Danae’s POV
Sunlight caught the platinum at Galen’s wrists as he turned away.
The cufflinks had been my birthday gift to him.
Even now, something I’d chosen with love was traveling out of the room on the man threatening me.
He paused at the door.
“Three o’clock.
If you aren’t there, I’ll find you.
You won’t enjoy what comes next.”
The quiet click after he left was worse than a slam.
I sank onto Eirwen’s couch, trembling.
“What was he talking about?
The rejection rules?”
She sat close and took my hand.
“You have to identify the wolf properly.
Full name, surname, rank.
Rejection causes physical pain.
Severe pain—some wolves can die from it.
That’s why the wording matters so much.
Technically, the bond still exists.”
My thoughts went straight to Caspian.
Last night.
The fury Galen had brought to the door.
“Could he feel it?
When I was with someone else?
Is that why he was so angry?”
She nodded unhappily.
“Being with another wolf would have hurt him.
That’s part of the bond.”
“Then I’ll call him.
Or send the words in a message. Find the original chapter at g.com.
There must be some way to finish this.”
“It has to be in person, Dana.
And in the ancient wolf language.”
I covered my face.
Every exit seemed to become another wall the moment I reached it.
“How is this happening?”
Eirwen’s voice stayed gentle.
“What do you want to do?”
I lifted my head.
One desperate possibility was beginning to form.
“Go to the wedding.
Let him get me in front of everybody.
Then, instead of marrying him, reject him properly.
Teach me the words.”
Alarm widened her eyes.
“His wolf could tear you apart.
His father’s an elder, close to the Alpha.
Humiliating that family in public wouldn’t be something they’d let you walk away from.”
“Then tell me what I can do!”
Desperation rose into my voice before I could contain it.
She was silent for a long moment.
“There might be another way.
You’re not going to like it.”
“I like marrying him less.”
“What if you couldn’t physically attend?” she asked.
“Something that looked accidental.”
I stared at her.
“What kind of accident?”
“Get a shower.
Put on the dress.
I’ll deal with the rest.”
Later, in the bathroom mirror, a stranger wore my wedding gown.
A beautiful stranger.
A tragic one.
The light fabric, chosen for a ceremony on the beach, stirred around my ankles.
My makeup concealed the sleepless shadows and brought out the gray-green of my eyes.
Everything I had planned was there on the surface.
Except the happiness.
My eyes held what the makeup couldn’t cover.
Pain.
Betrayal.
No matter how I tried to arrange my mouth, it wouldn’t look like a bride’s smile.
I wanted to cry again, but there seemed to be nothing left.
“You look beautiful.”
Eirwen stood in the doorway in her ocean-blue bridesmaid dress, her dark curls elegantly arranged.
“Ready?”
I smoothed the gown in front of me.
“Could anyone be ready for this?”
“We can still try something else.
Leave the city.
Find somewhere safe.”
I shook my head.
“You heard him.
He’d come after me.
I’d rather risk this than marry him.”
She nodded and checked the time.
“Then we should go.
Remember: somewhere public.
Human witnesses.
People have to believe what they see.”
I followed her out.
“I remember.
The restaurant, where the reporters and influencers always gather.
They need to see it happen.”