Chapter 2

By the time Caelan brought me home from the hospital, his family had already decided what would happen to me after I lost my wolf.

I found out before anyone thought to ask me.

The healer refused to let me travel until the following evening, so Caelan took me back to the Alpha house and helped me upstairs, one hand steady at my waist whenever my legs weakened.

"You need to rest," he said before leaving me in the hallway.

His concern sounded real.

That was almost worse.

Caelan could worry about whether I was strong enough to climb the stairs and still believe he had every right to decide what happened to my body.

"I can walk," I said.

He hesitated before letting go.

"I’ll check on you later."

I watched him disappear down the hallway.

Then I kept walking.

The study door was partly open.

Maris’s voice stopped me before I passed it.

"Her wolf could be gone for months."

I stayed in the shadow beside the doorway.

Caelan answered quietly. "The healer said Lyra should wake eventually."

"Talia and Milo need to remain in the Alpha wing," Maris said. "Especially while the baby is still being monitored. Moving them back and forth is unnecessary. Rhea should move to the east rooms while she recovers. They’re quieter."

Our wing.

I had chosen the nursery at the end of that corridor three years ago, long before Caelan and I stopped talking about children because every border crisis, every pack emergency, every healing seemed more urgent.

Now, My husband’s former lover would move into the rooms I had shared with him. Their child would be raised under the same roof.

I would recover somewhere out of the way, then return when Blackwood needed my power again.

Maris finally asked the only question that mattered.

"What happens when Rhea understands what you did?"

Caelan sighed.

"She’ll be angry. She has every right to be."

For one second, I waited for more.

Instead, he added, "But she won’t leave."

"She’s my mate. She loves Blackwood. Six years of marriage don’t disappear because she’s hurt."

The certainty in his voice made my fingers tighten against the wall.

I stepped away from the door.

In our bedroom, Caelan’s watch was still on the dresser and the book I had been reading the night before remained open beside the bed. Everything looked exactly the same.

I crossed to the cabinet and pulled down a small wooden box I had not opened in years.

My father’s Alpha ring lay inside.

Six years ago, I had taken it off because I chose Caelan and Blackwood over the position waiting for me in Silverpine.

Back then, I had not believed I was surrendering anything. I thought I was building a life with my mate.

I lifted the ring.

The silver felt heavy in my palm.

I slipped it into my pocket and opened the old family mind-link.

Mother. When will your people arrive?

Tomorrow evening, Selene answered. Before moonrise.

Good.

I had just closed the connection when the bedroom door opened.

Caelan closed the door quietly and came toward me.

"Maris said you were awake long enough to hear some of us talking at the hospital."

So he knew there was no point pretending anymore.

"Talia came to me months ago. She told me Milo was mine shortly before he was born. I had tests done. I confirmed it."

Caelan reached for my hand. "He was dying, Rhea. A pack cannot survive without a strong heir. I didn't tell you beforehand because I couldn't risk any hesitation. But I knew in my heart you would save him."

"I know."

Relief flickered in his eyes much too quickly.

He misunderstood me.

He truly believed his own words. He thought my forgiveness was a guarantee.

"You are so good, and you love this pack," Caelan continued softly. "Tomorrow night, I am calling a public meeting. I will announce Milo as my firstborn and heir."

He squeezed my hand.

"Your position will not change. You are still my mate. You are still the Luna of Blackwood."

He leaned closer, his voice full of gentle entitlement.

"I need you standing beside me tomorrow. I need the pack to see that you understand. I need you to publicly admit that you accepted this child and gave your wolf willingly."

He wanted me to swallow my pain. He wanted me to smile and clean up his mess in front of everyone.

I didn't argue. I didn't pull my hand away.

I just looked at him and asked calmly.

"Tomorrow night?"

Caelan smiled, visibly relieved. He thought I was yielding. He thought I would always be his perfect Luna.

"Tomorrow night," he confirmed.