Chapter 4

I woke on the morning of the third day.

The Moon Festival ball was that night.

It was the most important ceremony in werewolf society. The elders of every pack in the city would be there.

Kane helped me through the doors. My right hand was swathed in bandages. The broken fingers had only just been set.

The hall went quiet.

The guests made no effort to hide their contempt. Some called me a traitor. Others urged the guards to throw the rogues out.

Logan stood on the stairs in his formal Alpha uniform, the Blackwood crest pinned to his chest.

"You're late."

He came down the stairs and produced a collar.

It was proof that an Omega belonged to an Alpha.

Once he put it on me during the festival, our bond would be complete. I would lose the right to resist him.

He pointed to the floor at his feet.

"Come here. Kneel."

I stayed where I was.

Logan was about to order the guards forward when Clara ran out of the crowd.

Clutching a ledger, she called to several of the elders.

"Logan. Elders. You can't let her wear that collar."

She held up the ledger. Her voice trembled.

"I have proof she's been selling pack secrets to the vampires."

Working with vampires was punishable by death.

The elders took the ledger and examined its entries.

"Our southern patrols have been ambushed again and again. She must have leaked their routes."

Clara turned and pointed at me.

"She's been stealing and lying since she was little. She'll do anything for money.

"I've suspected her of dealing with vampires for a long time. But she was Logan's fated mate, and I was afraid to say anything.

"If the pack weren't in danger, I wouldn't be speaking up now."

Shouts filled the hall.

"Kill the traitor!"

"She can't be our Luna!"

Logan flung the ledger at my feet.

"Anything to say for yourself, Lila?

"You betrayed this pack. You betrayed me. By my authority as Alpha, I strip you of every right you have as an Omega."

I looked up at him.

"I didn't do it."

Logan laughed without humor.

"Of course you'd say that. You've lied and stolen since childhood. Betraying your pack wouldn't be much of a stretch."

At his signal, two guards approached, dragging silver chains.

"Tie her up."

They wrapped the silver-coated chains around me and bound me to the punishment post in the middle of the hall.

The silver burned my skin. The smell of scorched flesh spread. I gritted my teeth against the pain.

Kane tried to reach me, but several Alphas unleashed their power at once and held him back.

"Lila!"

Rage filled his voice.

Logan came up to the post, seized my face, and forced my head back.

"I've given you so many chances, Lila.

"Confess. Apologize to Clara. Then beg for my forgiveness. It's the only way you'll leave here alive."

My fated mate's cruelty traveled through our unbroken bond. The pain nearly made my knees buckle.

I laughed.

"You're pathetic, Logan."

"Still fighting me?

"I see the slums taught you nothing but back talk and rebellion."

He signaled for a guard to lock the collar around my neck.

The mate bond shuddered.

I could feel Logan using the collar to force our bond to completion.

He stared at me and gave one last warning.

"Kneel, Lila."

Everyone was waiting for me to submit.

I raised my bound hands and gripped both sides of the collar.

Kane saw what I was doing and stiffened in alarm.

"Lila, don't!"

He seemed to know what I had planned.

At last, Logan looked alarmed, too.

"What are you doing?"

I looked up at the full moon beyond the window and smiled.

"Rejecting you, of course.

"I want the Moon Goddess to see what an idiot she chose for an Alpha."

I gripped the collar and pulled with all my strength!