Chapter 3

When I woke again, I was lying in my own room.

My burned right hand was wrapped in bandages. Even the lightest touch on the blisters sent searing pain shooting through me.

Mother was sitting by the bed, her eyes red.

"How on earth did your hand get burned this badly by a bonfire?"

Mia was so angry she was about to tell Mother everything, but I gently stopped her.

Years ago, Father had taken in three orphans with Alpha potential to shore up the pack's fighting strength. Over the years, he had also placed the best young warriors under their command for training.

Now my brothers had grown powerful enough to command loyal followers of their own. If Father punished them on my word alone, they could unite against him. Even as Alpha, he would pay a terrible price.

The three young wolves Father had once brought home had long since grown into beasts capable of turning on their master.

Besides, the alliance was not yet settled, and the North would not interfere in our internal conflict. I couldn't put my parents and the entire pack at risk simply because I had been wronged.

"I accidentally knocked over a fire pit while I was saying my goodbyes."

Mother looked at me with aching eyes.

"You're hurt this badly. How will you survive a long journey? If it's too much, we can call the whole marriage off."

"No."

I didn't hesitate for a second.

"Mother, I have to go."

When she realized she couldn't change my mind, she went to prepare my medicine and travel supplies herself.

As soon as the door closed, Sophia entered carrying a bowl of scalding healing oil.

The timid act she put on for my brothers was gone. Her face held only contempt.

"So you really intend to keep up this little performance?"

I looked at her coldly. "Get out."

Sophia sat on the edge of the bed instead. "You've been pampered your whole life. Once you're in the North, at the mercy of a tyrant like Knox, how long do you think you'll last?"

She leaned in close, blinking those big, watery eyes.

"Besides, you're always so high and mighty. You don't even know how to play the victim. You aren't nearly as sweet and helpless-looking as I am. What makes you think a brutal Alpha would pity you?

"Only a woman like me can soften Knox's heart. Only I deserve to be the Luna of the North."

I couldn't help but laugh.

"You still think you're the one going to the North?

"Keep dreaming. You will never be a Luna."

The smile froze on Sophia's face.

I said each word slowly:

"I know you're still hedging your bets on my brothers. One of them will become Alpha eventually, and one of them will marry you. Isn't that what you're counting on?

"Under pack law, any pup born to Knox and me will carry Alpha bloodlines from both packs and hold the highest claim to succession in this pack.

"It no longer matters which of them becomes the next Alpha. You want to use them to become Luna? Not a chance."

Sophia's expression twisted.

She flung her hand up and hurled the scalding healing oil at my face!

The thick, hot oil clung to my skin and ran down my cheek. Pain exploded across my face.

I screamed and fell from the bed. Half my face quickly swelled and blistered.

The door burst open, and my three brothers charged in.

Sophia instantly dropped the empty bowl and stumbled backward.

"I was just bringing her medicine. She accused me of stealing you from her and knocked the bowl out of my hand..."

Caine pulled her into his arms at once, his palm pressed firmly against her shoulder, as though terrified she might have been hurt.

Rhael rushed to check her. Lucian saw the hot oil streaming down my face, but hesitated and stopped where he was.

I lifted my head through the agony.

"She threw the oil at me!"

Caine barely glanced at the blisters covering my face before speaking as though pronouncing a verdict.

"She has no reason to hurt you. Are you going to pin this on her too?"

"Isn't my face proof enough?"

I gripped the edge of the bed and tried to stand so I could find the pack healer.

But Rhael blocked the doorway.

"Going to play the victim in front of our parents? If you cost Sophia her marriage, I'll drag you back myself!"

"Move!"

He grabbed my arm and shoved me back toward the bed without a trace of mercy.

Lucian's gaze lingered on my blisters for a moment. "Rhael, at least let her see the healer first—"

"Sophia is representing the pack in three days. Her hands and face can't have a single mark on them." Caine cut him off coldly.

Sophia let out a quiet whimper.

Caine noticed a small red patch on the back of her hand, and his expression darkened instantly.

"Get the healer! Sophia is hurt!"

Rhael carried Sophia to the couch while Caine sent someone for the healer.

Lucian hesitated, then locked my bedroom door.

I was trapped in my own room, forced to watch as the healer first tended to the faint redness on Sophia's hand.

Only after confirming Sophia would not scar did Caine allow the healer to examine me.

By then, it was too late.

"The healing oil burned too deeply, and treatment came too late. Her face will likely scar."

The three brothers finally fell silent.

A flash of panic crossed Caine's eyes, but he masked it with composure almost immediately.

"It's only a scar. Stay home and take your time healing. The Alpha and Luna can obtain the best herbs for you."

I looked at them and felt nothing but bitter amusement.

Just then, a strange and powerful presence gently brushed against my consciousness.

In this life, the moment I agreed to the marriage, Knox had sent me a communication stone infused with his wolf's essence and opened a mate's mind-link to me of his own accord.

Until now, I had never answered him.

But now, a low voice came through clearly:

"Don't be afraid.

"I'm already on my way to get you."

My wolf, restless and agitated from the pain, gradually settled at the sound of his voice.

I didn't know why, but a sense of safety I had never known before rose inside me.

The next moment, welcoming horns sounded outside the pack grounds.

Then the door was thrown open.

Father and Mother stormed in with their personal wolf guards, their faces thunderous with rage.