Chapter 4

Lola immediately pouted like a child who'd been scolded.

"What's too far? You promised me tonight would be fun."

"And you said the bonding was just a temporary arrangement."

A temporary arrangement.

Four words. They dragged back and forth across my chest like a dull blade.

I looked up at Eliot. "Is that true?"

He frowned.

He clearly hadn't expected Lola to say it out loud in front of everyone.

But a moment later, he settled back into that composed, untouchable expression.

"Since you heard it, there's no point hiding it."

I stood soaked to the bone in freezing water, staring at him.

"So tomorrow's ceremony — that's all fake too?"

He said, evenly, "Seren, you should understand that an alliance between two packs can't be built on feelings alone."

"Lola is connected to the northern white wolf bloodline. She's the one who belongs at my side as Luna."

My nails pressed into my palms. "Then what am I?"

For the first time, a flicker of impatience crossed Eliot's eyes.

"Do you have to make me say it like this?"

"I haven't treated you poorly these past three years."

"You wanted power — I gave you the Beta position."

"You wanted respect — who in Frost Pack dares to address you as anything other than Beta Seren?"

"The Luna title isn't something I can offer you. I won't lie to you about that forever."

He said it so calmly.

As though three years of everything I gave had been worth exactly one title.

Lola leaned against him, smiling.

"Seren, learn to be grateful."

"You have no family name, no backing. The fact that you get to be Alpha Eliot's Beta is more than you ever deserved."

Voices nearby chimed in.

"Exactly."

"If Alpha Eliot actually married her, what would that say about Frost Pack?"

"Being capable doesn't matter. A Luna is chosen by bloodline."

"Seren should wake up. At best, she's the person who helped Eliot get to the top. That doesn't make her Luna material."

I looked at the wolves who had bowed their heads to me at every hunting council meeting.

When they respected me, they called me Beta Seren.

Now that Eliot wasn't protecting me, they had turned without hesitation.

One wolf in a gray jacket grinned and held up his phone.

"Beta Seren, want me to take a photo for you? Something to remember tonight by?"

"After tomorrow, it'll be Lola standing next to Alpha Eliot."

"The way you look right now — might as well enjoy your last moment in the spotlight."

I said nothing.

Because the fear had already passed its worst point.

When pain reaches its limit, something in you goes still and clear.

I reached up and touched the wolf-mark stud in my right ear.

It wasn't an ordinary piece of jewelry.

Three months ago, when I noticed irregularities in Frost Pack's internal accounts, I had my personal guard put together an emergency device for me.

Three consecutive presses would trigger an automatic location signal, sending an alert to the Elder Council, my guard unit, and my private hunting team.

Eliot didn't know.

He had always assumed I handed him every card I held.

But he forgot: someone who clawed their way out of ruins doesn't truly put their life in anyone else's hands.

I lowered my head, pretending to choke on the rain, and brought my hand up to cover my ear.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

A faint vibration from the stud.

The signal was sent.

Lola thought I was finally breaking. Her eyes lit up.

"Alpha Eliot, is she about to cry?"

"I knew she couldn't hold out long."

She pulled out her phone and aimed it at me.

"Come on, Seren. Look at the camera and say you were wrong."

"All you have to do is admit you're not good enough for Alpha Eliot, and I'll open the gate."

I looked up at her.

"Lola. Are you sure you want to keep going?"