2

Early the next morning, my mother came to my office with a jewelry box.

"Chloe, here's the moonstone bracelet your grandmother left you."

It was the only keepsake I had from my grandmother.

She'd hoped to be there for my mating ceremony.

But she didn't live long enough.

Before she died, she fastened it around my wrist and said she hoped it would be with me for the most important moments of my life.

Later, my mother put it away for me, saying she was afraid I'd lose it.

I opened the box, and my smile froze.

The clasp had been cut, and the repair was still clearly visible.

The moonstone in the center had a hairline crack.

"What happened to it?"

My mother looked away.

"Thea tried it on yesterday, and it got stuck. She was afraid of hurting her wrist, so she had someone cut the clasp. Then it slipped and fell on the floor."

I stared at the break.

"Who gave her permission to touch my stuff?"

"I just wanted to see if it suited Thea. I didn't think it would break. Besides, Kane already ordered a new one, and it's even nicer than this one."

She took another jewelry box out of her bag. Inside was a brand-new moonstone bracelet, with a bright stone and a delicate chain.

But it wasn't the one my grandmother left me.

My mother pushed the new bracelet toward me.

"You're about to become Luna. Don't let something this small ruin your mood."

"Something small? It's the only thing Grandma left me!"

My mother's face darkened.

"Chloe, when did you get so difficult? Thea didn't do it on purpose. Can't you be a little more gracious?"

A few other pack employees were in the office.

They heard us arguing and turned to look.

I didn't want to lose the last of my dignity in front of them, so I closed the box.

But my mother showed no sign of leaving.

Instead, she caught my arm and lowered her voice.

"One more thing. When I had dinner with Thea yesterday, she said she still hasn't found the right job.

"I saw the email your mentor sent you. Isn't your academy short on instructors? Just put in a word for Thea."

I looked up.

I'd earned the highest grade, an S, every year at the Imperial Academy. When I graduated, my mentor offered me a position, but I turned it down because of Kane.

Now she'd reached out again, but I hadn't replied yet.

And now my own mother wanted me to just hand that chance over to Thea.

"She scored a C on her combat assessments every year. How could she possibly be an instructor?"

"So train her up. You had to start from scratch too, didn't you? You've got Kane now. Do you really need this job?"

My mother raised her voice.

"Thea has always treated you like her best friend. While you were away at the academy, she took care of us for you and never asked for anything. You owe her!"

Looking at her, I suddenly felt exhausted.

It was like they only remembered the good things Thea did. They'd forgotten that when we were kids and the other wolves picked on her, I was the one who stood up for her.

They'd forgotten that when she got hurt on a hunt, I was the one who carried her back to camp through a storm.

But now, in their eyes, I couldn't measure up to Thea in any way. Anything I had was up for grabs.

"If she wants the job, she can take the exam like everyone else."

I pulled my arm free.

"I'm not getting her in through the back door."

My mother went white with anger.

Just then, Kane walked in carrying lunch.

With practiced ease, he set the containers on my desk and slid a cup of warm herbal tea toward me.

"I heard your stomach's been hurting again. I brought you some herbal tea to soothe it."

My mother immediately told him everything that had just happened.

Kane listened and was quiet for a moment.

"Thea really isn't ready to be an instructor at the Imperial Academy."

I looked up at him. It was the first time he hadn't jumped to Thea's defense.

I thought he was finally going to take my side.

"But I do need an assistant. Thea could give that a try."

My mother lit up.

"Leave it to Kane to find a way."

I stared at Kane.

"Last month, a junior from the academy wanted to apply to be your assistant, and she asked me to talk to you about it.

"What did you tell me? You said every job in the pack had to be filled fairly. Even though I was your fated mate, you couldn't bend the rules for me."

Kane frowned and gave me a reproachful look.

"Chloe, that's different. I'm solving a problem for you."

Right. He was always solving problems for me.

He just never thought about how I felt.

That afternoon, Thea sent me an excited text saying she was Kane's new assistant.

She said Kane had given her flowers to celebrate her first day.

She'd attached a photo.

In it, Thea stood next to Kane, holding a bouquet of white roses.

Kane leaned toward her, adjusting the jacket around her shoulders.

Near the end of the workday, Kane texted me.

"Something came up tonight. Don't wait for me."

I didn't reply.

As I was getting ready to go home, I saw the light still on in Kane's office.

He was sitting next to Thea, helping her practice a speech.

The next day, Thea would lead her first pack meeting.

She flubbed a line and crumpled up the script in frustration.

"I'm going to mess it up. Everyone's going to think I don't deserve this job."

Kane took the paper from her, patiently smoothed it out, and helped her revise it line by line.

"Don't rush, Thea. Take your time. Even if you mess up, you've got me."

"Chloe?"

Thea noticed me first and put on an innocent expression.

"Don't get the wrong idea. Kane's only helping me practice so I don't embarrass the two of you."

Kane finally looked at me, like he'd just remembered something.

"Chloe, didn't you say your stomach was bothering you today? Is it any better?"

"Much better."

It still hurt, actually.

But I didn't want to tell him anymore.