Chapter 3

Over the next few days, Victor grew busier and busier preparing for the pack's late-fall diplomatic banquet.

A representative from the Western Chamber of Commerce was coming to negotiate next year's trade agreement.

But on the day of the banquet, I came down with a fever. By afternoon, my head felt heavy and foggy.

I dragged myself to the banquet despite feeling awful, only to stop dead in my tracks. Louise was sitting in my seat, right beside the head of the long table.

Victor sat next to her, leaning slightly in her direction as though they were having a private conversation.

Servers carried drinks past me. A young maid whispered to another, "The Alpha and Ms. Mercer look so good together. Somehow this banquet feels even grander than last year's."

"I know! Luna always looks cold and unapproachable. Ms. Mercer is so sweet and considerate. I wish she were our Luna."

I drew a deep breath and strode toward them, my heels clicking sharply against the floor.

"Victor."

He looked up, visibly startled, then hurried over. "Tia, are you feeling better? Teresa told me you had a fever, so I—"

He reached for my forehead, but I turned my head just enough to avoid his touch.

"I'm fine," I cut him off stiffly. "Why is someone in my seat?"

"You weren't feeling well enough to attend," Victor explained, instinctively stepping in front of me. "So I asked Louise to stand in for you—"

Maybe my stare was too sharp. The rest of his sentence died in his throat.

Louise lowered her head and stepped aside, looking utterly helpless.

The representative looked from Louise to me, a little confused. "And this is?"

I straightened my back.

"Tia. I'm the Luna of this pack, and I negotiated our trade agreements for the past two years."

"Ah, a pleasure to meet you." He turned to Victor with a knowing smile. "A dignified Luna and a lovely Ms. Mercer. You're a lucky man, Alpha."

Victor stiffened and reached for my hand.

I pulled away before he could touch me.

I never thought he'd humiliate me in public.

Moonlight streamed through the windows, and for a moment, I wanted to ask the Moon Goddess a question. If the mate bond she had ordained conflicted with a vow made in her name, which would she honor?

But the goddess gave me no answer.

All I heard was the soft patter of rain and the wind howling outside, sounding almost like my wolf crying.

That night, back in our bedroom, the mark on my neck started to burn.

Even the slightest touch sent a sharp sting through my skin. The flesh around the mark had turned dark red, as though the edges had been scorched.

My unease grew, and I stayed awake in the bedroom all night, afraid to sleep.

Then I heard voices outside. Following the voices and the light spilling into the hallway, I made my way to Louise's guest room. Victor was in his wolf form, licking a wound on Louise's neck.

It was one of the most primal ways for wolves to comfort each other.

Louise had her arms wrapped around Victor's neck and looked so fragile.

So utterly dependent on her Alpha.

I stood in the doorway, gripping the frame. My legs went numb, and I couldn't take another step.

On the night Victor marked me, he'd shifted into his wolf form and licked me the same way.

He'd told me it was his wolf's way of claiming its territory. Something that happened only once in a lifetime.

But now his wolf was licking Louise, lingering at her neck as if he couldn't pull himself away.

Was he... claiming her too?

I stumbled back a step, all my strength gone.

Victor heard me and jerked his head up. When he saw me, he shifted back, grabbed his clothes, and strode over.

"Tia, I..." His voice was strained. He reached for my hand.

I pulled my hand away and stared at him, my eyes burning with tears.

"You knew I wasn't feeling well." My voice came out painfully hoarse.

His lips parted, but he looked away before he could say anything. "I'm sorry. She was in so much pain tonight, and I... I couldn't help myself."

I stared at him, disappointment weighing so heavily on my chest that it hurt to breathe.

"And what if she needs you to mark her?"

Victor said nothing.

His face went red, and his hands trembled.

I swayed on my feet, and he finally reached out to steady me.

"That will never happen. Tia, you have to believe me."

His grip tightened around my wrist. He still smelled like Louise.

I couldn't bear to imagine how he'd held her before I arrived, licking her neck and soothing her pain.

When I said nothing, Victor hurried to reassure me. "Tia, I swear it won't happen again! Teresa's already found a solution. At the next full moon, the pull of our fated-mate bond will finally be broken, and everything will—"

A faint whimper from inside the room cut him off.

Victor's body jerked as though something had tugged at him.

He straightened and glanced toward the room, then looked back at me, torn.

"Go." I lowered my gaze, my heart already turned to ash.

Relief washed over his face. "I'll come check on you in a bit, sweetheart."

But I was done giving him chances. I quietly sent a text. "Find me a way to erase the mark. I'll come see you at dawn."

Teresa answered right away. "What happened?"

I didn't answer.

Much later, my phone lit up again. "I have a potion that might work, but it's going to hurt. A lot. Are you sure?"

"I'm sure."

Victor never came back that night. I sat by the window until morning, watching the darkness slowly give way to the pale, washed-out light of dawn. I hadn't slept a wink.

The next day, before I could go to Teresa, Louise came looking for me.