Chapter 2

That afternoon, I went to the territorial administration bureau.

At the identity cancellation window, I permanently unlinked my biometric neural chip from the Red Peak Alpha's private sub-beacon.

The clerk, a young werewolf commoner, looked horrified. "Luna... I mean, Ms. Hale, once I erase this, you'll lose all your medical privileges and protection in Red Peak territory. From now on, you'll need the highest level of clearance to enter or leave the core district."

"Erase it. I'm never setting foot in the core district again."

Back at the luxury penthouse high above the city, I started clearing out my things. Silas had claimed this fortress of a home as spoils when he became Alpha.

He'd called it a haven I'd earned by standing beside him through years of bloodshed.

I used to think I belonged here. As I packed, I saw how wrong I'd been.

Three walls of the walk-in closet held his custom formalwear, armored coats, and patrol uniforms for every season.

Mine took up two cramped cabinets in the corner.

I neatly packed the plain cotton and linen clothes I wore every day. The heavy, lavish gowns he'd insisted on ordering for his boring banquets, I didn't touch.

That evening, my communicator lit up. Silas texted, "Arrived at the northern fortress. Handing over the watch tonight."

Before, I'd have asked at once whether the frenzy in his blood had flared up, how bad the snow was at the fortress, and whether he'd taken his tonic.

Today, I just texted back, "Okay."

Twenty minutes later, he texted again, "It's freezing up north. The Frost Moon clan sent some spirit herb supplements for pure-bloods. Want me to bring you some?"

I was sweeping my herbal oils off the bathroom counter and into a trash bag.

"No thanks."

"You always used to complain about headaches when you ran out of spiritual power. I thought you wanted something like this to build you back up."

I looked at my pale face in the mirror. "A wolfless body can't handle that kind of thing. Save it for someone who needs it."

The communicator went silent. Maybe he thought I was ungrateful. Or maybe he was busy caring for that delicate Frost Moon princess.

I opened the Frost Moon envoys' public feed. Lilian had posted a hologram ten minutes earlier.

It showed a snowstorm outside the far northern fortress and precious silver maple burning in the fireplace. A man's hands poured amber broth from a bronze pot into a delicate porcelain bowl.

A long, ugly claw scar crossed the skin between his thumb and forefinger. Silas had gotten it years ago in the arena.

Lilian's caption read, "The northern wind cuts to the bone, but the warming broth someone stayed up all night making is so sweet. Patrolling under the strongest Alpha's protection is never a hardship."

Below it, young nobles from every clan fawned over her.

[Alpha Kane cooked for her himself? Princess Lilian is so lucky.]

[A marriage between a pure-blood and the strongest Alpha can't be far off. Certain wolfless hangers-on should know when to bow out.]

Lilian replied underneath with a sly winking icon.

I closed the feed. The weight that had been suffocating me finally lifted.

He used to be gentle and thoughtful with me, too. Now he saved all his tenderness and patience for someone whose bloodline suited his status.

Three days later, the patrol fleet returned to the northern capital. Silas came in, worn from travel, carrying a sealed cold-storage case.

I was on the couch, looking through rental listings in the Southern Free Trade Zone.

"You didn't make dinner?" He glanced at the cold, empty kitchen and frowned.

"I ate out."

He yanked off his leather gloves. "I've been on patrol across state lines for 36 hours straight. I come home, and I can't even get a glass of water?"

"The bureau serves meals around the clock. You can ask a runner to bring you something."

Silas's face darkened. "Elena, what is going on with you lately? What are you angry about?"

"I'm not angry."

"Not angry? I text you, and you answer with one word. I offer to bring you supplements, and you say you don't need them. Now you won't even take care of the house. If that's not giving me attitude, what is it?"

My eyes landed on the cold-storage case. "Is that for me?"

His eyes flickered, and he swallowed. "This is... snowfield ginseng Lilian asked me to bring back to headquarters for testing. As for your supplements, I'll go to the city treasury in a couple of days and have something better made for you."

Lilian again.

"Did she ask you to bring it, or did you volunteer to run her errands?" I looked straight into his wolf eyes.

He flinched, trying to hide his guilt. "You hacked my communication logs? Elena, spying on the Alpha's private affairs is a serious crime under pack law!"

"The Frost Moon princess's feed is public. Anyone can see it."

He froze, then said, "She had a scare, and her spirit was unstable. I was just looking after the heir of an allied clan while I was there. It was for the good of the pack! Don't read too much into it."

"You took very good care of her." I put away my light screen and got up to go to my room.

"Elena!"

He'd finally lost his temper. The crushing pressure of a high-ranking Alpha filled the living room. "I'm bleeding on the front lines while you sit here in luxury. Be sensible. Don't make me deal with your nonsense the moment I get home!"

Sensible.

I'd been sensible for seven years. I'd swallowed my pride and bled myself dry.

I didn't look back. I went into the guest room and locked the door. "I'm sleeping in here tonight. I have business tomorrow. Get some rest, Alpha."