Chapter 1

My mate's legs had stopped working, and every day brought new bills — healers, herbs, treatments that cost more than I earned in a week.

To cover it, I dove into the freezing coastal waters of Stillwater Territory every winter morning, hunting for pearl mussels in the deep current. I nearly died several times. All for the chance that he might walk again.

He always said, "Once I can walk, I'll make sure you never have to work this hard again."

Until the day I saw him ride into the arena — one hand on the reins, galloping alongside a woman in a red riding jacket, fluid and strong and completely at ease.

The dawn light was barely up when I broke the surface, shaking as I untied my dive rope and emptied the harvested mussels into the pouch at my waist.

Five. Round and heavy, their shells catching the pale light with a rare silver-white sheen.

Once I sold this batch, I'd have enough to take Cain to Ravenport Territory for treatment. That thought alone kept me moving. The cold didn't matter.

"Elara, you're out diving again? Look at your ears and palms — the rocks tore you up. You shouldn't go back in until those heal."

"Easy for you to say. Someone has to pay for Cain's treatment. If you can't help, don't lecture me."

Edna silenced her husband with a sharp look, then handed me a wicker basket with several large fish inside.

"I've written to healers in Ravenport — they all say Cain's condition can be treated. And there's a healer named Caius passing through our territory right now. He might be able to help." I smiled and thanked her, then quickened my pace toward the trade post.

That day's haul earned three gold coins. Enough to hire a decent wagon, one soft enough that Cain wouldn't be jostled on the road. I was heading to the stables to arrange it when cheering erupted from the arena nearby.

"The Davenport Pack's daughter is visiting home, and her father opened up the arena so she wouldn't get bored." A young stable hand grinned and waved me over. "The wagon still needs another hour. Why not watch?"

Looking at the riders galloping through the arena, I found myself thinking about the Cain I used to know.

Strong. Easy in the saddle.

When he was still a Gamma of the Stillwater Pack — commanding forty-some warriors, always with that curved blade at his hip, walking like he owned the ground. One day when street thugs cornered me, he stepped in, drove them off, and had his men escort me home.

I brought him a basket of food to thank him. He looked genuinely puzzled. "I patrol every day. I don't really remember. Keeping the territory safe is my job. You don't owe me anything."

Simple words. That was how it started.

I never imagined what would come next.

"Cain, help me!"

A woman's cry cut through my thoughts.

I turned to see a man in a dark jacket swing his mallet perfectly, catching the woman around the waist just as she was about to fall from her horse, steadying her back into the saddle.

Classic rescue.

"Who is that? That's incredible."

"They say he's the new Alpha of Sterling Pack — major role in the Stillwater War. Arranged to mate with the Davenport Alpha's daughter too. A real power match."

"The Stillwater War was three years ago. Why the recognition now?"

"That's the interesting part." A young woman nearby leaned in, clearly pleased to know more than anyone else. "My father's in the Council. He heard that the battle was won, but there was a spy network inside. The Sterling Alpha spent years undercover rooting them out. Took down some high-ranking Pack officials. Major achievement."

The crowd buzzed. Dust swirled in the air. And through it all, I saw a face I knew.

Cain?

I rubbed my eyes hard. When I looked back, only two figures riding away, their backs already disappearing.

It couldn't be Cain. He was home right now, in bed, waiting for me. His legs could barely hold his weight. Every time we went to the healer, I borrowed Edna's cart and pushed him two miles down the road.

Even in heavy rain. Neither of us willing to miss his treatments. Every time he'd look at me with aching eyes: "I hate these useless legs. You've taken on so much because of me."

"Once I can walk, I'll give you everything. You won't have to do this anymore."

Those words had kept me warm on cold mornings underwater — through the risk of blacking out, of the current pulling me down, of the cold seizing my chest. I'd told myself it was worth it.

Cain needed to get better. Every day mattered.

How would I not know if he got better.

I told myself it wasn't him. But my feet moved on their own, toward the side of the arena where attendants helped riders dismount.

Up close, the man's posture was unmistakable. He swung off his horse in one clean motion. Completely fluid. Better than most people I'd ever seen move.

"Cain?" I said it quietly, half-testing.

The sun was brutal. He turned.

The moment our eyes met, my chest went cold.

Same face. But the warmth in his eyes — gone. What replaced it was alarm, like I was something dangerous he hadn't expected to see.

"Elara — you're — cough. I'm sorry, I think you have the wrong person."

A beat of panic, then he defaulted to denial.

Something bitter rose in my throat. "You don't know me?"

The young woman who'd been gossiping earlier pushed up beside me, openly entertained. "You know Alpha Sterling?"

I kept my eyes on Cain and nodded once. "He saved my life."

The crowd laughed.