Chapter 3

Two days before the bonding ceremony, my mother suddenly asked to meet Campbell.

Even though I'd made up my mind to leave, part of me couldn't help hoping I might finally win her approval.

I passed the news to Campbell and asked him to set out early. Then I rushed around the pack and had all my mother's favorite dishes ready by dawn.

But I waited from morning until noon, and my parents never showed up.

Without their permission, Campbell couldn't enter Gray Wolf pack house. The warriors kept him outside, and all he could do was wait.

I didn't dare rush my parents. I was afraid I'd upset them and lose the rare bit of attention they were giving me.

But Campbell was still standing outside under the blazing sun.

I gritted my teeth and sent my mother a message asking where they were, but I never got an answer.

I ran over to Campbell and made excuses for my parents. "Maybe they went hunting. They'll probably be back soon."

Campbell could see how anxious I was. He smoothed my ruffled fur and said softly, "It's all right, darling. Let's wait a little longer."

Dusk fell, and the pack lit its first bonfire of the evening. Still, my parents didn't come.

It wasn't until the sun had set that my mother finally texted me, "Elaine, something urgent came up for your father and me today. We'll meet him another day."

Then Lise sent me a photo with the message, "Father and Mother gave me the most magnificent crown for my bonding ceremony."

In the photo, the three of them were beaming, and the crown on Lise's head glittered in the moonlight.

So my mother's urgent matter had been helping Lise pick out jewelry.

I should have seen the truth long ago. And yet, like an idiot, I'd still hoped for even a scrap of my mother's love.

I felt like a joke.

My nails dug deep into my palms, and the pain cleared my head. I gave Campbell an apologetic smile. "I'm so sorry. I don't think we're getting in tonight."

Campbell pulled me into his arms. "Darling, they've treated you so unfairly. Leave the Gray Wolf pack. The Radiant Moon pack is where you belong."

I nodded. "Okay. I'll go with you."

When I got back late that night, the lights in the moon hall were still on.

The center of the hall was piled high with chests full of things Lise would take with her after her bonding.

There were cloaks, weapons of every kind, and heaps of jewelry. My mother had even packed furs for the dead of winter.

"Lise, if you have trouble settling in at the Silver Moon pack, send word. We'll have everything ready for you."

Then she looked over at me with distaste. "Your bonding is coming up. Why haven't you started getting ready?

"If you embarrass us, don't you dare tell anyone you're a daughter of the Gray Wolf pack!"

I swallowed and forced my voice to stay steady. "Campbell and I waited outside Gray Wolf pack house for you until the sun went down."

My mother's face darkened. "I told you something important came up. I run every part of this pack, day in and day out, and now I have to stand here and take this from you?"

I almost laughed. "Buying Lise a crown counts as something important?"

My father let out a furious roar, and the warriors on guard outside came running with their spears raised, ready to fight.

"You idiot, you'd disrespect your mother over that bastard? Is he dying? Couldn't he wait one more day?

"Your mother is the Luna of the Gray Wolf pack. She's worn herself out over your bonding ceremonies. Today she went to more than a dozen packs to get gifts for you two."

I couldn't believe my father hated me so much that he'd curse my mate.

Lise said softly, "It's my fault. I shouldn't have asked Mother to go jewelry shopping with me today."

One apology from Lise, and my parents rushed to her defense. "You did nothing wrong. A bonding is a big deal, and of course we had to go with you.

"As for you, Elaine, get back to your room!"

Before, I would have tried desperately to explain and begged their forgiveness.

But I was tired, and I wasn't going to be that foolish again.

When I got back to my room, I found a dagger lying on the bed.

It was crudely made. It couldn't even cut through a porcupine's hide.

That was the gift my mother had gotten me. Other than that, there was nothing.

I laughed bitterly. My heart had grown numb to them long ago.