Chapter 3

The next day, my mother insisted on dragging me along to pick up the custom ring.

The diamond ring really was beautiful. Or it would have been, if it weren't a size too small.

The ring wouldn't go past my knuckle. When I forced it on, it left an angry red mark around my finger.

Embarrassed, the jeweler rushed to explain, "Ms. Allen, is it possible you've put on just a tiny bit of weight lately?"

I looked at the ring stuck on my knuckle, gave a small laugh, and worked it off.

Chloe's fingers were thinner than mine.

Isaac's claim that he'd personally ordered a custom ring probably just meant he'd given his assistant Chloe's ring size.

"Oh, well. If it's too small, give it to Chloe. I'm sure she'll love it." Standing behind me, my mother took the box and admired the ring, then pointed to the display beside us. "Linda, there are other styles here. Pick whatever you like."

I pushed the door open and walked out of the VIP room.

Isaac was at the end of the hallway, talking to Chloe.

He turned at the sound and saw my bare finger.

He froze, then came straight over and took my hand. "Linda, where's the ring?"

"It was too small. It doesn't fit," I said.

"It can't be too small. I made sure—" He barely got the words out before I cut him off.

"This one's fine."

Without really looking, I tapped the glass display case.

He looked relieved and studied me for a few seconds. "Okay. Whatever you like."

Behind me, my mother answered a call. Her expression changed.

Chloe turned to her at once. "Mom, what is it?"

My mother gripped the phone, her gaze shifting from Chloe to me. "The pack just announced that Isaac is bonding with a daughter of the Allen family next week. But they named Chloe, not you."

Isaac moved half a step in front of me. "What happened?"

"Someone on the team mixed it up. The statement says Chloe Allen and Isaac Kane." My mother glanced at me and quickly added, "Your father already had them take it down."

Chloe covered her mouth and looked at Isaac with an innocent expression.

Isaac took a step toward me and lowered his voice. "Linda, I'll handle this. Don't read too much into it. The staff just made a mistake—"

I laughed. "Sure."

Mistake or not, what difference did it make?

Maybe the Moon Goddess had gotten it wrong all along.

She should have picked Chloe for Isaac.

"I mean it," Isaac said, gripping my shoulders. "It was an accident. I... I'll..."

"Chloe!" My mother's scream cut him off.

Blood streamed down Chloe's pale arm. Somehow, she'd shattered the glass on the display case, and the shards had sliced her skin open. The injury looked nasty.

Isaac went white with fear. He shifted into wolf form and ran for the healers with Chloe on his back.

My mother grabbed her bag and ran after them.

The chaos around me faded into silence.

I was left standing there alone.

I watched them go, unable to tell what I felt.

Maybe it hurt.

Maybe it was relief.

Maybe I was glad I'd already made the right decision.

Over the next few days, I barely spoke. I didn't see my mother, Chloe, or Isaac.

I practiced alone in the dance studio.

Up on my toes, over and over. Fouetté after fouetté.

Getting back on stage was never going to be easy.

I had to make my comeback on a much bigger stage than the one I'd left behind.