Chapter 3

I didn't argue with Soren anymore. I figured he'd come just to vent his anger.

After he slammed the door, a final, deafening punctuation to his rage, the silence in the apartment felt heavier than before.

I used to be terrified of facing his hatred. Now, I almost missed it.

At least I got to see him one last time…

I thought he was gone for good.

But the next morning at six, my doorbell rang.

I dragged myself to the door, every muscle screaming in protest.

Soren was standing there with coffee and croissants.

"Breakfast," he shoved the bag into my hands. "Even the dying need energy, right?"

I stared at him. "What are you doing?"

"Since you're so determined to die," his smile was icy, "I'll help you. Today, we pick out your Spirit Stone."

A Spirit Stone. A sacred stone used to house the spiritual energy of a powerful wolf after death. Only wolves on the verge of death needed one.

"Now?"

"Now." He grabbed my wrist. "Get dressed. We're going."

An hour later, we were at the Guardian Peaks Sanctuary.

Ancient stone pillars reached for the sky, each one carved with runes of the Moon Goddess.

This was the most sacred place for North American wolves.

Rogues weren't even allowed to set foot on the sacred grounds.

"Elder!" Soren's voice echoed through the valley. "I've brought a guest!"

An old, white-haired wolf emerged from a stone temple. His eyes landed on me, and his expression grew complicated.

"Daisy of the Silver Moon pack," he said softly. "What are you doing here?"

"We're here to pick a Spirit Stone for her," Soren announced, his voice loud enough for everyone to hear. "A stone for the betrayer! For the she-wolf who broke her bond!"

The other wolves in the sanctuary turned to stare. A tide of whispers washed over us.

"A betrayer..."

"She dares to come to the sanctuary?"

"The Moon Goddess will never forgive her..."

I kept my face calm.

"Elder," I bowed deeply. "Please forgive my intrusion."

The old wolf looked at me with pity in his eyes.

"Child, you..." he paused. "The moon-glow in you... it truly is fading."

Soren's expression froze.

"Impossible," he muttered.

"Take her to choose a stone," the elder sighed. "The Moon Goddess forgives all lost souls."

We walked into the deep stone caves where countless Spirit Stones were kept. Each one pulsed with a soft light, waiting for its master.

"How about this one?" Soren grabbed the smallest, dullest stone. "It suits your current station."

"It's perfect," I nodded.

He stared, clearly thrown off by my compliance.

"And these," his voice grew more vicious. "A Soul Shroud, a Spirit Totem, an Eternal Portrait. If you're going to put on a show, might as well go all out!"

"Fine."

"You..." he glared at me. "What the hell is your game?"

"I'm preparing to die," I said calmly. "Aren't you playing along?"

His face twisted as if I'd slapped him.

"Let's go." He turned and stalked out. "We'll get these custom-made."

That afternoon, we went to the most famous funerary shop in the territory.

"An Eternal Portrait?" The owner was a wiry wolf. "And your relation to her is...?"

"She's my..." Soren paused. "Ex-mate."

"Ex-mate?" The owner frowned. "Then why are you commissioning her portrait?"

"Because she's dying," Soren's voice was flat. "Moon's Glow Fading."

The owner's face changed.

"That's a job for a pack shaman. Does she not have a pack?" He looked at me with disgust. "Sorry. We don't serve rogues."

The air grew heavy.

Soren's Alpha power exploded, shaking the entire shop.

"How much?" He pulled out a black credit card. "I asked you, how much?"

The owner could barely breathe under the pressure. "Three... three hundred thousand..."

"Triple the price," Soren tossed the card on the counter. "Are you going to paint it or not?"