Chapter 2: Belonging to Someone Else

"Who is she?"

The question slipped out before Azerbel could stop herself.

Her voice trembled.

She wanted the answer, but the moment she asked, part of her became afraid to hear it.

Luna Lorraine tightened her hold on Azerbel's hand.

"Let's go back to the pack house first," Lorraine said quietly. "We'll talk later. Guerero must be tired."

Azerbel stared at her.

Usually, Lorraine's warm voice could calm her.

Not this time.

There was something in her eyes that Azerbel didn't understand.

Sadness.

Worry.

Maybe even fear.

"Mother..."

Azerbel glanced back at Guerero and the red-haired woman beside him.

"Who is that woman?"

Lorraine didn't answer.

She only squeezed Azerbel's hand and gently led her away.

Azerbel followed, but after a few steps, she couldn't help looking back.

Guerero was still standing where she had left him.

His head was lowered and his shoulders were stiff.

He looked ashamed.

In front of him stood Alpha Dave.

The pride on the Alpha's face was gone.

Now he looked cold and angry.

No.

Not just angry.

Betrayed.

Azerbel slowed down.

What was happening?

Why had Guerero returned holding another woman's hand?

Why couldn't he look at his own mate?

And why did his parents seem to know that something was terribly wrong?

Azerbel turned back to Lorraine.

But Lorraine gently pulled her forward.

"We'll talk later."

The words should have reassured Azerbel.

Instead, they made her more afraid.

Around them, the returning warriors reunited with their families. Parents cried with relief. Children clung to fathers and mothers they hadn't seen in months.

Tonight, the pack would celebrate those who had survived.

Tomorrow, they would mourn those who hadn't.

Azerbel lowered her eyes.

She should have been celebrating too.

Her mate had survived.

Guerero had come home alive.

So why did she feel as if she had lost him anyway?

****

The celebration continued late into the night.

Music filled the pack house. Warriors shared stories. Families laughed, ate, and enjoyed being together again.

It was supposed to be the happiest night Azerbel had experienced in a year.

Instead, she couldn't stop searching for Guerero.

Whenever she found him, he was talking to another warrior, walking away, or standing near the red-haired woman.

And every time Azerbel tried to approach him, he avoided her.

The first time, he excused himself.

The second time, someone called him away before she could speak.

The third time was worse.

"Guerero."

He must have heard her.

But he kept walking.

Azerbel stopped.

Her fingers tightened around her dress.

After a whole year of waiting, her mate couldn't even give her a few minutes.

She wanted to ask him what had happened.

She wanted to tell him how many nights she had prayed for his safety. How relieved she had been when she saw him riding home alive.

Instead, she was standing in the middle of his welcome celebration wondering why he couldn't bear to be near her.

Azerbel lifted her chin.

She wouldn't cry here.

Not in front of the pack.

She forced herself to smile when people spoke to her, even when every smile hurt.

Then her attention returned to the woman.

She was still there.

Worse, Azerbel learned that the woman was staying in Guerero's room.

Her stomach dropped.

Why?

Who was she to him?

Azerbel went to Lorraine again, but the answer didn't change.

"We'll talk later."

Alpha Dave wasn't any better.

"Not now, Azerbel."

Even the returning warriors avoided answering her questions.

At first, Azerbel thought they were simply tired.

Then she began noticing the way they looked at her.

One warrior quickly lowered his eyes when she caught him staring.

Another gave her a sad smile.

A third looked away the moment she approached.

Azerbel went still.

She finally understood what she was seeing.

Pity.

They pitied her.

Coldness spread through her body.

The warriors knew.

Whatever Guerero was hiding, some of them already knew about it.

And apparently, she was the only person who didn't.

The laughter around her suddenly became too loud.

Azerbel wanted to leave.

Before she could, one of the guards approached Luna Lorraine and quietly spoke to her.

Lorraine nodded.

Then she turned toward Azerbel.

Her face looked tired.

"It's time."

Azerbel's heart skipped.

"For what?"

Lorraine hesitated.

"Your answers."

---

The Alpha's study was painfully quiet.

Azerbel sat beside Lorraine, holding her hand so tightly that her fingers ached.

Alpha Dave sat nearby.

No one spoke.

Azerbel had spent the entire night begging people to tell her the truth.

Now that she was finally going to hear it, fear crawled through her.

She couldn't stand the silence any longer.

"What is happening?"

Her voice shook.

"What do you know that I don't?"

Lorraine lowered her eyes.

Azerbel looked at Alpha Dave.

He didn't answer either.

Her throat tightened.

"Who is that woman?"

Silence.

Azerbel stared at them.

Lorraine looked miserable.

Alpha Dave's jaw tightened.

Neither of them would meet her eyes for long.

That frightened Azerbel more than any answer could have.

"Please."

The word came out softly.

"I've waited long enough."

Alpha Dave finally looked at her.

"Let's wait for Guerero."

Azerbel's stomach tightened.

"He will explain everything."

"Why can't you tell me?"

Alpha Dave remained silent.

That was answer enough.

Whatever had happened wasn't something they wanted to say for Guerero.

Azerbel wanted to demand the truth.

But Lorraine looked like she was barely holding herself together, while Alpha Dave's anger had never completely disappeared.

So Azerbel waited.

The clock ticked.

Each second seemed louder than the last.

Azerbel stared at the door.

Finally, it opened.

Her heart jumped.

Guerero walked into the study.

The red-haired woman came with him.

Azerbel finally heard her name.

Ruby.

They entered side by side.

Too close.

Azerbel's stomach twisted.

Still, she forced herself to stay calm.

This was Guerero.

Her mate.

The man who had written to her throughout the war.

The man who had promised to return.

There had to be an explanation.

There had to be something Azerbel didn't understand.

Guerero approached the chairs.

Azerbel straightened.

For one foolish second, she expected him to sit beside her.

That was where he belonged.

Beside his mate.

Instead, Guerero walked past her.

And sat beside Ruby.

Azerbel stared at the empty space beside her.

The small hope she had been protecting all night began to crack.

She looked at Guerero.

Look at me.

He didn't.

His eyes remained lowered.

Azerbel's chest tightened.

This was a man who had gone to war.

A man who had faced enemies and death.

Yet he couldn't even look at the woman the Moon Goddess had chosen for him.

Why?

"Mother... Father..."

Guerero's voice cracked.

Everyone went still.

He cleared his throat and clasped his hands tightly.

Azerbel studied him.

All evening, she had thought she saw shame in his face.

Then guilt.

But now she finally understood.

It was fear.

Guerero was afraid.

Azerbel's breath caught.

The strongest warrior in Hellfire had survived the war and returned home alive.

Yet whatever he was about to tell his mate frightened him enough that he still couldn't look her in the eyes.

And for the first time, Azerbel wasn't sure she wanted to hear the truth.