Chapter 2

I don't need that." "I won't mention Nora again." His expression softened. He looked at her gaunt face and her frightened eyes, and something like tenderness crossed his. "Elara. I swear. This is the last time. Our next pup will live." She knew he was telling the truth. Because the aide had just sent word. The surgery on Serena's son had succeeded. The frail pup finally had a strong, matched heart beating in his chest. But Elara was done. When Damon left the room, she called her mother in Redwood Territory, half a world away. "Mom. I miss you." "My Pack Transfer Permit comes through in a month. Then I'm coming to you. And I'm never coming back." # Chapter 2 Her mother's voice on the other end was sharp with surprise. "Why now? Is it your brother? Is it that Sterling boy? Did they hurt you?" "They knelt to me back then. Begging me to let you stay. And now they dare treat you like this!" Elara's eyes stung. She remembered the year her mother had left Ironhold Territory for Redwood. Julian, still young then, had run stumbling after the car for miles. "Mom. Please. Leave her with me. I'll take care of her." And Damon had pulled out the Sterling heirloom emerald ring and dropped to one knee in front of her mother. "I can't live without Elara. Give her to me. I'll protect her for the rest of my life." Her mother had stroked her hair. "Sweetheart. You decide." Looking at their red eyes, she had softened. She had stayed. For years they had kept their word. Everyone knew the Alpha of Sterling Pack and the youngest Pack Counselor on the Alpha Council carried Elara like she was glass. Her daughter Nora had been showered with everything. A castle in the Redwood Territory as a first-birthday gift. Lessons with a world-famous Pack musician at four. When had it all changed? Around the time Serena had her pup. Damon had left her and a feverish Nora on the highway so he could witness that other pup's first cry. Julian had pulled the Pack Healer off Nora to examine the other pup instead. They had said, "Serena is an orphan. She doesn't even know the father. We should give her more." "You have so much. Let her have this." Elara had let her have it. Jewelry. Property. Shares in the Pack Assets. But they wanted more. They took Nora. They took every pup after Nora. Her voice finally cracked in the phone. "Mom. They were cruel to me. Really cruel." Her mother's voice broke with her. She comforted her a long time. Elara booked the flight, hung up, and checked herself out of the Infirmary. She pushed open the front door of the manor and found Serena sitting on the rug, turning a handful of small wooden carvings over in her palm. Nora had made those. In her first art class in Pack school. She had come running home, face shining with pride, to press them into Elara's and Damon's hands. "These are presents for Mommy and Daddy. Keep them safe, okay?" Damon had crouched down, his whole face soft. "Our sweet girl is this talented? I'll treasure them forever." Now Serena dropped the carvings to the floor. "She held them the whole time she was dying. As if they were worth something." "Ugly little things. They're an eyesore." She stepped on them and ground her heel in. The small carvings splintered. A roaring sound filled Elara's ears. She shoved her. "You—" Serena stumbled, then saw Damon in the doorway and collapsed with perfect timing. "Damon—I only stepped on them. She tried to kill me!" Damon's face went to frost. He crossed the room in three strides and pulled Serena behind him. "I told you Theo would be staying with us for a while. You don't get to hurt her over a few toys. If you have a problem, come to me." Elara heard none of it. She was kneeling on the floor, trying to put the splinters back together. A shard drove itself under her fingernail. Her hand went red. Damon knelt, frowning deeply, and reached for her. "They're worthless. We'll buy new ones." "New ones?" She turned her head and looked at him. "You've forgotten. Nora made these." Damon froze. He remembered the child with the shining eyes, and something in his jaw tightened. "I didn't realize—" "No. You didn't realize. After your son was born, you stopped noticing how much Nora had grown. You stopped noticing if she was hurt. You stopped noticing whether she lived or died—" His face twisted in pain. His voice turned cold. "Stop it. Who said Theo is my son?" She kept going, talking to herself now. "You won't even tell me where she's buried—" "Damon. What kind of father are you?" His eyes went hard. His hand moved before he thought. The slap landed. Her head snapped sideways. A print bloomed across her cheek. Blood cut at the corner of her mouth. Damon stared at his own hand in something like disbelief. "I'm sorry—Elara—I didn't mean—"