“You cannot be my mate— we are half-siblings,” I shook my head, my face pale and wan with desperation. “You will marry Yvette and let me go―”

“I want to. But you are my fated mate. You know it too,” Caius grabbed my arm, an expression of abject misery on his face. His wolf howled. “We are bound together. The Moon Goddess would not have made such a mistake. If you are my mate, then you are not my sister.” 

-

All Iris Claude wanted was one night where she wasn’t reminded of her status as the pack alpha’s illegitimate daughter. During the masquerade ball, she finds her mate— but there’s one little problem: he’s her half-brother, the boy who tormented her throughout her childhood. 

Desperate to hide the truth, she flees, only leaving a hair tie behind. She is content to remain in the shadows and watch her fated mate slip out of her hands, but somehow Caius is still constantly antagonizing her, refusing to leave her side, even as his wedding looms closer.  

Caius Wagner is desperate to find his fated mate after their chance encounter at the masquerade ball. But all he has to track her with is a hair tie, and her scent leads straight to the beta’s daughter, sweet Yvette. 

Everyone cheers at this perfect union, but Caius finds himself more drawn to his half-sister Iris Claude each passing day. 

Yet secrets cannot be kept forever. Once the pack finds out they are fated mates, nothing will ever be the same. 

-

[!!NO INCEST AT ALL!!]

"The Moon Goddess's punishment?" I echoed. I couldn't help but laugh amidst tears. "Then why am I getting punished for being betrayed?"


I placed my hand on my chest, right over the spot where my heart was. I could feel the faint thudding of my heartbeat, along with an ache that wouldn't go away. If anything, it only turned stronger whenever my mind veered towards Caius.


Healer Felix simply shrugged, shooting me a vaguely sympathetic look. "No one claimed that the punishment was fair, but perhaps the Moon Goddess does it to encourage werewolves to remove themselves from a toxic relationship by causing them literal pain. I guess this is her form of mercy."


Seeing my unconvinced face, he continued to explain, "Without the Moon Goddess's punishments, we will be no better than humans. Look at how they've messed up their relationships. They stay through affairs and unhappy marriages and have all sorts of scandals."


Chapter 32 - 32: Swear Upon My Honor