Chapter 3

My mind went blank. I thought I'd misheard. I whispered, "What did you say?"

Cain said, unhurried, "I said Serena and I were together on our Bonding Night. Zak was conceived then."

My mind went back to that night.

I'd nervously changed into the nightgown he liked. He tossed a blanket at me.

He said, cold and flat, "Adrian just died. Don't upset Serena."

He walked out without looking back.

In the early hours, Margaret — already unstable from losing her son — discovered we hadn't shared a room.

She said I'd failed in my duty to produce an heir for the Pack. She ordered Pack punishment.

A hundred strokes of a whip landed on me, one after another. I called Cain over and over.

No one answered.

It turned out, while I was being beaten bloody on my Bonding Night, he was with my best friend — his sister-in-law.

Suddenly blood welled up in my mouth. I covered it with my hand and stared at my palm.

I felt lost.

Serena saw and pushed Cain's arm. "Stop talking!"

She rushed over to check on me.

"Elara, are you okay?"

"I'm sorry. On your Bonding Night I missed Adrian so much. Cain looks exactly like him, so I—"

I pushed her away before she could finish.

I closed my eyes and steadied myself.

"Get out," I said, without energy.

Serena still looked like she wanted to say more. I shouted, "Get out of here!"

Cain put his arm around Serena and they headed for the door.

At the threshold, he turned and looked at me.

"Serena is pregnant again. From now on I'll be living as Adrian Thorne, her husband who survived."

"And Cain Thorne — her husband's brother who couldn't get along with his own Bond mate — has gone abroad."

I shook all over, watching their backs as they left.

Proud Cain. He was actually willing to spend the rest of his life wearing his brother's name for Serena's sake.

I looked down. Tears soaked into the blanket.

On my ring finger was still the simple gold band he'd made himself — with both our names engraved inside.

He'd said it would witness our happiness for a lifetime.

It had all been an illusion.

Cain moved fast. Within a single day, news was spreading everywhere that Adrian Thorne was alive.

And spreading just as loudly was news about me.

A woman who couldn't produce an heir in four years. Utterly cast off by her husband. A disgraced Pack mate who'd been left behind.

I watched Cain, using his brother's name, appearing in public with Serena — together, as a couple.

He even announced he'd make it up to her with a proper Bonding Ceremony, to receive everyone's blessings.

I also watched the mockery pile up online, voices demanding I step aside and give up my position.

I suddenly smiled.

I dialed an unfamiliar number. "Adrian. It's time for you to come back."

The day I was discharged, Cain came to pick me up — something he'd never done before.

He brought flowers. He brought gifts.

"Happy Bonding Anniversary."

I wasn't surprised he remembered. This day had its own kind of significance for him and Serena, too.

I finally understood why, every Bonding Anniversary, he always suggested we celebrate with Serena.

I took his things calmly. No arguments. No scenes.

The two of us were as smooth and familiar as always.

Except everyone now called him Alpha, not Dr. Thorne.

And the gold band on his ring finger had been switched out for one that matched Serena's.

He'd cut his hair short. He'd truly made himself into Adrian.

Cain opened the passenger door for me.

I'd already gotten into the back seat.

He paused for a moment. His voice was gentle. "Sit up front."

As if the man who'd told me the truth in that operating room had never existed.

I said calmly, "I'm used to the back. Drive."

In the past, when the three of us went out together, Serena got carsick, so I always gave her the front seat.

I naturally ended up in the back.

I talked little and mostly sat there listening to the two of them laugh and chat up front.

Once I fell asleep, and they forgot completely that I was in the back.

They locked me in the car when they got out.

Serena explained later that Cain had wanted to surprise me — he'd called her along to pick out flowers.

But I recognized those flowers. I'd bought them myself and left them at Serena's place.

The car stopped. The memory broke.

Cain didn't move. He looked at me through the rearview mirror.

"Today is our Bonding Ceremony."

I looked up. We were in front of a ballroom.

He continued, "She says you're her only friend. She wants you as her maid of honor."

"Your dress is in the bag. Go change."

That was when I understood why he'd come to pick me up himself.

There was a price.

My mouth twisted.

"You two make me sick."

I reached for the door.

Before my foot touched the ground, hands grabbed me and dragged me into a room.

Several enforcers in black stripped my clothes and forced a dress onto me.

Cain followed at an easy pace.

"Elara, Serena was so afraid you wouldn't come. She cried all night."

I struggled and said through my teeth, "You feel sorry for her?"

"You dragged me here in chains to witness your disgusting affair?"

Cain grabbed my jaw and squeezed. "Elara. My patience has limits."

"If you cause trouble, I won't hesitate to cut off Thorne Pack's cooperation with your family's business."

"I think you know your family's company hasn't been doing well these past few years."

I stared at him. I stopped fighting.