In our last year of high school, I dragged her to study with me every night, breaking down the concepts and forcing them into her head. I brainwashed her, promising her a brighter future. In the end, we both got into the city university.

In our sophomore year, I found out my boyfriend was cheating on me. When Chloe heard, she stormed into the hotel, beat the shit out of him, and ripped the other woman's clothes to shreds.

The year we graduated, we rented a small one-bedroom apartment together, feeling lost and unsure about the future. Every night, we'd huddle under the same blanket, happily planning how we would take care of each other once we made money.

"If I get rich, I'll never forget you."

"First, we'll share a bed, and then we'll each have our own room."

We had been best friends since we were kids. I had always considered her my family. Maybe family doesn't always love you unconditionally, but I believed she would.

So, when faced with her betrayal, I didn't even have the strength to confront her.

The person who once stood up for me, who beat up my cheating ex-boyfriend, had become my fiancé's mistress.

My unconditional trust had been met with brutal betrayal.

I left Ridgeback Manor. The moon was high in the sky, and I felt a chilling cold seep into my bones.

I thought about Aidan and me.

At twenty-five, I had become a lead designer at one of Northwood City’s top wedding design firms. While setting up for a wedding at Kian's estate, I fainted from low blood sugar after pulling an all-nighter and fell into a fountain.

Aidan, who happened to be passing by, saved me.

He held me in his arms, water dripping from his face, and looked at me with eyes so deep they could swallow a soul. My heart skipped a beat. That was the beginning of our "Mate's Imprint."

I learned about his background—the Alpha of a powerful pack, his reputation for being wild and untamed—so I tried to hold myself back.

But Aidan gave up all his bad habits for me and pursued me for a year. His courtship was filled with respect, sincerity, and consideration, making me believe his humanity was strong enough to master his wolf.

One Christmas Eve, I went back to my hometown to pay respects to my parents, and my phone died. When I was out of contact for three hours, Aidan got so worried I might have fainted somewhere in the countryside that he drove hundreds of miles to find me. He stood on the side of the road in thin clothes, desperately wiping away tears and shouting my name. His wolf inside was going crazy from being unable to find its mate.

In that moment, I thought: Mom, Dad, I want to spend the rest of my life with this man.

Even after three years of dating, I never felt Aidan's love fade. He would kneel in the middle of a mall, in front of everyone, to help me try on shoes. He would find all sorts of herbs to make me tea for my period cramps, personally watching over the stove as it brewed. Before introducing me to his parents—the pack's former Alpha and Luna—he would pave the way to make sure I wouldn't feel any discomfort or doubt.

He would bring me into his world of power and mystery, proudly introducing me to everyone. "This is my fiancée, Lia. She's the lead designer at Artisan Designs. You can call her Miss Lia."

"She's brilliant. She's won countless design awards. She even designed Princess Josephine’s wedding. Her schedule is booked solid through next year."

"Actually, her schedule is full for the next two years, because we're having our mating ceremony next year! You're all welcome to come!"

His love was so passionate, so perfect. It made this one flaw all the more ugly and fatal.

I went to a hotel and cried my heart out. I kept telling myself, it's just a betrayal. So what? The ceremony hasn't happened, we aren't truly bonded yet. It's not too late.

Run away. Get far, far away from this place.