Chapter 2

Dustin's pupils contracted sharply.

Gabriella accepted the earrings and froze, so stunned that even her tears stopped.

I looked at Dustin. There was nothing left in my eyes.

"I've apologized. I've given her everything she wanted. Can I leave now?"

His lips tightened, a deep crease forming between his brows. He opened his mouth, but before he could speak, Gabriella whimpered and leaned weakly against him.

"When Delia pushed me, I twisted my ankle. I think it's swelling."

Dustin immediately lifted her into his arms and carried her to a chair.

Then the future Alpha of the Delgado Pack crouched at her feet and gently rubbed her injured ankle with hands that had wielded blades against rival wolves and signed blood treaties with powerful clans.

The movement was practiced.

As though he'd done it countless times before.

Soon, the musicians began playing again. Goblets clinked and laughter filled the Great Hall, the banquet continuing as though nothing had happened.

I turned toward the stairs, leaving behind the candlelight, wine, and celebration that no longer had anything to do with me.

Dustin's gaze followed me until I disappeared upstairs.

Back in my chamber, I found the healing draught the pack healer had prescribed and swallowed it with cold water.

The moment it went down, my stomach cramped violently.

I gritted my teeth until the pain eased, then cleaned my still-bleeding earlobes with a cloth soaked in healing spirits.

The mirror reflected a face drained of color.

For once, I didn't bother pretending to be strong.

Even the deepest love could die.

Even one that had lasted ten years.

Exhaustion dragged me into darkness.

But sometime during the night, I dreamed of nine years ago, when Dustin and I had still loved each other.

The Delgado Pack had been falling apart then.

Dustin, born outside the Alpha's official bloodline, had been despised by the elders and tormented by Marvin at every turn. He was watched constantly, forbidden from leaving the inner territory without permission.

Every day was a struggle to survive.

On my nineteenth birthday, he climbed over the eastern wall in the middle of the night and risked punishment just to see me.

Hidden beneath his cloak was a small honey cake he'd baked himself.

His chest was burned red from carrying it while it was still hot.

When he placed it in my hands, warmth still lingered in the crust.

My eyes filled with tears.

"Why would you do something so foolish? If I wanted cake, I could have asked the kitchens for one."

"And you shouldn't have sneaked out. If Marvin discovers this, he'll punish you again."

Dustin held my hands tightly, his eyes red.

"Delia, this is all I can give you now."

His voice was low but fierce.

"But I swear by the Moon Goddess, one day I'll make sure every day of your life is happy."

I ate that honey cake through my tears.

It was warm and sweet.

The best thing I'd ever tasted.

Somewhere between dreaming and waking, I felt fingers brush across my forehead.

I curled tighter beneath the blankets.

"Dustin..."

My voice was barely a whisper.

"I want honey cake."

I thought I was still dreaming.

But when I opened my eyes, a tray rested beside the bed.

On it sat a freshly baked chocolate honey cake, my favorite.

Dustin was sitting at the edge of the mattress.

"You're awake?"

His gaze moved over my face.

"How did you get this thin? Anyone who saw you would think the Delgado Pack had been starving you."

They hadn't.

I'd never lacked food, clothing, or servants.

I stared at the cake.

But I didn't want it anymore.

Just as I no longer wanted the man who had brought it.

Why come here now?

Was cruelty supposed to disappear simply because he offered me something sweet afterward?

"My stomach hurts. I can't eat."

Dustin reached out and pulled me against him.

My body stiffened immediately.

I tried to move away, but his arms tightened around me.

Then his palm settled over my abdomen.

Warmth spread slowly from his hand as his wolf's healing energy seeped into me.

"Don't move."

His voice softened.

"Let me ease the pain. I used to do this whenever you were sick. Remember?"

The pain was too severe to fight him.

I stopped struggling and let my head fall against him.

Silence stretched between us.

Then Dustin suddenly asked, "Why didn't you fight back downstairs?"

I lowered my eyes.

My voice held no emotion.

"You're always telling me to remember my place. I gave Gabriella the Blood Jade Bracelet and the earrings. Isn't that what you wanted?"

Something complicated flickered across Dustin's face.

He caught my chin and turned me toward him.

The moment he leaned closer, I smelled perfume on his clothes.

Gabriella's.

Sweet and overpowering.

My stomach twisted.

"Gabriella and her father helped me when I needed allies most," Dustin said. "I owe her family a great debt. Taking care of her is the least I can do."

His thumb brushed my jaw.

"But if you remain beside me and behave, you won't lack anything. Jewels, servants, land, whatever you want."

His gaze softened as though he believed he was being generous.

"You've been obedient lately."

He leaned closer.

"I'll stay with you tonight. Consider it your reward."

A reward.

As though I were some pet kept inside the Alpha's chambers, expected to be grateful whenever its master remembered to show affection.

Before I could push him away, a weak voice came from the corridor.

"Dustin? My head is spinning. Are you in there?"

The door opened almost immediately.

Gabriella stopped on the threshold.

Her face turned white when she saw Dustin holding me on the bed.

"What... what are you doing?"

Dustin released me instantly.

Without hesitation, he pushed me away.

I lost my balance and struck the stone floor hard enough to make my vision blur.

"Delia's stomach was hurting. I was only helping her."

The explanation came too quickly.

As though Gabriella had caught us committing some shameful betrayal.

Her eyes filled with tears.

She stepped closer and looked down at me.

"But Delia has always been healthy. I've never heard of her suffering from any illness."

Dustin went still.

Then his eyes narrowed.

When he looked at me again, all the tenderness from moments ago had vanished.

Suspicion replaced it.

"Delia."

His voice turned cold.

"Are you actually sick?"

A pause.

"Or was this another performance to make me stay?"

I slowly pushed myself up from the floor.

My lips parted.

Before I could say a word, Dustin cut me off.

"You're exactly the same as before."

His expression twisted with disgust.

"Always pretending. Always finding some way to manipulate me."

His eyes were colder than the winter forests beyond the territory.

"God, Delia. You're good at this."

His final word landed like a blade.

"Disgusting."

I had stopped expecting anything from him long ago.

Or at least, I thought I had.

But even with my heart buried somewhere too deep to reach, those words still made it ache.