Chapter 1

Right at that moment, a message came in from Bryan Ravensworth.

"Ran into some Rogues. I won't make it home for dinner tonight. Maybe next time."

I didn't reply. Now that he'd found someone else he was willing to risk his life for, there was no point in me staying here any longer.

It was past midnight by the time Bryan came home. He had on a black coat still streaked with dried blood.

He walked up behind me, and his eyes landed on the patrol dagger lying beside me. "You went on patrol today?"

"Yes."

I glanced at the message I'd already typed out on my phone and answered, "Sabine Marsh was supposed to be on patrol, but she got hurt, so I filled in for her."

"What time did you head out?"

"A little after 6:00 pm."

Bryan came over and sat down. "Why didn't you come find me?"

"I still had work to deal with after the patrol, so I came straight back."

I looked at him and heard him let out a breath of relief, as if he was glad I hadn't seen him throwing himself in harm's way for someone else.

He tossed his coat aside and rested his head on my shoulder. "I ran into a few Rogues today and had to use my Alpha command. Give me a massage, and get some recovery tonic ready."

For the past five years, all he ever had to do was mention something like that, and I'd rush to get him whatever he needed.

The worst time, he sank so deep into a frenzy that he didn't even recognize me. To calm him down, I massaged him and held him until he fell asleep. Later, I went and got my healer's certification just so I could learn everything there was to know about frenzies.

After every time I calmed him down, he would take my hand and walk me through town, then buy me my favorite moonberry cake.

As the Alpha's fated mate, I had shared a bond with him for years, one that allowed me to feel his pain. The moment anything felt off for him, I could feel it right away. Whatever kind of comfort would work and whatever tonic he needed to drink, I always had it handled.

But now, as I looked at his closed eyes, I saw a smear of blood at the corner of one, spattered there while he fought the Rogues.

I couldn't forget that he'd used his Alpha command to drive off the Rogues just to protect Hazel, and that was what made his old injuries flare up again. He didn't give a single thought to the fact that I was linked to him and would carry part of that pain too.

I stood up. "Let me call a healer over for you."

Bryan opened his eyes and looked at me, confused.

"There's a healer on call at this hour," I went on. "If you're not feeling well, it's better to have one of them take a look."

He slowly leaned in, his breath warm against my face. "Aurora, are you mad? Because I didn't make it to dinner?"

There was a note of hurt in his voice. "It's not that I don't want to spend time with you. There's just been so much going on with the pack lately."

He was still lying to me.

I clenched my fists. "Got it."

"Next week, I'll make it up to you for real." He made the promise so easily, completely forgetting he'd already made it countless times.

"We can even catch a movie after dinner."

The old me would've jumped at the chance to see a movie with him. I would've started rearranging my work two days ahead, then picked out the perfect film and spent the whole time looking forward to our date.

But once his work was done, he'd rather take Hazel to pick moonflowers than come home and have dinner with me. He was so afraid the Rogues would hurt Hazel that he went all out with his Alpha command to protect her.

While he was with her, did he ever stop to think about me waiting at home alone for him?

I didn't respond.

Bryan suddenly bent down and pressed a soft kiss to my forehead. "Come on. I'll make it up to you, and as soon as I have time, I'm all yours. For now, just go get the tonic ready. I want to drink it soon."

With that, he sat down on the couch and pulled out his phone to check his messages.

I didn't do as he said and prepare the tonic, and I certainly didn't massage him or soothe his out-of-control power. Instead, I headed into the study and booted up my computer.

I opened the offer letter for the Frostmoon pack's appointed healer position. It was a ten-year term, and I'd leave in five days.

My cursor hovered over the confirm button for a long time.

Bryan's voice drifted in again from the living room. "Aurora, bring me the tonic when it's ready!"

I stopped hesitating and clicked. The page loaded with a confirmation message congratulating me on becoming the Frostmoon pack's appointed healer.

For the first time, I ignored what Bryan needed.