Chapter 3

On the day of my follow-up, Damon said there was an emergency at the den, so he arranged for someone to take me to Silver Springs.

I stood in line, had the healer examine my inner wolf, and waited for the results all by myself.

Bramble checked on me and kept frowning. "Your wolf has sunk deep inside you. The silver powder from before hasn't been fully cleared out.

"You need to take your meds on time, don't stress yourself out, and stay calm."

He paused. "I can't guarantee Sable wakes up."

Bramble glanced up at me. "Why didn't anyone come with you?"

I said that everyone was busy back at the den.

He didn't press further.

*****

When I got back to the den, Damon was sitting on the bench.

He stood up and took the meds from me. "What did the healer say?"

I replied, "Still recovering."

He nodded. Then he added something that froze me right then and there. "Sienna, don't go spreading the word about your injured inner wolf for now.

"Vanessa has been on edge these days. If she hears about this, she'll recall Cassius's death. She won't be able to handle it. Try to understand her."

I stood in the doorway, still wearing my cloak. "You want me to keep it a secret?"

"I'm not asking you to hide it. But don't say anything for the time being. When Vanessa is feeling better, we can talk about it."

I stared at Damon for a long moment. He looked sincere, with a hint of pleading. That was the expression he wore every time he wanted me to back down.

*****

The next day, Rosalind reached out to me through the mind link. 'Sienna, Damon told me everything. Don't think I'm being cruel. You're still young. If you care for your inner wolf well, it might come back.

'But Vanessa is different. She has lost her mate. If she gets another shock, she'll fall apart.

'I've turned the Blood Oath Night feast into a three-year memorial for Cassius. Everyone in the pack has been notified. Hope that's okay with you?'

The Blood Oath Night bonfire was something I'd planned with so much joy for the whole pack.

I picked out the menu, organized the guest list, and carefully sealed a jar of moon spirit wine for Sable.

But now, everything I did was for someone else's ceremony.

I said, "Rosalind, Sable may be asleep now, but it was real. I want to set up a memorial stone for it here in the den."

Rosalind was silent for a few heartbeats. "Sienna, Vanessa is still living in the den. What if she sees it?"

*****

On the day of the Blood Oath Ritual, I sat at the very end of the long table.

Everyone there was going on about old times with Cassius. Vanessa sat beside the main seat, listening as pack members murmured over how pitiful she was as a widow.

Nobody said a word about my sleeping wolf.

Halfway through the meal, Vanessa suddenly looked unsteady, clutching the table for support.

Everyone shot up, and Rosalind rushed over to steady her first.

A distant aunt turned to me and raised her voice. "Did someone at this table say something and upset Vanessa again?"

My hand froze mid-air, holding the glass.

It hit me all at once. No matter what I did, every guest here would pin Vanessa's fainting spell on me.

During those days, I checked the shared supply ledger for the Alpha and Luna.

Line after line, so much money went to Hollowridge. It was enough to send chills down my spine.

Then I pulled up the care logs from the night when I was injured by the silver blade.

Damon had arranged a private cleansing pool for Vanessa and tended to her wounds with herbs nearly half an hour before I was carried in.

I'd always made excuses for him. I told myself he was too loyal, he had no easy choices, and the pack had pushed that heavy role on him. But none of those made sense anymore.

*****

The night before the Blood Oath Ritual, I couldn't sleep, so I walked over to the window. The moon was full.

Normally, at such a time, I'd feel Sable restless in my veins. But now, I felt nothing but endless emptiness.

As I thought I'd never sense anything again, a sharp pain burst out of nowhere in my chest.

It was nothing like the burn from silver powder. The ache ran far deeper, a tearing sensation travelling through the mate bond.

I grabbed the window frame and slid down to the floor. Cold sweat soaked my back in an instant.

There was only one thing that could cause agony like this. My mate was in bed with another she-wolf now.

When a fated mate cheated physically, the other would always feel the pain.

My silver powder wound was starting to heal. My senses, dulled for days, snapped back to me tonight.

I curled up on the floor, biting down hard on the back of my hand, forcing myself not to cry out.

That night, I finally confirmed what I'd been too afraid to believe. Damon didn't merely treat Vanessa as his sister-in-law.