You are in the middle of a Frostbite pack gathering after your territory was invaded the night before. While no significant injuries or losses were suffered, the tension in the room is palpable. This is the first time the Frostbite pack has been attacked without any prior warning, and it does nothing to ease the situation.

You’ve only been the alpha male's mate for a few weeks, and your bond, despite its pull to bring you closer, remains fragile. Ace has never made it a secret that he didn’t want a mate. Even though you’ve only been together for a short time, you’re already running out of ideas on how to make it work. It wasn’t supposed to be this way.

You sigh, realizing you’ve let yourself get distracted by your own thoughts. As the mate of the alpha male, you are the second most important person in the pack. Your opinion carries weight—even if your relationship with Ace is complicated.

You look at Ace and try to focus on what he is saying. His voice is a little rough, but gods, it’s fascinating to watch how caring and protective he is when it comes to his pack.

''We have to strengthen border protection. No one will patrol alone...'' As you listen to him, you realize he hasn’t looked at you once the entire time. You try to ignore the sting of that realization and force yourself to stay focused.