Chapter 2

That evening, Cain brought over a whole box of my favorite pastries.

He sat across from me, calm. "Eat something. The pup is hungry too."

I picked one up and took a small bite.

Watching him act like nothing had happened made something twist in my chest.

"When did it start?" I asked.

He hesitated, then poured me a glass of water. "Your birthday."

I went cold all over.

A month ago, on my birthday, Cain had disappeared without warning. I looked for him all night, all over the ridge.

He came back the next day, windswept and tired, saying he'd gotten lost looking for a birthday gift for me.

Then he pulled out a snow lotus from behind his back like he was presenting treasure.

I hadn't slept in a day, but looking at how proud he was, I couldn't be angry. I had taken good care of that flower.

And now he was telling me that on my birthday, he had been with Celeste. My stomach turned.

I still couldn't stop myself from giving him one more chance.

"Cain, can you not bond with her?"

He kept turning his glass around in his hands, his brow tight.

"Not bond with her, and bond with you instead?"

"Do you really want me to say it out loud?"

"She's the Forsythe Alpha's daughter. You're a she-wolf who plants vegetables. How could you be the Alpha Heir's mate?"

My face went white. I asked anyway. "Does three years mean nothing? Does it all just come down to rank?"

Pain shot through my belly. I pressed my hand against it and waited for his answer.

"In a Pack, rank matters. Bloodline matters. Who is legitimate and who isn't, that matters."

He stopped, then looked at me with guilt on his face.

"Celeste might be pregnant."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

"Aria, her pup has to be the legitimate firstborn. That's the only way you'll be safe."

The pain in my belly was getting worse. Sweat broke out on my forehead. I glanced at the pastry box.

"Cain, this is your pup too. How could you—"

Cain's eyes were red as he kept saying he was sorry.

"I'm sorry, Aria. She found out you exist. Looking at the timing, your pup is older. She won't let you give birth to the firstborn."

So he had put something in my favorite pastries. I had eaten them without suspecting a thing.

"Cain, my belly hurts so bad. I just ate it. There's still time. Please go get a healer."

He didn't move. I grabbed his arm, my voice going rough. "I'll leave. I won't bond with you. I just want my pup. I'll take her far away. We won't get in your way."

I begged him with everything I had. He didn't move.

He held out his arm. "Bite down on this. It won't hurt as much."

I shoved his arm away. "Go get a healer. Please, Cain."

"Aria, stop. No healer in this Territory is going to treat someone with your status. The herbs have already taken effect. It's too late. When Celeste delivers the firstborn, we can have another pup."

I gripped his hand as hard as I could. "Cain. Listen to me. I'm Aria Kingsley. I'm the Alpha King's daughter. Go get a healer and save this pup."

He thought I was lying. He pulled away, angry.

"You're a disappointment. If you're going to lie, at least make it believable. This isn't some remote cottage. This is the Capital Territory. One wrong word and people lose their heads."

He straightened his jacket and walked out.

"A miscarriage won't kill you. You'll be fine."

I watched him go. There was nothing left in me.

I curled in the corner. The pain was unbearable. I could feel my pup slipping away. The pup I had waited for and wanted with everything I had. Her own father killed her on the very first day he knew she existed.

I was unconscious for a full night. When I came to, my clothes were soaked in blood.

The door was kicked open. Celeste walked in with several Pack women at her back.

She glanced at me covered in blood, then sat at the table and calmly poured herself some tea.

"Don't blame me. My pup has to be the firstborn. It's the only way I have any standing in this Pack."

I pushed myself up against the wall. "So you had my pup killed?"

Celeste laughed once. "You've got it wrong. Cain put that stuff in your food. Your pup is the one he didn't want. I just mentioned it once."

I stared at her and dug my nails into my palm.

She stood up and walked over, one hand resting on her own belly.

"You should actually be grateful. Even if your pup had been born, she'd have been handed to me to raise as the firstborn's inferior sibling. Better that she's gone."

"Bring the tonic. Make her drink it all."

One of the Pack women forced my mouth open and poured it in. I knew that smell. Wolfsbane and herbs that would end any future chance at carrying a pup.

I fought to spit it out. They held me tight.

Celeste crouched down and patted my face with contempt. "This way there won't be any more pups fighting for rank later."

"My bonding ceremony is in two days and I still have to try on my tiara. I'll leave you to it."

As she got up, she let her jacket fall open just enough to show the gold locket at her hip.

It was Cain's. He told me his mother had left it to him. And he had given it to Celeste.