Chapter 4

My eyes went wide. I couldn't process it.

“What did you just say? Who is your mate?”

"Sally. The Alpha's daughter. She is my chosen mate." He adjusted his grip. "Now apologize. To Sally."

A week ago, I was your mate. You said you'd announce our bond the moment you became head Warrior.

A murmur swept the crowd. Was it true?

Caleb frowned and leaned in, speaking through the mind link —

Plans change. The Alpha already approved me as the new head Warrior. And I didn't expect Sally to claim me as her mate either. I had to accept it.

I shoved him back and spat.

I understand now. I understand completely. My parents are dead. I am an orphan with no name, no standing — so you dropped me.

Caleb shrugged, unbothered. "Believe what you want. But right now I have a duty to uphold — pack order."

Sally watched me over his shoulder.

A small smile played on her bloodied mouth. "I came to buy meat. And Ella attacked me. I am so scared, Caleb..."

I laughed. It came out broken.

"Ella." His voice dropped. He used the old tone. He had used it when I cried about the pack girls' whispers. He had used it when I starved myself thin. He had used it when I fainted at the moon ceremony. This voice said: I understand. I protect. I stay. "Do not make this worse. You are already—" He glanced at my body. The soaked dress clung to my curves. I had tried to hide these curves. "—in enough trouble."

I looked at Sally in his arms. I looked at the silver combs in her hair. I looked at the green velvet. It was unstained except where she had fallen. I looked at Caleb's hand on her waist. It was proprietary. It was natural. He had always held her there.

I looked at the hands gripping my arms. I looked at the faces. They were eager for my fall.

I looked at the slaughterhouse. I'd bled here for three years, working day and night, butchering animals to support Caleb. My hands were covered in calluses. I hadn't even been willing to sew myself a pair of winter boots.

And now? He was wearing the armor I'd made for him with my own hands, while holding Sally, who was wrapped in furs from head to toe.

I couldn't stomach this betrayal any longer.

"Fine," I said. "If you want to cut all ties with me, then take off that armor I made!"

Caleb looked stunned. "Now? You're really going to haggle over such little thing, Ella? " He shook his head, "You've changed."

I almost laughed. Really, I almost laughed.

"What, you can't bear to let it go?" I tilted my head, looking him dead in the eye. "You're right — this armor was forged by the Steele. Strongest defense rating in the pack. But it was crafted by your ex-girlfriend's bleeding hands. Two nights at the smithy, fingers blistered to the bone. You sure you want to keep wearing it when you stand next to your new mate?"

Sally frowned, "Darling, just take it off. This woman is bad luck. Wearing something that belongs to her will only bring you misfortune!"

But I could clearly see the conflicted look on his face.

Ha! He really did love that armor.

Finally, he unfastened the armor, and I immediately snatched it from him.

I turned and walked away. Didn't look back.

 "Wait!"Sally's shrill voice rang out.

I didn't turn around, but Caleb stepped in front of me and blocked my way.

"What?" I let my voice straighted.

Sally stirred in his arms. She played at pain. "The traitor's daughter attacked me today. I believe she's a serious threat to the entire pack, Caleb."

"My father wasn't a traitor!" The scream tore through my throat. The fresh taste of blood flooded my mouth. "He was out hunting! He was—"

A hand seized my hair from behind and yanked my head back. My neck arched painfully, and my scalp burned. My fingers instinctively reached for the hand, but someone else had already grabbed my arms and twisted them behind my back.

"Rip off her badge!" someone shouted.

Knuckles scraped against the fabric of my collar. Then came the sound of tearing cloth as my father's patrol badge was ripped from my collar. The metal pin pierced my skin as they tore it away.

Caleb was only three steps away. I saw his hand twitch. He reached out.

Then Sally stepped forward, slipped her arm through his, and rested her head against his shoulder. Her eyes swept over my face, and a small, smug smile played on her lips.

Caleb lowered his hand. He didn't take another step.

Another hand shoved me from behind. I couldn't tell whose it was. There were too many people, too many hands and faces, too many angry voices surrounding me. A fist slammed into my ribs, forcing every last breath from my lungs. I doubled over, but the hands gripping my hair yanked me upright again. Then a knee drove into my stomach.

Damn those neighbors! They used to come to me to buy meat. But ever since my father died, they'd shown their true colors.

Another brutal blow struck the base of my skull. I couldn't tell what hit me. A boot, a rock, or something swung at me from outside my field of vision. Agony exploded through my head. White light blinded me. The ground tilted beneath my feet, and my legs could no longer support me.

In my final moments before collapsing, I saw Caleb's face.

He wasn't looking at me. He was watching Sally, murmuring something to her, one hand resting gently on the small of her back.

Of course. What had I been expecting?

He would never stand by my side again.

Sally's voice was sweet. It was poison. "She's got no father and no mate now. According to pack law, shouldn't her property be confiscated? After all, a she-wolf like her could become a potential threat to the pack..."

Fear gripped me. It terrified me even more than the blows.

Desperate, I forced my mind to work quickly. "That's not true. I have a mate."

Caleb raised an eyebrow. "I hope you're not talking about me."

I clenched my fists and scoffed. "Of course not! He's much more handsome than you." Without meaning to, I pictured the rogue's face again.

Sally chimed in, "Good. Then we'll come inspect your house again tomorrow. Let's hope you're not lying!"

The crowd finally dispersed, and I could no longer hold myself up. Every inch of my body ached. My knees buckled, and I sank to the ground.

The sky was gray. I watched it spin overhead. The world tilted. The world faded.

I thought of Lily. Who would take care of her?

Then, through the haze of blood and pain, I caught a scent. Footsteps approached, growing closer with every passing second.

Just before I closed my eyes, I managed to make out the figure standing before me.

It was Theron, the man I'd pulled from the snow yesterday.

This was impossible. The man was wounded. He was dying. I had left him in my parents' bed. I had given him black bread. I had given him melted ice.

"Sleep," a voice said. This was not Caleb's voice. It was lower. It was stronger. It was the voice from the cottage. It was rough with disuse. Gold eyes watched me from blood-soaked sheets.

The last thing I felt was arms beneath my knees. They were beneath my back. They lifted me as easily as I had lifted him.

Then nothing came.