When My Mate Wore Obsidian, I Was Done With Him

Because of Dora's cold-sickness, I had no choice but to bring her back to the pack early.

By the time we arrived, her little face was flushed scarlet, and she was coughing violently against my chest.

The moment we stepped inside the pack territory, Cassian took one look at her and his expression cracked with concern. Then his eyes turned on me — and the concern turned into blame.

"This is how you take care of our daughter?"

He didn't wait for me to answer. He yanked her out of my arms and rushed her toward the pack healing center.

I went home and put together a meal for her, something nourishing.

But when I walked into the healing center, happy at the thought of seeing her, what I heard was my daughter complaining:

"It's all Mommy's fault for giving me this awful body!"

"If she hadn't, I wouldn't have had to come back so soon!"

Then she leaned closer to Cassian, voice bright with pride:

"Daddy! These last few days in the North, I put scent-blocker in Mommy's water every day! Aren't I clever? Now she won't get in the way of your dates with Auntie Kayla!"

"Mommy is so annoying! I wish Auntie Kayla were my mommy!"

For a moment, I couldn't move.

Then I thought of the vial of scent-blocker I had just pulled out of her backpack while packing.

I started shaking with rage.

My mind clawed for the name of the woman who had broken my family.

My eyes drifted lower. There it was — the cheap obsidian band on Cassian's wrist.

He'd told me it was a birthday gift from his secretary, Kayla.

Every birthday gift I had ever given him — every expensive, careful one — when had he ever treasured them like that?

A wave of shame and fury swallowed me whole.

So this was it. One of them my husband. One of them my daughter.

Both of them wanting that woman to take my place.

Then let her take it.

I was a princess of the Blood Moon Pack. I do not keep things that have been soiled.

I don't want a husband who's been touched. I certainly don't want a daughter who chose against me.

Cassian must have felt my eyes on him. He turned.

"Eva? When did you get here?"

"You should have said something."

His gaze flickered everywhere but mine.

Dora froze for a second, then quickly switched to her sweetest voice.

"Mommy! You came to see me? Did you bring something good to eat?"

I shifted out of the way of her hug. Her small body locked in midair, stiff.

I felt nothing. Not pity. If anything, I almost laughed.

I turned back to Cassian and said, evenly:

"Obsidian really does outshine moonstone. It suits you — cheap matches cheap."