Chapter 4

Rowan returned early the next morning and placed a dark blue gown in front of me.

“The rescue foundation launches this afternoon. Word of yesterday’s incident has spread, and public relations wants us to appear together.” He paused, his voice gentling. “If you attend, I’m willing to let the conservatory matter go.”

I stared at the gown that represented my position as Luna and almost laughed. He had opened my private space without consent, and Serena’s crew had destroyed my mother’s legacy. Yet he spoke as though they were generously forgiving my misconduct.

I accepted the dress. “I’ll go.”

It would be the last time I stood beside him as Luna of Northcliff.

The launch was held at the foundation’s headquarters. A massive metal wolf emblem hung over the main stage against a set designed to resemble the avalanche site. Rowan held my hand as we entered, shielding me from the reporters and warning me to watch the steps.

He still looked like the perfect mate.

When Serena walked onstage as the foundation’s chief healer, a harsh metallic crack sounded above her.

Before I could react, Rowan’s wolf shadow sprang from my feet and raced toward Serena. A second later, Rowan released my hand and threw himself over her.

Rowan pulled away so abruptly that I stumbled into a glass display. Shards sliced my arm and opened a deep gash across my palm. Blood streamed from my fingertips.

Only after confirming that Serena was unharmed did Rowan see me.

“Maeve!” Panic broke across his face as he started toward me.

Then Serena began to cry. “Rowan, the crew says someone tampered with the emblem’s suspension controls.”

The security director quickly brought the access logs. Shortly before the accident, someone had entered the control area using my Luna pass. The command altering the equipment had also come from my studio account.

Serena stared at me with red-rimmed eyes. “Maeve, I knew you didn’t want me here, but I thought it was a misunderstanding. I never imagined you would do this because of yesterday.”

“My pass disappeared after the conservatory shoot. My account could have been compromised.” I pressed one hand over the other, trying to stop the bleeding.

Rowan looked at my bleeding hand, then at the access logs.

“I was wrong about the post,” he said. “But this is your pass and your account, Maeve. I can’t ignore that because you’re my mate. You need to explain how it happened.”

Serena caught his arm. “Don’t pursue it. Perhaps she only wanted to frighten me. I don’t want you punishing your mate because of me.”

The more she defended me, the colder Rowan’s expression became. His wolf shadow remained between us, guarding her from me.

I laughed.

“Last time, you wanted me to apologize before you knew whether I was guilty.” I held up my bleeding hand. “Now you want an explanation before you’ll even help me.”

His body went rigid.

For an instant, shame flickered in his eyes. Then it turned to anger.

“Enough. Serena could have been killed. I’m trying to find out what happened. You can’t expect me to ignore the evidence because you’re hurt.”

I turned to leave. Rowan seized my injured wrist.

Pain flashed through me. “Let go.”

“We are not finished.” He pulled me back, reopening the wound. When I shoved him away with my free hand, he deflected me in anger.

To an Alpha, it was a careless motion. To me, it was enough to send me stumbling into the broken display. A sharp edge tore into the back of my shoulder, and blood spread quickly through the blue fabric.

Rowan froze. “Maeve, I didn’t—”

Serena sobbed behind him.

He shut his eyes, then looked toward the reporters filming us. When he spoke again, he no longer sounded like my husband. His voice carried the hard authority of an Alpha.

“Take the Luna home and have the family doctor treat her. Until the investigation is complete, she is not to enter the foundation or leave the Alpha residence.”

I stared at him. “You’re imprisoning me?”

“I’m giving you time to calm down.” Concern remained in his eyes, but not a trace of compromise entered his voice. “Tomorrow you will apologize to Serena in front of the press, the foundation staff, and the Pack Council. Your freedom will be restored when you accept responsibility.”