Chapter 3

The tension at our table was palpable as Alexander and I locked eyes across from each other. Ethan Gray cleared his throat awkwardly, clearly sensing he'd been caught in something he hadn't intended.

"Alexander," Ethan said, standing up with practiced ease. "I was just discussing pre-mating agreement with Aurora."

Alexander's amber eyes narrowed dangerously. "Were you now?"

The possessive note in his voice surprised me. He had no right to jealousy, not when Ivy Lawrence's scent still lingered on his skin.

"The pre-mating agreement," I clarified, sliding the folder toward Alexander. "Apparently I signed away all rights to our shared territories if I initiate bond severance."

A satisfied smirk tugged at Alexander's lips. "Good of you to remind her, Ethan."

Ethan's gaze flickered between us, his steel-gray eyes revealing nothing of his thoughts. "Just doing my job as pack enforcer. I should get going."

With a respectful nod to both of us, Ethan made his exit, leaving me alone with my mate. My skin prickled with awareness as Alexander took Ethan's vacated seat.

"Change your clothes," he ordered without preamble. "We're expected at the main pack house for dinner in an hour."

I raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"

"My grandfather will be there," Alexander continued, as if I hadn't spoken. "It's important we present a united front."

Of course. Elder Blackwood still controlled ten percent of the territory ownership – crucial votes Alexander needed to secure his status as future Alpha. Our "happy" mating was essential to maintaining that illusion.

"And if I refuse?" I challenged.

Alexander's expression hardened. "This isn't a request, Aurora. It's an order from your Alpha."

I pushed my chair back, rising to my feet. "Fine. One last performance."

The elevator ride to our penthouse apartment was silent and charged with tension. Alexander stood with his hands clasped behind his back, every inch the future Alpha.

"I believe that you will reconsider the severance after talking with Ethan." he said as we ascended.

"It's still your fertile phase during the full moon," Alexander continued, his tone businesslike. "Go home and prepare. If you cooperate, I'll try to finish quickly."

The clinical way he discussed intimacy made my stomach turn. Like I was just a vessel for his heir.

"I will not reconsider anything," I stated firmly. "I still want to sever our mate bond, and I still want half your territories."

Alexander's mouth opened to respond, but the elevator doors slid open, revealing Ivy Lawrence standing in the corridor, her blue eyes widening at the sight of us together.

"Alex!" she exclaimed, stepping forward. "I've been calling you—"

I raised a hand, stopping her mid-sentence. "This elevator is exclusively for the future Alpha and Luna. Other wolves aren't permitted to use it."

Ivy's pretty features twisted into a pout as she looked past me to Alexander. Her expression was pathetic – a wounded doe seeking protection.

To my surprise, Alexander nodded. "You should obey the orders of the future Luna, Ivy."

The shock on her face mirrored my own, though I masked mine better. Ivy lingered for a moment, clearly expecting Alexander to contradict himself, but when he remained firm, she backed away with an unwilling expression.

The doors closed, leaving us alone once more.

The ride to the main pack house was tense. Alexander drove with one hand on the wheel, his knuckles white with tension.

"I have nothing going on with Ivy Lawrence," he said abruptly.

I couldn't help the bitter laugh that escaped me. "Right. And I suppose you weren't kissing her at our border den yesterday?"

His jaw clenched. "It's complicated."

"I hope you used proper protection," I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "Wolf pox is particularly contagious this season."

The car swerved suddenly as Alexander pulled to the side of the road. Before I could react, he had unclasped my seatbelt and pulled me onto his lap, facing him.

"What are you doing?" I gasped, my hands braced against his chest.

His amber eyes had darkened to molten gold, his wolf close to the surface. "Do you think I would risk bringing disease to our mating bed?"

Before I could answer, his mouth claimed mine in a forceful kiss. It wasn't gentle – it was possessive, demanding, full of an intensity he'd never shown me before. I tasted blood as his teeth nipped my lower lip.

When he finally pulled back, his breathing was ragged. "Luna Blackwood, am I pure?"

I pushed away from him, disturbed by the unfamiliar passion he had evoked. More disturbing was how Zoe, my wolf, had responded – eagerly, hungrily, as if this was what she'd been waiting for.

"Take me to the dinner," I said coldly, sliding back to my seat. "Let's get this over with."

As we continued our drive, Alexander's phone howled repeatedly – the special tone he'd set for important pack members. I didn't need to ask who was calling.

The Blackwood pack house loomed ahead, a massive structure of stone and timber that had housed generations of Alphas. As we approached, I straightened my spine and fixed a pleasant expression on my face.

"Remember," Alexander murmured as we reached the entrance. "United front."

The dining room was already full when we arrived. Richard Blackwood, the current Alpha, sat at the head of the table with his mate Victoria at his right. Elder Blackwood occupied the place of honor at the opposite end.

"Alexander, Aurora," Richard greeted with a nod. "We were beginning to wonder if you'd join us."

Alexander guided me to my seat with a hand on my lower back, the picture of a devoted mate. "Forgive our tardiness, Father. Pack business kept us."

Victoria Blackwood's gaze swept over me critically. "Aurora, dear, you look tired. Are you feeling unwell?"

The subtle barb wasn't lost on me. Victoria had never approved of me as her son's mate, despite my healing abilities that had brought prestige to the pack.

"I'm quite well, thank you," I replied smoothly. "Just busy with the moonstone project."

Elder Blackwood leaned forward, his ancient eyes sharp with interest. "And how is that progressing? Alexander speaks highly of its potential."

"It would progress better if certain wolves didn't interfere with my staffing decisions," I said lightly, taking a sip of wine.

Alexander's hand squeezed my thigh beneath the table – a warning.

"Aurora has revolutionary ideas for expanding our healing capabilities," he said smoothly. "Sometimes we disagree on implementation."

Elder Blackwood chuckled, the sound like dry leaves rustling. "The Ivy girl visited me today. Quite concerned about being removed from the moonstone team."

The table fell silent. I kept my expression neutral, though my heart raced.

"Did she?" Alexander asked, his voice carefully controlled. "Ivy Lawrence tends to exaggerate her importance."

"She mentioned seeing both of you at the border den," Elder Blackwood continued, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Seemed quite distressed that you chose to leave with your mate."

So that was his game. Elder Blackwood knew about the affair but was choosing to frame it as something innocent, giving Alexander an opportunity to save face.

"I'm just eager for great-grandpups," the old wolf added, raising his wine glass. "The Blackwood line must continue."

Alexander laughed, the sound forced to my ears. "We're trying, Grandfather. In fact, we'll be trying again tonight."

The table erupted in good-natured laughter, while I remained silent. If only they knew the truth – that I was nearly infertile due to injuries sustained while protecting Alexander from a rogue wolf attack three years ago.

Alexander's phone howled again. He frowned, checking the screen. "Excuse me," he said, rising. "I need to take this."

As he stepped out, Elder Blackwood's gaze settled on me. Despite his age, his eyes missed nothing. "You know, my dear, male wolves always return to their den eventually."

I met his gaze steadily. "Only when they're mounted on the wall as trophies."

His surprised laughter echoed in the dining room, drawing curious glances from the others. "You have fire, Luna Blackwood. More than I gave you credit for."

After dinner, I escaped to the moonlit gardens, needing a moment away from the pretense. The night air was cool against my skin, carrying the scent of night-blooming flowers from my medicinal garden.

"Troubled evening, cousin-by-mating?"

I turned to find Dominic Blackwood approaching, his walk casual but his eyes calculating. Alexander's cousin had always watched me too closely for comfort.

"Dominic," I acknowledged with a nod.

He reached into his jacket, pulling out a small envelope. "I thought you might find these interesting."

Inside were photos – Alexander and Ivy together at various locations around pack territory. Some innocent, others decidedly not.

"Ivy's father is our pack Beta," Dominic said, watching my reaction carefully. "His mate is a close friend of Victoria's. They've been pushing for this match since Alexander and Ivy were pups."

I leafed through the photos with deliberate indifference. "And you're showing me this because...?"

"A healer without dominant bloodlines can't compete with generations of pack alliances," he said smoothly. "But together, we might be able to... rearrange certain pack positions."

I understood his implication immediately. Dominic wanted leverage against Alexander, and he thought my jealousy would make me a willing ally.

"Not interested," I said, discarding the photos casually. They fluttered to the ground between us.

Dominic's eyes widened in surprise. "You don't care?"

"I care about securing my territory rights in our mate bond severance," I clarified. "After that, Alexander can mate with whomever he wants. I intend to leave the Blackwood Pack behind forever."

Turning away from Dominic's shocked expression, I walked back toward the pack house. As I approached, I spotted Alexander watching me from the shadowed corridor.

His expression darkened as his gaze shifted from me to his cousin in the garden. His wolf Alex's eyes glowed possessively in the darkness, echoing the same territorial discomfort he had shown when Ethan Gray had looked at me in the café.