Their eyes locked. His eyes were already glistening as he imagined the pain she felt over and over again. Despite the tears, his expression was hard as he thought about the injustice that had befallen Lucianne, who had done nothing but serve the werewolf population with nobility and selflessness.

She continued, “When you looked at me at the meet-and-greet, I couldn’t see any hesitation or disappointment in your eyes. Even now, I still can’t find it. You seem so sure, so certain that the mate bond is not a mistake. And when I brought up the matter about rejection, you seemed genuinely hurt and confused, not contemplative or relieved like...