Nicole was finally home, and the weight on my chest lightened in a way I hadn’t felt since the whole nightmare started. But despite the relief of having her back, guilt gnawed at me. I couldn’t stop thinking about how I’d canceled our mating ceremony. If I hadn’t been so blinded by my own rage, she would have been officially mine—my queen. I should have trusted her from the start. That ceremony was supposed to be a declaration to the entire pack, and to Nicole, that she was my equal in every way. Instead, I let doubt ruin it all.
But now, more than anything, I knew I had to make things right. I had to prove to Nicole that I would never doubt her again. She deserved that much. Still, my mind was also focused on something else—Alexandra. I would make sure she paid for what she did.
My men
