Chapter 3

The next evening, Lucien brought Vivienne to my house.

I had the gate let them in and waited in the Alpha's chair in the main hall.

Vivienne wore a long pale-blue dress and a simple chain at her throat. She gripped the doorframe as she came in, moving slowly, like every step cost her something. She greeted me in a soft voice.

"Nora."

Then she lowered her head and laid one hand, casually, over her stomach. She didn't say anything, but she didn't have to.

Lucien took a seat across from me and scanned the hall: the Crimson Moon Pack crest hanging on the wall, the territory accord with the handprints of every Alpha in our line, the silver-mounted hunting rifle my grandfather had passed down. The corner of his mouth pulled in something like disgust.

"Nora," he said, in the patient, generous tone of a man doing someone a favor. "I'm here to offer you a way out."

He looked up and met my eyes, then glanced at the Crimson Moon staff standing along the walls.

"Vivienne's pregnancy has been confirmed. I've already submitted the proposal. At the Blood Moon Summit in three days, I'll be asking the Alpha King to formally grant her the title of second Luna."

"If you have any sense, you'll come home now. You'll keep the primary Luna title. That's the best offer you'll get."

Vivienne raised her eyes a fraction. There were tears at the rim, and her voice was soft and miserable.

"Nora. I'm just an Omega. I never had any business going after the Luna title. Lucien is just trying to look out for you."

She paused, sighed, and made her voice even gentler. "An Alpha's daughter, living alone in Crimson Moon territory. With a captive from an enemy pack hanging around day and night. The other packs have been talking, Nora. Surely you've heard. They're saying Crimson Moon's Alpha-blooded heiress has taken a Shadowfang prisoner as her plaything. They're calling you a whore."

She shook her head, all sympathy. "If the gossip spreads, no pack will ally with Crimson Moon. Come back. At least Lucien can protect you."

Every assistant in the hall had their head down. Nobody spoke. Every word landed.

I picked up my coffee and took a slow sip.

Lucien lifted his eyes, his tone tipping toward impatient. "Don't think I'm here to beg. I earned my Alpha title on my own. Being my mate was supposed to be a privilege. You're the one who made a circus of it. The fact that I'm willing to take you back and re-mark you, that's me being generous, for old times' sake."

He stood up and adjusted his cuffs. "Three days, Nora. The Blood Moon Summit. You think about it. Come back, you keep the Luna title. Don't come back—"

His eyes pressed into me. "Think about whether Crimson Moon can survive a Council blockade order on your territory."

Vivienne rose and followed him out. At the door, she turned and said gently, "Nora. Think it through. Lucien and I really do want what's best for you."

How thoughtful.

Their footsteps faded down the drive.

I finished my coffee and put the cup down.

They thought this so-called "Silvercrest heir" had pinned the whole game for them. They were wrong.

In three days, the Blood Moon Summit, the Alpha King's annual pack assembly.

Lucien would use the chance to submit a territory motion and have the Alpha King condemn me for harboring an enemy captive. The Alpha King had always favored Alphas like him: rogue-born, self-made, the dramatic comeback story.

This Summit wasn't just his comeback. It was the death trap he'd been preparing for me.

Except he didn't realize the Alpha registers and territory deeds in his hand were all rotten cards. And the cards in my hand were lethal, every one of them.