The Rules

"Rule one. We sleep in separate rooms."

Cain said it without looking up from his tea.

I stared at him across the long breakfast table. Sunlight poured through the windows of the pack house. Servants moved around us, silent and careful. Last night felt like a bad dream, except for the ache still sitting in my chest.

Last night, Cain had taken my arm, walked me back to the hall, and introduced me to three elders. He had not asked one question about the balcony.

Not one.

Until now.

"What did my brother say to you?" he asked.

My spoon froze halfway to my mouth.

"He apologized for being late," I said. It came out smooth. Too smooth. "And he congratulated us."

"That took a while."

"He talks a lot."

"Rhys?" Cain finally looked up. "My brother speaks perhaps ten words a day."

"Then he saved them for me."

A long pause. His storm-gray eyes studied my face. I kept it blank. I had learned that trick at twelve, standing at my father's gate with rogue wolves growling on the other side.

Then Cain looked back at his tea.

"Rule two. In public, we act like a couple. You hold my hand. You smile. You stand close."

"And in private?"

"In private, you do as you wish. I do not interfere with your life, and you do not interfere with mine."

"Is that all?"

"Rule three. No feelings."

My throat tightened. "Easy."

"Good." He set down his cup. "I do not want complications, Selene. This alliance protects both our packs. I will not let anything risk it."

"You make it sound like a business."

"It is a business."

He slid a folded note across the table. "My warriors reached your border this morning. The rogues have already pulled back. As promised."

Relief hit me so hard my eyes stung. "Thank you."

"Do not thank me. It was in the contract."

I should have felt perfect. No demands. No expectations. No love to fake.

I felt perfect for about two seconds.

Then I felt oddly, stupidly stung.

Why do you care? I scolded myself. You wanted this.

Thea huffed. You want something else.

Stay out of it.

After breakfast, Cain took me to the council room to meet the pack's senior wolves. Twelve faces. Most smiled. A few did not.

One woman stepped forward. Tall. Silver-blonde hair. Red lips. A dress that cost more than my father's entire armory.

"Luna Selene," she said sweetly. "I am Vivienne Hale. Daughter of the Northern Beta. I have managed the pack house for three years."

"Pleased to meet you."

"Oh, the pleasure is mine." Her smile did not reach her eyes. "I do hope you will let me help. It must be so hard, coming into a pack this big. So many rules. So many expectations."

"I will manage."

"Of course you will." She tilted her head. "Alpha Cain has always been so careful about who stands beside him. I was surprised when he chose a smaller pack."

A few people coughed. Someone looked at the floor.

My smile did not move. "Alliances are not about size, Vivienne. They are about trust."

"How wise."

"I learned it from my father."

"Who is not here."

"Who is ill," I said evenly. "And who sent his daughter because he believed in this pack."

Cain's hand settled at my back. Warm. Light. Public. "Enough," he said mildly. "Vivienne, thank you for your service. Selene will take it from here."

Vivienne bowed her head. But her eyes, sharp and bright, followed me all the way across the room.

Enemy, Thea growled.

Not yet, I thought. But soon.

The elders went through pack matters for an hour. Borders. Food stores. Patrol schedules. I listened carefully and asked two questions. By the end, one old elder gave me a small nod of respect.

It was the first good thing that had happened all day.

Then Cain stood and clapped once.

"One more matter," he said. "Because the rogues are still active, my Luna will have a personal guard at all times. I have chosen the man myself."

My stomach turned over.

No. Please, no.

The door opened.

Rhys walked in, dressed in black. His face was blank. His hands were behind his back. He did not look at me even once.

"My brother will guard you," Cain said.

The room was warm, but my fingers went ice cold.

"Anyone else," I said. The words slipped out before I could stop them.

Cain's brows rose. "Excuse me?"

"I mean..." I smoothed my voice. "Rhys just came home. He must be tired. Surely one of the other warriors..."

"He is a warrior. He is never tired."

A muscle jumped in Rhys's jaw. He said nothing.

"Perhaps a female guard would be more appropriate," I tried.

"Appropriate for whom?"

"For me."

Cain's eyes sharpened, slow and curious, like a wolf noticing a strange scent. The whole room waited.

I held my breath.

"No," he said at last. "He is the only one I trust with you."