Chapter 2

I stepped aside quickly.

She blinked, startled. Then the tears came—instant and perfect.

"Sister, do you not like what I've brought you?"

"I knelt before the Moon Goddess for forty-nine days to earn this blessing for you and the Alpha."

"I know you think I'm beneath you—just an orphan girl, and you'd naturally look down on anything I offer."

At those words, several lunas at the table immediately softened.

"What a sincere gift. And yet you greet it with a cold face. Well, I suppose none of us will dare give you anything from now on."

"Rescued from the battlefield—what a kind-hearted girl. And here the luna makes her look like the villain."

…

I had no choice but to force a smile and say I appreciated both the sentiment and the gift. My hair was already pinned with a comb, I explained. It would be awkward to swap things out now.

Bella dabbed her eyes and looked at me with wounded dignity.

"A humble gift, given with a full heart. My gem hairband may not compare to your jeweled comb, Sister—but I scraped my knees raw kneeling in prayer for it."

"I only ask that you try it on for a moment. It would suit you so beautifully."

It was clear she would not relent until I wore it.

At that very moment, a slave with no wolf stepped into the hall, head bowed respectfully toward Harlan.

"My lord Alpha, I come at the Luna Queen's command to escort the Luna to the palace for a flower-viewing."

My heart lurched.

It was little Finn—the one who had dug me out of the mass grave and given me a proper burial in my past life.

Finn glanced at me with quiet concern.

I seized the opportunity to excuse myself—but Bella surged forward and caught my arm.

"Sister, let me put the gem hairbands on before you go to see the Luna Queen. It wouldn't do to outshine her with that jeweled comb, would it?"

She reached for my hair again.

Then Finn spoke, his tone carefully neutral.

"This young lady looks familiar. Weren't there dancers brought from the northern territories last year? I believe I've seen her before."

Bella froze.

Then she recovered quickly, her smile plastered back into place.

"You must be mistaken. I am an orphan the Alpha rescued from the battlefield. I don't dance."

Finn said nothing more.

I took my chance.

"Since the Luna Queen has summoned me, I'll go at once." I turned to Bella with a placid smile. "We can worry about the gem hairbands when I return, Sister."

I moved toward the door. Bella grabbed my sleeve.

"Are you running from me, Sister? It only takes a moment to put on a hairband. How much time could it possibly waste?"

Then she swayed—and crashed into Finn.

"You—you dared touch me!" she shrieked, clutching her side, tears streaming down her face.

The lunas at the table erupted.

"In broad daylight—a worthless slave daring to lay hands on someone from the Alpha's Gem Pack!"

"A creature like that deserves to be beaten to death!"

Bella wept with breathtaking beauty, her voice trembling.

"I may be lowborn, but I am a clean and honest woman. To be violated like this—I'd rather die than endure it!"

She lurched as if to throw herself against the stone pillar. Harlan shot to his feet and caught her, pulling her into his arms.

Finn had gone chalk-white. He dropped to his knees.

"I didn't touch her! She lost her balance and nearly fell. I reached out to steady her—I never made contact!"

Bella only wept harder.

Harlan's voice was ice.

"Drag this slave out and give him fifty lashes, then send him to the punishment chamber."

I stepped forward quickly. "My lord, he was sent by the Luna Queen herself. If he is beaten—or worse—in our Gem Pack, how will we answer to her?"

Bella choked out a sob and cut in.

"Why is Sister defending an outsider? Unless…unless it was Sister he was touching, and Sister enjoyed it?"

The malice in those words was razor-sharp. She was implying, openly, that Finn and I had something between us.

Harlan's gaze slid to me, and something cold and shadowed moved through it.

I opened my mouth—but Finn spoke first, pressing his forehead to the floor.

"My lord, I accept whatever punishment you see fit."

"I only ask that you spare my life, for the Luna Queen's sake, so I may return and fulfill my duty."

Something clenched tight in my chest.

If I pleaded for him, it would prove the accusation. Finn was protecting me.

I was trembling with fury.

My eyes fell on the wooden gem hairband still in Bella's hand, and an idea took shape.

She wanted to swap bodies and destinies with me.

Then I would give her something very specific in return.

I looked at Finn. I wondered if he would understand what I needed from him.