Chapter 3

The comments were still flooding in, but I couldn't breathe. The air around me felt like it had been sucked out.

Suddenly, a voice cut through my thoughts.

"Alora. It's 8:30."

It was Caspen's voice. In my head.

"Your appointment with Elder Lyra. You're going to be late," he reminded me, his tone all business.

I shot up from my chair.

I was never late.

The one exception was during a wilderness endurance trial at Crestwood.

I had pushed myself to the limit, crossing the finish line covered in wounds and mud.

Only to see Caspen, who had arrived long before, waiting just a step away from the finish.

He could have easily taken first place, but he sat casually on a rock, bandaging a non-existent injury.

He waited until Victoria stumbled out of the woods, panting.

Then he tossed the bandage aside, took her hand with a laugh, and crossed the finish line with her.

In Caspen's world, time, rules, and honor meant nothing when Victoria was involved.

I quickly changed and went to the entryway.

Caspen was standing in front of the full-length mirror, slowly fastening his watch.

The silver face reflected a cold light, making his profile seem even more distant.

Looking at his broad, strong back, I spoke on impulse.

"Caspen, can you give me a ride to the Elder's Hall?"

It was the closest I'd ever come to pouting in two years.

His fingers didn't stop. He didn't even turn his head.

"I have an Alliance meeting this afternoon. I'll have my Beta wait for you downstairs. He'll take you."

He picked up his car keys and brushed past me.

"Thank you," I said in a low voice.

This was our normal.

Polite. Formal. Perfectly distant.

Fifteen minutes later, I arrived at the Elder's Hall.

Elder Lyra was waiting for me in the back garden.

She was the most respected matriarch of the Silvermoon Pack and Caspen's own grandmother.

When we first met three years ago, I didn't know who she was.

We became unlikely friends because of our shared fascination with the ancient and fragile art of moonsilk weaving.

Her blessing was the only reason my fated contract with Caspen was approved.

"Come, Alora. Let's see if you've gotten rusty this week," Lyra said with a smile, handing me a shimmering strand of moonsilk.

I sat at the delicate loom.

But every time I closed my eyes, all I could see was his face as he texted this morning, and Victoria's provocative gesture, touching her neck.

My mind was a chaotic mess. My wolf paced inside my soul, frantic.

SNAP—

A sharp, tearing sound.

The precious, durable moonsilk tore in my hands.

The sharp thread instantly cut my fingertip, and a bead of red blood welled up.

Lyra stopped her work and pressed a handkerchief to my wound.

"A distracted mind courts disaster," she said, her sharp gaze fixed on me. "What is it? Did you and Caspen have a fight?"

I bit my pale lip and shook my head.

Lyra sighed, patting my hand. "That boy. All territory and pack business. When it comes to matters of the heart, he's a stone."

A stone?

I clutched the blood-stained, broken thread, the irony biting.

Lyra had no idea how wild Caspen had been eight years ago.

The night-glow butterflies in the woods behind the academy were beautiful, but touching them was extremely dangerous.

Their toxic dust could burn right through a werewolf's skin.

But back then, to celebrate Victoria successfully getting through her heat, Caspen had skipped the most important Alpha tactical training without a second thought.

Covered in burns, he had still released a thousand night-glow butterflies for her in the academy forest.

The ethereal blue light illuminated the entire night sky, stunning the whole werewolf world.

It was the ultimate act of reckless romance.

He was no stone.

He had just given all his fire and tenderness to one person, and one person only.

The broken thread dug into my palm.

Suddenly, my wolf spirit let out a mournful whimper.

It was slamming against my ribcage, sending waves of pain that threatened to shatter my sanity.

I clutched my chest, gasping for air.

Looking at the broken, scattered moonsilk on the floor, I finally understood.

I finally understood what I had been so afraid of.

I was terrified.