Chapter 4

When that hit me, my chest lurched.

It settled quickly.

Late that night, Ethan came back smelling of wolfsbane, red marks on his neck where Seraphine had bitten him.

Seeing me silent, he pulled at his mouth.

"Elara, I know today was harsh. I'm making it right for you. Seraphine's agreed to forgive you. Just apologize to them tomorrow."

I laughed without sound.

He had convicted me without ever checking the truth.

So in Ethan's eyes I had already become a cruel wolf.

"I won't apologize for something I didn't do."

His brow furrowed — then his phone went off with a photo from Seraphine.

Through the light I saw her in a half-sheer piece of lingerie.

Lust rose in Ethan's eyes. He turned off the phone and hurried for the door.

"Stop sulking. Think of your mother's Healer fees. Apologize tomorrow and this is over."

He didn't wait for my answer. He slammed the door.

Ten minutes later, a video from Seraphine.

Ethan's eyes full of lust, his hands everywhere on her.

I shut the phone. I closed my eyes.

The next morning, the second I came downstairs, Ethan grabbed my arm.

"We agreed. Apologize and this ends."

I couldn't pull free. He dragged me over to Seraphine.

He pushed a bowl of scalding broth into my hands and coaxed with threat in his voice:

"Think about your mother's Healer fees. Hand Seraphine the bowl, say you're sorry, and I'll keep paying."

I held the hot broth. My chest was cold.

Swallowing the humiliation, I handed her the bowl. I couldn't get the apology out.

Seraphine smiled. Triumph in her eyes.

"I want you out of his life."

The next second she shoved the bowl over. The scalding broth poured down my front. Then she screamed.

Ethan shoved me to the floor and roared: "Elara! I told you to apologize and you went after Seraphine again!"

The pain took my voice. I curled up on the floor.

Seraphine sobbed and pulled at his sleeve.

"Ethan, let it go. I don't need Elara's apology. The pups and I should move out. I'm carrying your pup. I'm scared—"

His eyes went dark.

He settled her somewhere safe, then came back and yanked me up by the hair.

He dragged me to the kitchen. And then he pushed both of my hands into the boiling stockpot.

I lost my voice from the pain. I couldn't make a sound.

There was pity in his eyes. His grip didn't ease.

Only when I was close to passing out did he let go.

"Whatever you do to Seraphine, I'll do back to you ten times over."

Then he kicked me away like garbage and left with Seraphine, untouched, for the Pack Infirmary.

I stumbled to the Healer on my own like a wolf gone mad.

Once my burns were treated, I took the severance papers to the Pack Headquarters.

The second Ethan saw me, I wanted to hand them over. He turned away.

His assistant stepped up, nervous. "Ms. Hayes. The Alpha said whatever it is, it waits until the meeting ends."

I nodded numbly and stood aside.

Halfway through the meeting, the projector in the room suddenly played photos of me and Ethan — private photos.

Every wolf in the room turned to look. I started shaking. I just wanted the projector off.

"So Ms. Hayes really was with the Alpha."

"Wouldn't have guessed it."

Ethan frowned at me like I'd done it myself.

The projector kept rolling.

The next second Seraphine burst in with the twins.

The twins ran to Ethan. They shouted, "Daddy."

The room went still.

"Wait — if she's the Luna, then Ms. Hayes is...?"

"I used to think her work was impressive. Guess she was impressive in other ways too."

Some of the men at the meeting gave me sideways looks. A hand reached toward me from behind.

"Ms. Hayes's figure isn't bad. I'd pay ten grand for a night."

Their voices crawled along my skin. I couldn't move.

Ethan frowned. Something like anger and love flickered in his eyes. He started to speak. Seraphine gripped his arm.

"Ethan, the pups are here."

Her eyes begged him.

Ethan stopped. His voice was cold.

"Ms. Hayes. Have some self-respect. Don't spread fake photos of me. I'm loyal to my Luna."

He took Seraphine's hand and walked out with the pups without a glance back.

I stood there like I'd been struck.

I'd expected Ethan to fall out of love with me. I never thought he'd take even my basic dignity.

Before they left, Seraphine shot the female staff a look.

After they left, a group of female staff dragged me into the break room.

Most of them were wolves I had once helped. They looked apologetic. They also looked disgusted.

"Ms. Hayes. Sorry. It's the Luna's orders."

The lead wolf slapped me hard across the face.

Then slaps rained on me from every side.

By the end, there was excitement in their eyes. They didn't stop until they had hit me nine hundred and ninety times.