Bonus Chapter 4

My breath hitches.
“Is that him?” Dad repeats, his voice low and even, but the sharpness in it makes my stomach twist. “Is he your fated mate?”
I glance at Stephen, then at everyone in the room. All of them staring at me. At us. My mouth feels dry. 
I take a half step forward, pulling Stephen gently with me. My fingers are trembling, but I curl them into a smile.
“No,” I say softly, swallowing hard. “He’s not my fated mate. He’s... he’s my chosen mate.”
A wave crashes over the room.
Growls erupt from nearly every corner. Deep, rumbling, angry sounds. Aunt Allie lets out a gasp and covers her mouth. My sister, Lily, lunges forward, but Poppy and Az grab her shoulders.
“Have you lost your damn mind?” Lily spits, her sharp eyes blazing. Her voice is cold and harsh. “Tell me you’re fucking joking, Wren!”
“Lily—” I start, lifting my hands, palms up, pleading. “Please, everyone, stop growling, just let me explain—”
“Explain?” She asks furiously. “Are you fucking mad? You let him mark you? You don’t even know him!”
“I do!” I say, my voice catching just a little. “I do know him!” I spin, trying to calm things down. “This is Stephen. He’s kind to me, he’s patient—”
“Patient?” Lily snaps, her voice slicing through the air above the others. “You expect us to believe this wasn’t his idea?”
“I—what?” I blink, caught off guard. “No—”
“What the fuck did you do to my little sister’s mind? She would never do this if she were in her right mind!”
Dad steps forward, his jaw clenched, his single eye sharp and shining. “Did he pressure you into this, Wrenny? Did he *tell* you to choose him?”
“No! No, Daddy, I chose him—”
Aunt Allie, silent until now, says softly, but it cuts sharper than any growl. “Are you sure, Wren? That this is truly what your heart chose?”
Before I can answer, Lily bites, “You wouldn’t have done this if you weren’t afraid of losing—”
“I’m *not* afraid!” I blurt out, even though my heart stutters. “I—I’m sure of my decision!”
“You don’t sound sure,” Az growls, his strong arms crossed like he’s holding himself back from lunging now.
"I *am*!" I say quickly, the words tumbling out too fast, too high-pitched. “I chose him. It was *my* choice, I swear—”
“Did he isolate you from anyone before this?” Poppy asks softly, but even her gentle voice is firm. “Did he make you feel like he’s all you have, Wrenny? Because it’s not the truth.”
“What? No!” My voice breaks, and I shake my head, desperate. “It’s not like that—please, everyone, just listen—”
But no one does. They’re talking over me. Around me. About me.
Not with me.
I flinch.
And Stephen’s fingers curl just around mine.
A pressure reminder.
Uncle Ethan, towering, steps forward. “Did you mark her knowing she’s not your mate?”
Everyone stops talking.
Stephen’s smile stretches, slow and sharp. “We’ve talked about our future,” he says smoothly. “She made a decision. I honored it. Isn’t that what free will is for?”
His tone is calm, but something about it makes my stomach tighten. There’s no warmth behind it. Just calculation. I glance nervously around the room. Everyone’s still staring at us.
“Please,” I say again, “please don’t be mad. I just... I wanted this to be my choice. I’m not a child anymore. I’m twenty-four. I thought—it’s Christmas, and I wanted to come home and show you that I’m in charge of my own life now.”
“You chose *this*?” Lily hisses. Her eyes are glassy. “You think this is right? Wren, he branded you. That’s just it. You are not his fated mate!”
“It’s a *mark*, not a brand!” I cry. “I said yes! I said yes, okay? I wanted it.”
“Why?” Aunt Allie asks, her voice gentle, trembling. “Why didn’t you wait for your fated one, Wrenny? You could’ve had everything. I told you to wait. The Goddess... Oh, Wren.”
My throat burns. I hate that look on her face. Like I broke something sacred.
“I was tired of waiting,” I whisper. “Tired of hoping. Maybe I wasn’t meant to have one. Maybe my fated mate never wanted me. Maybe he would never come.”
A pause.
Az doesn’t speak, but his jaw is locked so tight it looks like it hurts. Poppy gently presses her hand to his arm, her face showing her worry.
“Wren,” Dad says softly, stepping close to me, his one good eye full of something deep and sad. “When you were little, you used to ask me every day what true love felt like. Do you remember that?”
I nod, my eyes stinging. “Yes.”
“And I told you, real love is the kind that doesn’t make you flinch.”
The breath gets caught in my chest.
“Does this man—this Stephen—does he give you that kind of love?”
“Yes,” I say. But not quickly enough to sound sure. “He does. Sometimes we fight, but you guys always fight, right? I mean. He just gets stressed sometimes. It’s my fault. You know me. I make too many jokes. I shouldn’t—”
“No, Wren,” Lily snaps. “That’s not how love works, for Goddess’ sake! That’s how control works.” Her eyes stare at Stephen with wrath.
Stephen tilts his head, still smiling. “You all seem to have very strong opinions about a decision Wren made for herself. Interesting. What a supportive family.”
Az growls. Lily barks, “You don’t get to talk. Shut the fuck up!” 
“Why not? Because I’m not part of your sacred little circle yet?” Stephen’s voice is light, but his hand tightens on mine again. “Trust takes time. You’ll see.”
“Time?” Lily scoffs. “You’ve been here for *five seconds* and I already hate you and don’t trust you. You already branded my sister like she’s some possession.”
Stephen turns slightly toward her. “Wren told me about you. Well, some of us take commitment seriously. Don’t run whenever they want.”
Poppy gasps under her breath. Uncle Ethan grabs Az’s arm so he doesn’t get close to Stephen.
“Please,” I whisper, turning to them all, “please, just give him a chance. He’s just overwhelmed. The long trip, the weather, the sudden crowd—it’s a lot. You know it. But I promise, once he settles in, you’ll see the same person I do.”
No one answers.
I hear the wind howling outside, rattling against the windowpanes.
“How long have you known each other?” Dad asks. His meadow green eye narrows.
“A couple of years,” I say. It’s better not to say the exact amount.
“And you’ve been together all this time?”
“What? No, Daddy!”
“Did he push for a mark, Wren?” 
“No, I wanted it,” I say again. “I—I wanted to claim my own future.”
“You don’t *claim* the future,” Dad says softly. “You build it.”
“And you trust the Moon Goddess,” Mom adds, squeezing Dad’s hand.
My lip trembles.
But my heart is pounding.
Did I just ruin everything?
“This is too much,” Stephen says suddenly, releasing my hand. “I shouldn’t have come.”
“No, please—” I reach for him. “Stephen, wait!”
He turns toward the door, his tone clipped. “Clearly, this was a mistake.”
And just like that, he walks out into the cold in the direction of the garden.
I freeze.
“Let him go,” Lily says. 
The door swings shut behind Stephen, and the cold seeps in like a second presence.
I stand frozen.
The warmth of the house—of my family—suddenly feels like fire licking too close. My hands tremble, and the sparkle from the golden garlands feels too sharp against my eyes.
“Fucking chosen mate.” Lily snorts.
Her words hang in the air.
I snap.
“Why are you all doing this?” I turn around, my voice too soft for how loud the ache inside me is. “Why does it feel like no one even wants to hear what I’m saying?”
Mom’s mouth opens, but I keep going. My voice rises—not to shout, but just enough not to be drowned.
“You think I just made this decision overnight? That I let someone tell me what to do? Me? Wren? I’ve spent my whole life doing *exactly* what’s expected of me. Smiling when I want to cry. Saying thank you when I want to scream that I don’t want to.”
Mom’s chestnut eyes narrow. “Wren—”
“No, let me talk!” My voice cracks, and tears sting the corners of my eyes. “Please. For once. Just let me speak.”
Silence.
Only the faint sound of snow tapping on the windows like little fingers.
“Everyone thinks I’m lucky. That I have everything. Do you know what it’s like to be loved by everyone and still feel alone? I’ve waited *years* for a fated mate. I met my wolf when I was twelve. Twelve. I was told to wait. To be patient. To pray. To believe.”
Aunt Allie looks down, her lips pressed in a line.
“I did everything right,” I say, tears stinging my eyes. “I waited. I trained. I gave up on the things I wanted. I followed every rule. People call me perfect because I’m not like my sister like it was something I was supposed to be proud of. But no one ever asked me what I wanted. Because perfect girls aren’t supposed to want.”
“We didn’t know you felt like that, hon,” Mom whispers, tears welling up in her brown eyes.
“How could you?” I blink fast, trying to see her through the blur of my tears. “The one time I tried to tell someone, they told me I was being dramatic. That I should be grateful.”
Lily’s jaw clenches. “Who? Who the hell said that to you? I’ll kill them!”
I shake my head. It doesn’t matter now. “All I know is, Stephen made me feel seen. And accepts me. Not as some symbol of peace or blessing. Just... as Wren.”
Dad folds his arms. “Wren, it isn’t a bad thing being a symbol of peace or blessing.” 
“Also, that doesn’t mean he’s your future,” Lily tells me.
“He *is*, because I chose him!” I say loud, throwing my arms up.
“You should trust the Moon Goddess—”
“I *did* trust Her,” I say, cutting Mom off. “I trusted Her for more than a decade. But She never answered. Lily barely whispered a prayer, and She sent her *two.*”
Lily stiffens, her eyes narrowing. “Don’t bring me into this like it’s my fault for being blessed.”
“I’m sorry,” I breathe. “But do you know what it’s like to feel forgotten? To see everyone else paired off, mated, loved... while you just keep waiting? Every ceremony, every birthday, everyone asking if maybe this time will be the moment?”
Mom reaches for me. “Sweetheart...”
“No! You don’t get to hold me and tell me I’m perfect if you won’t even hear me. I love you, Mom. Dad. I love all of you. But I can’t be the girl who waits quietly anymore.”
“And so you marked him?” Lily’s voice shakes. “Just like that?”
“No, I didn’t mark him. It isn’t common in his pack the she-wolves mark their mate back—”
Almost everyone puts their hand on their head with a shocked expression.
“Oh. My. Fucking. Godddess!” Lily growls. “Are you hearing yourself right now? You don’t know him enough, Wrenny—”
“I do know him! He’s kind to me. He listens—”
“Then where is he now?” Lily snaps. “Oh, right. Storming off like a man-child because we didn’t roll out a red carpet.”
“He was nervous to come here, but he did it because I wanted him to. He’s overwhelmed—”
“*You’re* overwhelmed,” she says. “And you’re not thinking straight.”
“I am!” I shout, then instantly regret the sharpness of my tone. I take a breath. Softer, I lie, “I’ve never been more sure of anything.”
Aunt Allie finally lifts her gaze. “Why now, Wren? Why him?”
I press my hand to my chest like I can hold myself together. “Because I couldn’t wait forever, Auntie. And for the first time... I felt like I could say yes. Like I could want something.”
Poppy steps forward, gentle as ever. “But why not wait just a little longer? Why not give the Moon more seasons?”
“Because I don’t think the Moon Goddess is coming for me,” I whisper. “It doesn’t matter how hard I try, I’m not the perfect girl you think I am.”
A silence settles. A different kind.
Dad swallows hard. “Wren... you are already perfect. Whether you try or not. You don’t have to earn love. Not from the Goddess. Not from us. And certainly not from your mate.”
“You think I don’t know that?” I say, and the sob that tears from my throat surprises even me. “But I never feel it. You all say it, but I only ever feel it when I’m being good. When I’m being what you want.”
Lily lets out a dry laugh. “Moon above. How can someone so perfect be this blind?”
“Stop calling me perfect!” I cry. “I’m not. I never have been. And I’m *tired* of pretending.”
They all go quiet.
I wipe my face. My vision’s blotchy, my chest aching. “I know you’re trying to protect me. But you’ve made me feel like a glass doll. Like if I make one wrong move, I’ll shatter, and you’ll all be disappointed. I just wanted to choose something. Just one thing. For me.”
“So many things to choose and you decided to chose a mate?” Mom’s voice breaks. “After everything I—”
“Yes!” I scream, tears sliding hot down my cheeks. “And now you’ve ruined it. All of you. I don’t even know if Stephen’ll forgive me. I don’t know what’s going to happen next. All because of you!”
And without waiting for an answer, I turn and bolt for the door.
I hear behind me the noise of some of them trying to follow me, but Uncle Ethan lets out a growl before telling them to leave me alone.
The cold slaps me instantly, sharp and sudden. Snow swirls around my boots as I rush down the porch steps into the garden.
I don’t care if I’m not wearing a coat. I don’t care that it’s dark or late or that I’m shaking so hard my knees might give out.
I just need to find him.
I just need to fix this.
Even if I’m not sure how.
The snow crunches under my boots as I run. Hard, fast, like maybe if I just move quickly enough, I can outrun this disaster.
The wind slices across my skin sharp. I clutch my arms around myself, the night air cutting through my sweater like it’s not even there, even with my warm skin. 
I need to fix it.
I *have* to fix it.
The garden looms ahead, white and glimmering under the moonlight. The Christmas decorations should be magical. But all I feel is panic, tight and clenching in my throat.
Then I see Stephen.
He stands near the fountain, the one long since frozen over, phone pressed to his ear. His breath puffs white into the air. He’s turned slightly away from me, his posture stiff, like he’s arguing.
“No, I said I’d handle it,” he snap-whispers into the phone, but I still can hear. “If they start digging, it’s on *you*. Not me.”
I almost freeze behind a snow-dusted hedge.
Stephen’s voice is different now. Harder. Less charming, more… venomous. “Yeah. It won’t be long.”
My heart plummets.
Then his head jerks, sensing me. He turns. His face shifts quickly. “Wren,” he says. He pockets his phone in a swift, sharp motion. “What do you want now?”
I swallow. My throat feels thick. “I—I wanted to talk. I’m so sorry, Stephen. I didn’t mean to upset everyone, I just—”
He steps forward. “You should be upset with them.”
“I know, I just—” I offer him a trembling smile. “I know they overreacted, but they love me. They’re just trying to—”
“To what?” he cuts in, lips curling. “Protect you from me? Your chosen mate?”
The way he says it makes my stomach twist.
“I didn’t say that,” I whisper. “I just thought maybe if you came back inside, if we talked it out, I could help smooth things over—”
“That’s the problem, Wren.” His voice rises, and his tone is filled with rage, something I don’t use to hear in my pack. 
“Stephen, please,” I whisper, glancing around. “Don’t raise your voice—can we talk about this somewhere quieter? Please, Stephen, someone might hear—”
“You should’ve been smoothing things over for me!” Stephen barks. “I stood in that room like a damn outsider. And you let them humiliate me.”
I take a step back. “That’s not fair—”
“No,” he snaps. “What’s not fair is how little you showed me I matter. To you. To your family. You let them walk all over me.”
“I didn’t mean—” My voice cracks. “Please. Don’t be mad. I didn’t mean to make you feel that way. I swear. I—I was just trying to keep the peace. I just wanted everyone to—”
His voice suddenly rises, sharp and furious. “*Am I not important to you?*” 
My breath hitches. “Of course you are! I’m trying to make things right—”
I expect a harsh word or an argument.  What I don’t expect is the open-handed hard slap that cracks across my cheek and splits my lip right away.
It’s so fast I don’t register it until the sting blossoms across my cheek. My head jerks to the side. My knees nearly buckle.
The world slows.
My hand flies to my face, breath caught in my chest. My wolf growls in my head.
I look up at him, my eyes wide.
He stares at me, unflinching. “You *will* show me respect—”
He never finishes.
Because the moment the words leave his mouth, something shifts in the air.
It’s like the snow itself stops falling.
Then a shape moves—no, *explodes*—from the shadows behind me. A blur. Fast. Huge.
Before I can scream, before Stephen can even flinch, a giant man barrels into the clearing.
And in one blink, one breath—Stephen’s head is gone.
Just gone.
The sound is wet. Final.
Stephen’s body crumples into the snow with a muffled thud, still twitching as his head lands yards away, his lips still curled in a snarl.