Chapter 4

Leia's POV

The night before the ceremony, the dyeing supplies were laid out beside the hotel bathtub.

I shifted into my wolf form, and Ada brushed aside the fur along my abdomen to expose the skin that had not fully healed.

Evan frowned. "Avoid this area."

Ada pointed to the new silver-gray fur growing over the wound. "If we leave it untouched, there'll be a patch that doesn't match the reference color."

He looked down at the photo, then rested his palm against my back. "Use less dye here and take it slow."

The moment the dye touched my skin, I jerked my hind legs inward.

My paws slipped on the wet floor of the tub, and my abdomen scraped against the edge. I let out a sharp whimper.

Evan immediately pulled me into his arms and told them to stop.

I pressed against his chest, trembling uncontrollably, my nose buried in his soaked shirt.

"Lanie, don't be afraid. Look at me." He supported my body, rinsed the dye off the injured area, and had Ada bring a cool towel.

With his hand supporting my abdomen, my tense body gradually relaxed. I looked up at him, thinking he would carry me out of there.

But once my breathing settled, he took hold of my front paw and turned to instruct Ada. "Go slower with the rest. Stop whenever she's in pain."

Ada picked up the brush again.

Evan lowered his head and pressed a kiss to my forehead. "I'm right here."

The dye went on again. I curled into his arms in pain, and he held me a little tighter, waiting for me to catch my breath before letting Ada continue.

After the final rinse, he wrapped me in a soft towel and carried me out of the tub.

Once he'd dried my fur, the she-wolf in the mirror had turned lighter brown. I looked even more like Vera in the photo. I closed my eyes and refused to look anymore.

Evan went into the adjoining room to check the arrangements for the ceremony hall.

Ada treated my wound, then waited for me to shift back into human form before taking a tube of body paint from the bottom of her medical kit.

I turned my neck to expose the spot Evan had specified.

She painted a crescent moon on my skin and covered it with a thin protective coating. "Don't touch it tonight. You can wipe it off tomorrow."

I nodded.

Ada helped me to my feet and slipped the white gown over my head, fastened the buttons, and tied the belt at my waist.

The unfamiliar scent settled over my shoulders and neck again. I lowered my head and took a sniff. My own scent was growing fainter by the minute.

Ada smoothed the gown and helped me sit on the edge of the bed.

When Evan returned, his eyes went straight to the crescent moon mark on the side of my neck. He reached out to touch it, but Ada stopped him, explaining that the color hadn't set yet.

He pulled his hand back, and the frown that had been etched across his face finally eased. He bent down and kissed my forehead. "You've been through a lot."

He steadied my shoulders and tried to help me move farther back on the bed. I shifted with his help, but the belt pressed against the wound on my abdomen, making me wince and lean to one side.

He caught me immediately, propped a pillow behind my back, and loosened the belt.

I grabbed his sleeve.

He wrapped his hand around mine and sat beside me, letting me lean against his shoulder. Just then, his phone rang.

Vera was on the line, asking to see how I looked after all the preparations.

Evan let go of my hand and said to me, "Turn a little. I can't see the crescent moon clearly."

I didn't move.

He brushed the hair away from the side of my neck and held my shoulder, turning me toward the light. The loosened fabric exposed the bandage on my abdomen, so he pulled the gown back into place to cover it and pulled the belt snug again.

"Bear with me. This will be quick," he said.

The belt tightened around my waist, and my fingers curled harder around his sleeve.

He raised his phone slightly and took pictures showing the red mole near the corner of my eye, the crescent moon on my neck, and the white gown.

Then he sent the photos to Vera. "Everything's ready just the way you asked."

She replied almost immediately. "Thank you. I've waited so long for this day."

Then Evan put his phone away.

I let go of his sleeve and pulled myself away from him, bracing a hand against the edge of the bed.

Someone delivered my box of research samples to the door. After checking that everything was inside, I placed the box beside my suitcase.

Evan helped me lie down and tucked the covers around me.

He had to receive the elders and witnesses early the next morning, so he was staying at his villa that night. Before leaving, he placed my medication and a glass of water within easy reach.

"Wait for me tomorrow morning. I'll come get you myself."

I watched him walk toward the door. Once it closed behind him, I sat up and took off the gown. I hung it back in the closet and changed into loose cotton clothes. The unfamiliar scent gradually faded.

At dawn, a car from the Healers' Association pulled up downstairs. I took my suitcase and research samples, leaving the gown behind.

As the car pulled away from the hotel, I used a wet wipe to remove the crescent moon from my neck.

Then I took out my phone and messaged the elder officiating the ceremony. "This is Leia. Today's marking ceremony is canceled. I will not accept Evan's mark."

The car left the pack territory and continued along the highway toward the Healers' Association.