Chapter Four

I collapsed against my chamber doors, breathless from holding myself together during the mating ceremony. The truth was that my heart was ready to burst, despite knowing in my marrow that I had made the right choice; the rage and the grief were still eating me alive.

Standing, I collected myself and began pulling clothes from the closet to take with me when Jenelle and Bria knocked on the door and entered, carrying trunks to pack my things.

My head was swimming watching them rush to pack my belongings. In my past life, this process had been slow and methodical. I had chosen carefully what to take with me. This time, it was done in a rush, from memory.

Within thirty minutes, I was packed, and those trunks were rushed to the carriage that had brought the Wolf King's representative. I thought of Zander and how courteous he had seemed. Surely, the king and his people must be kind; none of the fae in Theron's pack had ever treated me with the kindness and respect Zander had shown me in mere minutes.

That had to count for something… right?

Just as I donned my cloak, a small feminine knock came at my door. I rolled my eyes, knowing it was Calista.

"Enter." I was out of patience with her, with Theron, with father. I just wanted to go; I wanted to marry the Wolf King and share in the curse that keeps him in his territory.

No part of me ever wanted to be in Evander again; I never wanted to see any of them again… at least not until I had a plan to avenge Locke's murder.

Calista's sigh broke me from my thoughts as both she and Theron sauntered in.

"We talked it over, sister, and we have a plan to save you." Calista grabbed my hand, pulling me close to her, close like two sisters who hadn't spent their whole lives hating each other.

"We want you to come back to the clan with us, to be my ladies' maid and eventually, the nanny for our children." The smile she had plastered on her face was so convincing from the outside, but I knew it wasn't; I knew she was eating this up.

"No. My loyalty is with my husband; now leave." I pulled my hand from hers, watching as she fell dramatically to her bottom in tears.

"Odessa, I'm sorry!" She whined. "I just wanted us to stay together, I didn't mean any offense, please don't punish me!" She cried. Even the guard at my door rolled his eyes at Calista's theatrics.

"Oh, please. Get up, Calista. Stop acting like a–" Before I could finish, Theron's growl rippled through the air.

"Enough, Odessa!" Theron roared. "Calista was trying to save you, and this is how you repay her? Is this all because I bedded her instead of you?" He was in my face now, but I wouldn't back down from him.

In my last life, I would have bowed; I would have apologized. But not this time, and never again.

Before I could say anything, his hand was raised, ready to blister my cheek for my disrespect of his soon-to-be mate.

Quickly I threw my hands up and closed my eyes, preparing for the pain to bloom across my cheek… a pain that never came. Instead, I heard Zander's voice, only darker than how he had spoken in the ballroom.

"No one will harm my lady." He growled, his aura reaching a height I had never felt before.

If his aura was stronger than even Theron's, what was the wolf king's like?

I opened my eyes to find Zander gripping Theron's wrist.

I could see the moment Theron realized his expression had betrayed him. I watched it change from fearful and surprised to cool and collected as he turned away from us and scooped Calista off the floor.

Then, I watched her turn her tear-streaked face from Theron's chest to me with a vile, rotten smile on her face. She thought this was a victory, but she had no idea that a sentry had just overpowered her mate.

"Forgive my tongue, my lady. But that woman is a viper in a lady's gown." Zander shook his head as the door closed softly.

I turned to look at him, thinking of how he had no idea who I was, who Calista was, or anything that had happened in my past life… yet, he could see Calista for what she was. Aside from me, he was the only other person to see her for what she truly is.

"You have no idea," I huffed and flopped onto my bed, never letting my eyes leave Zander.

"Thank you for helping me," I said softly, fearful that if I spoke too loudly or too swiftly, the tears caused by someone guarding me over Calista would spill freely from my burning eyes.

"My lady," he dropped to one knee before me. "By the strength of my sword, and the devotion of my soul, I will never let harm befall you." His head touched the floor softly before he stood to his feet.

Those tears I had fought so hard fell. The kindness in this wolf alone shook me. No one had treated me in such a way since Calista and her mother moved in after my mother's untimely death.

"Can we go now?" I asked through the sob that was dying to break free from my throat.

"Anything for you, my queen." He bowed low again before snapping his fingers toward my luggage, and I gasped as they disappeared.

"Before we leave, would you like clothing that is more appropriate for our realm, my lady?" I looked down at my body, at the gown draped past my shoes. I nodded to Zander, willing to do almost anything to leave this place, even if it meant marrying a man three times my senior. His curse would give me plenty of time to figure out how to avenge Locke, and then I would break the king's curse and seek out Theron to end him in a slow, painful manner for my sweet Locke.

I nodded at Zander, watching as a slow smile spread across his face in a boyish manner. With another snap of his fingers, silver light spiraled around me. The heavy gown dissolved into glittering motes, replaced by attire unlike anything I had ever worn.

Soft black leather trousers hugged my legs, fitted enough for movement yet sturdy enough to withstand the wilderness. Knee-high riding boots reinforced with engraved silver steel protected my shins. A dark emerald tunic, embroidered with intricate silver vines along the collar and cuffs, fell to mid-thigh beneath a fitted leather corset that offered support without restricting movement.

Over it rested a lightweight breastplate forged from shimmering moonsteel. The metal seemed almost alive, reflecting shades of silver and pale blue whenever it caught the light—matching bracers wrapped around my forearms, etched with ancient werewolf runes that glowed faintly beneath the surface.

A midnight-green cloak fastened at my shoulders with a silver clasp, its hood large enough to shield my face from wind and rain. The fabric felt impossibly light despite its warmth.

At my hip hung a slender dagger with a jeweled hilt, while a short sword rested against my back in an ornate scabbard decorated with twisting branches and crescent moons.

I looked less like a bride traveling to marry a cursed king and more like the warrior queen I had always dreamed of becoming.

"Now," Zander said, a proud smile touching his lips, "you look like someone worthy of ruling the wolves."

I smiled as he offered me his arm. I took it, took one step toward the door, and the smile on my face… it fell as the door flew open, and my father stepped in, with Theron and Calista on his heels.

"Odessa, you apologize to your sister, now!" My father roared. I froze. How could he expect such a thing from me? How could Theron and Calista possibly think they deserve anything from me?

I opened my mouth to speak, but Zander stepped before me.

"Those two entered my lady's chambers harassing her, and to do so is a direct declaration of war. I let it slide the first time, but now you come before my lady once more and demand her apology for these two, the two who harassed her to begin with? No. If you don't step aside now and let us leave, I will let my king know that both of you have declared war against the Wolf Clan." I watched my father and Theron both blanch, their faces paling as the three of them stepped aside.

"My lady," Zander offered me his arm again, and this time when I took it, I held my head high, and I left the room that raised me for a second and final time.