Chapter 2

Cassian, Nora, Theo and I grew up together.

Back then, Nora used to joke that because we were best friends, we should all take our mates on the same day.

No one objected. We even promised that we would always stay together.

The meeting ended. Theo came over and stopped in front of us.

"Cassian, Nora and I have agreed that on the day of the Full Moon Ceremony, when we come of age, we'll enter the Moon Temple and receive the Moon Goddess's blessing. It only happens once in our lives. I want to spend it with her."

Nora's ears went red, and she gave Theo a look, half scolding and entirely pleased.

Theo looked Cassian dead in the eye, his meaning plain. "Cassian, do you want to come with us?"

The wolves who had not yet dispersed stopped where they were, their eyes moving between the four of us.

Everyone knew that Cassian and I had grown up side by side, and the whole pack took it for granted that we would be the next Alpha and his Luna.

But Cassian only gave a soft laugh. "If it only happens once in a lifetime, how could I intrude on a ceremony meant for just the two of you?"

He turned his head, his dark eyes settling on me. "Evelina is remarkable. She deserves a grander ceremony, one that belongs to her alone, not one she has to share with someone else. Don't you think?"

The smile I had put on froze on my face. Listening to Cassian's false consideration with the refusal buried inside it, I felt like a clown.

He knew. He knew that if I was not marked by a mate at the Full Moon Ceremony, my body would grow weaker and weaker until I died on my nineteenth birthday. Yet he refused anyway.

A little way off, Lilith raised an eyebrow. Her gaze slid past Cassian and landed on me, taunting.

Nora's face went dark in an instant. She snorted, grabbed Theo, and walked off without turning her head once.

Awkward silence spread through the air. Yet Cassian acted as if nothing had happened and took my hand. "Come on. I'll walk you home."

"Cassian..." I had not even started when I saw Lilith come over, timid. "It's so late, and my house is in the most remote part of the pack. I'd be scared walking back alone. Could you..."

Cassian's steps stopped. I thought he would refuse. He was holding my hand, after all. But he only tightened his grip a little, his tone matter-of-fact. "It's on the way. I'll take Evelina home first, then you."

At that, Lilith smiled. "I knew you were the kindest wolf there is, Cassian."

The whole way, Cassian held my hand but kept his body turned toward Lilith. Lilith seemed to have an endless supply of things to say, from herbs in the forest to the shape of the clouds that day. Cassian listened to every trivial, dull detail of it with real interest, tilting his head down now and then to agree, letting out a pleased little laugh or two.

I walked beside them in silence until they were so absorbed in each other that they were about to walk straight past my gate. Only then did I plant my feet and stop.

"This is me."

Cassian snapped back to himself. He looked at the gate in front of him and a flicker of embarrassment crossed his eyes. "Sorry. I got carried away talking. I almost walked right past it."

Cassian's expression smoothed over. He reached up and tidied the hair the wind had blown across my face. "Stay home and rest. I'll come find you once I've taken Lilith back."

Lilith stuck her tongue out at me, apologetic.

"Evelina, don't be angry. I didn't mean to take up so much of Cassian's time."

I shook my head and went inside without a word. Behind the door, Cassian and Lilith's voices faded away. I leaned against it, and my heart seized with a violent, twisting pain.

Had the curse already begun to take effect?