Chapter 3

The days that followed, I was forced to wake at four a.m., kneel on the ice-cold marble, and listen to the elder read vows in front of me while my wolf soul felt like it was being torn apart. The food was so bland it made me nauseous. At night I slept on a hard plank bed under a thin cotton blanket.

On the third night, I spiked a fever. A dull ache tugged low in my belly until I curled into the corner of the bed.

“Baby…” I stroked my stomach as tears slid soundlessly down my face. “Hold on a little longer…”

I lay curled on the plank bed, my fever blurring my vision. The cramping in my lower belly came in waves, tighter and tighter. Cold sweat soaked through the thin robe.

“Is anyone there…?” I dragged myself to the door and pounded on the thick wood with what little strength I had left. “Please… let me see the Pack Doctor…”

Outside, the elder’s voice was calm, flat. “Luna, Adrian told me you’d try any method to avoid atonement.”

“I’m not avoiding…” My throat was so raw I could barely force the words out. “I’m really sick… please…”

The door creaked open.

The elder stood there, and beside him were two Warriors.

He’d even stationed Warriors here to keep me in line.

“Take Luna back to bed,” he said blandly.

The Warriors grabbed me and hauled me back, rough hands forcing me onto the mattress. I fought, but they pinned me down like I was nothing.

“You can’t—” I sobbed, desperate. “I’m pregnant… the pup will—”

The elder’s eyes didn’t flicker. “Luna, enough. The Alpha specifically said you’re best at making up lies.”

They threw me down hard. The back of my head struck the wooden frame. Everything went black.

“Watch her,” the elder ordered at last. “Vows at dawn.”

The door shut again. The lock clicked—sharp, cruel.

I curled in the dark, feeling my body heat draining away.

“Baby…” My hand trembled over my belly. Tears mixed with sweat, soaking the pillow. “I’m sorry… Mom can’t protect you…”

My mind blurred, fading until the last thing I saw was the cold moon outside the window.

When I woke again, the sting of disinfectant hit my nose.

I pried my heavy eyelids open to a white hospital ceiling. An IV needle was taped to the back of my hand, cold fluid dripping slowly into my vein.

“You’re awake.”

Adrian’s voice came from the bedside. I turned my head and saw him sitting there, eyes bloodshot, dark stubble shadowing his jaw.

“The doctor said your fever hit 104°F. If you’d come in a little later…” His voice was hoarse. He reached for my face I turned away.

“Ann, be good, okay?” He rubbed his brow like he was exhausted. “We owe Emma. That was a life.”

I looked at him and suddenly laughed, dry, bitter, broken.

“Adrian, do you believe yourself when you say that?” I asked softly. “You’ve had countless lovers. You know in your own heart whether you’ve ever forced anyone to abort, to terminate. If you really feel guilty now, why don’t you go compensate every single one of them from all these years?”

His face dropped, storm-dark. “Ann, do you have to be this unreasonable? Emma just wants to live quietly. I only gave her a job…”

His phone rang, cutting him off.

He glanced at the caller ID, frowned, but still answered.

“Adrian… I’m sorry…” Emma’s tearful voice leaked out of the speaker, loud in the quiet room. “I messed up the cooperation with Blue Moon Pack… Henry… he tried to get handsy with me. I got scared and ran. He’s furious…”

Adrian’s expression tightened by the second. “Where are you? I’m coming.”

He hung up and stood. “Something urgent came up at the office. I’ll have the Pack Doctor look after you.”

Not long after he rushed out, the Pack Doctor came in to change my meds.

“Ann, you’re so lucky,” she said with envy. “Adrian cares about you so much. I heard he crippled Blue Moon Pack’s people for you. Now everyone in Blood Moon knows no one can afford to mess with Luna Ann.”

I closed my eyes, a heavy helplessness pressing down on me.

This marriage. This man. This place… it all suffocated me.

I had to leave. But before I could, I had to find a way to make him sign the divorce agreement.