hurting her doesn’t earn you the right to hurt me for the rest of our lives.
”
Nate’s gaze met mine, and I felt nothing but indifference. These eyes had once made my knees weak from love, then from fear. Now they meant nothing. “If you break our bond, it’ll be easier for you to keep calm and survive the separation.
I’m asking you to do it, but whether you do or don’t, this is the last time I’ll ever speak to you again. A bond between us won’t change my decision. ”
Damen and I walked away, hand in hand, under Nate’s scrutinizing gaze. I let my shoulders sag once we reached the house.
“Do you think he’ll do it? ” Damen asked, squeezing my hand. “I hope so. But I meant what I said.
If he doesn’t, it won’t change a thing. I’ll keep the connection shut for the rest of our days. If he does…” I met his blue eyes. “I may need your help for a little while.
”
“Good thing I can bite you into feeling better. ” He wiggled his eyebrows, though tenderness filled his gaze. We shared a laugh, and then I noticed a familiar figure in the gardens. Iris, the witch who’d granted my wish weeks ago, walked with an expectant look.
“I’ll be right back,” I told Damen, hurrying after her. “You’re still alive,” she observed. “That’s good. ”
“I think I may have found a loophole to escape my fate.
”
“Fate cannot be changed,” Iris shrugged. “But if you’re worried about your mate killing you, you shouldn’t be. It already happened. You simply don’t remember it.
”
My blood ran cold. “You mean when Damen died and went back into the past? ”
She nodded. “When do you think your redhead friend is going to make her wish?
” she asked impatiently. “If she doesn’t do it soon, I’m going to have to take drastic measures. ”
“What do you mean, drastic measures? ”
“I’ll grant something she desires strongly enough without waiting for her to ask.
I’m being rather pressured into it, you see. ”
I didn’t understand what she meant, but I promised to speak to Vivien. Unfortunately for us, I wouldn’t figure it out until it was too late. When I returned, Damen was waiting.
“What was that about? ”
I wrapped my arms around him, overwhelmed with gratitude. “I love you, you know. ”
“I do know.
” He smiled. “But it’s nice to hear it. ”
A strange weight lifted from my soul, leaving me dizzy and light-headed. I recognized the feeling.
“I think Nate just rejected our bond. ”
Damen’s eyes widened with hope, and then I was in his arms. *I’m free. *
I braced myself for the pain of severance, waiting for it to hit me.
But Damen pressed his lips to mine, and to my amazement, it never came.
