Chapter 1

• SUMMER'S POV
• I stared at my reflection in the mirror.
• After an hour of pinning, my knee-length hair still fell in messy waves.
• I hated it. I hated my eyes. I hated all of me.
• Why was I born so different?
• Tonight was the Pack’s mating ball, and I had no idea why I was putting myself through this. Even if I did find my mate, he would probably reject me on sight. Public humiliation. Exactly what my Alpha father would be proud of. He could not wait to marry me off and clear the way for my older brother to take over as Alpha.
• “Summer,” my mother called, knocking.
• “Yeah,” I answered. She slipped inside, froze at the sight of me in the sparkling off-shoulder gown, then pressed a hand over her mouth.
• “You look beautiful,” she whispered, walking closer.
• “No, I don’t.” I reached for more makeup, but she caught my hands.
• “You don’t need it. Believe me.”
• “Do I really have to go?”
• “It is a rite of passage. Everyone goes at eighteen. And your brother will be there.”
• “Only because he still has not found his mate,” I muttered. Ryker was twenty-two and still searching.
• My mother checked the clock. I silently begged time to stop, but luck never favored me. She ushered me into the hall. My heels wobbled with every step, tormenting me as we headed downstairs.
• At the bottom, my father, immaculate as always in his tailored suit and grey hair slicked back, adjusted Ryker’s tie.
• “You look handsome. No girl will be able to resist you,” he boasted.
• “I would not bet on it,” Ryker muttered.
• Mother cleared her throat, drawing attention to me.
• My father’s smile vanished. “Really? That is what you are wearing?”
• “What is wrong with it?”
• “White has never suited you. Are you trying to embarrass me? After tonight, everyone will know you are my daughter and I will hear about how shabby you looked.”
• “Dad, she looks beautiful,” Ryker cut in.
• “She looks like a tramp,” he snapped.
• “Everett!” Mom gasped. “How can you say that? She looks gorgeous. Any man would be lucky to have her.”
• Father flicked the curls framing my face. “And what is this mess? Pin them up.”
• “No.”
• His head snapped toward me and before I could brace myself his hand cracked across my cheek.
• “Dad!” Ryker roared.
• “Do not ever say no to me again,” Father growled.
• My face burned, but I refused to touch it. I would not give him that satisfaction. I met his eyes, silent, defiant.
• “I cannot believe you just did that,” Mom hissed.
• “Would it hurt you to encourage her?”
• “What is the point?” he barked. “No mate will ever want her. If she does find one, he will reject her on the spot.”
• “Why can you not say one nice thing before the biggest night of her life?” Ryker shot back.
• “That would probably give me a heart attack,” Father muttered, turning to check his reflection. His own appearance always mattered more.
• A knock at the door signaled the limo driver. I grabbed my clutch, and Ryker guided me out with a protective hand on my back.
• Outside, Father showered Ryker with encouragement, declaring this his year. His scowl said otherwise.
• I would never understand why my father despised me. Not until I had caught him dragging kidnapped girls into our dungeon. His business. Human trafficking.
• As Ryker and I reached the limo, Father’s voice cut through the night.
• “Be sure to greet Alpha James tonight. He is excited to see you again.”
• I froze mid-step. His smirk widened, satisfied that he had struck exactly where it hurt.
• My mother’s face drained of color, her eyes full of fear. Ryker’s grip on me tightened, steadying me as if he knew I might collapse.
• A cold wave surged through me, sharp and suffocating. James never attended these balls. He had avoided them for years. Why now? Why tonight, when it was my first?
• He had been watching me since I was thirteen, and his gaze grew darker with each passing year. The older I became, the bolder he became. He’s been getting more handsy.
• I had seen what he did to other girls. I knew what he wanted from me.
• The thought made my stomach twist. I had promised myself I would wait for my true mate.
• I could not let Alpha James take that away.
• But what if no one could stop him tonight?