LOGINOn the first day of winter, a heavy snow came to the Silver River Pack.I sat by the warm fireplace while Caleb bent down, pressing his ear to my belly, listening to the faint heartbeat within."Sounds like a strong little one."He looked up, his eyes bright with a father-to-be's joy.Just then, a guard hurried in to report."We found someone collapsed in the snow at the border. He says he's Killian of the Silver Moon Pack, and he wants to see the Luna one last time."Caleb's face darkened at once.He stood and put himself between me and the door. "Throw him out. Tell him Lila won't see him."I caught Caleb's arm."Let him in. There are some things that need to be settled for good."A few minutes later, the guard brought Killian into the hall.I could barely recognize him.He was thin to the bone, his once-sleek hair now dull and matted, his face a lifeless, ashen gray.The damage from the broken mate bond, together with a year of remorse, had hollowed out his life entirely.When Killi
Kneeling in the mud, Eric wept as he told me everything that had happened over the past year.After I left that day, the complete break of the mate bond had dealt Killian's wolf a heavy blow.He'd collapsed on the spot and lain in bed for a full half-month.With no one at its head, the Silver Moon Pack fell into a great panic.It was then that Elena, locked in the silverwater dungeon, began working on the guards.She claimed she had a way to cure Killian.Terrified of losing his father, Eric joined with a few pack members Elena had once healed and secretly let her out.Elena told Eric that Killian was in this state because I had dosed him with a wicked magic potion.All he had to do was drink the antidote she'd prepared, and Killian would be himself again.Eric believed her completely and carried the so-called antidote to Killian.But that bowl was the real poison!Elena had meant to seize total control of Killian and turn him into a mindless puppet.Killian flew into a rage. Losing me
Caleb brought me back to the Silver River Pack.The air here was full of the fresh scent of pine needles, and the people were kind.Caleb was in no rush to announce who I was. Instead he settled me in the quietest lodge on the grounds."What you need right now is rest."Every day he made time to keep me company, telling me the funny things that had happened.And whenever the Elders pushed him to find a mate, he'd hide out at my place, spoon-feeding me my medicine while grumbling about how pushy they were.Now and then, when they really cornered him, he'd hole up at my place and flat-out refuse to go out and face anyone.At moments like that, I couldn't help wondering: was he really an Alpha?And yet this man, with his almost childish streak, slowly took hold of my heart.Under Caleb's careful attention, the silver poison left in my body was cleared away bit by bit, and my wounded wolf began, slowly, to heal.One evening three months later, Caleb took me to the highest cliff in the terr
Killian staggered into our path.Ignoring Caleb beside me, he seized my hand, his voice trembling and thick with tears."Lila, please, give me one more chance!""Before, I didn't know. I know now. I'll make it up to you a hundred, a thousand times over!""Lila, please, don't leave me!"Watching him lie to himself like this turned my stomach.I threw off his hand. "You say you didn't know before. So let me ask you: if you had known, what would you have done?""I..."Killian looked away, his voice fading.I gave a cold laugh. "See, Killian? Even if you'd known, you still wouldn't have done a thing."I raised my voice, spacing out every word."Just like you knew full well that what happened to me in labor was no accident!""It was Elena. She poisoned my medicine. She wounded my wolf. She nearly killed both me and my child!""And you, the great Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack. You knew Elena had harmed your Luna and your heir, and still you chose to cover for her. You deceived all these peop
The mate bond between Killian and me broke completely.Violent pain swept through my whole body in an instant. My legs gave out, and I dropped to my knees on the altar.Killian had it worse than I did.He let out a wretched scream, crashed to the ground, and curled up in agony.He stared at me and dragged himself toward me, almost groveling."Lila, no..."Before he could finish, a strange, powerful Alpha aura crashed down over the entire square.Everyone who had been about to rush the altar was pinned where they stood, unable to move.Caleb pulled me into his arms and quickly slipped a pill between my lips.The pill dissolved the instant it touched my tongue, and my wolf, so frantic a moment ago, slowly settled.Caleb looked down at me, his eyes full of heartache."I'm sorry. I'm late."At the sight, Killian's eyes went blood-red.He forced himself up through the pain, swaying. "Alpha Caleb! How dare you trespass on my territory! And with my mate in your arms!""Do you want to start a
When I woke, my favorite scented candle was burning in the room.Killian sat at the edge of the bed.The moment he saw my eyes open, he poured a cup of warm water and held it out."You're awake. Feeling any better?" His voice was soft. "The healer came by. I'm sorry. I didn't know your wolf was truly hurt. Back at the infirmary I still didn't believe you."Killian took my hand. "I've already punished Elena.""I've confined her for three days to reflect on what she did.""And I've arranged for someone to look after you around the clock."I pulled my hand free. "Three days?""That's your punishment for her?"Killian sighed. "Lila, she is the next Luna of the Silver Moon Pack, after all. A lot of our people need her. If I punish her harshly for your sake, it'll only make things harder for you."He paused. "Besides, the full moon is only a few days away."He looked into my eyes."She and I have to appear together. It's the pack's law."He reached out and smoothed the loose hair at my foreh







