From the day we'd met as cubs, Jethro had always been one of my best friends, and we'd made a promise that, when the time came, we'd declare each other as mates. 

That all came to a crashing halt the day of my sixteenth birthday when Pearl stole him from me, in front of all our guests, making me a laughing stock in my own pack. 

It was a good thing my half-brother Jackson was there to pick up the pieces. He got me in a way no one else did, and not even a mate and child could keep long-buried feelings coming to the surface. 

My parents viewed it differently, however, and decided to do something about it. 

Too bad Jackson had other ideas.