Chapter 2

Rowan stared at me for several seconds. His grip tightened sharply around my hand.

“Because I invited Serena to dinner?”

His wolf shadow tore itself away from the scent Serena had left behind and reappeared at my feet, pacing in agitation.

“Maeve, there has to be a limit to jealousy. She saved my life in that avalanche. She is new to Northcliff and has no family here. What is wrong with me looking after her?”

I said nothing.

Rowan forced down his anger and softened his voice. “I handled tonight badly. I’ll book the restaurant again next week, and it will be only you and me.” He bent and kissed my fingertips. “What I feel for Serena is gratitude. You are my wife and the only mate I have ever acknowledged. No one can change that.”

If I had not seen his wolf, perhaps I could have believed him. But it returned to me only when Rowan was afraid of losing me. Whenever a real choice had to be made, it still went to Serena.

I lowered my eyes. “You’re right. I overreacted.”

Relief loosened Rowan’s face. He drew me into his arms, certain, as he had been after every disagreement before, that the matter was over.

When we returned to the Alpha residence, he went straight to his study. Once the door closed, I called Mr. Caldwell.

“I need you to prepare a mate-bond dissolution agreement.”

The lawyer was silent for a moment. “Does Alpha Rowan know?”

“He’ll sign it.”

After the call, I booked a flight to the free territory of Southhaven five days later. Before my mother died, she had left me a design studio there and an independent trust. She once told me that if Northcliff ever stopped feeling like home, I could always return.

I had believed I would never need that escape.

The following afternoon, a post titled ALPHA’S SAVIOR OR THE LUNA’S REPLACEMENT? spread across the pack network. Someone had photographed Rowan and Serena leaving the restaurant and accused her of using his debt of gratitude to intrude on an Alpha’s mate bond. Her clinic, home address, and phone number were exposed. Reporters and angry pack members quickly gathered outside.

Rowan entered our bedroom with a face like stone. “Did you publish that post?”

I closed my book. “No.”

“Not many people knew she had dinner with us last night.” Suspicion in his eyes hurt more than the accusation. “I know you don’t like her, but Serena is a healer. You understand what her reputation means.”

Three years earlier, my studio had been falsely accused of stealing another designer’s work. Rowan had not even asked to see the evidence before publicly declaring that he trusted his mate.

Apparently, trust could be exhausted.

“Do you truly think I would destroy her this way?”

After a brief silence, he said, “Have the post removed and apologize to her. If the investigation proves it wasn’t you, I’ll make it right.”

I laughed softly.

His phone rang before either of us spoke again. Pack Security had identified the poster as a man Serena had rejected. He had stalked her for days, taken the photographs, and manufactured the scandal out of spite.

When Rowan ended the call, discomfort crossed his face. “Maeve, I reacted too quickly. Serena survived an avalanche and was suddenly surrounded by strangers. I was afraid she wouldn’t cope.”

Even his apology was an explanation for her.

I did not argue. I handed him the documents I had prepared. “I’m purchasing a studio in Southhaven. I need your signature on the asset authorization.”

He had read only two pages when Serena called. Reporters were still outside the clinic, and she was afraid to leave alone. As Rowan reassured her, he signed every place I had marked.

“Buy whatever you like.” Before leaving, he smoothed my hair. “Maeve, I will give you anything you want. Just don’t threaten me with dissolving our bond again.”

When the door shut, I pulled the thin agreement from the stack. Rowan Blackwood’s signature lay clean and unmistakable on the final page.

I sent it to Caldwell.

Four days remained before I could leave Northcliff.