Chapter 3

A kind Healer sneaks me a fresh bottle.

My pup drinks it down like she's starving. Her thin little eyelids drift shut. Finally, she sleeps.

But not even an hour later, two wolves out in the corridor start shouting at each other over some spilled tonic, and she jolts awake, wailing.

I've got no choice. I bundle her up and carry her down to Thane's chamber at the back of the Den.

"I want to put in a request for a room."

"Denied."

He doesn't even look up from the herb scroll in his hand.

"Too many eyes on me in here. I'm not pulling rank to hand you a room."

Fine. I'll take less.

"Then can we at least rest in your chamber for a bit?"

"No one can call it favoritism if we stay in your space."

Thane looks up.

"If you two camp out in here, how am I supposed to work?"

Since the day I met him, I've known Thane was a workaholic. He barely ever answered my mind-links. When he did, it was one word. Noted. That was it.

I thought he was like that with everyone.

But right in front of me, when Willa's mind-link pings, he opens it on the first pulse.

Voice soft. Warm. Almost tender.

"It's fine, I'll come settle the pup, don't worry."

"Work? Work's nothing next to you."

So he does know how to soothe a pup.

Our pup has been alive for two days and he hasn't held her once.

I grab his sleeve.

Something in me needs an answer.

"Thane. Why does Willa get the Luna's Chamber and your own pup and I sleep in a hallway?"

He looks down at me. His eyes go so cold I take a step back on instinct.

"You seriously going to sit there and pretend you don't know?"

"That winter you lost your temper and shoved Willa into a frozen pond. You wrecked her wolf. She can't even shift straight anymore."

"If I hadn't taken care of her under my own hands, she'd be dead."

"Selene. You just can't stand the thought of her happy, can you?"

I open my mouth. Nothing comes out.

I've said it a hundred times. I didn't push her.

But they only ever believe the girl who cries. They handed down my sentence years ago.

When I stay quiet, Thane's mouth twists into a thin, cold smile.

"That right there. That's the difference between you and Willa."

"If she saw you happy, she'd be glad for you."

"You? You're never satisfied. Always jealous. Always losing it over nothing."

I shake my head. Tears burning. I reach out to touch him.

My hand grabs air.

He was the one who pulled me against him and said he wanted a pup. His arms around my waist. His idea. I thought we were finding our way back to each other.

I never realized we were walking straight to the split in the road.

I hold my pup closer and keep my voice quiet.

"If I'm this awful, I'll stop hanging on you."

"Thane. Let's break the bond."

His back goes stiff.

Maybe I imagined it.

I finally gave him the words. He should be over the moon.

I've been standing too long. Pain flares low in my belly. I lean on the edge of the table and breathe through it.

I pull the door open. A young apprentice is waiting outside.

"Selene, Healer Blackwood said to bring you somewhere quiet."

The girl sneaks a look at me. Then, quiet, sly:

"So what is Healer Blackwood to you, exactly?"

"Word is he called in a big favor with another Healer just to get you this room."

I press my lips together.

I give him exactly what he wants to hear.

"Just a friend."

Finally. Somewhere quiet to sleep.

I pat my pup's back and hum her down, slow and easy.

But bit by bit.

The warmth in my palm starts to feel wrong.