Chapter 1

I woke up in the middle of surgery.

My eyes opened and locked onto Cain's.

He was the one operating on me, and he didn't look surprised at all.

He said, in a completely flat voice:

"You were never infertile. Four years ago, I performed a sterilization procedure on you without your knowledge."

"This time you don't have an ectopic pregnancy either. The pup is healthy. But I already removed it."

I went cold all over. My eyes burned red.

"Why?"

His expression was calm. "My brother Adrian died in that accident at sea. Serena is a widow with no standing in the Thorne Pack."

"I gave her a pup. That means I can't give one to you."

Right then, outside the operating room, the woman he called his sister-in-law — my closest friend — was crying because she was worried about me.

"Why are you telling me this now?"

Cain shrugged. "No real reason. I'm just tired. I tried everything to prevent a pregnancy, and you got pregnant anyway. It annoyed me."

"I didn't want to keep lying. I adjusted the anesthesia so you'd wake up early. Better you know sooner."

Then he went back to suturing.

I could feel the needle going through my skin. The pain made me moan over and over.

The man didn't react. When it was finally done, he spoke.

"A pup needs a father. I plan to be Serena's real support."

"You can either Sever the Bond or keep things as they are. Your choice."

He paused when he saw my tears.

"If you don't Sever it, I'll take care of Serena. Don't give her trouble."

I woke again to a fine, constant ache in my lower abdomen.

That was when I understood that everything in that operating room had been real.

From the bed next to mine came sounds — one gasp louder than the last, filling my ears.

"Cain! Stop — Elara's right there."

The only answer was a heavier breath.

That voice was too familiar to ignore.

I pulled the IV from my hand without thinking.

I stumbled out of the bed and pulled the curtain back.

On the other side, Serena's shirt was hanging open, her chest bare.

Marks covered her skin.

At her collarbone was a tattoo — identical to Cain's.

Her face was flushed. Her eyes were unfocused.

When she saw me, she screamed.

She scrambled into Cain's arms.

"Elara, don't get the wrong idea — let me explain!"

Cain glanced at me once, then unhurriedly helped Serena button her shirt.

"I couldn't help myself. Don't blame her."

After telling me the truth, Cain seemed completely at ease.

He looked at Serena in his arms with obvious affection.

He laughed softly. "What are you embarrassed about? Our pup is already three years old."

Serena shoved his chest playfully, then quickly finished dressing and stepped toward me.

She took my hand.

"Elara, listen to me."

I stared at the scene in front of me. The air still held the heavy smell of what had just happened.

Serena's underwear was on the floor next to my feet.

The same style as mine.

I pressed my hand over my chest. Something bitter rose in my throat.

It was my birthday. Serena had given it to me as a gift.

She'd been so sure about it. She'd said, "Wear this for Cain — he'll love it."

I'd thought it was strange then, that she seemed to know my husband's tastes better than I did.

Now I understood.

My husband. My best friend.

In my hospital room.

My mouth opened and closed. Everything I might have said was stuck in my throat. No sound came out.

But the tears wouldn't stop.

When Serena touched me, I flung her hand away with all the strength I had.

"Don't touch me! You're disgusting!"

Serena stumbled and fell. She looked back at Cain with wounded eyes.

Then she looked at me and said softly, "Elara, we've been friends for so many years. Why won't you even let me explain?"

"I had no choice."

Cain picked Serena up and looked at me with cold, empty eyes.

But his voice was gentle when he spoke to her. "Ignore her. You didn't do anything wrong."

He looked back at me without any feeling at all.

"I said everything that needed to be said in that operating room."

"If you can't handle it, Sever the Bond."

He carried Serena out.

I grabbed the thermos from the table and threw it at him.

"Cain Thorne, I'm not Severing anything!"

I couldn't help laughing.

"As long as I don't Sever the Bond, you two will always be nothing but a dirty secret. You'll never be able to show your faces."