Betrayed At Our Bonding Ceremony
My bonding ceremony with Rhys Valerius was supposed to be the event of the season, with all eyes on us.
But when the great ceremonial doors swung open, Rhys didn't walk toward me.
Instead, he turned to his childhood friend, Cassia Thorne—the witness for our bonding—and pulled her into his arms.
Then, in front of the entire pack, he gave her a deep, passionate kiss that lasted for a full, agonizing minute.
His Beta and Gammas howled and cheered, as if this were a common sight.
After the kiss finally ended, Rhys offered a dismissive explanation, calling it a reward to "thank her for her years of loyalty."
His childhood friend, Cassia, even had the audacity to smirk at me. "A future Luna shouldn't be so petty," she purred.
I smiled, lifting the laurel wreath from my hair and placing it on her head.
"Of course not," I replied, my own smile razor-sharp. "May your bond be unbreakable."