Chapter 1

The day Cain Calloway returned victorious from the border war, the Alpha Council issued the Bond Decree, ordering him to complete the Mate Bonding with me without delay.

He saw me walk in holding the decree. He spoke before I could say a word.

"I've already been with your sister."

My face drained. He looked completely calm.

"The night before I left for the front, while you were outside the tent sewing my shirt, we were inside."

"She cried all night when she went back. You thought she was worried about me. You stayed up comforting her."

"The next morning she held your arm to see the troops off. Her legs were still shaking."

My blood went cold. I turned stiffly toward the tent entrance, where my half-sister Clara had come with me.

Half an hour ago, she had been pinning my hair, eyes red, wishing me happiness.

"Even just now, while you were gone to get the decree, she lifted her dress and begged me one last time."

"She bit my shoulder to keep quiet. She was trembling the whole time."

Cain glanced at the decree in my hand, his tone casual.

"Elara. That's how it is."

"If you still want this Bond, you come in through the side entrance as second mate."

"You bow to her every morning. Your call."

The sound of celebration outside faded away.

My hands went cold. The decree slipped to the ground.

"Why — why tell me now?"

Cain leaned against his desk, relaxed.

"I didn't want her to suffer."

He looked at me without flinching.

"Don't blame Clara. She begged me to take this to my grave."

"But I'm tired of hiding it. Every time I saw her, I had to make up excuses to keep you away."

"And I didn't want her to keep looking guilty every time we were together."

When he talked about Clara, his eyes were soft.

Just days ago, his message had read: Spring comes early in the south. When I return, I'll give you ten miles of red flowers.

I bit down hard on my lip and looked past him through the tent flap.

There was Clara, my half-sister. She was talking excitedly with one of the servants about how to decorate the bonding chamber.

She saw me looking and waved with a smile.

Half an hour ago, she had fixed my hair herself. Eyes red, smoothing my shoulders, telling me she was happy for me.

"Sister, you've waited so long. You deserve this happiness."

Now those words made me sick.

Cain saw my face go white. He hesitated.

"Elara. It's done. You two have always been close — if you could both be with me going forward—"

"Enough."

I cut him off. My voice shook.

Clara must have heard the argument. She lifted the tent flap and stepped inside.

"Sister, you look terrible. Are you—"

She stopped when she met my eyes.

Her hair was slightly out of place. The collar of her shirt was loose. There were dark stains on her skirt.

I had seen all of this. I had never thought to look closer.

Because she was Clara. The little sister who had followed me around since we were children calling me Sister.

The one who saved everything good to give to me.

The one I had always protected, never wanting her to hurt.

"Clara. Were you that hungry for it?"

Clara's face went white instantly.

"Sister, you — what are you saying—"

She was shaking her head, looking at Cain with desperate eyes.

Cain stepped forward and took her hand.

"Clara, don't be afraid. You don't have to hide anymore. I told her. With me here, she won't do anything to you."

Tears ran down Clara's face. She pulled away and dropped to her knees.

"Cain, you're insane! Sister gave everything for you — how could you do this to her!"

"Sister, listen to me. I didn't mean for this—"

Looking back, there had been signs.

Before he left, she had blushed and said she wanted to help me sew his shirt.

Every time Cain ran short on supplies, she always knew before I did.

Even the cold plum scent on him — I realized now it was the same perfume she always wore.

I had been a fool. My man and my sister had been playing me for three years.

"Clara. You're disgusting."

I raised my hand through tears and swung at her face.

Cain stepped forward fast and grabbed my wrist.

"Elara. Are you done? You're the legitimate daughter of the Whitmore Pack. You've had everything since you were born."

"What did she have? She had to watch every step she took around you, always giving way."

"All she wanted was a little love. Why can't you give her that? Why do you have to humiliate her like this?"

He took three years of lies and made them sound righteous.

I stared at him. My eyes burned.

"Cain. The Whitmore Pack sold every piece of land we had. I sold every piece of jewelry I owned."

"Just so you could win and come home and marry me."

"Then you turned around and slept with my sister, and called it real love — so what was everything I did?"

Cain's face went still. Something flickered behind his eyes.

"I'm not ungrateful. I'll remember what you gave. I swear it."

"I'll make you second mate. That's a fair offer."

Clara grabbed his sleeve, sobbing.

"Cain, stop. We owe Sister—"

"Second mate? You're dreaming."

The tent flap flew open. My mother, Helen Whitmore, stormed in, shaking with rage. She had heard everything.

"Cain Calloway. I was blind the day I agreed to this Bond.