Chapter 9

You'd gotten her the best Pack Healer you could find." "And if it saves Theo. Nora would have wanted that too." Who would ever want to die for that. But he had made himself believe. It was Nora's fault. Elara's fault. Not his. And now someone was telling him Serena had engineered all of it. Nora hadn't had to die. Elara hadn't had to suffer. How was he supposed to live with that. Before he could speak, Julian was already asking, hoarse, "What did you just say? That night Serena drugged Damon on purpose? She didn't actually want me?" Phoebe turned to look at him, slow, like he'd hit a button in her brain. She laughed, ugly. "You're Julian Ashford?" "Your sister and your niece have been tortured to death and you're asking if Serena loves you?" "Let me tell you. Serena doesn't love anyone except Damon. And even him, she'll drop if the money is right." Julian shook his head, no, no. "Impossible. She said she'd Bond with me—" "It's because Damon wouldn't take her. She settled for you." That sentence cut the last thread. He covered his head. A low, wounded sound came out of him. He had helped. For a woman who never loved him. He had helped kill his sister. He had helped kill his niece. The pup who used to trail him. The little niece who said he was the best uncle in the world. Both of them. Gone. The whole world went colorless. He didn't know how long he sat in that pain. When he came back to himself, he turned and saw Damon. Damon was on his knees in the ash. He was shaking. Tears were streaming down. The calm, immoveable Alpha of Sterling Pack was crying. # Chapter 13 "Crying doesn't do anything." Julian shouted it in his ear. Damon didn't react. The truth and Elara's death had nearly destroyed him. He wanted to set another fire and walk into the flames himself. Die with Elara. Maybe then this life would balance out. Julian seemed to see it in his face. He slammed a fist into his chest. "Wake up. You think Elara wants you dying with her?" "The wolf who killed her is still alive. You don't get to die." The wolf who killed her. Damon looked up slowly. * The next day, Serena had been waiting all night. The two men finally came home. The Ceremony had ended without them. The guests had drifted away complaining. "Didn't think they'd be so ordinary." She held a fake smile and ground her teeth behind it. She told herself, bitterly, that being Mrs. Ashford wouldn't be terrible. She'd tear down every one of those stuck-up wolves once Julian Bonded her. She ran to Julian the moment he walked in, arms out. "Julian. You're back." "How is Elara? She's all right, isn't she?" Julian looked at her. His voice was flat. "She's dead." For a half second Serena froze. Then pure, uncontainable joy rose up in her. Elara had been her benefactor. The one who had helped her when she had nothing. Elara had fed her, clothed her, gotten her through school. She had only ever been jealous. Why her. What did Elara have that she didn't. Why did Elara have the Alpha, the family, the perfect life, and Serena had nothing. Unfair. Unfair. She was going to climb, and Elara was going down with her. She hadn't expected Damon to love Elara as he did. She had tried for years. He wouldn't let go. And now—the Moon had answered. Elara was dead. Maybe she had a shot with Damon again. She stepped carefully out of Julian's arms. She looked at Damon through wet lashes, the picture of pitiable concern. "Damon. Don't be like this. No one could have foreseen—" Julian felt the empty space in his arms. He pulled his mouth into something that wasn't quite a smile. So it was true. He was a clown. Damon didn't push Serena away. He asked, "You aren't happy?" Her face went stiff. "Happy? Damon. Don't joke. Losing Elara hurts me too—" "You spent years trying to get rid of her. I assumed you'd be celebrating." She blinked. Her eyes widened. Real fear. She didn't have time to figure out what to say. A large hand closed around her throat. The hand tightened. "Khh—" Her face went red. She slapped at his arm. It was nothing against a wolf whose anger had burned through every last guardrail. His fingers tightened. Her struggle got weaker. "Please. Julian. Save me—" Julian caught Damon's wrist. Damon let go, barely. He looked at Julian, ice-eyed. "Even now you're protecting her?" "I'm not." Julian looked at Serena like she was already dead. "I just think. Letting her die this fast. After what she did to Elara. It would be a gift." Serena looked at the stranger her brother-in-law-to-be had become. Hell opened under her feet. # Chapter 14 They locked Serena in the Dungeons and the two of them sat in a room all night.