2

“Jas,” Zara said softly, her voice breaking. She clutched the sheet to her chest, those big blue eyes wide. I wanted to scream at her. How could she? I treated her like blood. I shared everything. Trusted her with my deepest fears. And this was how she repaid me? I blocked the image from my mind Zara arching under him, moaning his name as he touched her in ways he had never touched me. What an i***t I had been. Mom was right all along. A gorgeous lone wolf like Charles would never truly want someone like me. A plain Jane. I was the quiet one. The girl who faded into the background at pack gatherings. Socially awkward, stumbling over words at parties. I preferred baggy sweaters and jeans over tight dresses that showed off curves. I was not ugly, not really brown hair, hazel eyes, average build but next to Zara? She was the darling of werewolf society. Sky Blue Pack’s most celebrated beauty, with her model-perfect face and body. Magazines featured her. Alphas from other packs drooled over her. That was why it felt like a fairy tale when Charles chose me. He swept me off my feet, called me the love of his life, and made me feel special. But fairy tales are lies. The handsome prince always ends up with the beautiful sister, not the plain one. “Jasmine, please. Let me explain,” Charles said again, reaching for his pants. I turned away as he pulled them on. We had never had s*x. Not once. Even though we were engaged and mated, he always said he wanted to wait for our wedding night. He respected my innocence, he claimed. Made me feel cherished. Now I saw the truth he was getting everything he wanted from Zara. Why bother seducing his awkward fated mate? The thought of them together behind my back, laughing at me maybe, made bile rise in my throat. “Do not bother,” I said, forcing a smile that hurt my face. “You do not have to explain. I will spare you both the lies.” I slipped the engagement ring off my finger the huge diamond he had given me with such sweet words and tossed it at him. It landed on the bed with a soft thud. “The engagement is off. We are done.” I turned and walked out, head high. Every step took effort. I was the future Alpha. I had pride in my veins, even if my heart was shattering. “Jasmine!” Charles called, chasing after me. He had only his jeans on. “Wait. Let me talk to you.” I sped up, heading for the deck. The cool night air hit my face as I stepped outside. The sea was calm, stars reflecting on the water. I needed space. I hated him now. Hated his voice, his touch. “We have nothing to say to each other,” I said over my shoulder. “By tomorrow, the whole Sky Blue Pack will know I broke the engagement.” “My love,” he said, grabbing my hands. Once, that endearment melted me. Now it made my skin crawl. “Please listen.” I yanked away, but then I saw Zara step out onto the deck too, wrapped in a robe. Perfect. Now they could tag-team their excuses. “Let me go, Charles!” I struggled harder. His hands those hands that had just been on her disgusted me. “We are through. Over!” Then it happened too fast. He let go suddenly, maybe to grab me again, but I stumbled backward. My heel caught on something, and I lost balance. The railing was low I tipped over. Cold air rushed past, then icy water slammed into me. Salt burned my eyes and throat as I sank. I kicked wildly, but panic made it worse. I could not swim. Never learned properly pack life was forests and fields, not oceans. I broke the surface, gasping. “Help me!” I screamed toward the deck. They knew I could not swim. Charles knew. “Help!” Charles leaned over the rail, horror on his face. “Jasmine!” Then Zara’s voice, cold and clear. “Do not save her.” My blood froze. “This is perfect,” she went on. “She will be out of our lives forever. The pack will be ours.” “But Zara—” “You never planned to marry her for real, did you?” Zara said, her tone brutal. “You were just after her position. The power. The money.” Every word was a knife. So that was it. Not love. Not the mate bond. He wanted the Alpha title, the pack’s wealth. I was just the ticket. I prayed he would deny it. Shout that he loved me. But he stayed silent. Zara pressed on. “Let us go. Leave her to drown. Tomorrow we say it was an accident on the deck. Tragic fall for the heiress.”