Chapter 3

I shut off my phone and sat alone in the empty mansion all night.

By morning, the lock turned.

Cassian was back. His suit reeked of another she-wolf, and the marks down his neck were impossible to miss.

He froze when he saw me sitting stiff on the couch. Then he rubbed his head, annoyed.

"Wren. Don't tell me you sat here all night waiting on me."

I opened my mouth. My voice came out rough. "You gonna shower?"

He went still, taking in my pale face and bloodshot eyes. His brow pulled tight, and he threw his coat aside.

But there was a flicker of pleasure he couldn't hide as he came over and tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

"I get it. You're like this because you lost the Trial."

"Winner takes all—that's the rule. By the rules, that was the hundredth round, and Aria won. I should be marking her."

He paused, then pulled a massive pink diamond ring out of his pocket and pressed a kiss to my neck.

"But you're mine. So I'll let you run one more round to win the Luna's place back. Call it a privilege. Just for you."

"So next time—win."

Win?

It was almost funny.

I'd had a fair shot. He was the one who pulled the crown off my head and handed it to Aria.

I remembered the rule plain as day: the winner of the final round becomes his mate. Aria won. This ring was just a scrap thrown my way.

Something moved in his eyes—a flicker of a dare. His mouth curved.

"What, Wren? Not happy? You used to fight like your life was on the line to win me."

He was sure I'd cry. That I'd rage, demand answers, like every she-wolf he'd cut before me.

But I just lifted my eyes, my voice flat, like I was talking about a stranger. "No. I don't care."

"Cassian. From now on, I'm out."

His face froze. The smile stayed put, but something murderous flashed under it.

"Out? Say that again."

I raised my head and held his stare, calm. "Cassian. Your Trials. I'm done."

"I'll leave. I won't cling. You're free to have Aria."

His breath caught. His hands shot out and gripped my arms—and right then his phone buzzed in his pocket.

He answered. Whatever they said set him off. "You lay a hand on her and I'll have your lives!"

He hung up, eyes gone black, and clamped down on my wrist hard enough to crush bone.

"That hurts! Cassian, what—"

He hauled me to the car without a word, his voice cold as ice.

"You're coming with me. Look at what you've done."

I stumbled as he dragged me, shoved into the car before I could get a word out.

He drove fast, jaw tight the whole way, not explaining a thing.

The car stopped at an abandoned outpost near the pack border. I stared, dazed, at Aria—tied hand and foot, blood at the corner of her mouth.

Cassian rushed over, cut her loose, and crushed her against him, his eyes red with worry.

"Aria. Don't be scared. I won't let anything happen to you."

She sobbed into him, then turned a timid little look on me.

"Miss Wren, if you want me to stay away from Cassian, I will. But why'd you have somebody jump me?"

I breathed in and looked only at him.

"Cassian, I didn't send anyone after her. Do you believe me?"

He lifted Aria into his arms, holding her like he was shielding her from the whole world.

But the look he turned on me was full of open disgust and disappointment.

"She's an orphan. She never starts anything. Who else would touch her, except the one who's sore about losing?"

"You bet and you lost, Wren. Pulling dirty tricks just means you can't take it."

I clenched my fists till my nails cut into my palms. "Cassian, I told you—I didn't!"

"Cassian." Aria's voice was barely above a whisper, broken with sobs. "It's okay. I don't blame Wren. She just loves you too much."

He gave a cold laugh and turned to go with Aria in his arms—then called over a few pack warriors.

"Tell me. A disobedient old Luna—how should we deal with her?"