Chapter 1

I wanted to find Gideon and clear things up.

A rockfall laced with silver had broken Silas's left leg and poisoned him. The cave-in had also sealed the entrance and cut off the mind-link. That was why we'd been forced to hold out inside for three months.

I hadn't done anything to betray him.

But when I reached the council hall, I heard the dull thud of a fist striking flesh and bone.

My chest tightened. I looked through the crack in the door.

Gideon's usually calm face blazed with fury. Without hesitation, he threw a punch at Silas.

"Evelyn is my Luna. How dare you suggest an abortion?"

Silas sidestepped but didn't hit back. He only frowned.

"What else can we do?

"Look how far the rumors have spread. If she keeps the baby, they'll only do more damage to her reputation.

"We were trapped together for three months, eating together and sleeping in the same cave. Gideon, who would believe her?"

Silas's words hit me like a punch.

I could barely hold myself up against the wall.

Silas scoffed. "And if people start saying the baby is mine, aren't you worried about what that will do to the girl you took in as your sister?"

Phoebe Ward was two years younger than me.

Her biological brother had died saving Gideon in a battle to drive off rogues. That was why Gideon had taken Phoebe in and treated her as his own sister.

Gideon's gaze hardened.

"Silas, you know Phoebe likes you.

"You clearly have feelings for Phoebe too. You just couldn't bring yourself to say it because you and Evelyn grew up together.

"You kept hesitating to take down Evelyn's lantern that night, so I took it instead. I cleared the way for you and spared you from having to choose."

Silas sighed. "Exactly. If Evelyn keeps the baby, is Phoebe supposed to spend the rest of her life hearing the pack whisper that her mate fathered a bastard with another she-wolf?"

Gideon's jaw was clenched tight. He turned his head away and wouldn't look at Silas.

After a long time, he said slowly, every word deliberate, "We can't keep this baby."

Each one cut me to the bone.

I stood frozen outside the door. I could hardly believe what I'd heard.

Deep in my mind, my wolf had gone completely still, as if someone were choking her.

Silas was quiet for a long while. Then he said, "Don't let Evelyn suffer too much."

"My mate is no concern of yours, Priest," Gideon said, cutting him off as he turned toward his study. "Just remember that Phoebe will hang her lantern in two weeks."

I watched Gideon walk away, cold all over.

So that night, when he came running all the way down the western ridge to take my lantern, it hadn't been love at first sight.

At our bonding ceremony, he'd cupped my face, so overcome that tears had welled in his eyes. That hadn't been happiness either.

It had all been for Phoebe.

Standing outside that door, I was so angry I almost laughed.

Just so Phoebe could marry the man she loved, he'd been willing to put his own marriage on the line.

It had to be the most touching love story in the world.

I had no idea how I made it back to my room, or how I fell asleep.

When I woke up the next day, Gideon was already sitting on the edge of the bed.

His rough, callused hand stroked my belly. He looked as sad as a man saying goodbye to an old friend.

I was instantly wide awake. I wrapped the blanket around me and scrambled into the corner, terrified he was going to hurt my baby.

Gideon's hand stilled.

In the dim room, I couldn't make out his expression. Then he said softly, "Even if the baby really is Silas's, I'll still accept it as my own.

"But it can't come into the world branded illegitimate. It would only make things worse for you.

"We'll... we'll have other children later. Let's not have this one, okay?"

I looked at Gideon, my throat tightening until I could barely speak.

He frowned and was about to ask again when his Beta, Heath Cole, called from outside the door. "Alpha, Phoebe says she wants to go for a run in the woods behind the hill..."

Gideon turned his head at once. "Tell her to wait. I'll go with her."

Watching him leave, I gently laid a hand on my belly.

We'd been bonded for three years, and I'd waited so long for this baby. I wasn't going to give it up.

Evelyn, are you going out? Deep in my mind, my wolf slowly lifted her head.

I tucked my messy chestnut hair behind my ears.

We're leaving. You, me, and the baby.

I went straight to the southern harbor. Flat-bottomed barges crowded the docks, their hulls coated in black tar and their linen sails bleached white by sea salt.

The pearl traders were led by a weathered old wolf with sun-darkened skin, a notch missing from his left ear, and fine lines fanning out from his eyes.

I got straight to the point. "Can you take me as far as Tidehaven? That's all I need."

He looked me up and down. "Fine. I don't ask questions on my boat. All I care about is payment. We sail in seven days. Meet me at the dock."

I nodded and left him some cash.

I didn't want to stay with Gideon anymore, and I didn't want to see Silas in Mistbrook Valley either.

Once I got away from them, there had to be somewhere in this world for my baby and me.

I stroked my belly. All I felt was calm.