Chapter 4

For the next few days, I stayed with Harrison, focusing on his treatment.

Though he still lacked the powerful aura of an Alpha, I could feel a definite shift in him.

My healing gift was working its silent magic.

On the third night, Harrison sat across from me, a flicker of confusion in his eyes.

"Naomi, I've been having the strangest dreams."

"What kind of dreams?"

"I dream I'm running under a full moon, and I can hear howling in the distance." He shook his head. "I haven't felt anything like that in ten years."

I took his hand. "Your wolf is returning."

Harrison was stunned. "Impossible. The pack doctors all said my wolf was gone forever."

"Trust me," I said, meeting his gaze. "You'll see."

The day before Quinn and Charles's mating ceremony, I returned to my old house to retrieve my mother's belongings.

As I knelt in the basement, gently wiping the dust from my mother's photograph, I heard the heavy click of a lock behind me.

I turned and twisted the handle. The door was locked from the outside.

"Is anyone there?" I knocked.

Silence. The house was eerily quiet.

They planned to lock me in here, to stop me from making a scene at the ceremony.

After several failed attempts to force the door, I gave up and lay on the floor, deciding to wait for morning to find a way out.

Late that night, the acrid smell of smoke jolted me awake.

The room was filling with thick, black smoke, and I could hear the hungry crackle of flames outside.

Fire!

I scrambled to the door, pounding on it with all my might. "Help! Let me out!"

No response.

The smoke grew thicker, choking me. My lungs burned.

Just then, I heard my stepmother's voice from the other side. "Naomi! I know you're in there!"

"Getting out is simple. Just agree to one thing!"

I froze. "What?"

"Tomorrow, in front of everyone, you will admit that you cannot cure a lost wolf!"

"You'll tell them the healer Quinn found is the only one with real power!"

The realization hit me like a physical blow. My stepmother had set this fire.

She was jealous that I was marrying into the Williams family and wanted Quinn to take my place with Harrison.

She was willing to burn me alive to force me to play along with her lie.

"Are you insane?" I snarled.

"I'm just trying to make you see reason!" her voice was frantic. "Do you agree or not? If you don't, you can burn to death in there!"

The smoke was becoming unbearable. I knew I was running out of time.

I grabbed a chair and hurled it at the high basement window with all my strength.

The glass shattered. I scrambled onto the ledge and threw myself out.

I landed hard, my arm scraping against the pavement, but I was free.

The next day, at Quinn's mating ceremony, guests occasionally asked about my absence.

My father looked uncomfortable. "She stole from the family and ran away. She knew she couldn't heal Harrison and was afraid the Williams family would hold her accountable. We have no idea where she is."

My stepmother added, "That's right. Her so-called healing arts were all a sham. Now that she's been exposed, she's fled."

"Poor Mr. Harrison, to have his time wasted by her."

Quinn stood proudly by Charles's side. "I told you all my sister was a fraud."

"It's a good thing Charles chose me and found a true healer."

The guests murmured among themselves, condemning my "wicked" behavior.

Just then, the deep purr of a powerful engine cut through the chatter.

A limited-edition Rolls-Royce, a symbol of immense pack power, pulled smoothly to a stop at the entrance.

My father’s face went chalk white.

He hurriedly produced a Pack Covenant and held it up for all to see.

"I have already disowned Naomi! Her actions have nothing to do with our pack!"

"If the Williams Pack seeks justice, please do not involve us!"

All eyes were fixed nervously on the car, waiting to see how the Williams family would deal with the family of this "fraud."

The car door opened slowly.

But the person who stepped out was me, dressed in a white gown.

And beside me stood Harrison, the golden fire of his Alpha wolf blazing in his eyes.