Claire walked back through the mansion gardens in a daze, the gravel path crunching under her feet like brittle bones. Victoria’s words echoed relentlessly in her mind, each one sharper than the last. Betrothed. Promised. Inseparable since pups. Everyone expected us to end up together. The revelation sat heavy in her chest, a cold weight that pressed against her lungs and made every breath feel labored.
She had always known she was human — fragile, temporary, an outsider in Xander’s world. But hearing it laid out so cruelly, backed by an actual alliance promise between packs, made the insecurity feel undeniable. Real. Permanent.
By the time she reached Xander’s room, her hands were trembling. She paused outside the door, taking a deep breath to steady herself. He didn’t need to see her l
