C7

ELOWEN WHITLOCK POV

"Why are you standing there like a sick pup, human?" Celine Dawnfang laughs loud from the stone porch of the Thorncroft family home.

"I am just fine, Aunt Celine," I say.

I pull my big jacket around my waist. The wagon ride from our lodge to the high pack lands took a full hour, and my head feels completely dizzy. My mind is filled with thoughts of Isolde Ashbourne’s bleeding stomach and the black look Caelan gave me before he ran. My chest squeezes tight, and I have to run over to the green bushes to gag. Nothing comes out, but my human stomach burns bad.

Celine walks down the steps with her nose in the air. Her mate was Gareth Silvermane, the second son of old Alaric. The first son was Tristan Thorncroft, who died in a big rogue fight with his wife years ago, leaving Caelan to be the sole Alpha. Celine hates me because I am a plus-size human from the poor Whitlock Bloodline, and she wanted the Alpha throne for her own line.

"The old Alpha is dead, and his grand pup does not even show his face for the burial ritual," Celine sneers, looking at the empty dirt path behind me. "You are a useless pack wife, Elowen."

"Caelan had a big pack emergency," I say, forcing a fake smile. "He will arrive before the fire is lit."

"Haha!" Celine laughs meanly. "Old Alaric gave everything to that boy. Now we see his true respect."

Many high wolves from the Moonfang Province arrive wearing dark black furs to show respect. The old Alpha’s body sits inside a great hollow stone in the center of the hall, covered in white mountain leaves. Gareth and Celine talk to the Alphas outside, while I stay inside to take the traditional pack gifts.

"Ms. Whitlock," Lady Eleanor Thorncroft says as she walks to me with a heavy wooden box.

"What is this, Lady Eleanor?" I ask. She is the old pack caretaker who lived with Alaric for many seasons.

"The old Alpha ordered me to give this to you when his breath stopped," Eleanor says, pressing the box into my big hands. "Keep it hidden from the Thorncroft Bloodline."

"Where is the bone key for the lock?" I ask, looking at the smooth wood.

"Caelan has it," Eleanor whispers, looking at my big arms. "You look very tired, child. You must eat more. Alaric always wanted you to give Caelan a strong male pup to secure the Whitlock Moonfang Dominion. Do not let their bloodline end in fights."

I feel a big shock in my heart because of the secret baby in my belly, but I just nod and say nothing.

The sun goes high in the sky, and we take the old Alpha to the deep burial caves. The ritual ends at noon, but Caelan never shows up.

Gareth Silvermane walks over to me with Celine on his arm. His face looks very old.

"Go back to your lodge, Elowen," Gareth says in a tired voice. "Tell Caelan to drop his anger at the dead. Alaric gave him the whole Alpha Dominion."

"She is just a human leech anyway," Celine spits out.

"Stop your barking, Celine," Gareth snaps, then looks at me. "The storm is coming back. Travel safely."

"Thank you, Uncle Gareth," I say.

They walk away toward the pack houses. They have no pups of their own and just live off the meat from the Thorncroft Alpha Dominion. Celine has a sharp tongue, but they love each other very much.

I stand alone by the burial stone, looking at the grey sky. Now that Alaric is gone, my time with Caelan is truly finished. I am going to lose my wolf forever.

"Rest well, Grandfather," I whisper to the stone.

I turn around to leave, but my boots freeze in the dirt. Caelan is standing right behind me under a dark pine tree. He wears all black, and his face looks like a thunderstorm. His gold eyes stare at the burial stone, and I cannot smell his feelings at all.

"Move," Caelan barks when he sees me. "We are leaving."

"Did you come to get me?" I ask, running after his giant steps. "Caelan, please stop being mad at Alaric. He fought many rogues for you when you were a pup..."

His gold eyes turn completely black with rage, and I shut my mouth fast. He does not yell. He just turns his back and walks to his big black truck.

I have no choice but to climb into the front seat next to him. The driver who brought me here already went back to the pack houses. Caelan hits the gas, and the truck speeds down the mountain road in total silence. I want to ask about Isolde's baby, but his heavy alpha pressure makes it hard to breathe.

"How is Isolde doing?" I ask finally, breaking the quiet. "I did not push her down the stone steps, Caelan."

The truck tires scream loud as he slams the brakes. The heavy truck spins and stops sideways on the dirt road. Before I can move my big body, Caelan lunges across the seat and pins my shoulders hard against the leather.

His face is inches from mine, and his teeth are sharp.

"Caelan," I whisper, feeling the human fear in my blood.

"You want to know how she is?" he sneers, his breath burning my skin. "Do you think that old wooden box Alaric gave you will stop me from breaking our marriage bond, Elowen?"

My heart stops. He found out about the box in just a few hours. The pack spies move fast.

"I did not touch her," I say, staring right into his angry eyes. "I do not even know what is inside that box, Caelan. I am not using dead wolf gifts to keep you. You want a divorce? Fine. I will sign the paper tomorrow morning."

The sky turns completely black, and heavy rain starts hitting the truck roof like rocks. Caelan looks stunned for a second, his grip loosening on my shoulders. Then he lets out a ugly laugh.

"Isolde is losing blood in the Silvermoon Grand Healing Temple right now," he growls, his fingers tapping hard against the steering wheel. "You think you can just sign a paper and walk away clean after what you did?"

"What do you want from me then?" I ask, holding my stomach.

"You will serve her," Caelan says, turning the keys to start the truck again. "Starting tomorrow, you will be the servant who tends to her sickness."