Chapter 3

Kane had never liked hunting dogs that humans raised. The pack's warriors said dogs barked wildly at the scent of wolves and could easily draw hunters in, so hardly anyone kept them in the territory.

But that day, as he watched Ash lying at my feet, his expression was unusually gentle.

"Ivy was like this too," he said. "She didn't even like eating vegetables, but she always had to grow them. And she wanted to save every injured little animal."

I smiled and asked, "So do you still hate them now?"

He reached out and stroked Ash's ears without answering.

The next day, Ash died in a corner of the garden. A silver trap had sliced open the side of his neck, and blood soaked his gray fur. I crouched beside him, unable to stand for a long time. Finally, I clung to a tree trunk and threw up until there was nothing left.

Someone had seen one of Selena's attendants walk by carrying a trap. The evidence wasn't hard to find, and the warriors guarding the gate knew whose orders that attendant followed.

But Kane only had someone bring me a new dog with a similar coat. He didn't even punish the attendant who'd hurt Ash.

"Stop crying," he told me. "Another dog will be just as good."

I looked at the puppy they'd brought. It wagged its tail innocently, but I couldn't bring myself to reach out to it.

I'd carried Ash out of a hunter's trap in my arms. His leg was hurt, and at first he couldn't even eat. For more than ten days, I stayed up night after night nursing him. He'd only just started running after people when Selena said she didn't like him, and he was killed without a word of explanation.

I suddenly realized that Kane would only ever give me a little of his tenderness, but he'd give Selena everything.

The two-year deadline the system had given me was almost up. I'd thought it was only a matter of time before he recognized me, so I'd never really worried.

I deliberately kept my old habits. I wore pale pink, ate meat but couldn't stomach fish or shrimp, and grew vegetables even though I didn't like eating them. Each time, Kane looked at me a little longer. I'd thought he was slowly remembering me. Now I wondered if he'd merely found it amusing.

A few days later, Kane hosted several men who'd served him for years in the council hall. Grant told me to bring in pastries fresh from the oven. As I reached the door with the wooden tray, I heard someone inside laugh and ask, "Kane, Leah's been with you for two years. How long are you going to keep it from her?"

I stopped short.

A familiar voice spoke up inside. "Alpha, you knew she was Ivy the day she arrived, didn't you? So why not make her your mate again?"

I gripped the tray until my fingertips went white.

Kane was silent for a moment, then said, "The old Ivy had too many opinions of her own. She had to argue with me about everything. Leah's much more docile now. She finds ways to make me happy on her own. Why would I be in a hurry to tell her?"

He'd actually known the whole time.

For two years, I'd endured silver wounds while making medicine and cooking for him. I'd worked late into the night in the kitchen, hoping he'd recognize me from those little details. Whenever he looked as though he wanted to say something, then held back, I'd taken it as hope. In truth, he'd watched me surrender my old pride, step by step, just to stay by his side.

Someone else asked hesitantly, "But you planted such a big memorial grove for Ivy, and you go there every full moon. Don't you want to bring her back now?"

"After Selena gives birth," Kane said. "Noah's bloodline was damaged. He can't have pups. The elders are pushing me to give the Blackwood family an heir, and this child has to be born safely."

"Selena's already pregnant?"

"Almost seven months."

I went rigid. No wonder I'd barely seen Selena for the past six months.

Someone else inside said, "Ivy loved you so much back then. I'm afraid she won't be able to take this."

Kane answered, "That's why none of you are allowed to tell her. Once the baby's born, Selena will leave the territory. Leah will still be my mate. She'll just have to put up with things for a while."

There was a rustle of fabric. Selena was in the room too. She asked timidly, "Kane, what if Ivy finds out? Will she hurt our baby?"

"She's just Leah now." Kane's voice was soft. "She doesn't have the power to. I'll protect you until you have the baby."

Standing outside the door, I realized that while I was gone, everyone had made my decisions for me.

Kane had recognized me long ago, yet he'd let Selena whip and imprison me. He knew I'd once lost a child, yet he'd let another woman carry his baby. Worse, he feared I'd hurt her for it.

Hot soup spilled over the edge of the tray and scalded my forearm. I didn't even feel it.

Then the tray hit the stone floor with a deafening crash.

Everyone in the council hall turned to look at me standing outside the door.