Chapter 3

I held my breath and waited for Rowan to finish.

Instead, he smiled.

“Clara, you’re imagining things. Those herbs were for you.”

I said nothing.

He touched one of the packets on the desk. “The healer mixed part of it wrong. That’s all.” His voice stayed calm, familiar, almost gentle. “You know me better than that.”

For one dangerous second, I almost believed him.

That had always been Rowan’s gift.

Our fathers had been close, and from the time I was old enough to run, Rowan was always there. I was wild as a pup, forever slipping out of lessons and dodging tutors. Every time my parents lost patience, Rowan stepped in and promised he would make me catch up.

And he did.

He stayed up late teaching me pack law, alliance customs, and everything expected of the future Luna of Silver Ridge Pack. When I laughed at him for learning things most young males never cared about, he only said he was making sure no one would ever call me unfit to stand beside him.

That was when my heart first softened toward him.

After that, I changed for him. I learned how to behave, how to host, how to stand still under too many eyes. People started saying we looked right together. Even the Alpha’s family treated me like I already belonged there.

And Rowan never corrected them.

When I was sick, he stayed beside me. When others crossed a line, he stepped in first. For years, he gave me every reason to believe I mattered to him.

That was why I believed him for so long.

I looked at him and asked, “If you wanted me, why didn’t you claim me by name?”

He paused, then said, “Because of Ivy.”

I waited.

“You and your sister have fought over me for years. Everyone in Silver Ridge knew it. If I had named you outright, it would have humiliated her.” He spread one hand. “I thought if you accepted first, it would be easier on her. I didn’t expect you to reject me out of pride.”

That answer might have worked once.

Maybe it almost worked now.

Ivy had never wanted Rowan the way I once had. What she loved was the contest itself. As pups, she took whatever I loved simply because it was mine. Rowan had become part of that long before either of us understood what wanting really meant.

Still, Rowan knew exactly how to sound reasonable, and I hated that some part of me still remembered what it was like to trust him.

He must have seen something shift in my face, because he stepped closer at once.

“So listen to me,” he said. “I’ve made up my mind. You’re the one I want. In three days, I’ll come back and do this properly. No more misunderstandings.”

Then he smiled, soft enough to hurt.

“Give me one chance to fix it.”

He reached for my hand but stopped just short of touching it.

“Once the bond is sealed, I’ll have the kitchens make those honey rolls you love every morning.”

My eyes burned.

Honey rolls.

I had never liked them.

For a second I almost laughed. Instead, I lowered my gaze and let my voice shake.

“All right,” I said. “I’ll give you one chance.”

Relief flashed across his face so quickly it looked ugly.

“But don’t bring witnesses,” I added. “If Ivy knows ahead of time, she’ll make a scene. Just come in three days and make it official quietly.”

Rowan studied me for a moment, then nodded.

“Fine.”

He looked like a man who thought he had just won something back.

I let him think it.

When I got home and told my mother and Ivy what had happened, both of them stared at me as if I had lost my mind.

Ivy recovered first. She crossed the room and slapped me hard enough to turn my head.

“Have you completely lost your senses?” she demanded. “After everything he did to you, you’re still going to him?”

For once, I didn’t snap back.

I only lowered my eyes to the pale linen in my lap.

At last I said, very calmly, “Rowan still has to make his move.”

Ivy went white.

Then I looked up.

“But it won’t be me standing there when he comes.”