Chapter 4

Vera’s next message was an invitation.

*Darian is throwing a banquet for my promotion to patrol district commander.*

*You have to come. I’ve prepared a surprise.*

She thought I would spend the remaining days dreading her.

Instead, I counted them.

On the afternoon of the banquet, Darian arrived with a dress, jewelry, and a jacket designed to conceal my wounds.

While fastening my earrings, he studied my reflection.

“You’ve lost too much weight.”

“When things settle down, I’ll take you away for a while.”

I’d heard that promise before.

I didn’t ask when.

His hands paused.

“Are you still angry?”

“No.”

Relief crossed his face.

“Good. Don’t argue with Vera tonight. She’s been looking forward to this.”

On my phone, Vera had posted another photograph.

Her jewelry had been selected by Darian.

Even the presentation case had been chosen by him.

My dress had a strip of lace hastily sewn into the sleeve to cover my injuries.

Outside, Darian helped me stand beside the car.

My wedding ring slipped from my finger.

It rolled across the paving and dropped through a drain.

The sound was small.

I froze anyway.

Darian was on the phone.

I bent toward the opening. Below it, I could see only dark water.

“What is it?”

“My ring.”

He glanced down.

Vera’s voice sounded from the phone.

“Everyone’s here. Where are you?”

Darian checked his watch.

“We’ll find it later. Get in.”

I stayed where I was.

He had put that ring on my hand himself.

He’d promised that everyone in his territory would know I was his only chosen mate.

Now he couldn’t spare the time to bend down.

“Leah?”

I straightened.

“Leave it.”

He looked at my bare finger.

“We’ll buy another.”

At the venue, several steps blocked my wheelchair.

Darian bent to lift me.

Vera appeared in the doorway.

“It’s my promotion banquet. Why are you making everything about her?”

He didn’t immediately let go.

Vera’s smile faded.

“Don’t I get any say tonight?”

People were watching.

“You could ask someone to take me through the side entrance,” I said.

There was a level access route for deliveries.

“They’re moving equipment there,” Vera interrupted. “Can’t you be considerate for once?”

Darian withdrew his hands.

“It’s only a few steps.”

“I’ll send someone.”

He went inside.

No one came.

The attendant lowered his eyes.

Laughter drifted through the doors.

Eventually, I braced my hands on the stone.

My leg wouldn’t bear weight. I pulled myself upward, my dress scraping the steps.

An old wound split across my palm.

Someone behind me inhaled sharply.

Still, no one helped.

They had all seen which woman their Alpha had chosen.

It had happened at my wedding, too.

Vera had complained that her feet hurt. Darian had left me waiting before the ceremony to attend to her.

I had believed that becoming his wife meant he would eventually come back.

At the top of the steps, I looked for him again.

He stood beside Vera, surrounded by smiling guests.

“My wheelchair,” I whispered.

No one heard.

I reached a chair in the corner and sat with sweat cooling beneath my dress.

Then the presentation began.

First came Blackthorn’s highest medal of distinction.

I had once been nominated for it.

My nomination had been withdrawn after my repeated “failures.”

Next came shares in a family company.

The guests applauded.

Finally, someone brought out a dark jewelry case.

Inside lay a sapphire necklace.

The Luna’s heirloom.

Before our wedding, I’d asked whether I should wear it.

Darian had said the elders needed to approve. There was no rush.

Now he fastened it around Vera’s throat.

A guest began, uncertainly, “Isn’t that—”

“She likes it,” Darian said.

That was enough.

I laughed quietly.

Not from jealousy.

I finally understood that the rules had only ever applied to me.

Vera noticed.

During the intermission, she had an attendant help me into the corridor near the stairs.

Once we were alone, she leaned over my wheelchair.

“What was funny?”

“Nothing.”

She let the sapphire swing in front of me.

“You couldn’t earn this no matter how hard you tried. All I had to do was ask.”

“Then why aren’t you satisfied?”

She blinked.

“He gives you his time, his attention, his gifts,” I continued. “Why do you still need me to tell you that you’ve won?”

Her face flushed.

“He’ll dissolve your registration sooner or later.”

“Then tell him.”

I gripped the railing and tried to stand.

Vera shoved me.

I caught the rail as my balance failed.

She reached for my fingers.

Footsteps sounded behind us.

“What are you doing?”

Vera’s eyes filled instantly.

“Leah, I’m sorry. Please don’t push—”

She seized my sleeve, pulled hard, and threw herself down the stairs.

“Vera!”

Darian ran past me.

I hung against the railing, my injured fingers slipping.

“Darian.”

My hand brushed his coat.

“Help me.”

He lifted Vera.

“I’m scared,” she sobbed.

“I’m here.”

I had heard those words before.

Then they were gone.

My grip failed.

The stairwell filled with the sound of my body hitting the steps.

#