Chapter 3

That night, the fire burned across most of the hillside.

My door was locked and I couldn't get out. In the thick smoke, a burning beam crashed down on me, and I passed out.

When I woke up, it was already daylight.

Almost without thinking, I reached for my belly.

Heath was sitting by the bed, his eyes red and swollen. When he saw that, he quickly reassured me. "Don't worry, Luna. The baby's fine.

"The healer says you're badly hurt and need to rest." He paused, then added quietly, "If the Alpha hadn't locked you in your room, you wouldn't have been hurt this badly. How could he lock you up like that..."

I opened my mouth, and my voice came out hoarse. "Where is he?"

Before he could answer, a low, heavy rumble came from outside. More than a hundred wolves were growling under their breath.

I frowned, but I got up and went out.

Gideon and Phoebe were both standing in the great hall. His face was grim. She looked pitiful.

"What's going on out there?"

A young warrior nearby glanced at Gideon and hesitated before speaking. "Luna... last night, the wildfire spread from the villa all the way to the Moon Goddess's temple and destroyed more than 2,000 prayer candles inside.

"People are saying the fire started in Phoebe's room...

"Now they're blocking the door, demanding the Alpha hand Phoebe over so she can ask the Moon Goddess for forgiveness."

Gideon turned and saw me. His eyes landed on the bandages around my right shoulder, and he frowned. "Is it any better?"

"It's fine," I said. My gaze slid past him to the figure at his back, head bowed, wiping away tears.

Phoebe's eyes were red. She was hiding behind Gideon, too scared to speak.

I looked away and asked calmly, "So how does the Alpha plan to handle this?"

Gideon was silent for a moment.

"I'll rebuild the temple and pay for all of it, and I'll donate another million to the Moon Goddess." He paused. "But the pack is worked up right now. Someone needs to step forward and calm them down."

Gideon looked at me, his tone softening. "Evelyn, could you go out there in her place and apologize? It's only a formality."

I thought I'd heard him wrong.

First I'd spent three months trapped by a landslide. Then last night's fire had left me with an injured shoulder.

And now he wanted his pregnant wife to take the blame for Phoebe?

I scoffed, straightened my back, and looked up at him. "And what if I refuse? Is the Alpha going to tie me up and drag me out there?"

Gideon seemed caught off guard. His brow furrowed instinctively.

"Evelyn, it's just an apology. Nobody's asking you to take the blame for anything. Phoebe's still young. She can't handle something like this, so her family has to step in." He pressed his lips together. "We're family, right?"

He took my hand and gently squeezed my fingers, the way he always used to when he wanted to coax a kiss out of me.

But this time, it did nothing for me.

"I refuse." I pulled my hand free.

Gideon went still.

"Evelyn?" he repeated, as though he hadn't heard what I'd said.

"I said I refuse." I stared at him coldly. "I refuse to let you keep sacrificing me for Phoebe. I refuse to take the blame for her.

"Why does a wolf old enough to shift need someone else to take responsibility for her?"

Gideon just stared at me.

Beside him, Phoebe's voice trembled, thick with tears. "I didn't mean to. I just forgot to put out the fire in the hearth. I didn't know it would set something alight..."

She clung to Gideon's arm, sobbing. "Gideon, help me. Don't hand me over..."

Before she could finish, there was a commotion outside.

"The priest is here—"

"It's Priest Silas!"

The noisy pack went quiet at once.

Gideon turned toward the door and stared at it for a beat. "Open it," he ordered.

Outside, Silas made his way through the crowd. He swept his gaze over everyone present, then spoke. "No one caused the temple fire. Stop spreading rumors."

The wolves exchanged looks. Then a young male wolf worked up the nerve to speak.

"Priest Silas, the temple was fine. How could it suddenly catch fire?

"There hasn't been a wildfire here in years. If nobody set it, what else could it be?

"I say Phoebe did it!"

Silas's expression didn't change. His gaze passed briefly over Phoebe as she wiped away her tears. "Someone burdened by sin has angered the Moon Goddess," he said evenly. "She sent this wildfire as punishment."

At his words, a wave of muffled growls rippled through the pack.

My heart lurched, and I looked up at Silas before I could stop myself.

Gideon stepped in front of Phoebe and asked in a low voice, "Who?"

Silas's gaze finally moved.

Those slate-gray eyes were as cold as frost-covered stone.

He slowly turned, scanning the crowd before his gaze settled on me.

"Her. Blackthorn's Luna, Gideon Ward's wife—Evelyn."