Chapter 7

He was just attached to some old warmth that didn't exist anymore.

That night at the inn, I'd basically made my position clear. He'd understood. Adults don't need to spell everything out.

Good thing I hadn't admitted anything.

Good thing I hadn't let myself think it could be real.

If I had, I don't know how I'd be able to keep sitting here every day.

I breathed out slowly.

Like every other time in my life I'd been relieved I hadn't done something embarrassing.

Except I couldn't explain, over the next few days, why my mood dropped in a way I couldn't control.

Two nights later, my father called.

I always tensed up when I saw his name on the screen. An old weight dropped into my chest.

When I was twenty-nine, my mother had backed me into a corner over getting Bonded. The worst thing she'd said was: "I thought you were something to be proud of. Turns out you've become an embarrassment. You're getting Bonded. Even if it falls apart later, you need to do it first."

That was how I ended up in the Pack Elder's introduction to Declan.

Dad said, "Declan came to see us. He's been hinting that he wants to re-Bond. Actually, he came when the Bond first broke too. Your mother told him at the time that you'd acted impulsively and you'd probably want to re-Bond within a year. He seems to have taken that to heart."

I barely believed what I was hearing.

"Mom told Declan... that I wanted to re-Bond?"

My father nodded, careful and deliberate.

"Your mother means well. Declan's done well for himself. Even if you Bond again later, re-Bonding sounds better than starting fresh with someone new. And at your age..."

I hung up, feeling sick.

So that was why Declan had been so confident all this time. That was why he could stand there and talk about "taking me back" like it was already decided.

Because in their eyes.

What I wanted had never mattered.

Elara was throwing a birthday party and invited some people from the Pack.

She invited me.

I was about to say no, then I heard my subordinates whispering excitedly about seeing how the Alpha lived outside the office.

Something made me say yes anyway.

Elara gave me an apologetic look. "Wren, I also invited Declan and Vivienne. I hope that's okay."

The day came.

When everyone arrived at the estate outside the city, they all went quiet.

It sat at the end of a lake. The building was old European-style, the good kind — white stone, long rows of trees on both sides, a wide sweep of green in front of it, stone steps leading up to a raised terrace.

"It's like a scene from a movie," someone said. "An actual castle."

At the party, I picked up a glass of red wine.

Something in me needed something to push it back down.

There was a stretch of road out in the Wildlands, years ago, and Cain and I would sit against each other in the quiet and watch the open country for hours.

He'd asked me once what kind of house I wanted to grow old in. I'd half-closed my eyes and said I wanted something like a castle in a story.

He'd asked me what story.

I'd laughed and made something up.

He was already used to my nonsense by then. He just pulled me in closer.

This place.

Was exactly what I'd described.

I'd finished one glass and was reaching for a second when Declan appeared.

He took the glass out of my hand like it was his right. "You don't drink. Don't start."

I reached across him and picked up another glass from the table. I looked at him.

"Whether I drink is not your business."

His face went tight. He stood there, contained, and said nothing. I walked away.

In the main room, people were chatting and laughing. Someone stood up to ask Elara where the bathroom was.

Elara pointed to a door.

The woman came back quickly, laughing. "That's a bedroom. Elara, how do you not know your own house?"

Elara looked embarrassed. "I mixed it up."

Everyone laughed.

"This is the real downside of Bonding a powerful Alpha. His house is so big you get lost. Ha!"

Vivienne, sitting nearby, turned to look at me and smiled.

"So Wren. If you Bond again someday, what kind of person are you looking for?"

The room went quiet in that particular way that meant everyone was paying attention but pretending not to.

My two subordinates glanced at me, a little worried.

Vivienne had a talent for saying things that cut sideways. I was usually the quiet one.

But I'd had wine. And something that had been buried for a long time was floating up.

I took a slow sip.

"I can tell you one thing. Not Declan. Does that put your mind at ease?"

Vivienne blinked.

She hadn't expected that. For a second something crossed her face, but she recovered and performed a dramatic gasp.

"Oh, rarely get to hear Wren make jokes! But honestly I get it — why settle for second best? I bet you're holding out for an Alpha."

She laughed at her own joke. The Operations team laughed with her.

Someone from my team said: "Ms. Hartley, Wren has never said anything like that. Don't put words in her mouth."

Vivienne waved a hand cheerfully.

"Oh, it's not putting words in her mouth. I've been watching a lot of those short Pack dramas lately. Older She-Wolves finding their Fated Mate late in life — it's totally possible. Wren's thirty-three, she's Finance Director, why not—"

She stopped.

Red liquid ran down her entire face.

"Sorry. My hand slipped." I turned the empty glass in my fingers, sounding regretful. "What a waste of wine."

Everyone froze.