Chapter 4

I knew I had to let my brother know what was going on. After all, he took Shane as his beta because I’d insisted. It was only right that I explain I messed up. I let my feelings get in the way. Anton had every right to be angry with me.

My brother lost his fated mate in an accident a couple of years ago. Since then, I’d done my best to be there and support him as much as I could. He hadn’t been the same since he lost Emelia, but I didn’t know of any wolf who would have returned to normal.

Fated mates were not the things you read about in storybooks. There wasn’t this instant part of your wolf that cries out, mate. Instead, it was something that started gradually. Your wolves learned about the other and discovered they were mates. It took time, and the fated mate connection was rare. So rare that most wolves dated and chose their own mate. Part of the reason it was rare was because you could miss your fated mate if you weren’t looking for it. Honestly, most wolves weren’t looking for it. They just wanted a partner who would stay next to them loyally.

I found Anton in his study at midnight, but he wasn't alone. A man with an imposing figure stood across from my brother, his black hair catching the firelight. I couldn't see his face from this angle, and I turned to leave when they both noticed me.

The stranger's piercing silver eyes landed on me and held my gaze. Something electric passed between us, stopping me in my tracks.

"I'm sorry... I'll come back later—"

"Leah?" Anton studied me, then looked at the stranger. "Darien, this is my sister, Leah—"

"I'll return in the morning." Darien walked toward me, his eyes never leaving mine. For a moment, he stopped, standing inches away from me, like he wanted to say something. The air between us crackled with unspoken words before he walked out.

My heart hammered against my ribs and I felt my wolf stir inside me. "Who was that?"

Anton ignored my question, his caramel-colored hair falling over his forehead as he studied me. We had the same hair and blue eyes, but right now his were filled with concern. "You've been crying."

I wanted to lie, to pretend I'd just come in for tea. But I was spent. Hollowed out. There was nothing left for pretenses.

"I misjudged him, Anton," I whispered. "Shane. I thought he was different. I'm sorry."

He sat back like the words had physically shoved him. "What did he do?"

I shook my head, focusing on his desk instead of his face. "He used me. All the dates, the training, being his fiancé ... he just wanted to be Beta. He wanted to get close to you, and he always wanted Mary. I was just someone he could use to get what he wanted."

Anton made a strangled sound, somewhere between a growl and a sigh. "Fuck. I should have seen it—"

"No," I said fiercely. "Don't act like it's your fault when it's mine!"

"It is my fault. I trusted him with you." His hands curled into fists. For a moment, I thought he'd actually punch the desk. "I can't believe I let this happen."

"You don't get to make this your fault, Anton. It's Shane and Mary's fault. I don't know which one upsets me the most ... my fiancé cheating on me or my sister betraying me."

The silence stretched between us until he rose and paced in front of the cold fireplace. "I'm ending things with him," I said, voice barely audible.

He turned on his heel, fixing me with a look I hadn't seen since we were kids. "He's lucky you're the one breaking it off. If it were up to me, I'd bury him. He's out as Beta."

"He's the best fighter you've got, Anton. If you kick him out—"

"It's not about strength. It's about trust." He stopped pacing, hands on his hips. "You always act like you don't matter, but you're the one holding all the pieces together. You’re caring, kind, brave, and strong. Shane is an idiot. Mary has nothing on you."

I felt my chest constrict. "She’s more polished than I am—"

"At the expense of others. She’s turned into a manipulative and selfish wolf. I failed her. When we lost our parents, we over-coddled her." His phone chimed, and he grunted as he read the message. "The man who was just here, Darien Ravencrest, is the alpha's advisor for the Northwind Pack. They're trying to revive the old structure and want help from us. I need to send someone who won't tarnish our pack's name, but—"

"I'll go."

He hesitated, searching my face. "You're the only one who can do it, Leah. I was telling him about you when you showed up. You're patient, smart, and you don't scare easily. But it could be a year. More, if the place is as bad as I've heard. Winters up there are brutal—"

"I know," I said, sitting up straighter. This was my way out, my chance at a fresh start where nobody would know me as the girl who got dumped for her own sister.

He dragged his fingers through his hair. "You amaze me sometimes."

I almost laughed. "Don't make a thing of it. I just want to see what I'm made of."

His eyes shone in the firelight. "You're precious to me, Leah. Always have been."

I reached across and grabbed his hand, squeezed it until he squeezed back. "You can always depend on me, Anton. Always."

He pulled me up into a bone-crushing hug before letting go, his hands still on my arms. "What are we going to do about Mary? Our sister needs to be taught a lesson."

I looked down at his scarred knuckles. "I used to think she was just petty. But there's something mean in her."

He nodded grimly. "You don't know the half of it. I've caught her pulling things that would make a vulture gag. I first realized it when I caught her near the furnace. She had locked Bun Bun in there to suffer."

I gasped. Bun Bun was my pet rabbit. My brother told me he got out of his cage and ran away. "Why would she have done that? Why haven't you done anything?"

He shrugged, shoulders sagging. "She's our sister. I kept hoping she'd grow out of it. But now ... she's not safe for anyone. Not even herself."

My stomach turned at the thought of what Mary had done, what she was capable of. "Maybe now that she has Shane, she'll finally let up."

He looked at me sideways. "You believe that?"

"No. But I'd like to."

He rubbed the dark circles beneath his eyes. "I'll let Mr. Ravencrest know you're coming. He’ll want to assess you first. Make sure you can make it in the North."

"He said he would be back tomorrow morning. I'll pack tonight so I'm ready."

He smiled, something softer this time. "I'm proud of you, Leah."

A part of me wanted to cry at that, but I just smiled back. “Let’s not get sentimental.”

He rolled his eyes. “You know you can be vulnerable with me.”

I walked out of his study and went to my room, pulling a canvas duffel from my closet. I packed methodically: socks, thermals, sweaters, my hunting knife. I hesitated before dropping the pendant in, wrapping it in a scarf and tucking it deep into the side pocket.

I zipped the bag and sat on the edge of the bed, checking my phone. There was a message from Shane.

"If I embarrassed you today, I didn't mean to."

I snorted. No apology, just IF he embarrassed me. This message had no purpose, especially if he wanted me to break up with him. I set the phone down and pulled the blankets over me.

For the first time in ages, I felt something close to hope. Not for a miracle or a clean start, but for the chance to find out who I was when nobody was looking.

Tomorrow, I would meet Darien Ravencrest again. Tomorrow, everything would change.

And this time, I wouldn't fade away.