Chapter 3

Every wolf there waited for my answer.

I remembered the old Alpha King’s warning and chose not to argue. They would all learn soon enough.

On the way back, Veya rode with me in the same carriage. She looked at the wine on my clothes and smiled with open satisfaction.

“So what if you really do become Luna one day? If you can’t win Raine’s heart, you’re still nothing.”

Without Raine beside her, she no longer bothered to pretend sweetness.

Looking at that smug face, I thought of my last life. My mother had bonded with her off to one of my father’s young retainers. He had risen in time, remained grateful to my father, and treated Veya with a devotion she never deserved. In truth, she had lived far better than I ever did.

This time, I would not let my mother interfere.

I wanted to see what kind of end Veya would reach when left to her own choices.

So I only said, “Then I wish you and the First Heir a long life together.”

That took the wind out of her at once. By the time the carriage stopped, she had nothing left to say.

A few days later, I accompanied my mother to the old Alpha King’s birthday feast. To avoid the crowd of young wolves gathered there, I slipped away to the rear garden for some quiet.

That was where I saw Veya again.

Raine had apparently been sending gifts to her chambers every day. She wore jewels from throat to wrist and carried herself with more display than I, the rightful heir of the house.

The moment she saw me, she came over smiling.

“Do you like this dress, Sia? Raine had it made for me. There’s only one like it in the whole packs.”

When I gave her nothing, she went on.

“He also promised that the dress I wear on the bonding day will be finer than yours.”

I was about to tell her to leave when I saw the necklace at her throat.

My heart dropped.

It was the same as the one my grandmother had left me.

My grandmother knew how much I loved foxes, so she had a tiny fox carved into the pendant for me. It was one of the few things she had left behind, and I treasured it so much I barely wore it myself.

I reached toward it on instinct, wanting a closer look.

Veya cried out at once.

“Sia, what are you doing? I know you can’t bear that Raine favors me, but you can’t strike me for it.”

My wrist was seized before I could touch the chain.

Raine’s voice came sharp behind me.

“Sia, what madness is this now?”

I pulled free and fixed my eyes on Veya.

“Where did that necklace come from?”

Something flickered across her face. Guilt, perhaps. But with Raine standing beside her, she straightened immediately.

“Raine gave it to me.”

“You lie,” I said. “That necklace was made for me by my grandmother. There is only one.”

I turned to my attendant.

“Take it off her.”

The attendant had barely stepped forward before Raine struck him aside.

“No one touches what is hers.”

He faced me, furious.

“Sia, I never imagined you would stoop this low. Just to keep me from bringing Veya into my household, you’d accuse her like this?”

His voice grew colder.

“Then listen carefully. That necklace was a gift from me.”

⸻