Chapter 2

Before leaving the studio, I retrieved the claim release agreement from the deepest drawer.

I had held the parchment all night.

Once Dorian signed it with his blood, his public claim on me would be void within twenty-four hours. My name would be removed from the Blackthorn mate registry, and I would no longer belong to his territory.

When I returned to the territory, the moon was high.

I checked Seraphina’s pack post. She was curled up against Dorian.

The Alpha who commanded the council bared his teeth in a playful grimace. His eyes curved like crescents.

They held a pup. Gray-blue eyes bore the Blackthorn bloodline.

Seraphina captioned: [The little one learned to howl at the moon.]

She was not raising a child. She was claiming the Luna of the Blackthorn Pack without the title.

My wolf growled low in my chest. The feeling cut deep.

I waited the night through. Dorian did not return.

At dawn, a force yanked my arm. His claws dug into my skin. Rage coursed through the bond, burning my wolf soul.

“Vivienne. Did you share Leo’s photos?” His voice was low, each word sharp.

“You know how many enemies he has. If he were kidnapped or taken by hostile packs, have you considered the consequences?”

Pain shook my wolf. Tears came unbidden.

“If you are angry at me, take it out on me. Why involve a pup?”

“I did not do it.” I spoke softly. He did not hear.

Seraphina’s words at the gathering—he had denied them. Why now admit the pup was his?

I hated Seraphina. I never hid it. But I would not bare my fangs at a child.

Dorian did not believe me.

“Seraphina said only you would treat her child this way. You are deliberately harming him. No other wolf would do this.”

He remained composed. Nothing could make him admit what he refused. But for Seraphina, he lost control. He accepted the pup. For the first time, he sacrificed dignity for a female.

I pulled free, smiling bitterly.

“So you admit it? That pup is yours?”

Dorian hesitated. He did not want to show me, but he had no choice. His shoulders slumped. His voice held compromise, exhaustion, and apology.

“Seraphina hid it at first. By the time I found out, it was too late. I swear, only that once.”

He looked at me. “Vivienne, I will bring Leo back. He will be yours to raise. He will call you mother.”

My wolf bristled. Why should I care for him? Why should I accept it? But the words never left my mouth.

I was leaving anyway. I licked the blood from my lips, bitten and swallowed by my wolf.

“All right. But as compensation, you sign this.”

I pressed my thumb on the title. My wolf trembled, not from fear, but because she knew this time, we would truly be free of his claim.

Dorian took the pen, bit his fingertip, and signed with his blood. Then he pulled me into his arms.

“Buy what you want. Take any territory you like. I will mark it for you.”

His chin rested on my head.

“Vivienne. I am sorry. Thank you for everything.”

The embrace smelled of Seraphina, sweet and nauseating.

I closed my eyes, pressed my face to his chest. This was the last time I would feel his warmth.

Then my wolf turned her back on him. By tomorrow night, even the moon would no longer recognize me as his.