Chapter 3

"Arthur, I don't have your patience. Thank the Moon Goddess we only need to hold on a few more days."

"Don't be modest. You built a Pack from nothing — dozens of wolves under you now. I trust Serena with you."

"But talent in business isn't enough to cross ranks. Once we turn Elara's Pack shares into liquid assets, your pup with Serena will be true old-blood. Her mother will rest easy."

"And I thank you for steering us through all this." Caleb's voice was oily.

My father laughed.

"Honestly, it went smoother than I thought. The hardest part was getting Elara away from Damon. Damon is sharp. His only weakness was how much he loved her. I told him her mother's dying wish was a Mate of matching bloodlines. He stepped back so she wouldn't have to choose."

The phone slipped from my hand and landed on my foot. I didn't feel anything.

So that was it. That was it all along.

My hands shook as I dialed a number I'd memorized years ago.

"Hello."

The voice that had haunted me, night after night, came through the line.

I asked Damon to meet me at The Crossroads Café, where we used to go.

He was already there when I arrived. A plate of my favorite pastries sat in front of him.

He looked exhausted but still beautiful.

When he saw me, his lowered eyes came to life.

"Damon. I'm getting Bonded." I stared straight at him.

"I know." His bitter smile cut across his face.

"Then do you know what my mother actually said about you on her deathbed?"

He nodded. The smile got worse.

"She said the wealth on me drew predators. That you were competent, honorable, and loved me enough — that I should hold onto you with both hands."

The always-composed Damon looked stunned.

"You mean all these years —"

"Yes. All these years, we missed each other. You can't imagine how much I hated you the moment I found out."

Our eyes locked. We didn't speak for a long time.

A voice cut in.

"Elara? What are you doing here?"

Serena was standing next to Caleb. Her hands were empty. Her bag was in his.

"Are you two on business?"

"We'll pick this up later." I didn't answer her. I held out my hand to Damon.

His hand closed over mine, trembling a little. He held on tight.

Caleb watched Damon walk away. "Who was that? What do you need to meet privately with? And where's your assistant?"

The jealousy in his voice made Serena grind her teeth.

I gathered my things and left. Caleb followed me out.

"Why aren't you asking me why I came here with Serena?"

"Because you came for coffee. She's your Beta assistant. It's the middle of the workday. Of course she's with you."

Caleb had nothing to say, but he still looked offended.

"Do you not care about me the way you used to?"

I shook my head seriously. "I trust you. Completely."

That was enough for him.

I was restless. I walked the streets for hours. By the time night fell, I realized I'd been retracing every place Damon and I used to go.

His message arrived. 【I meant to say — congratulations on the Bonding.】

"Look at this!" someone gasped nearby. "That's beautiful."

I followed the crowd's eyes. Every big screen on the plaza was playing the same footage.

"Serena, baby, Bond with me!"

At the same moment, a swarm of drones rose into the sky and arranged themselves into letters.

"Happy birthday, my daughter Serena!"

The crowd around me buzzed with envy.

"Who is this lucky princess? A father throwing her a sky-written birthday, and her Mate proposing in front of the whole Territory."

"Must be showered in love. That's beautiful."

Someone planned her life. Someone planned my death.

Time to end it.

I needed some papers, so I went back to Harrington Manor.

My father blocked me at the entrance.

"Why are you here this late?" There was a rare scrape of panic in his voice.

I said I needed something from my room. He snapped at me to leave him alone and come back tomorrow.

I pretended to be hurt and walked out. Then I circled around to the outside of my bedroom window.

The room was lit low. Unmistakable sounds of two people not bothering to hide what they were doing came through the glass.

"I've never felt this good. Knowing this is Elara's bed makes every part of me hum. This is the best birthday gift I've ever had."

"Silly. Wait until we get her assets. Then your illness will be cured and you won't even need the pills anymore."

I slipped away.

Next morning, Caleb came home without a trace of shame.

"Sign this." I handed him a document. The Bonding Agreement.

He understood. Harrington Pack law was clear — the Pack shares could only pass down a blood line. If there were no heirs, a bonded-in Alpha could only cash them out.

Usually Caleb read every line of what I gave him.

Maybe it was the long night. Maybe he knew even if he had objections, he couldn't change anything a Harrington had drafted.

He half-closed his eyes and scrawled his name on each line.

"I pulled an all-nighter. I need to crash."

Not long after, his voice drifted from the bedroom.

"She just had me sign the Bonding Agreement. Don't worry. It's locked in."

I called Damon.

"I've got my appointment at the Alpha Council Registry tomorrow. But I'm switching grooms. Are you coming?"