Faking a Bond with the Monster Lycan

"To a prosperous winter," I announced, raising the silver ceremonial goblet.

"To the Luna!" the crowd echoed back.

The Winter Festival banquet hummed with the chatter of three hundred pack elites. Elder Thorne tapped his glass against mine.

"Your trade agreements secured us enough grain to survive the frost," Thorne said.

"It was a collective effort, Elder," I replied.

"Modest as always, Seraphina. Alpha Kaelen is lucky to have you."

Before I could thank him, the oak double doors smashed open.

The heavy wood slammed against the stone walls. The violent crack silenced the room instantly.

I lowered the cup.

Alpha Kaelen strode into the hall. Blustering snow swirled past his boots, melting against the heated floorboards.

My eyes locked on his arms.

He carried a girl.

She wore a threadbare cotton dress, her thin frame shivering violently against his chest. An unfamiliar, sweet scent clung to her—a rogue Omega.

He didn't stop to greet the elders. He marched straight toward me at the head table.

"Kaelen?" I asked, keeping my tone perfectly level. "Who is this?"

He didn't answer. His hand shot out.

His fingers clamped over the silver goblet in my grip. He yanked it away, spilling dark red wine over my knuckles. He shoved the cup into the Omega's trembling hands.

"Drink, Elara," he ordered.

The girl whimpered, shrinking against his chest. "I... I'm scared, Alpha. Everyone is staring at me."

"Let them stare," he told her, his voice booming across the silent hall. "You are home now."

Kaelen turned his gaze to the crowd. He refused to look at me.

"The Moon Goddess has spoken," he declared to the three hundred wolves. "This is Elara. She is my Fated Mate."

A sharp, tearing agony ripped through the center of my chest.

The mate bond. Five years of shared strength, snapping like brittle wire inside my ribcage.

I locked my knees to stay standing. My spine went rigid. I pressed my thumbs into my palms, letting my nails dig hard enough to carve four bloody half-moons into the skin.

Murmurs erupted across the tables. Chairs scraped against the stone floor.

"Alpha," Elder Thorne spoke up from the front row. "Seraphina is your chosen Luna. You bound yourselves to this pack five years ago."

"The Goddess overrides tradition," Kaelen snapped.

"But the pack relies on Luna Seraphina," Elder Morrow added, standing up from his seat. "She negotiated the winter trade routes. She balances the treasury."

"Enough!" Kaelen roared. "I am the Alpha. My word is absolute."

Silence slammed back down over the room.

I looked at the elders. They lowered their heads, submitting to his Alpha command. I was entirely on my own.

"Does she override the pack laws?" I asked.

Kaelen finally met my gaze. His eyes flashed with warning. "Do not question the Goddess, Seraphina."

"I am questioning you," I corrected. "You bring a rogue into the sacred hall during the Winter Festival."

"She is not a rogue anymore," he shot back. "She is your future