Chapter 3

The dull thud of a lash came from the dungeon.

In my past life, he had buried my body. In this life, he was taking my punishment.

What could I do for him?

Help him escape that broken body. Give him freedom.

Just then, a maidservant hurried in to find me.

"The slave with no wolf has lost consciousness. Do they continue?"

My stomach dropped.

"What does the Alpha say?"

"The Alpha is with Miss Bella. He gave no order to stop."

No order to stop meant an order to kill.

Bella wanted Finn silenced permanently.

I spun toward the dungeon—but Bella's voice stopped me cold.

She appeared at the far end of the corridor, two maidservants trailing behind her.

"If you go to him now, Sister, everything said at the table today becomes truth."

I laughed, sharp and hollow.

"You're right, Sister. What do I care whether that slave lives or dies?"

I glanced at the gem hairbands in her hand.

"About those gem hairbands, Sister—do you still want to put them on me?"

Bella's eyes lit up. She thrust the wooden band toward me.

"You'll wear it?"

I took it from her, then let out a slow sigh.

"Tomorrow is the anniversary of my mother's death. I'll be going to the Temple of the Moon Goddess to pay my respects."

"If you truly mean what you say, Sister, come with me tomorrow. We'll stand before the Moon Goddess together, and you can put the gem hairbands on me yourself—as a proper offering."

A flicker of suspicion crossed Bella's face, but it drowned quickly in triumph.

She probably thought I was afraid of the gossip and needed an excuse to save face.

"Very well. I'll go with you tomorrow."

She smiled exactly the way she had when she won, in my past life.

I nodded, turned, and walked back inside.

"Aren't you going to the dungeon, Sister?"

"No."

Finn had already lost consciousness. Going now would not save him.

Pleading would only confirm what Bella had implied—and hand her exactly what she wanted.

But I had another way.

I went straight to my room and wrote a letter, pressing it into a trusted maidservant's hands to be delivered to the palace in secret.

The Luna Queen might not care much about the life of one lowly slave—but she cared a great deal about her dignity.

Her own man had been beaten in another pack's territory. Sooner or later, she would ask questions.