Chapter 3

Another day passed, and the burns began to form ugly black scabs.

I soaked my burned hand in cold water, smeared on some herbs, and slung the herb-gathering basket over my shoulder, planning to head to the back mountain first to collect the herb seeds I could take with me.

I'd just reached the tree-lined path outside the main hall when I ran straight into several patrolling elders and guards.

The head elder spotted the bundle on my shoulder, and his face darkened instantly.

"Stop right there! It's this late, and you're sneaking around. Where do you think you're going?"

I halted and spoke calmly.

"I'm going to the back mountain to collect herb seeds. I'll be back by morning."

The head elder let out a cold snort and waved two guards forward to block my path.

"Liar! Vivian just pleaded with the Alpha on your behalf, saying you accidentally burned your hand and need rest. What herb seeds are you collecting in the middle of the night?"

"I bet you're jealous that the Alpha is spending tonight with Vivian, so you're deliberately heading for the forbidden grounds to lure the Alpha out looking for you!"

A young guard beside him chimed in with a sneer.

"Exactly. She acts all high and mighty in the pack just because she's the Luna, and now she's pulling cheap jealousy tricks like this."

"Vivian's brother died saving the Alpha. She's an orphan with no one to lean on. How can you be so incapable of tolerating her?"

Several pack members nearby shot me disdainful looks, pointing and whispering.

I gripped the strap of my satchel tighter, listening to all these twisted accusations, and felt not the slightest urge to explain myself.

Over the past few months, every time I'd clashed with Vivian, Lucas had been quick to side with her and scold me for being unreasonable.

After enough times, even the servants in the pack had picked up on which way the wind blew. They knew the Luna in name only had long since lost her standing, and anyone could step on her.

Three years ago, when Lucas had first marked me, an elder had looked down on me for being a foreign witch and publicly questioned my identity in the council hall.

When Lucas found out, he'd drawn his blade on the spot and split the council table in two. He'd forced that elder's head down and made him kneel and apologize to me.

He'd swept his gaze across the room and laid down the law, every word ringing: anyone who showed his Luna the slightest disrespect would be banished from the pack outright.

But now, these same pack members who'd once treated me with such respect dared to trample my dignity right to my face.

Just then, Lucas came walking over from the direction of the main hall with Vivian.

The head elder immediately hurried to meet him and recounted, with plenty of embellishment, how they'd stopped me.

Lucas frowned and strode quickly to me, reaching for my uninjured left wrist.

"Eileen, don't make a scene this late. Be good. Come back to the room and rest first."

His tone was gentle, a helpless coaxing, but he was tacitly accepting the elders' accusation that I was jealous.

Vivian stood behind him and spoke in her soft, sweet voice.

"Eileen, this is my fault. I shouldn't have kept pestering the Alpha to tell me stories about the pack's old days, and made you sit alone in your room feeling upset."

"Don't be angry with the elders. I've already brewed you some calming tea. It's on the table in your room."

Lucas let out a sigh and turned to the head elder.

"All right, Eileen just wasn't feeling well and wanted some air. You're all dismissed. Don't bother me with little things like this in the future."

He didn't defend me, not once. He didn't scold the guards who'd humiliated me. He just fished a ruby pendant from his pocket and pressed it into my hand.

"Here, sweetheart. I had the craftsman polish this specially for you today. Wearing it will calm your mind. Stop sulking with me, okay?"

I looked down at the mediocre ruby in my palm, then up at Lucas, and all I felt was how absurd it was.

He knew perfectly well that as a witch, the one thing I couldn't wear was crystal stone polished by an outsider. It would interfere with my magic, even rebound on my body.

Before, he'd personally check the material of every single button on my clothes. Now he'd forgotten even that most basic taboo and was fobbing me off with some careless trinket.

I opened my hand and let the ruby pendant slip to the ground, where it shattered.

"Lucas, I don't need anything from you."

Lucas froze. He glanced at the shattered gem on the ground, and his face went cold. But he still reined in his temper and softened his voice.

"If you don't like this one, I'll have them bring you something else tomorrow. The night air is chilly. Go back and drink your medicine first."

I didn't spare him another glance. I pulled my wrist free and turned, walking straight back to my own chamber.

Another tearing ache welled up in my chest. The mate bond was more than half broken now.

I just had to get through tonight. When the full moon rose tomorrow evening, he and I would be completely done.