4

The next morning I had barely reached the healing house when Fiona pulled me into a corner.

"Chloe, the healer came by this morning. He said they're moving your mother to a general ward."

My head buzzed.

"Why?"

Fiona stumbled over her words. "Something about her billing account being frozen...

"They haven't put your mother out on the street, and that's only because we all work together..."

I didn't wait for her to finish before I ran for the ward, and they stopped me at the door.

"Chloe, you can't go in right now..."

The account had been frozen without warning, forcing them to shut down some of the advanced equipment.

Even my mother's caregiver had been dismissed.

While she was being moved out of the room, the shock brought on a heart attack, and her condition was critical.

The healer looked at me and sighed. "I'm sorry. None of us expected this either.

"But Anna, the Alpha's assistant, came in person to suspend the payments, and she dismissed the caregiver herself. There was nothing we could do."

He paused.

"We're colleagues. I'll do everything I can.

"But raise the money as quickly as you can. I've covered the outstanding charges for now."

I watched as my mother was lifted onto a stretcher and taken into the operating room.

Her hand hung down over the edge of the stretcher, the fingertips purple.

Shaking, I contacted every friend I could think of.

After I got together with Lorenzo, his possessiveness had cut me off from all of my old friends.

But thank goodness, they were still willing to take my calls.

By the time I had called them all, I had scraped together enough to prepay the next two days.

Once I had steadied myself, I started calling Lorenzo.

The crystal lit up and went dark again, and it took several attempts before he picked up.

It looked lively on Lorenzo's end.

Then I remembered what day it was: the monthly full-moon rite.

They were making offerings to the Moon Goddess and praying for her blessing.

My mother, meanwhile, was fighting for her life.

I heard Lorenzo laugh softly. Then he said, "Why are you calling me? I thought we had nothing to do with each other anymore.

"Oh, and just so you know, since there's nothing between us, I've had Anna stand in for the Luna's duties at this month's rite."

I ignored everything else and asked, "Did you have Anna stop my mother's treatment payments?"

He didn't deny it.

"Didn't you say you'd take care of it yourself?"

My voice finally caught. "Do you have any idea? She's fighting for her life! She almost—"

"Then come back," Lorenzo cut in casually. "Apologize to Anna, and I'll consider resuming the payments for your mother's treatment."

I closed my eyes and heard myself say, "Fine."

The banquet hall was bustling when I arrived.

When Lorenzo saw me, his eyes were full of smug amusement.

He looked like a man watching a dog run off and come trotting back on its own.

That smile seemed to say.

See? He had me exactly where he wanted me.

I would always bow to him until I had lowered myself into the dust.

But I hadn't come to apologize.

I had come to return something.

"Since you're here, raise a glass to Anna and we'll put this behind us."

I looked at the glass and said flatly, "I'm allergic to alcohol."

Anna pressed her lips together and replied in a soft little voice, "Never mind, Lorenzo. I'm fine, really."

Lorenzo frowned, displeased. "It's one sip. It won't kill you."

For a second, everything went strange and distant.

I still remembered the first time I had an allergic reaction, how it frightened Lorenzo so badly he didn't sleep all night.

He had held my hand and promised, "From now on, anyone who makes you drink is picking a fight with me!"

Expressionless, I picked up the glass.

Then I walked over to Anna.

Anna was still putting on her act.

"Chloe, you don't have to drink. I accept your apology."

I raised my hand and splashed the entire glass of wine in her face.

The red wine streamed down her forehead and clung to her lashes, smearing her immaculate makeup.

The whole room went silent.

Smack!

Anna's scream rang out at the same moment Lorenzo's slap landed.

He looked at me, furious. "Chloe, have you lost your mind?"

There was a taste of rust in my mouth.

I pressed my tongue to the inside of my cheek. It had split.

Then I took a bone dagger from my pocket and, with exaggerated care, tucked it into Anna's belt.

Lorenzo had given it to me when we made things official.

He'd told me that bone dagger was the only thing his father left him.

"I won't apologize.

"The mating is off. I meant that.

"I'll repay you for the treatment costs.

"As of today, I have nothing to do with you or the Moonlight Pack."

Lorenzo was about to lose his temper, but I kept talking. "Lorenzo, my mother suffered a heart attack when she was forced out of her room today. She nearly didn't make it."

My throat tightened, but I forced the words out one by one.

"You win.

"You nearly killed my mother to settle a score for Anna.

"From now on, whatever you do, I won't ask, I won't interfere, and I won't care."