Chapter 1

That day, Kaelan sat in his study while the fireplace roared. On the wall screen, a news segment was covering Vera's return from a southern healing retreat to Blackthorn territory. She wore a black dress with her dead mate's wolf crest pinned to her chest, and the reporter called her "the most heartbreaking widow in the North."

Kaelan's eyes stayed on the screen.

Even when I placed a stack of documents in front of him, he signed without really looking.

On top was a jewelry transfer list. At the bottom was my application to cancel the mate ceremony.

Under pack law, an unsealed mate ceremony could be revoked if both the Alpha and his future Luna signed. Kaelan probably thought it was another gift list, so he signed quickly.

When the pen finished the final stroke, guilt flickered across his face. “This is the last time, Eve. After the ceremony, you’ll be my Luna. Whatever you want, crowns, gowns, jewels, anything in Blackthorn’s vault, you can choose it yourself. You won’t have to take apology gifts from me anymore.”

I put the papers away and nodded. "The star diamond crown is beautiful. I like it."

I didn't tell him this was the sixth time he had postponed our ceremony because of Vera.

I also didn't tell him this was where his chances ended.

When Kaelan first pursued me, I turned him down many times. Back then, he would stand outside under the moon until dawn, frost on his shoulders, just to see me. He said he would only have one mate in this life. He said he would wait until I nodded.

Later, I nodded.

But his love only lasted until the first night Vera called him crying.

Vera's mate, Ethan, had been Kaelan's older brother. During the border war, Ethan died under a silver blade while saving Kaelan's life. Vera lost her mate that night. Her wolf broke with grief, and she often woke screaming in the dark.

Kaelan said he owed his brother a life and owed Vera a home.

So my ceremony was postponed. My birthday banquet was canceled. My gowns were hung back in the closet again and again. I forgave him the first time. Then I forgave him the second.

I told myself she was a widow who had lost her mate. She was in pain. Kaelan was only guilty.

But guilt shouldn't be allowed to step on me over and over.

On the screen, Vera was surrounded by reporters. In Kaelan's eyes was the same ache I knew too well. Standing in front of him, I suddenly felt calm.

Only then did he look up, as if my silence had finally gotten under his skin. A flicker of unease crossed his eyes. “After the ceremony, I’ll take you to the Full Moon Vow Ball. You remember that night, don’t you? That was where I first saw you on the west terrace, wearing silver under the moonlight. I missed the last few years because of Vera, but this time I’ll take you back. Every pack there will know you’re my Luna.”

In the past, the smallest softness from him would have been enough to feed my hope.

I would have asked if he meant it. I would have held him. I would have begged him not to embarrass me again.

But I had begged too many times. This time, I only slid the documents into my bag and said softly, "Okay."

Kaelan didn't know he wouldn't find me at the marking ceremony three days later.

Because the papers he had just signed had already opened the road for me to leave.