Chapter 3

The advocate my father sent was Elder Morwenna Ashe. Silver-haired, four centuries old, and the most feared voice in the Moon Court. She had ruined three Alphas who thought they were untouchable.

She looked at me over her spectacles. "Three years mated. No blood contract?"

"He said contracts would taint the bond."

Her mouth twitched. "How romantic. That makes this simple."

She laid it out. Under Moon Law, a Luna who proves bond-betrayal can reject her mate before the Court. And without a blood contract, she has the right to claim half of everything the Alpha holds. Land. Gold. Authority.

"Do you want it?" she asked.

"I don't want his gold. I want out. Clean and fast."

"Most Lunas in your position want blood."

"I'm not most Lunas."

What I didn't say: the Valemont treasury could buy his entire territory a hundred times over. This was never about money. It was about walking away with my spine intact.

That afternoon, I went back to the Alpha house one last time. Hidden under the floorboards of my old sewing room were my mother's letters. The only proof of who I really was.

Caleb was out. But the house wasn't empty.

Vanessa stood in my kitchen. Wearing my robe. Drinking from my favorite mug. Her free hand rested on her flat stomach.

She jumped when she saw me. "Seraphina! I was just picking up some files for Caleb—"

"In my robe?"

Her cheeks flushed. Then the mask slipped, and I saw what was underneath. Not guilt.

Satisfaction. She wanted me to know. She'd wanted it for months.

"I know this looks bad," she said, setting the mug down slowly. "But Caleb and I have a connection. Neither of us planned it."

I knelt, pried up the loose board, and pulled out the bundle of letters.

"You can have him," I said. "But a word of advice? A wolf who strays with you will stray from you."

Her smirk wobbled.

I stood to leave. Then she called after me, her voice dripping with fake sweetness.

"Seraphina. I'm sorry about your pup. Caleb told me." A pause. "He said maybe it was for the best. That the Goddess knew which of us was meant to carry his heir."

I froze.

He told her. While I was bleeding alone, he was in bed with her, and at some point he mentioned, casually, that his Luna had lost their child. And they decided it was fate.

Rage rushed through me so hot I tasted iron. Under the pendant, my wolf snarled, clawing to get out. One shift and I could have torn the room apart.

I didn't turn around. I wouldn't give her that.

"Keep the robe," I said. "It never suited me anyway."

In the car, my hands shook so badly I couldn't hold the wheel. I sat there for ten minutes, breathing, until my phone rang.

My father.

"The Guard is three hours out. Your mother has already aired out your old chambers."

"Not yet, Papa. I have something to finish."

"Seraphina—"

"Trust me."

A long pause. "I always have. But if he hurts you again, I stop being patient."

I knew what that meant. Lycan Kings don't threaten. They erase.

"Give me a week."

"You have three days."

That night, Caleb finally called. Not to apologize. To scold me.

"Vanessa says you came to the house and frightened her. She's carrying, Sera. You can't stress her like that."

I pulled the phone from my ear and stared at it.

"Your mistress is stressed," I said slowly. "And you're calling me."

"She's not my—" He stopped. Started over. "We need to have a serious talk."

"Agreed. My advocate will be in touch."

"Your what?"

I hung up. He called back seven times in two minutes. Then a text:

"Don't do anything stupid. No pack will ever take in a rejected stray. You have no idea what you're throwing away."

I typed one line.

"Neither do you."