The doors to the banquet hall opened, and all eyes turned to the figure that entered. A woman, tall and strikingly beautiful, strode in with an air of confidence. Her long, jet-black hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her piercing green eyes scanned the room with a familiarity that sent murmurs rippling through the crowd.

“Fayre,” Jacques said, his voice low and tense.

I froze. Fayre. Jacques had never mentioned her, but the way his posture stiffened told me everything I needed to know.

Then, I heard the chatters and whispers of other wolves. I couldn't help but listen to them.

One woman said, “She came back already?”

The other woman nodded and said. “The alpha's ex-lover... His first love!”

What?!

She stopped a few feet from us, her lips curving into a faint smile. “Jacques,” she said smoothly. “It’s been a while.”

The way she said his name, the way her eyes lingered on him—it was clear they shared a history. My chest tightened, and I instinctively took a step closer to Jacques.

“This is a private banquet,” Jacques said, his tone cold.