Chapter 2

A private medical SUV was parked outside Blackwood Manor when I got home.

Adrian stood beside it, helping Claire down from the back seat. She wore a pale gray dress that made her look even more delicate than usual, and her fingers rested lightly in the bend of his arm. The second she noticed me, she tried to pull away, only to sway and fall against his chest.

“Don't push yourself.” Adrian caught her around the waist, then looked at me with his guard already up. “Claire's arrhythmia needs to be monitored. I'm bringing her here while she recovers. The east wing is closest to the medical suite.”

In my first life, he'd moved her in without asking. I had exploded, and that argument became Exhibit A in the case everyone built against me: Ivy Reed was possessive. Ivy Reed had no compassion. Ivy Reed couldn't tolerate the woman who had been part of Adrian's life since childhood.

This time, I stepped aside and held the door open. “The east wing is ready. I put an air purifier and wearable heart monitor by the bed, along with backup suppressants. The on-call physician's number is on the refrigerator.”

The speech Adrian had prepared died on his tongue.

Claire blinked, then gave me a fragile smile. “Thank you, Ivy. I'll only stay until the doctor clears me. I would never want to get in the way of you and Adrian.”

“Stay as long as you need.” I opened the second set of doors for her. “You should feel at home here.”

Adrian studied my face for several seconds, hunting for sarcasm. When he found none, the tension eased from his shoulders.

“I knew you'd understand. You always know how to be reasonable.”

There had been a time when praise like that could keep me warm for days. Now it only sounded absurd. To Adrian, reasonable had always meant convenient. It meant I would swallow whatever hurt he handed me and still be waiting when he came back.

Deep inside me, my wolf was strangely calm. In my first life, she had clawed at my ribs whenever Claire touched Adrian, frantic with the pain of watching our fated mate choose someone else. Now she simply curled in on herself, as if she had finally accepted what I had been too stubborn to see: Adrian might have been destined for us, but he had never truly belonged to us.

That evening, I was sorting my old research notes when Claire knocked and stepped into my room. She was wearing my cream cashmere coat. Pinned to one sleeve was the silver-leaf brooch my mother had left me.

“I'm sorry. I suddenly got cold, and Adrian grabbed the first thing he saw in your closet.” Claire ran one finger over the brooch, her gaze watchful beneath lowered lashes. “Is this valuable?”

Adrian had followed her in. “It's a coat, Ivy. Don't make Claire feel guilty over nothing.”

I removed the brooch and placed it in my open suitcase, then pulled the coat more securely around Claire's shoulders. “You can keep the coat. Not the pin. It belonged to my mother.”

Claire's smile tightened for half a second. Adrian, on the other hand, seemed relieved. He came closer and dropped his voice into the patient tone he used whenever he thought I needed managing.

“You've changed lately. I like this version of you. Once we're bonded, we won't have to fight about Claire anymore.”

I closed the suitcase. “No, we won't.”

Seven days from now, we wouldn't have anything left to fight about.

As I reached the door, I heard Claire ask whether the future Luna would really be comfortable having her there long-term. Adrian didn't hesitate.

“Ivy can't stay away from me. She might sulk for a day or two, but she'll get over it.”

In the hall, I slid my institute medical clearance into a folder and smiled without humor.

[He really believes that.]

For the first time, his confidence didn't hurt me. It only made him look foolish.