Chapter 3

I went back to the main house alone to pack my things.

But the fingerprint scanner rejected me.

I tried again. The door stayed firmly shut.

I went around to the side entrance and entered the backup code Lucas had given me. The lock finally opened.

The master bedroom door was wide open.

My dark sheets had been replaced with the pastel colors Mia liked. Her dresses hung in the closet, and a suitcase carrying her scent sat beside the bed.

So they had planned this all along.

They couldn't even wait a few hours.

I pushed open the guest room door. Three cardboard boxes blocked the entrance.

My clothes, training gear, and the old coat my father had left me were all crammed inside.

My phone buzzed with a security alert. Garrett was at the gate.

"How did you get in here without permission?"

I scoffed. "I was going to ask who deleted my access."

"Nora, only the Luna can live with the Alpha. Access to the main house and the pack's core areas has been transferred to Mia. You can't just come in anymore."

He paused. "But you're still the Frost Fang patrol captain. Mia handles pack affairs, and the patrol office is still yours.

"Nora, the Alpha hasn't been unfair to you."

I laughed. "I built that patrol unit from the ground up with my team, fight after fight. It wasn't his to give."

That reminded me of something.

I walked into the study, opened a drawer, and found an elegant gun case inside.

I opened it. Inside lay a moonstone pistol, glowing faintly.

It was loaded with silver bullets.

I had suffered silver poisoning twice developing it so he could take down Shades at long range.

Garrett saw me reach for the gun and stammered, "That, uh... you should leave that for the Alpha. He really likes it."

I snapped the case shut. "This was supposed to be my wedding gift to him. If he likes it so much, Mia can make him one."

I packed the gun case and went to the study safe.

My pack documents and all the patrol records I had compiled over the years were still there.

I loaded everything into my suitcase.

I had barely zipped it shut when Mr. Finch arrived with two guards, blocking the study doorway.

"Miss Nora, the Alpha says you can move to the guest room. There's no need to leave."

"Out of my way."

One of the guards put a hand on my luggage.

"You can't take the gun and the files. They contain classified intelligence on tracking the Shades."

I pried his hand off and pulled the case back. "The gun is mine. And those combat strategies? I developed them through trial and error while leading patrols."

"But the Alpha said—"

"If he wants them, he can come ask me himself."

The guard didn't dare touch me again and looked to Mr. Finch.

Mr. Finch pulled him aside. "The Alpha is keeping the captain position for you. That shows how much he values you. Once you've cooled down, you two can talk it out."

I picked up the suitcase. "Tell him to find someone else to risk their life for him. He'll have my resignation by morning."

Mr. Finch chased after me. "This... Miss Nora, this isn't something to be taken lightly!"

"Tell Lucas to stop using other people as his messengers. If he has something to say, he can come say it himself."

One of the guards whispered to Mr. Finch, "Should we tell the Alpha?"

But Garrett said, "The celebration isn't over yet. Don't bother him with something like this.

"She's just a jealous woman. Once the Alpha sweet-talks her, she'll go right back to serving the pack."

I walked out without looking back.