Chapter 3

Rose came with him, holding the newborn pup.

She wore a white fox cloak, a gold-beaded circlet on her brow, leaning into Adrian's arm like she was about to faint as they came through the gates.

She bowed with the pup in her arms. "Greetings to the Alpha and the Luna. Caleb, bow to your grandsire and grandmother." She bounced the pup, her face bright with triumph.

Edmund and Margaret went black in the face. "Do you know what day this is? You dare bring her into this Manor?"

Adrian said, "Father, Mother, Rose nearly died giving me Caleb. He's Thorne Pack's firstborn grandson."

"Rose and I love each other. I'm going to claim her as my Luna, the true Luna of Thorne Pack."

Rose looked up at him, eyes shining. "Adrian, my love, you're all I need in this life. Caleb and I ask for nothing. Don't fight your Alpha and Luna for us."

Adrian tightened his arm around her. "You bore my son. You're a credit to Thorne Pack. I've made up my mind. You are the Luna of this Pack."

He saw me walk in, still in my crimson Mating gown. His face softened. He said, "I know I wronged you yesterday. I left before we completed the Marking. You faced the Hall alone. I didn't know you had the grace to bear it without a scene. I'll make it up to you."

"What I said last night about calling off the Bond — just temper. I'll be good to you, going forward."

"But Rose gave me a son. I have to make her Luna. Rose isn't strong enough to run the Pack — so you can manage the Pack's internal affairs as co-Luna. That's more face than most women get. You and Rose will be sisters."

I frowned, listening to him talk nonsense. I was about to speak when someone else answered for me. "Brother, what are you saying to my mate? Ivy, come, it's time to present the Bonding goblet to the elders." Rhys stepped out from behind me and drew me gently forward.

Adrian went still. "Your what? What are you saying? I'm the one she Bonded with — how is she your mate?"

Rhys smiled and held my hand tight, looking at his brother. "No. You didn't complete the Marking. You went to Rose, remember? The whole Capital knows — the Thorne who Marked her last night was me."

Adrian shouted, "Impossible. Father, Mother, how could you let this happen? We're the laughingstock of the Capital."

Edmund's face was like stone. "You know enough to call it a laughingstock. If not for Rhys, Thorne Pack would have lost every shred of honor."

"Alpha Council Herald!" A herald's voice cut through the quarrel.

"By Decree of the Alpha Council, under the light of the Moon Goddess: Adrian Thorne of Thorne Pack has broken faith and defied Council will. At the petition of Alpha Edmund, Adrian Thorne is stripped of his claim as Alpha Heir. Rhys Thorne is hereby named the new Alpha Heir of Thorne Pack. His mate, Ivy of Ashford Pack, bright and steady, noble and true, is granted the Second-Tier Luna Title. May they walk as one under the Moon. So it is spoken."

Everyone dropped to one knee to receive the decree. Only Adrian stood frozen. When the herald was gone, he sank to the floor. "Why? I'm the Alpha Heir of Thorne Pack. Who gave them the right to strip it from me?"

His eyes went bloodshot, staring at me. "Is that the kind of She-Wolf you are? We had a Bond. Just because I tried to save Rose, you ran off with another wolf?"

His twisted words made me laugh. "Adrian Thorne, the Alpha Council set yesterday as the Bonding day between our Packs. You ignored it. Thorne Pack can't be dragged into treason over you. If the Alpha King were to punish, who would carry it? You? Your father? The hundred wolves of your line?"

"You were promised, and you were off rutting on the side, and now you want to pin the blame on me."

"You don't care if you live or die. We do. Weren't you the one who didn't care about the Pack? Funny how much you care about the Heir's seat now."

Edmund spoke from the Alpha's chair. "Adrian. You showed no judgment. You nearly dragged us into treason. I made the petition. Don't speak another word."

Adrian roared, "I am the Heir. You cannot do this."

Edmund looked at him coldly, completely emptied of hope. "And you'd defy the Alpha Council now too?"

He choked the words back. He glared at me and Rhys with hatred.

No one paid him any attention. The Pack went back to watching Rhys and me bow to the elders, present the Bonding goblet, finish the new mates' rites.

When I reached Adrian, I offered the goblet, proper and cool. "Brother, please drink."

Then I looked at Rose. "And this one? I can't call her sister — she hasn't been brought into the Pack. If she's a concubine, forgive Ivy for not offering her a goblet."

Rose's eyes went red, clinging to Adrian. "Adrian, love."

Adrian came back to himself and stared hard at me. "This is your sister-in-law. When Caleb has his First Moon Feast, I'll bring her in as my mate."