Chapter 3

She paused at the door like she just remembered something. "Oh, right. Cain transferred the title of this house to my name. I heard you love your little gardens. You're welcome to stay and grow things here, as long as you follow my rules."

I went stiff all over. When he burned the cottage, he said he'd bought this house for me, so I could grow a garden with whatever I wanted.

From the very beginning, he had never meant to give me anything.

"Celeste."

I called after her, my voice wrecked.

"Have you ever heard of Aria Kingsley? The Alpha King's daughter?"

Celeste blinked. "What, are you trying to say that reclusive princess has something to do with you?"

I gave a tired laugh. "I've heard she loves colorful sky lanterns. If you could get her to smile and attend your bonding ceremony, that would be quite a statement."

She didn't quite believe me. "How would someone like you know what a princess likes?"

"Believe me or don't. Either way it doesn't hurt you."

After Celeste left, I curled up in the corner of the bed. I was burning up. My belly was in agony. No one came.

Looking back, meeting Cain was the biggest regret of my life.

Then, half-conscious, I saw them through the window. Colorful sky lanterns, floating up into the dark.

Something loosened in my chest. I smiled.

That had been our arrangement, my father and I. No matter when, if I sent up the colorful lanterns, it meant I was in danger, and someone would come for me.

At some point, Cain came and sat by my bed.

When I stirred, he touched my forehead. "No fever now. Come on, have some broth."

I forced myself to sit up. "Celeste came. She made them pour wolfsbane tonic down my throat. Did you know?"

Cain's face stilled. He looked down. "I knew."

"You knew?"

I held back everything.

He reached for my hand. I pulled away.

"Aria, she was protecting herself. If you gave birth to the firstborn, where would that leave her and her pup? Anyone would do the same."

I gave a hollow laugh. Anyone would do the same.

Cain set down the bowl he was holding. "Celeste went home and started having pain right after. Maybe our pup's spirit disturbed her..."

He looked at me and seemed to be weighing his words.

"There's an elder wolf at the Moon Goddess Sanctuary. I need you to go there, do the Moon Prayer for our pup's spirit, and then crawl the sacred stone path on your knees to get a Moon Goddess blessing token for Celeste. After that, everything will be settled. Okay?"

I stared at him, eyes burning.

"Cain, we're done. If you want a blessing token, go get it yourself."

I forced myself out of bed to leave.

He blocked my way.

He picked me up against my protests, carried me outside, and threw me onto a horse. He rode with me to the foot of the Sanctuary mountain.

"Take her up."

Two guards grabbed my arms. I dragged myself up the sacred stone path, one knee at a time.

I hadn't eaten in two days. I had just lost my pup. I passed out and came to, passed out and came to again.

I don't know how I made it to the top to get the blessing token. By the time I reached Cain, my legs gave out and I collapsed against him.

He caught me and held me.

"Aria, you've been through so much. I want you to know, even after I bond with Celeste, you're still the one I care about."

I closed my eyes slowly. Three days ago those words might have meant something. Now they just made me sick.

"I got you your blessing token. Let me go."

He ignored me and carried me back to the house.

"Aria, stop being stubborn. My bonding ceremony is tomorrow. Celeste agreed that after it's done, you can stay here and you two won't have to see each other. Okay?"

Before he left, he told me one more thing. "The Alpha King's daughter might attend the ceremony tomorrow. Stay in the house and don't cause problems."

After he left, my father's guards found me.

I looked toward where Cain had gone, and at this house that wasn't mine, and smiled to myself.

I hoped they wouldn't regret tomorrow.

On the day of the bonding ceremony, Thorne Manor was draped in red. Cain stood at the front in his ceremonial robes, Celeste beside him.

They were about to complete the ceremony when a shout came from the gate. "The Alpha Princess is here!"

The red ribbon in Celeste's hands trembled. She smiled. She hadn't expected the Princess to actually come.

The whole courtyard dropped to their knees. Someone whispered, "Thorne Pack actually got the Princess? She never attends events."

Before the murmurs died down, the royal escort had arrived at the gate.

I walked in wearing my full Princess regalia, my guards around me.

When I reached the front, I raised my hand. "This is Alpha Heir Thorne's bonding day. Everyone rise."

The red ribbon dropped from Cain's hands. All the color left his face.

"Aria?"

He said my name like he couldn't believe it.

I stopped in front of him and spoke quietly. "I'm here to offer my congratulations, Alpha Heir Thorne."

His body went rigid. Three years of memories flashed through him at once.

"How can it be you?"