Chapter 4

Every eye in the place landed on me.

I froze and stared at Silas. We'd grown up together. Even after I learned that he'd stayed away from my lantern because he liked Phoebe, I didn't blame him.

And now, to protect Phoebe, he was making me take the fall?

"Tell me, Priest Silas, what exactly is my sin? Which of Blackthorn's laws did I break?"

Silas kept his eyes lowered, his voice flat. "The Moon Goddess's decree cannot be revealed. To atone, you must complete the penance walk barefoot around the pack's territory."

I was so angry I almost laughed. I was about to say more when Gideon grabbed my wrist. His palm was burning hot and his grip was firm, but his fingertips gently stroked my skin, careful to avoid the burn.

His tone hardened. "Evelyn, you were born in Mistbrook Valley. You know the Moon Goddess's priest is never wrong when he delivers a decree."

Gideon's face was cold.

But through the mind-link, his voice brushed my thoughts. Don't be mad. When you get back, you can punish me however you want. Just help Phoebe.

I opened my mouth, but before I could say anything, Gideon lifted his chin at the warriors behind him.

"Take the Luna."

They stripped off my cloak and put me in a rough gray linen penitent's robe. I walked barefoot on the flagstones with a deer-bone bell hanging from my neck. It rang with every step.

Someone threw a dipper of moon-spring water over me. The icy water soaked through my robe and hit my wound, making me jerk with pain.

"Those who carry sin must be cleansed with the spring water."

"I haven't sinned!" I couldn't help shouting.

But nobody seemed to hear. People threw rotten vegetables and gnawed bones at me. Others spat.

The crowd kept talking.

"So the baby really isn't the Alpha's. That's why the Moon Goddess is angry."

"Good thing the priest told the truth. Otherwise we'd have blamed Phoebe for nothing."

I kept my head down and didn't dodge. I didn't have the strength to.

Every time the deer-bone bell rang, a wave of growls rolled through the crowd.

"The temple burned down, and all she gets is the penance walk!"

"How can we let a sinner stay in the pack?"

Soon, the angry crowd wanted more than words. Someone picked up a stone and threw it at me. The sharp edge cut my forehead, and blood ran down my cheek.

"I haven't sinned!" I held up my robe to shield myself from the stones, but that only seemed to make them angrier.

"Still lying! Why won't you accept your punishment?"

"You betrayed the Alpha!"

Their eyes held hatred, contempt, and pity, as if I really were a sinner who deserved everyone's scorn.

I had no strength left to fight. All I could do was shield my belly to protect the baby.

But there were too many of them, and I couldn't block all the stones.

"Stop!" A silver wolf leaped out of the crowd.

It wasn't my husband, Gideon. It wasn't my childhood friend, Silas. It was Heath.

His enormous silver body shielded me from the crowd. "She's our Luna! She was born and raised here. She makes scented sachets for all of us every year! Hasn't she helped every one of you?"

I sagged against Heath, on the verge of collapse.

"Even so, she has to finish the penance walk." Silas stepped forward, frowning at me. "Heath, don't interfere."

"She said she didn't burn the temple!"

Heath stayed planted in front of me and refused to budge.

"Heath!"

An angry roar came from a distance.

It was my husband. Gideon.

"Move."

Gideon's low voice came through the mind-link too. I'm sorry, Evelyn.

It sounded just like every time he'd apologized for knocking over a vase.

But this time, I wasn't going to forgive him.

"Go on," I said, patting Heath's side. "I can walk the rest of the way."

He hesitated and still wouldn't leave.

"I'll need your help tonight," I said with a small smile, urging him to go.

It was probably the longest walk of my life.

It took nearly six hours to circle the pack's entire territory.

Every time I felt like I couldn't go on, my wolf urged me on. Evelyn! Make it to the harbor, and you can get out of here.

The harbor was my hope.

Only one day remained before the fleet set sail.

That night, after I'd cleaned the cuts on my feet and changed my bandages, Heath appeared on the balcony.

"Luna?" He approached quietly, pulled a cardholder from inside his coat, and pressed it into my hand. "The cards in here are clean. The Alpha can't trace them."

His eyes were red and his voice trembled. "Luna, please go."

"You figured it out," I said, relieved. "I need you to give me a ride. I'm pregnant, so I can't shift."

"Okay." Heath wiped his eyes and forced a smile. "Luna... no. Evelyn. You're a good person. The Alpha doesn't deserve you."

I climbed onto the massive wolf's back and listened to the wind rush past my ears.

For the first time in a long while, I felt light.

At last, I'd never have to see them again.