Chapter 3

She followed my gaze and looked down, then grabbed her collar fast, her face going white.

"Sister — that's not—"

I felt sick to my stomach and held it down.

"That's not what? You're practically undone. Do you think I'm blind?"

"Did you come to take care of Mother, or to show me what you've been doing?"

She flinched. Her lips trembled. Tears fell.

"I didn't — Sister, I just wanted you to rest—"

I let out a short, cold laugh.

"I should thank you, actually. He told me — you were so into it that night before he left that your legs gave out?"

"Should I pay you for your service?"

Clara looked like she'd been struck by lightning. Her mouth opened but no sound came out.

Cain turned, full of fury on her behalf. He reached into his sleeve and flung the Bond Decree at my feet.

The decree was crumpled. It was soaked through with stains — dried stains from what they had done on it.

"Yes. We did exactly that."

He stared at me and deliberately pulled Clara into his arms.

"While you were out finding the Healer for your mother, I saw Clara crying. I couldn't stop myself."

"We used your decree right there. So what?"

"She was louder than she's ever been."

Clara immediately clapped her hand over his mouth.

I looked down at the decree at my feet.

I had knelt in the snow outside the Alpha Council hall for three days straight to get that decree.

I had written out the birth dates myself, stroke by stroke. Now they were blurred into nothing, soaked through.

That was what they had been doing while I was out finding help for my mother. Over and over.

Cain seemed to realize he had gone too far.

"Elara, I'm sorry. I—"

I swallowed the taste of blood in my mouth and threw a handful of gold at them.

"Get out. Both of you."

The gold hit his shoulder and caught Clara in the forehead.

She stumbled back two steps with a short cry.

The hand Cain was about to put on me froze. Then he shoved me away in anger.

I hit the chest behind me and knocked it over. Letters and old things spilled out.

Cain's gold pin from before he left for the front. The painting of the border moon he had sent on my birthday. His letter after the first victory, every line full of happiness, saying he wanted to marry me and spend his life with me.

Cain's eyes stopped on those things for a moment. Then he stepped in front of Clara.

"That's enough. Clara is pregnant."

Clara grabbed his sleeve and shook her head hard.

"Cain! You promised you wouldn't tell anyone!"

He kept going.

"New Year's, I snipped back secretly, couldn't help it, it must have been then."

"You've always wanted a child. This one can be yours to raise."

My ears started ringing.

Years ago, I had gone out into the snow to find medicine for Cain. I damaged myself doing it. The Healer said I'd likely never conceive.

When Clara found out, she had held my hands, eyes red.

"Sister, whenever I have children, I'll give them to you. I won't let anyone look down on you for this."

At the time I thought that was love. Now I understood. She had already been planning to give me a reason to raise her children for life.

No wonder New Year's morning the sheets and my bonding clothes had stains on them. That was them.

"Clara. You have no shame."

I lunged at them both.

Before my hands reached her, Cain grabbed me and shoved me hard to the ground.

"Are you out of your mind?"

Mother had woken up at some point. She saw me on the ground and rushed over to shield me.

"You animals."

Clara broke from Cain and knelt at the foot of Mother's cot, pressing her forehead to the floor.

"This is my fault. All of it. I'll leave. I'll step back. Let Sister have this Bond."

Cain let out a cold sound.

"Ma'am. If you won't approve this arrangement, I'll bring the matter to the Alpha Council and ask them to dissolve the Bond Decree."

"By tomorrow the entire Capital Territory will know the Whitmore Pack's daughter was rejected. You think she'll ever find another mate after that?"

Mother's finger pointed at him, trembling. Her face turned purple.

"I'd rather die than see—"

The words cut off. She fell straight down.

"Mother!"

I threw myself forward to catch her.

Cain frowned and didn't move. His eyes showed impatience.

"She's unwell. She should be resting. This is the same every time it gets heated."

He took Clara's hand and walked out.

"Cain, come back!"

I held Mother and screamed after him, then ran for the tent entrance like I'd lost my mind.

The guards blocked me and pushed me back inside.

Cain's voice came through the canvas, flat and cold.

"No one goes in or out. Starting now."

I dropped to the ground in despair. Then I heard sounds from outside — fabric moving, lips meeting, a kiss.

And Clara's voice, urgent:

"Cain, you can't dissolve the Bond. Sister won't survive it."

"Leave it to me. Give her a few days without food or comfort. She'll come around and accept you and the baby."

Mother was already struggling to breathe. I screamed at the top of my lungs.

"I accept! Cain, I said I accept! Please — save my mother!"

Cain's voice came back through the canvas, unmoved.

"Elara. I don't care if you mean it or not. This is your lesson. After this, you won't dare treat Clara badly again."

Behind me there was a thud. Mother had fallen off the cot, reaching out for me.

"Don't — agree."

I scrambled to her.

"Mother, I'm so sorry. I couldn't protect you.