Alex POV
"I didn't lie to you," I said, even though I knew, the second the words left my mouth, that it wasn't entirely true. "I just kept the truth from you." The words tasted sour, and I hated how hollow they sounded in the cold night air. There was no making this better, not now.
"And taking me to a pack of wolves is somehow better?"
"I needed my parents to see you. To meet you," I said. "Or else—"
"Or else what?" Ivy snapped. "Did you enjoy making a fool out of me? Was that the whole point?" Her voice cut deep, each word sharper than the last. I could see the hurt in her eyes—burning, bright, impossible to ignore.
I shook my head, frustration and desperation tangling together. "My parents arranged a marriage for me. I needed them to see I'd already found my fated mate you so they'
