Chapter 2

My mother's face went pale, then hard.

"Canceled? Why didn't you say so sooner? Do you think this is some childish game?"

My body trembled with fear. "I thought... I thought Damien would tell you."

"Damien has enough on his plate without you playing these childish games! When are you going to grow up?" my mother shrieked.

I looked at her, tears streaming down my face. "You're right, I can't grow up. No one ever taught me how."

"So the mating is off. It's not the end of the world." My father's voice cut in, low and steady.

He looked at me. "Not going to the Shadowcrest Pack anymore?"

I nodded. "Yeah. Dad, I want to go to one of the neutral packs in another land."

My mother was shaking with rage, but one look from my father silenced her.

"If you want to go, then go," my father said. "It's about time you made a decision for yourself. Good for you."

His voice was steady. "Don't worry. I'll talk to Damien's father about the ceremony."

Just then, an urgent mind-link pierced my thoughts.

It was my mentor, the elder Luna, Isla.

“Elena! We're under attack. Vicious rogues. We can't hold them off much longer! I know you don't like to ask, but... can you ask your Alpha to send warriors? Please?”

I hesitated.

Isla immediately sensed my reluctance, her voice filling with apology.

“I'm sorry, Elena. I'm just so desperate. You told me you don't like using your connection like that. I'm sorry, I'll figure something out.”

I sighed. "Teacher, I'm on my way."

Ten minutes later, I arrived at the territory that Isla lived in.

The battle was worse than I had imagined.

I asked a wounded sentry why the Shadowcrest patrols hadn't noticed anything.

The sentry gasped that Damien's most elite Beta guards had all been reassigned to serve as "sparring partners" for Lilith's pack.

To ensure her first patrol as a new leader went off without a hitch.

Lilith didn't have the authority to command the Beta guard.

I knew it was Damien's doing.

Every warriors in the north was sworn to him.

I hurled myself against our mind-link, only to slam into a wall of ice.

He was blocking me.

I had no choice but to run to the end point of Lilith's patrol route and wait.

After what felt like an eternity, Damien finally appeared.

He was carrying Lilith, who had suffered a "minor injury" in her "battle."

He saw me, and a flicker of shock crossed his face, quickly replaced by concern. "What are you doing here? It's dangerous!"

I ran to him, grabbing his arm. "My mentor Isla's family is being slaughtered—"

Before I could finish, Lilith moaned in his arms, complaining of pain.

Damien gave me a complicated look.

The next second, he shook my hand off and strode toward his command tent.

I stumbled after him, stopping just outside.

I saw him gently lay Lilith on a bed of soft furs before turning his attention to a tactical map on the table.

I burst in. "Damien! My mentor's family is about to be wiped out. It's an emergency. Can you please send someone to check?"

He looked up, a flash of raw pain in his golden eyes. "I heard you. But Lilith's patrol was just ambushed. I can't leave."

He took a deep breath, as if trying to steady himself. "But my mother is waiting for you to prepare for the marking ceremony. Can you go get ready? I'll handle things here as soon as I can."

"But Isla's family..." I pressed. "Can't you just send a squad to check on them?"

Damien sighed, a hint of impatience in his voice.

"Lilith just went through a fight. Her nerves are shot. I'm worried she'll have nightmares. She needs my Alpha presence to calm her."

My heart ached, but I kept pushing. "Then can you spare just one unit?"

Damien shook his head. "They have to stay here to protect Lilith and packmates. I won't allow any mistakes."

My wolf cried bitterly. "Damien! Where is your compassion? Our pack mates are being slaughtered! As the Alpha of the Pack, don't you have a duty to at least investigate?"

He seemed stunned that I would cry.

"Elena, I've told you so many times." He wasn't looking at me, but staring at the map as if it were his only salvation.

"Emotion is a fatal flaw for an Alpha. If I make one exception, the entire order of the Pack will collapse."

His voice was cold, as if he were reciting a code carved into his bones.

"If Isla's family can't defend itself... then they are too weak to survive. That is the law of our world."

My voice went soft, cracking with tears.

I wanted to fall to my knees and beg him, if it would save Isla's family.

"Isla is the only mentor I've ever had... I'm begging you!"

My plea made him flinch.

He snapped his head toward me, his eyes a war of pain and indecision, but mostly the rage of a man cornered.

"Don't do this, Elena." His voice was hoarse. "Don't use this against me... you know I..." He trailed off.

For a heart-stopping second, he hesitated, his gaze flicking toward the tent flap as if to summon a Beta.

He was going to do it.

He was going to help.

But then a weak groan came from within the tent. "Damien... are you there? I'm so scared..."

Damien shot to his feet, instantly forgetting me.

"If their position is that compromised, tell them to relocate," he threw over his shoulder. "Assuming any of them live long enough to try."

He turned and disappeared into the inner part of the tent.

Leaving the camp, I walked out into the biting wind.

I suddenly realized that I might not even be able to save the one person I respected most in the world.