LIES OF THE HEART: Sequel to Fragile ties of love

My warrior shifted back at the pack house steps and carried me straight into the Grand Hall. Ronan was standing at the ceremonial altar with Charlotte, their hands joined under the Moon Goddess's blessing.

Charlotte saw the bloody figure my men dragged in and screamed.

Ronan shoved her behind his back, growling fiercely at the guards. "What is going on? This is my Mating Ceremony. How could you let a rogue wolf barge in?"

"Get them out. Lock them up."

I'd taken a dozen silver blades from rogues and never cried.

But looking at Ronan standing there in his black ceremonial suit, tears just rolled down my face.

My warrior dropped to his knees and begged. "Alpha, please. Gamma Ashford is dying. We wouldn't have broken in like this if there'd been any other way."

"Punish me however you want. Just save her."

Ronan went still. "Nora?"

He let go of Charlotte and came toward me fast.

When he got close enough to see my face through the blood, his whole body locked up.

"Get the healer. Now." He scooped me into his arms. His voice was shaking. "Nora, stay with me."

"How did you get this hurt. This is my fault. I never should have left you out there alone."

His arms had been the only thing I'd thought about for three years.

But now, pressed against him, every muscle in my body wanted to push him away.

I didn't have the strength. Everything went black, and I passed out.

The healer came fast. He quickly examined my condition, and his face went still.

"Alpha, her injuries are critical. We have to cut the silver out, flush the wound, close her up, now. Any later and she dies on us."

Ronan didn't wait. He lifted me and ran for the nearest suite.

He was barely through the door when a hand caught his sleeve.

Charlotte's eyes were wet and red. "Ronan, it's our Mating Ceremony. You're really going to leave me standing there?"

Ronan stopped. I could feel him start to waver.

Something sharp caught in my throat and I coughed up more blood.

His grip tightened. He didn't look at her again.

"I'll be back," he said, and carried me out.

The healer cut my jacket off me.

A silver arrowhead was buried deep in my chest, so close to my heart a hair's width would have killed me.

Silver-edged slashes crossed my ribs, untreated for days, the skin peeling back far enough to see bone.

My hands and legs had gone limp. A few of my fingers were bent the wrong way.

Even the healer, who'd seen every battlefield injury, hissed through his teeth.

Ronan dropped into the chair next to me. His eyes were raw. He spoke through gritted teeth. "I don't care what it takes. You bring her back."

I woke up late at night.

A healing assistant reached over to help me up and said, careful and soft, "Gamma, please — don't move. You need rest."

I stopped trying to sit up.

After a while I asked, "Where's the Alpha?"

She looked at the floor. "Alpha is with the Luna."

My chest clenched. A dull ache spread through it.

Right. Tonight Ronan would mark her.

Ten years ago, when my father was falsely accused by the Elders of colluding with rogue wolves, the Old Alpha ordered to kill the entire Ashford family.

Ronan knelt outside the old Alpha's door amidst the wind and snow for three whole days—until, in the end, the Ashford family was merely exiled, and I was allowed to remain within the pack.

Five years ago, when the old Alpha died and the succession fight almost tore Creed apart, Ronan sent me to the Northern Border to keep me out of the blood. He was crying when he said goodbye.

He told me that he would love only me for the rest of his life.

Three years ago, when he took the Alpha seat, his first public announcement named me. He said that when the pack was safe, he'd offer me the whole territory and marry me as his Luna.

I held the line. One year. Another year. Another.

The mating ceremony I'd been waiting for came. It just wasn't mine. It was Charlotte's.

The assistant said, "The Alpha told us to call him the second you woke. I'll let him know."

Before she could finish, a sharp, furious voice cut through the hallway outside.

"Search every corner. I want it found."

"That bitch took my necklace. I know she did."