Chapter 3

His anger filled the room.

Because I'd walked in to get a document, he had people scrub the entire study from top to bottom.

I stared at him. "Why am I not allowed in?"

Lately, Cain had been inviting Serena to the house regularly.

They spent whole days in the study talking about music.

Why could she go in, and I couldn't?

"And I'm not dirty. Why did you have them clean the whole room just because I walked in?"

His face went colder.

"She's not like you."

"She understands music. She's a kindred spirit."

"You don't understand any of it. When you walk in, it's contamination."

Five years of living with him had taught me to decode his short, blunt sentences. I understood exactly what he meant.

Usually when he got like this, I would work to calm him down first.

But that day, even knowing how angry he was, I couldn't manage it.

I closed my eyes. "Cain, saying things like that actually hurts."

My blood sugar crashed then, and I staggered, stepping back.

I was standing in the study doorway.

The door was open. That one step back took me inside.

Cain thought I was provoking him on purpose.

His eyes went dark. I could see the tension in his jaw.

He pointed at me and said a lot of ugly things. In the end it came down to three sentences.

"Get away from me!"

"This is my home, not yours. Get out!"

"Don't ever come back here!"

I'd heard words like that before.

When I first came to live with the Forsythes, my half-sisters had said the exact same things to me.

Back then, I'd curled up under my blanket and cried quietly.

I'd told myself that one day I'd have a home of my own. A place no one could throw me out of.

After I was bonded to Cain, I made myself believe that Thorne Manor was that place.

It didn't protect me, but at least it was somewhere I belonged.

Today, he told me at full volume — the property was in his name, funded by his family, and this was not my home.

He told me to get out.

Emotion swept through me, and the helplessness was almost suffocating.

I stood there with my head down and did the math in my head.

I'd known Cain since I was fifteen. Ten years.

Five years covered by the Arranged Mate Bond, where I lived under the Thorne Pack's protection.

Five years bonded to Cain, taking care of him every day.

Five for five. I'd more than settled that debt.

I was tired.

I wanted out of this Bond.

Once the idea took root, it wouldn't stop growing.

A week later, I sat down with Gerald.

I told him I wanted to dissolve the Bond.

Gerald was seated on the sofa in the Thorne Pack Compound, tapping his finger against the armrest.

"Why?"

I told him that Cain had someone he cared about.

He held his temper around Serena. He tried, in his clumsy way, to make her happy.

He wrote music for her. He gave her gifts. He pushed through his discomfort just to please her.

And Cain was genuinely calmer when she was around.

Objectively and personally, Serena was better for Cain than I was.

Gerald was quiet for a long time after I finished.

Finally he cleared his throat and asked me directly: "Ember, do you know why I chose you as Cain's Mate?"

"Because I put a bandage on his arm?"

He shook his head. "No."

"I had you investigated. I knew you had a good heart. I also knew your position was difficult — you were unwelcome in the Forsythe Pack."

"You needed this Bond. With the Thorne Pack's backing, your life would be significantly easier."

"And because of that, you'd see Cain as your lifeline. You'd be grateful to him, tolerant of him, and eventually completely devoted to him."

"When I learned you had chosen behavioral science studies, I knew I hadn't been wrong about you."

He paused. "A boy with Cain's condition — if he were healthy, he'd have his pick of Mates. But he's not. He's my only grandson. Of course I had to secure him an absolutely loyal Mate. Someone who would care for him for life."

"This Serena you keep mentioning — I don't know her. I don't trust her with Cain."

He looked at me then, very directly.

"Ember. You grew up in the Forsythe Pack. You know what powerful men are like. An Alpha having someone on the side — or ten people on the side — isn't unheard of. Compared to that, Cain is actually remarkably uncomplicated. You should be grateful."

"And as long as I'm alive, no woman will touch your standing as his official Mate. What more do you want?"

I understood what he was saying. But I didn't want to spend my life as a caretaker to someone who resented me, watching the days pass until I was old.

"Cain told me to leave," I said clearly. "My presence here only irritates him."

"He's been having more frequent episodes lately too."

Something shifted in Gerald's expression. He went quiet again, and this time he actually reconsidered.

Eventually he relented.

"Ember, let me think about the Bond dissolution. Go home for now."

"And — Cain is still your Mate. His opinion matters here too."

I nodded and left.

Cain would agree, obviously.

He'd probably been counting down the days to sign whatever document made us officially done.

It had rained that afternoon — thin, steady spring rain, with a sharp wind outside.

When I stepped out of the Compound, I saw Cain.

He was standing near the half-open gate, wearing a white shirt, holding an umbrella.

Water had pooled at the tip of the umbrella. He must have been standing there for a while.

Long enough to hear most of what was said.