New Life, New Mate

On the day of my coming-of-age ceremony, Kain showed up late—with Lena stuck to his side.

Her lips were swollen, and fresh red marks scratched across his collarbone.

Wolves nearby traded smirks.

No question what they'd been doing in the shadows.

In my past life, I would've stormed over, ripped off their masks, demanded why they'd humiliate me at my own ceremony.

Now? I glanced once, then looked away like they were dust on my boots.

Kain caught that flicker. His hand shot out, shifting Lena behind him.

When I didn't flinch, he got twitchy. Then laughed, low and mean. "What, Eve? Playing saint now 'cause you're scared I won't be your mate? Don't be dumb. How about this..."

He leaned in, voice dropping, eyes crawling over me. "After the ceremony, meet me behind the mountain—at the hot spring. Don't wear anything. If your body's worth it, maybe I'll let you in my bed."

Lena pouted, tugging his sleeve. "Kain, how can you say that? Isn't my body better than hers?"

Kain grinned, pinching her cheek. "Of course you're better. A thousand times. That hot spring? It's yours. I even had herbs thrown in. Just waited on your leg to heal."

Lena lit up, tossed me a smug little look.

The wolves around us cracked up—whistles, filthy jokes flying like knives.

The sound hit like a switch. My past life slammed back.

He'd done this before—humiliated me in front of the pack. Treated me like some chew toy.

I'd shaken with rage. He'd just laughed, said my shame turned him on.

Someone tried to defend me once. Kain shut them down, called me a heat-chaser who begged for his scraps.

Pathetic.

I turned to walk away—then his hand clamped around my wrist.

"Still pretending?" His grip tightened, bone-deep. "A wolf like you can't fake what you are."

I yanked my hand free, knuckles white. "Watch your mouth."

He smirked. "Respect? Didn't you throw your whole life away begging to bond with me? If you're crawling into my bed anyway, why fake innocence now?"

"Who said I'm bonding with you?"

Silence hit like a blade to the throat.

Then—laughter. Loud, ugly, everywhere.

Kain laughed the hardest. "Not bonding with me? Then who? Everyone knows you'd die for me. What—Cayce?"

He snorted. "Cayce's been rotting in the Black Forest for years. Everyone says he's feral. Skinned a Graveclaw wolf who challenged him and left the carcass hanging.

"You planning to bond with HIM? Trying to get yourself killed early?"