Chapter 2

I closed my eyes, Baton's threat echoing in my ears.

Suddenly, a memory flooded back.

Three years ago, on the night of the blood moon.

I met Baton for the first time during the territory war that nearly wiped out three packs.

He was covered in blood, his eyes filled with nothing but feral bloodlust.

Every other wolf was running for their lives. Except me.

I looked at him and held out my hand.

"Stop," I said softly.

My Omega scent surrounded him, soft and healing like moonlight.

The slaughter around him froze. Raw confusion flickered across his face.

"You're not afraid of me?" he asked.

"I see the pain in your eyes," I answered.

For me, this god of war had sheathed his claws.

He transformed his pack into a modern business empire.

He said it was to give me a more civilized world.

He once told me I was his salvation.

"Tricia."

Baton's voice pulled me back to the present.

"Tomorrow is the memorial for Seraphina's brother. You will be there."

I opened my eyes and looked at this stranger before me.

"I won't go."

"You will." He released my chin. "Or your mother will be gone by morning."

My blood ran cold.

"You wouldn't dare."

He didn't answer. He just turned and walked away.

As Seraphina passed me, she whispered, "It seems you don't know your 'beloved' as well as you thought."

The next day, I stood in the Blackwood Pack's great hall.

I was surrounded by cold, accusing faces.

Seraphina sat in the front row, dressed in black mourning clothes, her eyes filled with tears.

She looked every bit the poor, grieving sister.

"For our fallen warrior, all will show their respects," a Beta warrior announced loudly.

The other wolves began to drop to one knee in the pack's traditional sign of mourning.

But when it was my turn, the warrior stopped me.

"Wait." He gave me a cruel smile. "The future Luna has a special custom to perform."

Several warriors surrounded me.

"The Kneeling," one of them said. "A sign of submission for the defeated and the rogue. After all, her father killed our brother."

I looked around, searching for Baton.

He was standing at the back of the hall, watching everything with a blank expression.

"Baton!" I called out.

He didn't move.

"Kneel," the warriors shoved me. "Or we can help you."

My knees slammed into the cold stone floor.

Tears of humiliation blurred my vision.

This ritual meant I was admitting my family's guilt, admitting we were lesser.

But that wasn't enough.

Baton finally spoke.

"Tricia."

I looked up, my heart filled with a desperate hope.

"Renounce your father," his voice was devoid of all emotion. "Tell them all he is a vile murderer."

The hall fell silent.

Everyone was waiting.

"If you don't," Baton continued, "your mother will be dead before the moon rises tonight."

My heart felt like it had stopped.

"I..." My voice shook. "I, Tricia Vance, future Luna, hereby declare..."

Tears streamed down my face.

"That I sever all blood ties with the murderer, Draven Vance."

A satisfied murmur went through the crowd.

"And I declare he is a..." My voice was barely a whisper. "Vile murderer."

A triumphant smile spread across Seraphina's face.

After the ceremony, the crowd began to leave.

Baton walked toward me and reached out to help me up.

But the moment his hand touched my shoulder, a wave of violent nausea hit me.

I wrenched away from him, turning and heaving against the wall.

His scent, the Alpha scent that once promised safety and warmth, now made my stomach churn and my soul recoil.

"What is the meaning of this?" Baton's voice was laced with fury.

I wiped my mouth and slowly got to my feet.

"Don't touch me," I said, each word sharp and clear. "Your scent disgusts me."

Instantly, the color drained from Baton's face.

He clutched his chest, doubling over in pain.

The violent backlash of our fractured mate bond tore through him.