Chapter 5

When I go home to visit in three days, I'll have Mother help me find a proper mate for your brother — the right one, the kind he deserves."

The story of Adrian Thorne walking out on his Marking for a Chosen concubine and losing his claim as Alpha Heir was the only news anyone was telling in the Capital.

The Lunas of the high Packs weren't going to send their daughters into that — to a mate with a Chosen concubine and a bastard pup already nursing on him.

But if the Capital Lunas wouldn't, out-of-territory ones would.

It happened that the Border Commander, Alpha Garrett Calloway, had returned to the Capital to brief the Alpha Council, bringing his mate and daughter. His true-blood daughter Sable Calloway was a She-Wolf Warrior — a frightening spear, fearless — and Garrett had held her back from Bonding this long because he wanted her Bonded into the Capital and out of the Border.

Mother's closest friend, Luna Beatrice Blackwood, hosted a Pack Gathering and invited the Calloway Luna and her daughter, along with the Thornes.

Sable and I sat together at one table. I took her hand. "You're beautiful. The moment I saw you, I felt like I'd known you forever. Family feeling, maybe — is this fate?" I pulled her over to Margaret. "Luna — look at Sable. Don't she and I look like sisters? If she became part of this family, wouldn't that be perfect?"

Margaret took one look at Sable and lit up. She pulled Helena Calloway into a chair and they talked like old friends. By the end of the Gathering they were calling each other sister.

The two Lunas locked it in fast — one wanted a steel-spined Warrior daughter who wouldn't be trampled, one wanted a Capital Pack that would give her girl a Luna's title the day she walked in.

Bloodline Scrolls were exchanged. Mate Claim tribute was sent. The entire Bonding process flew through in days. The ceremony was set for two months out.

Caleb's First Moon Feast was coming up. Adrian insisted on holding Rose's claim-as-consort on the same day as the pup's First Moon Feast.

Rose had just come out of her Recovery Period. She went into the Capital with her little Omega maid and nanny to buy for the feast. In the Silk Market she ran straight into Sable.

Rose sat in the front room sipping tea. Her maid bullied the shop attendant. "My lady wants crimson Mating gowns, full embroidery. Bring out the best — money is no object."

The attendant saw a big purse walk in and started shouting for every crimson gown in the shop.

I was with Sable, helping her pick out Bonding pieces. She'd come in from the Border with nothing — she needed Capital-made gowns, ready-to-wear. She'd just chosen one, was about to try it on, and the attendant came back saying another lady had claimed it.

Sable, Warrior that she was, slammed her hand on the table. "Who has the nerve to take my gown?"

Rose's voice drifted from the front. "I am the Luna of Thorne Pack. Who are you to fight me for a gown?"

Sable's face turned cold. She swept through the curtain. "Luna of Thorne Pack? Adrian Thorne's mate? Adrian Thorne only just pledged. I haven't heard your name before — who are you?"

Rose lifted her chin. "Pledged? My mate has told me — whoever he takes as his Luna is only a decoration. I will always be the one he loves. Let her be Luna on paper. To me, she's nothing."

"He said he'd love me and me alone for this life. High-born She-Wolf or not. I bore Thorne Pack's firstborn grandson."

"And who are you, to tell my mate who to claim?"

She handed the gown to the attendant. "I'll take it. Put it on Thorne Pack's ledger. Collect your gold from the Manor."

Sable grabbed her wrist. "That gown is mine. You're a consort. You'd dare wear crimson? Is that the way Thorne Pack runs its Pack? Adrian Thorne shows his consort over his Luna? Does he not fear the Alpha Council?"

"If he lets a consort walk in crimson, where does that leave Calloway Pack?"

Rose tossed her head. "Calloway Pack — you're just Border Warriors. Crude. You should be grateful you can Bond into Thorne Pack at all. My mate said I can wear what I like."

I stood up and walked in. "Rose, don't forget yourself. You are a consort. You cannot buy a crimson Mating gown. This is Sable Calloway, true-blood of Alpha Calloway. Once she's Bonded in, she will be Luna. You are a concubine. You should be showing her respect. Put the gown down."

Rose startled and stood. "Miss Calloway — I'm sorry, I only wanted a gown. Please take pity on me. I'm a poor She-Wolf. I know I can't compare. But I only wanted, once in my life, to walk in as a real mate, in a real crimson gown. Is that too much?"

Just then Adrian walked in. He saw Rose's red eyes and asked, "What's happening here?"

Rose threw herself into his arms. "My love, I only wanted a crimson Mating gown, just once. I wanted to be a real mate to you once, truly. Is that so wrong?"

"I know I'll be a consort. But I never chose the Bloom House. I was pure when I came to you. Can I not wear crimson even once?"

Adrian cradled her. "Who says no? I say yes. Buy the gown — the most expensive, the most beautiful."