Anna's POV:

I don't remember the ride back to the hotel. Don't remember walking through the lobby or taking the elevator.

I just remember Vivian's face when I stumble through the door.

"Anna!" She's across the room in seconds, gripping my shoulders. "Where the hell have you been? I've been calling and calling—"

Her words cut off. Her nose wrinkles. Then her eyes go wide.

"Anna." Her voice drops. "You smell different."

I try to pull away. She doesn't let me.

"That's not your scent." She leans closer, sniffing. "That's male. Fresh. And—" Her gaze drops to my neck. To the marks I haven't looked at yet. "Did you—"

"Don't." I shove past her into the room. My legs are shaking. "Just don't."

"Anna, what happened?"

Everything crashes over me at once. Allen. Daisy. The bar. The forest. Alexander. The money.

I sink onto the bed. "Allen was fucking Daisy."

Vivian goes very still. "What?"

"Last night. I went to get Mom's bracelet from his place." The words come out flat. Empty. "Walked in on them. They have a son together, Viv. That little boy I babysat? That was their son."

"Oh, Anna—"

"He said I was weak. A means to an end. That he was going to reject me after the ceremony to secure his position." My hands clench in the sheets. "They laughed about how stupid I was."

Vivian sits beside me. Takes my hand. "I'm so sorry."

"I got drunk. Went to a bar. Then I just... walked. Ended up in the forest." I close my eyes. "Rogues attacked me."

"Fuck." Her grip tightens. "Are you okay? Did they—"

"Someone saved me. A man." Alexander's face flashes through my mind. Those green eyes. That scent. "I was drunk and angry and hurt, and he was there, and I—"

I don't finish. Don't need to.

Vivian is quiet for a long moment. Then: "Did he force you?"

"No." The word comes quick. Firm. "No, I wanted it. I threw myself at him."

"Anna—"

"Don't pity me." I open my eyes. "Please. I can't handle pity right now."

She nods. Squeezes my hand once more, then stands. "I'll make tea."

While she's in the bathroom filling the kettle, I finally look at my phone. Seventeen missed calls. Most from Vivian. Three from Allen.

The sight of his name makes rage surge fresh and hot.

Vivian comes back with two cups. Sits beside me again. We drink in silence.

Then a knock at the door.

We both freeze.

"Anna!" Allen's voice comes through the wood. "Anna, I know you're in there. Open the door."

I don't move.

"Anna, please. Let me explain."

Vivian starts to stand. I grab her arm, shake my head.

Another knock. Harder. "I heard you talking! I know you're in there with Vivian!"

'He was listening at the door.'

"Anna did what last night?" His voice rises. "Did you fuck someone else? Is that what you did?"

Rage propels me to my feet. I wrench the door open.

Allen stands there, face flushed. His eyes are wild. "You whore—"

"Careful." My voice is ice. "Remember who cheated first."

"That's different!" He steps forward. I don't back down. "Daisy and I—we have history. We have a son! What we have is real!"

"Then why were you marrying me?"

"Pack law!" He's shouting now. People are probably staring from other rooms. "I needed to marry my fated mate first to secure my position! You knew the rules!"

"So you were going to use me and throw me away." I cross my arms. "Yeah, I heard that part too. Heard you tell Daisy exactly what you thought of my 'weak bloodline.'"

His face pales. "Anna, wait—"

"Wait?" I laugh. It sounds sharp. Mean. "Why? So you can gaslight me some more? Tell me I misunderstood what I saw with my own eyes?"

"I made a mistake!" His tone shifts. Softens. It's his manipulation voice—the one he uses when he wants something. "Baby, I'm sorry. I was stupid. But we're fated mates. That means something. We can work through this."

"No."

"Anna—"

"I said no." I step back. "Last night when I walked out of your bedroom, I told you there wouldn't be a ceremony. That means we're done. Over. Finished."

"You didn't do it properly." His eyes gleam with something ugly. "You didn't reject me formally. We're still bonded. Still fated mates."

My stomach drops.

He's right. The rejection has to be done face-to-face. With the full formal words. Without that, the mate bond still exists. Still ties us together.

"Fine." I straighten my shoulders. "Allen—"

He turns and runs.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" I lunge for him but he's already at the stairs. Moving fast.

The door slams behind him.

I stand there, hand outstretched, words of rejection dying on my tongue.

Vivian appears beside me. "That coward."

"He knows." I lower my hand. "He knows I can't formally reject him unless he's right in front of me. He's going to avoid me until the ceremony."

"The ceremony's this afternoon." Vivian checks her phone. "In six hours."

Six hours. Six hours until I'm supposed to walk down the aisle and marry him. Until the mate bond becomes something more—something that would make rejection even more painful.

"Anna." Vivian's voice is gentle. "What are you going to do?"

I close my eyes. See Allen and Daisy tangled together. Hear his voice: 'She's a means to an end.'

Then I see Alexander's face. Feel the ghost of his hands on my skin. Remember how wanted I felt. How alive.

'Payment for your trouble.'

The memory stings. But it also reminds me of something important.

I don't need Allen. Don't need his family or his position or his fake love. I can survive on my own.

I just need to be smart about it.

"I have a plan." I open my eyes. "It's risky. But it's the only way."

Vivian studies my face. "Tell me."

"The ceremony. I'll go."

"Anna—"

"Let me finish." I grip her hands. "I'll show up in my wedding dress. Walk right up to that altar. And when the officiant asks if I take Allen as my mate, I'll formally reject him. In front of everyone."

Vivian's eyes widen. "That's—"

"Insane. I know." I squeeze her hands. "But it's the only way to force a public rejection. He can't run from me at his own wedding. And with everyone watching, he'll have to accept it."

"His family will be furious."

"I don't care." And I don't. Not anymore. "After today, I'll never have to see any of them again."

Vivian is quiet for a long moment. Then she nods. "Okay. What do you need me to do?"

"Check us out of the hotel. Take my stuff back to your place." I stand. "I need to get ready. Need to look perfect. Need to make sure everyone remembers this."

"Anna—"

"I know it's a lot to ask." I meet her eyes. "But you're the only one I trust. The only real friend I have."

"Family." Vivian stands too. Pulls me into a hug. "You're my family. And family doesn't abandon each other."

My throat tightens. I hug her back hard.

When we pull apart, she's smiling. It's small, but it's real.

"Go make yourself beautiful," she says. "Knock them all dead."

I nod. Turn toward the bathroom where my wedding dress hangs.

"Vivian?"

She looks back.

"Wait for me. After this is done, wait for me at your place."

"Always." She grabs her jacket. "Now go. You have a wedding to ruin."

The door closes behind her.

I stand alone in the room, staring at the white dress.

'This is it. The only way out.'

I reach for the zipper.