Chapter 2

I called over the tailor trembling in the corner and told him he could leave the gown as it was.

As I stepped out of the workshop, a photo popped up on my comm-stone. One glance told me it was from Cedric. In it, he sat on the carpet, cradling a runt of a hellhound, feeding it medicine.

My eyes went wide in disbelief. That bottle was the antidote brewed from my own heart's blood.

Then a voice message came through. "Princess Ella, my hellhound caught a chill. Cedric gave it a dose of your medicine, and it's already better. It works like a charm. Thanks for the gift, Your Highness!"

It was like a thousand silver needles driving into my heart at once, the ache spreading through every inch of me.

I choked back my rage and told the driver to head for Blackwood Manor.

The second I was out of the car, I strode into the living room. Cedric was there with the little she-wolf, playing with the hellhound.

I snatched up the bottle and rounded on him. "How could you feed the sacred antidote to a runt hellhound? Do you have any idea..."

Cedric cut me off, not the least bit bothered. "It's one bottle of medicine. Why are you being so cheap about it?"

My eyes burned red as I locked onto him. "This is the sacred antidote. I brewed it from my own heart's blood. There's only one bottle left."

He went still and looked up at me, amused. "Oh? Because I seem to remember you telling me it was just ordinary pure blood in there."

Back then, I'd hidden the truth so Cedric wouldn't love me out of guilt. Now, the lie came flying back and struck me square in the chest.

He got to his feet and came toward me. "So what is this, you calling in a debt?"

He slid an arm around my shoulders and dropped his voice to my ear. "Haven't I been good to you all these years? Think of your father. Think of your family. Remember where you stand, and be a good Luna."

He let me go, took Mia's hand, and held it up to show me the faint halo in her palm. "Mia is my fated mate," he said. "But she's not here to replace you. I promise, from now on it's only the two of you."

Mia nestled into his chest, her voice soft and shaky. "Ella, I love the Alpha so much. Please don't send me away.

"Your medicine went to the hellhound, so let me pay you back with my blood. Use it to brew more for him, if you like. I'd do anything for the Alpha."

She held out her arm as she spoke. Her voice was meek and timid, but a sly glint flickered in her eyes.

Disgust rolled through me, and I shoved her off. "Get away from me. Don't you dare call my name."

Cedric's face darkened when I defied him. He dragged me into a room and locked the door.

"You're going to sit in here and think hard about what you've done. When you finally see your mistake, you come out and apologize to Mia. Then maybe I'll consider showing up at the ceremony," he said.

Mia's voice floated in from the other side of the door. "Ella, I'm not so petty. I talked the Alpha into going to the ceremony. So don't be upset, okay?"

"That's my good girl. No wonder you're my fated mate," Cedric said. "Come on, let's go buy you some jewels."

Their laughter and the hellhound's excited yips faded down the hall.

My comm-stone lit up. It was my father. "Ella, a Silvercrest envoy, has brought a letter that needs your signature, and yours alone. Come home quickly."

Just to get home, I swallowed my pride and called Cedric.

He put me through a round of humiliation on the phone and made me apologize to Mia. Only after all that did he tell the butler to let me out.

I rushed home without stopping for breath, met the envoy, and took the letter. Before I could open it, a commotion broke out at the door.

The butler ran in, flustered. "A she-wolf is here with the Blackwood Guards, demanding to see the Chief. We couldn't hold them off."

It was Mia.

I tucked the letter against my body and gave my father the short version. And I told the envoy that my father could deal with the Silvercrest Pack on my behalf.

No sooner had I finished than Mia sauntered in, hips swaying, a grin on her face. "Well, well, Ella. You're here too?"

"I just shifted, and my inner wolf's still restless. The Alpha sent me to borrow the Sacred Moonstone to steady her."

My father went livid. "Since when do I have another daughter?"

I stepped in front of him and told Mia, "The Sacred Moonstone is a treasure of our pack. It doesn't leave these walls."

"And for me?" As the words landed, the Blackwood Guards split to either side, and Cedric walked in.

He gave the envoy a dismissive glance and then arched a brow at my father. "Chief, will you lend it to me?"

My father was fuming. "We haven't even sealed the alliance. No, you can't borrow it."

Mia's eyes brimmed with tears. "Alpha, see? I told you they'd never lend it. Why would they hand their pack's treasure to a nobody she-wolf like me? I was foolish to even ask." She sniffled.

Mia's little act set Cedric off.

He grabbed my father by the collar. "Chief, you weren't half this proud when you needed me on the battlefield."

My father wrenched against his grip. "Cedric, don't push your luck. You fought for us, yes, but we paid you plenty of moonstone for it."

I lunged to help my father, and Cedric knocked me flat. "Blackwood Guards, search the place."

The Blackwood Guards rushed in, and it turned into a brawl with the Frostmoon Guards. In the chaos, I slipped behind Mia and pressed the little silver knife I used for medicine to her throat.

"Everyone, stop!" I shouted. "Cedric, this blade is silver. If you don't want your she-wolf hurt, let go of my father."

Cedric released my father, and I let Mia go.

My father clutched my hand, tears streaming down his face. "Cedric, the mating alliance is off."

Cedric pulled Mia against him, his stare almost regretful. "No. I refuse. Ella belongs to me and no one else. The ceremony happens in three days, and that's final."

He pinned Mia's fidgeting hand and said urgently, "I lost my temper today, Chief. Forgive me. Forget the Sacred Moonstone. Please let Ella come home with me."

I caught Mia's face falling in an instant.

My father was about to refuse when I patted his hand and turned to face Cedric. "As long as you keep your word, I'll go back with you."

My father seized my arm, his voice tight. "No. He isn't the Cedric you used to know. I was blind before, but I'm not letting you throw your life away on him now."

I cut him off and whispered a few words in his ear. He wasn't sure what to make of it, but he let me go.

Before I left, I gave a small nod to the Silvercrest envoy standing behind the Frostmoon Guards.

Cedric, my vow to the Moon Goddess was never for show. If you're so set on this ceremony, then you can taste what it's like with no bride at all.