Chapter 2

I'd handed Jake my pay card when I started working. He'd promised to save the money for me, and every paycheck since had gone into that account.

I didn't have the energy to argue anymore. I'd report the card lost and get a new one as soon as I could.

The wind blew snow into my face. I shivered and pulled my thin coat tighter.

Kieran glanced at me and took half a step forward, but Maisie started coughing.

He turned back to her immediately.

"Come on. Let's get you inside before you get any colder."

He helped her toward the doors, then called back over his shoulder.

"It's freezing out here. You should get home too. I'll call you tonight."

All four of them disappeared into the healing center.

Under the awning, I pulled up a message my best friend, Audrey, had sent six years ago.

Jake had just ripped up my academy acceptance letter. Audrey begged me to stop giving up my future for my family and come join her in Silverfrost Pack.

But I couldn't bear to leave my family or Kieran. I turned her down.

Her last message had been simple: [Whenever you're ready to leave, come find me.]

This time, I finally answered.

[Audrey, I'm ready. I'll come as soon as I've packed.]

When I got home, I found two servants carrying my bookcase out of my bedroom.

The doors swung open as they moved, spilling my herbalism notebooks across the floor.

"What are you doing?"

They stopped at once. One of them looked awkward. "The housekeeper told us to move your things into storage, miss. I believe Miss Maisie is moving into this room."

I pushed the door open. I barely recognized the room I'd slept in for more than ten years.

My bed had been replaced with a violet princess bed. Silver curtains hung by the window. Matching couple's mugs sat on the dresser, and Maisie's clothes filled my wardrobe.

The walls were covered in photographs of her and Kieran.

They were holding hands in the forest, embracing on a snowy mountain, and standing so close together by a waterfall that anyone would have taken them for a real mated couple.

I stepped closer and noticed dates written on the backs.

The earliest was from three months ago.

That weekend, Kieran had told me there'd been trouble at the Pack border. He'd even missed his own birthday dinner with me to deal with it.

So that was where he'd really been. Taking Maisie to see the mountains.

On the bedside table sat a handwritten schedule in a frame. The title read: MAISIE'S MATE EXPERIENCE PLAN.

First: Take a trip with Kieran. Checked off.

Second: Live together like real mates.

Third: Wear a bonding gown.

Fourth: Meet Kieran's parents.

Each item had a date beside it. A little note was stuck at the bottom.

[Thank you, Kieran, for making my dreams come true!]

I called Mom.

"Who said they could take over my room?"

"Didn't Jake tell you?"

She moved the phone away. I heard Jake say, "I told Lucas to let her know."

Lucas was still at the healing center. He chimed in, "I thought Kieran had told her."

Somehow, everyone had assumed someone else would tell me. Not one of them had bothered.

Mom sighed when I said nothing. "Maisie's room isn't big enough for all her things. She's only borrowing yours so she can see what living with a mate feels like. When she's had her fun, we'll put it back."

I looked at my notebooks scattered across the floor. My chest tightened.

"Then where am I supposed to sleep?"

A brief silence.

"There's a folding bed in the storage room. You managed to sleep in a chair when you stayed with Maisie at the healing center. Don't start acting spoiled now."

I ended the call and knelt to gather my notebooks.

The one at the bottom was from when I was sixteen. My instructor had written a note on the cover.

[You have real talent. I look forward to seeing you at the academy.]

Six years ago, I never got that chance.

This time, I wouldn't let anyone decide my future for me.

I had just packed my documents, notebooks, and a few clothes when my phone buzzed.

Jake.

[Don't mess up the room I worked so hard to set up for Maisie. You can sleep in storage tonight.]

I put the phone down without replying.

I opened the inter-Pack bus booking site. Only two buses a week went to Silverfrost Pack. The next one left Saturday at seven in the evening.

I bought a ticket.

A message from Audrey came in.

[This is amazing! I already mentioned you to the research institute. They still remember those herbal experiments you did as a kid. They're really interested!]

[Thank you, Audrey. I've booked my ticket. I'll arrive Saturday night.]

[Perfect. I'll pick you up at the station.]

I stripped Maisie's bedding off my bed and put my own sheets back on.

It was my room. Why should I be the one sleeping in storage?

Just before midnight, my phone lit up. Kieran was calling.

He'd promised to call that evening. Technically, he had. The day was almost over.

I stared at his name for a long time before answering.

The other end was quiet. I could hear someone breathing softly.

"Hello?"

No answer.

A few seconds later, a sweet voice came through.

"Brielle? Kieran's asleep. I thought I'd call to say good night for him."