Chapter 1

"You volunteered for Frostfang?" Ronan dragged me into his room and slammed the door. "Elara, are you insane?"

He paced once, jaw tight. "Those northern wolves take their brides into the snowy mountains. Once they form the bond, they don't let them leave. Ever. Every unmated she-wolf in Mooncrest is praying her name doesn't get drawn."

His eyes cut back to me. "And you're handing yourself over?"

I dropped my gaze and twisted my skirt until my knuckles turned white.

Frostfang Pack had no she-wolves.

For generations, they'd kept their ties to mainland packs through marriage pacts.

But northern wolves weren't like us.

They were stronger. Rougher. Way more dominant.

Once they claimed their mate, their possessiveness went feral.

Once you were marked, you were theirs for life.

No she-wolf wanted to spend forever trapped on a mountain buried in ice and snow.

Ronan's face went dark.

"Did they hurt you again?" His voice dropped. "Orion? Cassian? Nikolai?"

Alpha force rolled off him, sharp enough to slice skin.

He headed straight for the door.

I lunged after him and grabbed his arm with both hands.

"No. Please—don't."

My voice broke on the last word.

It was pointless.

When Orion and Cassian first started pulling away, I'd run to Ronan crying too.

Dana hadn't even been in Mooncrest a month.

And the two wolves who used to shadow my every step were already circling her.

I still remember Orion's face that night.

Cold. Grossed out.

"Elara, can you stop acting like the whole pack revolves around you?"

Cassian stood beside him, arms crossed. "Dana didn't do anything wrong. You just couldn't handle not being the center of attention, so you almost got her kicked out. Without your Alpha brother protecting you, what are you even?"

His mouth twisted.

"I can't believe I ever wanted you."

His words hit like silver in my veins.

That night, I cried in the only arms I had left—Nikolai's—until I blacked out.

But now...

Even he didn't want me anymore.

Silence stretched between Ronan and me.

At last, he exhaled.

"You're my only sister." His voice softened. "Sending you that far away... it would wreck my wolf."

He cupped my face, gentle. "But I can't keep watching you hurt, either."

The Drawing Rite was in three days.

If I signed my name, Frostfang's delegation would take me north before the first winter storm hit.

"Think it through," he said quietly. "When you decide, come back to me."

I nodded and swallowed my tears.

The second I stepped outside, Nikolai was there.

My chest locked so tight I could barely breathe.

He leaned against a pillar, lazy and golden in the dusk.

In his hand was a small yellow wildflower.

I knew it right away.

Not long ago, at the Hunting Festival, Dana had tucked that same flower behind his ear.

And Nikolai had looked at her like she was his whole damn world.

When he saw me, his old soft smile slipped back on.

"Elara?"

I wiped my eyes fast and walked right past him.

"Wait." He followed me. "Elara, where are you going?"

I didn't stop.

My throat burned too badly to answer.

A few seconds later, his footsteps stopped.

I slowed and looked back.

Nikolai stood at the end of the path, evening wind tugging at his hair.

One hand hovered over the little flower, shielding it like even the breeze didn't deserve to touch it.

Something inside me cracked clean through.

"Nikolai!" My voice shook across the open space. "Is that why you came looking for me?"

A few nearby wolves turned.

He still didn't move.

Panic clawed up my spine.

Fine.

I'd go to him.

I'd be the one to cross the space he wouldn't.

I bit my lip hard and took one step toward him.

His voice reached me first.

Quiet.

Final.

"No, Elara. I came to tell you... I won't be joining your hunts or missions anymore."

Before I could speak, he turned and walked toward Dana's quarters.