Sixty-Six Burned Favors

To prove my love for my mate, Liam, I swore an oath to fulfill sixty-six of his favors, no matter what.

For years, he had never misused that privilege.

That was until my stepsister, Isabella Davenport, returned.

Suddenly, he burned through sixty-four of them. Once he used the last two, that was when I’d leave him for good.

…

“Happy anniversary, sweetheart!” My friends gave me hugs and cheek kisses.

Today marked seven years since Liam Blackwood, Alpha of the Rolling Stone Pack, and I bonded. Wolves from neighboring packs, friends, and family all gathered to celebrate.

I’d just returned from the battlefield with a serious wound, but as the Luna of our pack, I had to host the event myself.

The gash on my side was a badge of honor. Today should’ve been about love, commitment, and strength. So why did I feel so uneasy?

I found myself scanning the crowd for Liam when I heard a sudden commotion.

As I turned toward the sound, my stomach dropped.

Liam was with Isabella.

Apparently, she had “accidentally” fallen, soaking Alpha Julian with her drink.

I pushed through the crowd.

Liam wasn’t even looking at Julian, with eyes only for Isabella.

Carefully, he helped her up, his expression full of concern, like the rest of the world didn’t exist.

I rushed toward them, a knot tightening in my chest.

It wasn’t until Julian exploded in anger that Liam finally looked at me and gave an irritated command. “Scarlett! Apologize to Alpha Julian!”

I froze.

Julian’s glare turned icy. “Are you blind, Liam? Don’t you know who spilled on me?”

Isabella, who was infamously bratty, now trembled in Liam’s arms like some frightened little bunny, eyes glossy with tears.

She flinched at Julian’s voice, as if she weren’t the one who had caused all this.

Liam tightened his hold on her protectively. He looked at me again, eyes full of blame and urgency. “Scarlett! What are you waiting for? Isabella’s hurt. As Luna, you need to apologize on her behalf.”

I looked down at the scratch on her knee, which was barely the size of a fingernail, and thought it absurd.

Had he forgotten about the bloody wound on my abdomen from a battlefield injury that was too deep for my wolf’s natural healing to handle?

Perhaps he just didn’t care, choosing to take it for granted.

Isabella peeked at me from the safety of Liam’s arms, a smug little smirk flickering across her face as if to say, “Look at you. What a joke of a Luna.”

Ugh! That cow!

My fists clenched, and I glared at her.

He wanted me to take the fall for her? Not a chance!

“Scarlett,” Liam’s voice dropped low. “You made a promise.”

I looked at him in disbelief.

Was he really going to use one of his favors for this?

The privilege came from the day he marked me. That night, under the gaze of the Moon Goddess, I swore I’d grant him sixty-six favors, no matter right or wrong.

We weren’t fated mates. However, years ago, Liam had pursued me with a fierce devotion.

He even snuck into the dark woods to pick my favorite berries and shielded me on the battlefield time and time again, which gave him sixty-six scars.

So, I gave him sixty-six favors.

For seven years, he never once used them until six months ago, when Isabella came back.

He’d burned through sixty-three of them.

This was the sixty-fourth.

My chest heaved, and my nails dug into my palms. Slowly, I bowed my head and apologized with the formal Luna etiquette.

“I deeply apologize, Alpha Julian. It was my oversight that led to this unpleasantness. As Luna, I take full responsibility.”

“Forget it,” Julian muttered. Though I kept my head bowed, I could hear the sympathy in his voice.

The moment I bent, pain ripped through the wound on my abdomen.

Warm blood soaked the fabric of my gown.

I swayed on my feet, my face going white.

Somehow, I managed to stand upright, just in time to see Liam guiding Isabella into his arms.

“Come on. Let’s get that cleaned up…” he said gently.

Tears welled up in my eyes, but I bit my lip to force them not to fall.

‘I’m a warrior. I will not allow myself to be shamed.’

Maybe it was my unusual silence that caused Liam to pause and look back.

He frowned. “You can head home yourself. Isabella needs me right now.”

My face remained blank as I answered frostily, “Got it.”

Liam hesitated, almost like he wanted to explain. “As Alpha, I have to look after every member of the pack…”

I nodded wordlessly.

Before he could say more, Isabella whimpered, “It hurts…”

He turned back to her immediately, holding her carefully as he walked away without another glance.

I stood there watching them disappear through the door and closed my eyes.

Only two times left, Liam.