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Instead, I dash into the woods, howling for my pack to follow me.

It’s time for a hunt.

***

“Do you have any idea howhumiliatingit was for you to just abandon me like that, Austin? What were you thinking?” Sylvie says shrilly.

The high pitch of her voice makes me cringe, and I notice several people looking over at us.

Great.The hunt had been epic. We all bonded as a pack, and the smell of roast venison fills the air. Even Yelena was into it. I saw her catch a rabbit, carrying it proudly as we made our back into the yard.

We’re going to eat well tonight and I’m hungry.

But…I still have one more task to do before I can celebrate.

I look at her with a sigh. I need to tell her. For her sake, I had planned to do this privately, but…it needs to be done.

I pull my shorts on and slide my arms into my button-down shirt, leaving it open.

“Come with me,” I tell her, holding out my hand.

She gives me a narrow look, but grabs my hand, digging her long nails into my palm. Her fake smile is on full display as I walk through the crowd. My father catches my eye, raising his glass in a toast when he sees Sylvie and I.

I shake my head slightly and he frowns.

“Let’s go into the Alpha’s cottage,” I tell her, leading her toward the white house.

She sniffs but allows me to pull her along.

“Ugh, I’m going to have to spendweeksredecorating here. It’s not to my taste at all,” she complains once we step inside.

I try to harness the spark of anger that I feel rising as she continues to disparage my mother’s taste.

“I thought we’d have some privacy here. Why don’t you go take a seat in the living room? I’ll grab us a drink,” I invite her, motioning toward the couch.

She gives me a sultry look that makes me want to gag. “Oh, you wantprivacy? I get it. Those Alpha urges are riding you hard, aren’t they? Come to me, baby. I’ll help you take care of them.”

The way she looks at me makes me feel slightly nauseated, all but confirming that my decision is the correct one.

I try to give her a little wave, but I turn around and walk quickly to the kitchen. I’ve been agonizing over how to tell her this for a while now.

There’s no good way to break an engagement, but the consequences of doing so now are dire.

The backdoor to the kitchen opens, and I look up, meeting my father’s stern gaze.

“What are you doing, Austin?” he asks quietly.

I shake my head. “I can’t mate her,” I whisper. “She’s not my match.”

He sighs and rests his hands on the counter. “We made a promise as a pack. If you go back on that, you’ll bring us to the brink of war.”

I run my hands through my hair and nod. “Do you think I don’t know that? I can’t stand her. She’s repulsive. My wolf hates her.”

My father stares at me for a long time.

“You’ll need a Luna,” he says, finally.

I nod in agreement. “I will. And I have one in mind.”