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Iris Ashborne POV

“Luna Iris, please! You can't go to him!”

Nora caught up with me outside my chambers and grabbed my cloak. When I kept walking, she hurried in front of me and blocked my path.

“Nora, keep your voice down.”

She checked both ends of the corridor before moving closer.

“Then please come back with me. We can think of another way.” Her voice trembled.

Nora had been my maid for years. She'd followed me from Ashborne when I married Rowan. I'd never seen her this frightened.

“The Council will be here in three days,” I reminded her. “You know what that means.”

A few hours ago, I'd received their formal notice of pregnancy verification. Days earlier, I'd claimed to be pregnant. Now they wanted proof.

I'd known from the beginning that there was no child.

“I know,” Nora whispered.

“Then you know I can't wait.”

“But Lord Cassian is your husband's own uncle!”

Her voice rose. She caught herself and glanced down the corridor.

“What if he tells someone what you're asking? You'll be ruined. Why does it have to be him?”

“Because he's the only one who can help me.”

“He could postpone the verification. Ask him for that. Nothing more.”

“And after that?”

Nora fell silent.

I stepped around her and continued toward the west wing. She hurried after me.

“Your father said you could come home whenever you wanted,” she pleaded. “We can leave tonight. He won't force you to stay in this marriage.”

“I know he'd take me back.”

“Then why won't you go?”

I stopped and turned to her.

“Because going home won't keep him safe. I almost lost him once already.”

“That's why I'm begging you to leave! Do you know how much it would hurt him if he knew what you were planning?”

My husband, Alpha Rowan Blackthorn, had disappeared on the seventh day of our marriage. Nearly a month had passed, and none of Blackthorn's search parties had found him.

“Father was attacked while searching for Rowan.”

“You were there when I begged them to help. Do you remember what they said?”

Nora didn't answer.

“No one could move without Cassian's orders. Those soldiers were already in Ashborne! They could have saved him first and explained afterward.”

“But they did go in the end...”

“Because I lied and told them I was carrying the Alpha's heir.”

I could still see those twelve soldiers riding out. I'd barely dared believe they were finally going to save my father.

“They hadn't cared when I begged them as Blackthorn's Luna. They only listened when I told them I was carrying the Alpha's heir.”

Tears slipped down Nora's cheeks.

“You only said it because you had no choice...”

“And I still don't.”

“A child who never existed saved my father's life. What if I actually had one?”

With an heir, Blackthorn would have a reason to keep protecting my family, even if Rowan never returned.

“A child is the cure.”

Nora seized my wrist so tightly that it hurt.

“Nora?”

“What about you, Iris?”

It had been a long time since she'd called me by my name.

“What if Lord Cassian refuses? What if Rowan comes back?”

Her fingers trembled against my skin.

“What if they find out the child isn't Rowan's?”

“You want to save everyone, but who's going to save you?”

I'd prepared an answer. I wanted to tell her I'd thought about the consequences and was willing to accept them. But with her hand shaking around my wrist, I couldn't bring myself to say it.

Footsteps approached.

Nora released me as two patrolling guards turned the corner. She stepped back beside me and straightened the collar she'd pulled out of place. Her movements were as practiced as ever.

“Can we please go back?” she whispered.

“Luna Iris.”

The guards bowed as they passed.

Once they were gone, Nora let her hand fall. My wrist still ached. I said nothing and smoothed the windblown fabric on her shoulder.

“I'm not going to Cassian because I want to betray Rowan.”

“I know,” she said at once. “That's what makes this harder.”

There had never been love between Rowan and me. He hadn't been an attentive husband, but I'd never wished him dead.

I still hoped he was alive somewhere in the north, injured and waiting to be found. If he came home, our marriage could continue. I could explain my lie to him myself.

But what if he came back tomorrow, after I'd gone through with this? How would I face him?

“Nora, I want Rowan to come home.”

“Then wait for him a little longer.”

“I've waited a month.” I took her hand. “I'll keep waiting. But the Council won't.”

She held my hand for a moment before letting go.

I started walking again. This time, Nora followed without trying to stop me.

The west wing was quiet. Wind slipped through the tall windows and stirred the flames of the wall lamps.

Two guards stood before the black-iron door to Cassian's private quarters. They bowed when they saw me.

“I need to see Lord Cassian.”

“I'm sorry, Luna. He isn't receiving visitors tonight.”

“Please tell him it's urgent.”

“No one may enter without his permission.”

The guard spoke respectfully, but he didn't move aside.

“When Father was dying, I couldn't even get Blackthorn's soldiers to help him. Now I can't get through a door?”

“Am I Blackthorn's Luna or not?”

The guard bowed more deeply.

“Even Alpha Rowan would need Lord Cassian's permission to enter, Luna.”

Rowan held the Alpha title. Cassian held the real power. I knew that, but hearing it here still stung.

The guards were only following orders. Arguing wouldn't get me inside.

“Then I'll wait until he sees me.”

“He may work until morning.”

“Then I'll wait until morning.”

Cold wind found its way beneath my cloak. I sent Nora back for two thick wool shawls. When she returned, I made sure she wrapped one around herself.

We were still waiting when the door opened. Edwin, Cassian's butler, stepped into the corridor.

“Luna Iris? Why are you waiting out here?”

“The guards haven't done anything wrong,” I said. “I insisted on waiting.”

“Is something wrong, Luna?”

“I need to speak to Lord Cassian. Privately.”

He led me away from the guards.

“The Council will verify my pregnancy in three days. After that, I may not even have a place in Blackthorn anymore. Please, Edwin. I need Lord Cassian's help.”

Edwin looked at me for a moment.

“I'll speak to him.”

He went inside. Nora came over and warmed my cold hands between hers.

“Have you really made up your mind?”

“Yes.”

At last, Edwin returned and held the iron door open.

“Lord Cassian will see you. Alone.”

Nora straightened my cloak one last time.

“I'll be right here.”

I followed Edwin inside.

Edwin led me past the guards in the inner corridor and knocked on a dark wooden door.

“Come in.”

He opened the door for me, then withdrew.

Cassian sat behind a desk by the window. Reports covered its surface, partly concealing a map of the northern territories. He was reading a document and didn't stand when I entered.

He glanced up. The wolf inside me went quiet, bowing her head to his power. Not even Rowan had ever drawn such a strong response from her.

“If this is about Rowan, I've already sent someone I trust to find him.”

Cassian turned a page.

“You can go back to your room.”

I remained where I was.

I'd rehearsed this moment countless times. Yet standing before him, I struggled to find the words.

“I'm not here about Rowan.”

The rustle of paper stopped.

“Then why are you here?”

I approached the desk.

“The Council sent the pregnancy verification notice.”

“I'm not pregnant.”

He set the document aside and gave me his full attention.

“Then why did you tell them you were?”

“Because I had to.”

“That isn't an answer.”

I didn't explain. Cassian didn't press me.

“What do you need?”

Of everything I'd come to ask, this was the easiest part.

“Delay the verification.”

“You think because I arranged this marriage, I'm responsible for keeping it alive?”

“You did more than arrange it.”

“When the other Packs came for Ashborne's mines, you led Blackthorn's soldiers against them. Blackthorn needed our iron. Father needed protection that would last beyond one battle. So he offered a marriage.”

Cassian finished the thought for me.

“He put his favorite daughter's marriage on the negotiating table. And I accepted.”

“Yes. Because the marriage tied our interests together. It gave Blackthorn a reason to keep protecting our mines and trade routes.”

“If Rowan comes back, the marriage continues. If he leaves an heir, the bond between our Packs survives.”

“But right now, I have neither Rowan nor a child.”

“So you want me to preserve the alliance?”

“I want more time to find a way.”

“Suppose I delay the verification.” He leaned back in his chair. “Then what? Will that make you pregnant?”

I knew exactly what I wanted to ask him next. I just wasn't ready to say it aloud.

“Or do you expect me to find you another man's child?”

“No. I won't ask Blackthorn to accept a child with no Blackthorn blood as its heir.”

“At least you understand that.”

“I do.”

If the child became Blackthorn's heir, his father's identity would matter. It could even put him in danger.

I couldn't choose just any man and hope the child's father would never become a threat.

I'd heard rumors that Cassian was supposed to become Blackthorn's Alpha, but had been forced to step aside for Rowan.

Perhaps he wanted an heir of his own. But what if I was wrong?

“A child of yours would carry Blackthorn blood.”

Cassian didn't move.

“That's why the child has to be yours.”

The silk of my gown gathered in my fist.

“I need a child from you.”

A log shifted in the hearth. Cassian remained behind his desk, his document untouched. His scent grew stronger, and my wolf bowed her head even lower.

“Have you lost your mind?”

“No.”

“Not happening.”

He picked up the document again.

“Go back to your room, Iris.”