Chapter 2
The seventh day of his deadline was the rehearsal for the Full Moon Festival mating ceremony.
A massive bonfire roared in the Silver Moon Pack's ceremonial square.
The pack elders and guests from neighboring packs gathered around the altar. By tradition, Caden and I were supposed to perform the first blessing dance.
"Elara, where is Caden?"
The Alpha's mate asked me quietly, worry pooling in her eyes.
"He's almost here."
I forced a smile and took a sip of berry wine.
Just as the words left my mouth, Caden pushed through the crowd. He was rushing, his jaw tight with anxiety.
He strode over and grabbed my hand.
"Sorry. Border patrol took a little longer."
Instinctively, I pulled my hand back.
"It's fine."
A few young pack warriors crowded around, teasing him.
"Vice Alpha, when are we finally going to drink to your mating?"
I stayed silent.
Caden's smile looked stiff. His eyes kept darting toward the pine forest at the edge of the territory.
"Soon. Next full moon."
I stared at the flames on the altar, my voice turning cold.
"We'll see."
The ceremonial horn was about to blow.
Someone handed us the wolf-bone masks for the blessing, cheering for Caden to lead me up to the altar.
He took the mask, completely distracted.
Right at that moment, a gray wolf on patrol stumbled into the square.
He shifted into his human form and rushed to Caden, whispering frantically into his ear.
Caden's face instantly drained of color.
He didn't even notice when the bone mask slipped from his fingers and shattered on the cobblestones.
"Elara, I have an emergency. I have to go."
He jerked his head up, breathing heavily.
"Lila isn't feeling well. It might be the pup. She's alone in the border cabin, I can't leave her there."
"Explain it to the elders for me. I'll be back as soon as I handle it."
I looked at him, my voice dead calm.
"Caden. Today is the mating rehearsal."
"The entire pack is watching."
He hesitated for two seconds.
"I'm sorry. I'm just terrified something will happen to her. Wait for me. I'll be quick."
Without another word, he shoved his way through the crowd, shifted into a gray wolf, and sprinted out of the square without looking back.
I stood exactly where I was, watching his frantic silhouette disappear into the deep woods.
The stares of the pack pricked my skin like a thousand needles.
Pity. Mockery. Schadenfreude.
I walked up to the altar.
The ceremonial drums were still beating. Everyone was waiting.
I picked up the bone whistle from the altar and blew it hard.
A sharp, piercing screech tore through the night sky. The drums abruptly stopped.
I looked around the silent crowd, forced a smile, and raised my voice.
"Caden had an emergency. The mating ceremony is canceled. Enjoy the feast, everyone."
I set the whistle down, turned, and walked off the altar.
It was late into the night by the time I returned to the apothecary cabin.
A breathless servant ran up to my door, shouting through the fabric:
"Healer Elara! The Vice Alpha sent a message. He says he's sorry, and he will send Lila away first thing tomorrow morning. No more delays this time!"
Listening through the door, I let out a dry laugh.
Last time, he said he'd fix it in a week. Today was exactly the seventh day.
Lila faked a stomach ache, and he abandoned our entire pack and our guests to run to her.
I didn't believe a word he said anymore.
"Wait." I had heard that word for seven years. I was done.
I walked over to my wooden chest and lifted the bottom layer of animal pelts.
Resting beneath them was an obsidian wolf claw token.
It was a token sent to me ten years ago on my coming-of-age ceremony by Rowan, the Alpha King of the neighboring Black Cliff Pack.
I grabbed the token, threw on my cloak, and stepped out of the cabin.
Beneath the watchtower at the edge of our territory, a few Black Cliff merchants who regularly bought our herbs had set up camp.
I walked straight up to their leader, handed him the obsidian token, and spoke calmly.
"Take a message to the Black Cliff Alpha King for me. Ask him if the promise he made back then still stands."
The merchant recognized the token immediately. He blew a short, sharp whistle.
A messenger falcon shot into the night sky.
Less than an hour later, the merchant hurried back.
He respectfully handed me a scroll of parchment, still radiating the chill of the high altitudes.
There was only one line written on it:
It stands. I am bringing my guards to the Silver Moon border to get you. Now.