Jasmine's POV

The shackles bit into my wrists before I even understood what was happening. "Jasmine Bridge." Father's voice cracked across the workshop like a whip.

Two enforcers had my arms before I could set down the herb bundle I'd been sorting. "You're coming with us. Now."

"What's going on?" I tried to twist free, but their grip only tightened. "Father, what did I do?"

He didn't answer. He never answered me unless he had to. They dragged me through the pack house halls, past doors that opened just enough for frightened faces to peek out, then shut again just as fast. Nobody wanted to be seen looking at me.

By the time we reached the Great Hall, my knees were scraped raw from where I'd stumbled on the stone steps. The hall was packed. Every elder, every ranking wolf, all staring at me like I was something that had crawled out of the ground.

"Where is she?" Alpha Marcus Thorne stood at the center, his jaw tight enough to crack. "Where is Cecilia?"

"I don't know." The words came out steadier than I felt. "I haven't seen her since dinner last night."

"You're lying." My father, Beta Lucien, crossed the floor in three strides, and the back of his hand caught my cheek hard enough to spin my head sideways. The hall didn't even flinch. "You expect

me to believe she vanished the night before her wedding, and her own sister knows nothing?"

"Stepsister." The correction slipped out before I could stop it, copper blooming on my tongue. "And yes. Because I don't."

"She's always been jealous of Cecilia." That was Damon, lounging against a pillar like this was entertainment. My stepbrother had never once looked at me with anything warmer than contempt, and tonight was no exception. "Just like her mother was jealous of mine. Some things run in the blood."

"Don't talk about my mother."

"Why not?" He smiled, slow and cold. "Everyone in this hall remembers what she was. I'd say you're doing a fine job carrying on the family tradition.”

Something ugly twisted in my chest, but I didn't get the chance to answer.

The doors at the far end slammed open hard enough to rattle the windows, and the entire hall fell silent in the space of a single heartbeat. Lucas Thorne walked in like the temperature dropped ten degrees with every step.

He was supposed to be getting married tomorrow. Instead, he looked like he wanted to tear the building down stone by stone. His eyes found me immediately, locking on with a focus that made my stomach drop.

"You." His voice was quiet. That was somehow worse than shouting. "Where is my bride?"

"I already told everyone—I don't know."

"Funny. You don't look like you're trying very hard to remember."

He nodded once at the enforcer beside the wall, and before I understood what was happening, a bucket of ice water hit me full in the face. I gasped, choking, hair plastered across my eyes. The cold dragged a sound out of me. I looked like something hated—something small and broken—and the hall watched it happen without a single voice raised

in protest.

"There." Lucas crouched slightly, tilting his head to study me like I was a puzzle he found mildly interesting. "Memory's clearer when you're cold. Try again. Where is she?"

"I don't—" Another bucket. This one caught me across the shoulder, soaking through to my skin, and I dropped to one knee on the stone floor, shaking. "I don't know. I told you. I don't know."

"You were the last person to see her." He crouched in front of me now, close enough that I could feel the heat radiating off him despite the water running down my neck. "Either you tell me where

she is right now, or I promise you, what happens next will make you wish for something as simple as death."

I should have stayed quiet. I knew that even as the words climbed up my throat. "Maybe," I said, voice shaking but clear enough to carry, "she just couldn't stand marrying a man who thinks threats are how you talk to people. Did you ever consider that, Alpha Heir?"

The silence that followed had a texture to it, thick and dangerous. Lucas's eyes flared gold, and for one terrible second I thought he might actually kill me right there in front of everyone.

"Take her to the cells," he said instead, voice gone flat and final. "I'm done listening to her mouth.”

***

The dungeon was cold despite the hot weather outside. I sat on the damp floor with my knees pulled to my chest, staring into the darkness. Hunger gnawed at my stomach. And my wrists still ached from the shackles. Hours had passed since Lucas ordered me thrown in here. No one had come. Not even my father.

Footsteps echoed down the corridor. I lifted my head and heard familiar voices. The elders were saying something. My father was there too.

I crawled quietly toward the bars and listened. "The disappearance of the future Luna cannot go unanswered," one elder said. "Alpha Marcus is demanding an explanation."

"And Lucas Thorne is demanding blood," another muttered.

A heavy silence followed. Then someone said, "If Jasmine continues refusing to cooperate, perhaps we may have to execute her as an absolution."

My breath caught. Executing me? I pressed closer to the bars.

Surely Father wouldn't accept such atrocity.

Surely—"If that's what becomes necessary," another voice said, his voice calm and steady, "then we must do what is best for the Pack."

Silence followed. My father didn't utter a single word. Would he rather allow me to be executed and to keep his honour? For a moment, I forgot how to breathe.

The elders continued talking, but I couldn't hear them anymore.

My father had just by silence acquiesced to my execution.

When the footsteps eventually faded. I remained frozen beside the bars. Something inside me cracked. For years, I had told myself there had to be a reason for the way he treated me. A reason he loved Damon and Cecilia more. Now I knew the truth, he hated me.

If I stayed here, I would die. And nobody would care. There and then, I made up my mind to escape the dungeon.

An hour later, I crawled through an abandoned drainage tunnel beneath the Pack grounds. Mud coated my hands and knees. Dirty water soaked through my clothes. I didn't care. I just kept moving.

I pushed myself through the narrow opening and stumbled into the forest.

The moment fresh air filled my lungs, my heart stopped. I noticed someone standing a few feet away. It was Lucas. Moonlight silvered his dark hair as he leaned against a tree, arms folded across his chest. Like he'd known exactly where I would emerge.

"No..." The word slipped out before I could stop it.

Lucas straightened. His gaze dropped briefly to the tunnel entrance behind me.

Lucas's gaze flicked from me to the drainage tunnel behind me.

His expression darkened. Understanding settled over his features.

"The tunnel," he said quietly." The servants maintain these routes, don't they?" His eyes locked onto mine. "You knew exactly where to find it."

I shook my head. "Lucas…"

"You helped her escape through this tunnel didn't you?"

The accusation hit me like a slap. "I didn't help anyone."

His hand shot out and wrapped around my throat. The force of it slammed me against the nearest tree. Pain exploded through my back. "Tell me where Cecilia is."

"I don't know."

His fingers tightened. "Tell me."

I clawed at his wrist, trying to create enough space to breathe.

"I don't know!"

Lucas stared at me as if he could force the truth out of my eyes.

Then his expression shifted and became calmer. "Tell me where she is," he said softly. "Tell me where she and her mate are hiding, and I might let you live."

I almost laughed. Because there was something ridiculous about hearing promises from a man who had already decided I was guilty.

"You don't believe me," he said.

"No." His jaw tightened. "I don't know where Cecilia is."

"You're lying."

"I'm not."

His grip tightened harder. Dark spots danced across my vision.

My lungs burned. And suddenly, I was tired of defending myself.

Tired of being blamed. Tired of being afraid.

"If I were Cecilia," I rasped, "I would've run too." Lucas went completely still. I didn't stop there. "If I were her," I continued, forcing the words out, "I'd rather spend my life running than marry a man like you."

For a second, pure fury flashed across his face. His hand clenched.

The world tilted. And my feet left the ground. Air vanished from my lungs. Panic surged through me. I couldn't breathe. Couldn't do anything except stare into Lucas's eyes and watch him strangle me.

Then suddenly—His hand loosened. I collapsed to the forest floor, coughing violently. Each breath felt like knives in my throat. Above me, Lucas remained silent. A slow, cruel smile appeared on his face.

"No," he murmured. “I won't kill you. Death is too merciful for you."

Before I could react, he grabbed my arm and hauled me roughly to my feet. "Lucas…"

"You're coming with me."

Fear twisted in my stomach. Because somehow, I knew whatever he had planned would be far worse than dying.

By the time Lucas dragged me into the council hall, every elder had gathered. Father and Damon stood beside Alpha Marcus.

Lucas released me and stepped forward. "I've made my decision."

The room fell silent. "If Cecilia returns within three days, the wedding proceeds as planned."

No one spoke. Lucas's gaze swept across the hall. "But if she does not return, Jasmine will take her place."

For a moment, I thought I had misheard him. Then the murmurs began. My heart stopped. "What?"

Lucas didn't even look at me. "The mating ceremony will proceed on schedule."

I turned to my father. "Father..."

He knew what this meant. He knew exactly what Lucas was.

Yet after only a brief hesitation, Lucien lowered his head. "As you wish."

The last shred of hope inside me died. To protect his position as Beta, he had just sacrificed me.

I looked at Damon. For the first time that night, there was no mockery on his face. No smile. Only a strange expression I couldn't understand. Something like shock. Disbelief. Maybe even concern.

But he said nothing. Just like everyone else.

Lucas stepped behind me. I felt his breath against my ear. "Trust me, Jasmine." A chill ran down my spine. "Becoming my bride will be worse than death."

My stomach dropped.

And for the first time since Cecilia disappeared, I truly