Chapter 1

The night before the Bonding Ceremony, I woke up and found my entire head shaved clean.

Vivienne Drake stood in the room wearing her battle gear, her hair pulled into a high ponytail. She was tossing a blade in her hand and teasing Cain.

"Your future mate's awareness is pathetic. She's a sheltered Pack house girl. How is she supposed to be worthy of you, the great Alpha of Sterling Pack?"

The other warriors were laughing too.

"Vivienne's got a point — Alpha Sterling sent her that Moon Root pouch himself. How was she supposed to be on guard?"

Vivienne waved her hand.

"We've just got one more day before the Bonding Ceremony. Anyone who doesn't know better would think Cain's bringing home a monk instead of a mate."

The room broke into laughter. In the middle of it all, Cain glanced at me with something close to an apology.

"These are my warriors. Brothers and sisters who've bled with me on the battlefield. It's just a prank. Don't take it to heart."

"Tomorrow, wear the hairpiece and no one will notice. You're still the only one I'm bringing home with a full Pack escort."

I moved my stiff body and looked at the Moon Root pouch hanging from the bedpost.

Cain had come to see me yesterday and tied it there himself.

"This is Moon Root from the Northern Wilds. Best thing for helping you sleep. Rest well tonight."

Given everything we'd shared over the years, I never imagined the pouch was a trap.

The warriors still standing in the room noticed I was awake and immediately started defending Vivienne.

"Don't be upset, Elara. Vivienne was just having fun. We all know she's like this — doesn't think before she acts."

"Elara, we rode a thousand miles to get back here just in time for the Bonding Ceremony. We wanted to give you a surprise."

"Even the Alpha King doesn't know we're back. We didn't tell Sterling Manor either."

I looked at the clumps of dark hair scattered across the floor.

I pulled at the corner of my mouth. "A surprise? This is Cain's idea of a surprise?"

Vivienne twirled the blade in her fingers and raised an eyebrow.

"I was just curious what kind of woman could be Cain's mate. Wanted to see if you were worth it."

She paused and looked me over. "Turns out you're exactly what I expected. Just a soft girl who's been sheltered her whole life."

Everyone in the room understood what she didn't say out loud.

So I said it directly. "What you mean is, I'm not good enough for Cain?"

Cain was standing at the side of the bed. His brow tightened. "Elara."

"Vivienne doesn't mean anything bad. She's always been like this — blunt and thoughtless. Don't pick a fight with her over words."

Vivienne added, "Whatever I think about whether you're a good match, Cain's still going to Bond with you."

"So what do you have to complain about? Tomorrow you put on the hairpiece and nobody sees a thing. Stop being dramatic. The crying-and-pouting routine is exhausting."

But I hadn't cried. Not once since I woke up. Not a single tear.

I looked at Cain. "And you're just letting her talk to me like that?"

Cain sighed and reached for my hand. I pulled away.

"Vivienne's my Pack sister. That's just who she is — her mouth runs ahead of her brain, but her heart isn't bad. Can we just let this go?"

Vivienne made a sound and tucked the blade back at her side.

Cain softened his voice.

"Elara, if I'm being honest, the Moon Root was mine to give, so this is on me. Be angry at me if you want to be angry at someone."

He said the words, but his face was full of confidence. Like he already knew I wouldn't actually be angry at him.

I looked at his face. I'd known that face since we were children.

When I was twelve, Cain stepped in to protect me when others tried to hurt me. Back then, anyone who touched a hair on my head had to answer to him.

When I was fifteen and had my coming-of-age ceremony, Cain rushed to claim me as his Chosen Mate before anyone else could.

When I was eighteen, before he left for the northern border, he grabbed my hands at the Pack's gates and told me through tears that he'd come back and make me his Luna.

Then Cain spent three years fighting at the border, and I spent three years waiting at Pack Manor.

And now, the Moon Root pouch still hung from the bedpost, its faint scent quietly making a fool of me.

This wasn't the first time I'd met Vivienne Drake.

Last year, I begged my father for a long time before he finally let me travel to the Northern Borderlands to see Cain.

But when I got there, Cain didn't seem happy to see me at all. He spent every day in his command tent with Vivienne, going over battle plans.

I had the soldiers announce me several times. Vivienne posted a notice on the tent entrance.

It said: No entry for Elara Whitmore or stray dogs.