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Scalding tea splashed across the back of my hand, but I didn't even feel the pain.

The study door hadn't been shut all the way.

Through the gap, I heard Declan, the Beta, snarling with barely restrained fury. "Alpha, have you lost your mind?"

"You've reassigned every last elite guard to protect Serena. You even gave her your personal detail. What about Lena? She's your fated mate!"

My feet rooted to the floor.

"She's my mate in name only, not my life." Ashton's voice was low, heavy with the innate authority of an Alpha bloodline.

"The rogue leader is a madman. He goes straight for whatever I care about most.

"Serena ruined her health saving me from that frozen lake. I swore a blood oath never to let her get hurt again."

"So you're using Lena as bait? She can't shift, she has no wolf. When the rogues break through, she'll die!"

"Once her mark is activated, the rogues will pick up the scent and think she's the one I'd die to protect."

Ashton paused. Not a trace of hesitation in his voice.

"Using her to keep Serena safe should be an honor for her."

I stood outside the door, tray in hand, the skin on my hand scalded red, yet I had forgotten to breathe.

For five years, Ashton had been so good to me that the entire Blood Moon territory knew it.

On our wedding night, he bit the mark into the side of my neck and declared to the whole pack that I was his fated mate.

After that, every night he would hold me in his arms, whispering my name over and over, telling me I was his only weakness in this world.

When I was hurt, he tended to my wounds himself. When I couldn't sleep, he stayed awake until dawn.

I mentioned once, offhandedly, that I wanted to see the white roses blooming on the cliffside. The next morning, fresh white roses still glistening with dew sat in a silver vase by my bed.

I thought that was love.

Even when Serena cursed me in private, calling me a worthless wolfless freak. Even when the pack whispered that the one their Alpha truly wanted to marry was my sister. I never cared.

But now I understood the truth.

He had used a mark to tether me to his side and showered me with tenderness, not because he loved me, but to soothe the beast inside him, so that when the moment came, he could use me as a worthy decoy.

"Since she's so valuable, keep her alive and well."

Ashton's voice came again. "Tomorrow's full moon, don't let her wander off."

I had been about to slip away in silence when the study door swung open from the inside.

The moment Declan saw me, his face went pale and his voice broke. "L-Luna? What are you doing here?"

My chest seized, but I forced a smile. "I figured the Alpha would be thirsty after planning through the night, so I brought him some hot tea."

Before the words had even left my lips, Ashton stepped out.

He wore a dark ceremonial coat, his eyes deep and unreadable. His gaze slid from my face to the hand holding the tray, and stopped.

"What happened to your hand?"

He strode over and took my hand, brooking no protest.

Most of the scalding tea had already spilled from the cup on the tray. The back of my hand was an angry red, and his grip sent a searing sting through the burn.

"I burned it by accident. It's fine."

Ashton wasn't listening.

He lowered his head and pressed his lips gently to the back of my hand. Warm breath brushed over the burn, and a tingling, cooling energy spread from the spot. The pain actually faded.

"Declan, get the medicine."

He gave the order without looking up, his voice softer than anything he had used in the study.

Declan answered and hurried off.

Ashton led me into the study by the hand, pulled the door shut behind us, and backed me against the doorframe. He dipped his head and kissed the scalded skin again.

"Why are you so careless?" He frowned, his voice thick with concern. "Don't bring it yourself next time. Let the servants do it."

My throat burned.

Moments ago, he had been saying that using me to keep Serena safe should be an honor for me.

And now a small burn on the back of my hand had him looking at me like this, as if his heart were breaking.

Ashton, how can you not love me and still be so kind?

So kind that even knowing it was all a lie, I almost gave in.

I tilted my head up, met the tenderness in his eyes, and smiled. "Okay. I know."

But a voice inside me kept repeating:

You can't stay any longer.

If you stay, you'll die drowning in his kindness.

Let this fated mate bond go to his precious Serena instead.