Chapter 5

Cain stayed by my bed all night.

He kept tucking in the blankets, pressing his hand to my forehead to check for fever.

But I pretended to sleep the entire night. I didn't want to respond.

The next day I was still resting in the medical wing.

The door slammed open. Cain walked in, his face like stone.

He strode to my bed and threw something onto me.

A moonstone necklace, smeared with blood.

I recognized it—the one Cain had the Beta deliver to me before.

I'd never worn it. Not even once. I'd thrown it straight in the trash.

How was it here?

"Vivienne disappeared last night." Cain's voice was cold and shaking. "The only thing on her pillow was this necklace of yours."

I froze.

"Yesterday you accused Vivienne of hiring rogues to attack you. Today she's gone." He stepped closer, his eyes boring into mine. "You wanted revenge, didn't you?"

"I had nothing to do with this." I said. "I was in the medical wing all night. I never left."

Cain scoffed.

"Explain the necklace. I gave it to you. It's one of a kind."

I looked at the blood-stained necklace.

Vivienne.

She must have fished the necklace out of the trash.

Smeared blood on it, placed it on her own pillow, and vanished.

A perfect frame job.

But I had no proof.

The necklace was mine. The blood was Vivienne's. Anything I said would sound like excuses.

Cain wouldn't believe me.

Just like every time before.

Cain turned and walked to the door. He gave an order to the guards in the hallway.

"Bring Ethan out of the silver prison. Take him to the basement of the Alpha residence."

My blood went cold.

"Cain!"

He didn't look back.

Half an hour later, I was brought to the basement.

Ethan was bound to a punishment post.

Silver chains locked all four limbs, his hands raised above his head, his toes barely touching the ground.

He'd been in the silver prison too long. His face was ashen gray, his cheekbones jutting out—he was wasted to nothing.

But when he saw me, he still managed a smile. "I'm fine, sis."

Tears flooded my eyes.

Cain stood before me.

"I don't want to do this." His tone was a mix of anger, urgency, and exhaustion. "But Vivienne could be somewhere out there, hurt or dying. I don't have time for a thorough investigation."

He looked at me. "Tell me where she is, and I'll release Ethan right now. He'll never be imprisoned again."

I dropped to my knees.

"I don't know." My voice was trembling. "I swear, Cain. I don't know."

Cain looked at me and hesitated for one instant.

In that instant, I thought he might believe me.

The door burst open.

The Beta rushed in. "Alpha! A note was found under Miss Vivienne's bed!"

He held out a crumpled piece of paper.

Scrawled in shaky handwriting—*Luna... help me...*

Cain read the note and crushed it in his fist.

The last trace of doubt in his eyes vanished completely.

He gave the guards a cold order.

The silver chains began to tighten. Silver toxin started seeping in through Ethan's limbs.

Ethan clenched his jaw and let out a stifled groan. His arms turned silver-gray.

"Stop!" I lunged forward and grabbed Cain's arm. "Cain! Please stop!"

Cain looked down at me, his gaze ice cold.

"Tell me, and I'll stop."

The chains tightened another notch.

Silver toxin seeped into Ethan's hands and ankles.

Ethan let out a strangled snarl, veins bulging across his forehead, his body arched taut as a bowstring.

I knelt on the ground, pounding Cain's legs like a woman possessed. "I don't know! I swear I don't know! Believe me just once! Just this once!"

Cain stood there, motionless.

When he'd torn up the mating contract for me, when they'd locked him in the silver cage, when they'd exiled him to the wilderness—he'd been just as immovable.

But back then, his stubbornness was to protect me.

Now, his stubbornness was crushing me.

The chains tightened a third time.

Blood seeped from the corner of Ethan's mouth. His entire arm had turned silver-gray.

I tore free of Cain and threw myself at the punishment post.

I shielded Ethan with my own body.

The silver chains dug into my waist and arms.

Wolfsbane-coated silver barbs pierced my skin. Both toxins detonated at once.

Blood sprayed from my mouth.

"Stop!" Cain roared.

The guards released the chains immediately.

Cain rushed forward and pulled me off the post.

I was drenched in blood, consciousness slipping fast.

Through the haze I heard frantic footsteps.

The Beta came running in again.

"Alpha! Vivienne's been found!" He was gasping. "In an abandoned cave outside the territory. Slightly shaken, a few scrapes. She won't let anyone near her—keeps calling your name."

Cain held me, motionless.

Vivienne's sobbing came through the phone.

He closed his eyes for a moment.

Then he carefully set me down on the ground.

He took off his coat and draped it over me.

"Get a senior healer to treat the Luna's injuries immediately," he told the Beta. "I'm going to get Vivienne. I'll be back soon."

His hands were shaking when he stood.

He looked back at me one more time. Something flickered in his eyes—hesitation—but it was gone just as quickly.

Then he turned and walked away.