Chapter 3

More howls answered it. For a moment, nobody moved.

Then someone screamed, “Rogues!”

The crowd scattered. Parents shifted, scooping up their pups and carrying them away. I backed toward the edge of the square as three enormous wolves charged in.

Our warriors rushed to meet them. The rogues threw them aside.

An injured warrior landed near my hiding place. I flinched. The largest rogue had been heading toward Rowan's stage, but he stopped and turned his head.

His gaze settled on my neck.

My hair covered Rowan's mark. It always did. Had he sensed it anyway? If he knew I was the Alpha's mate, I would be an easy target. I couldn't even shift to defend myself.

He snarled and lunged.

“Rowan, help me.”

I shut my eyes as the rogue raised a paw.

The blow never came.

When I dared to look, a big brown wolf stood between us. He growled at the rogue, holding his ground. Neither moved. Then the rogue looked at me once more, turned, and ran. The other two followed him out of the square.

My knees nearly gave way with relief.

He'd come. Rowan had come for me.

“Rowan.” I threw my arms around the brown wolf's neck. “You saved—”

He shifted beneath my hands.

It was Gavin.

“Luna, are you hurt?”

I let go of him.

“I'm fine.”

Across the square, Rowan stood on the stage with Celeste in his arms. She was trembling, her face pressed against his chest. He held her close.

I turned and walked away.

I was almost back at the house when Rowan caught my hand.

“I'm sorry,” he said.

“For what?”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “I know today matters to you. I was going to introduce you as my mate.”

“Oh.”

“And I wanted to protect you. But Celeste...”

I waited.

“She lost her mate, Nora. Rogue attacks make her panic. I couldn't leave her.”

I'd called for him while another wolf came at my throat. He was still explaining why he hadn't come.

“I'll make it up to you,” he said. “Tomorrow, at the New Moon Festival. I'll announce our bond then.”

I'd wanted those words for years. Now I could barely stand to hear them.

“You promise?”

“I promise.”

I studied his face, then made myself smile.

“Okay.”

He relaxed. A moment later, his gaze went distant. He was using the mind-link, listening to someone I couldn't hear.

Celeste, I thought.

“Something's come up, Nora. I have to go.”

Of course he did.

Gavin had followed us from the square. Rowan turned to him.

“Prepare another token. Whatever she wants.”

“Alpha...” Gavin had gone pale.

“What?”

Gavin opened his mouth, then closed it. I stood beside Rowan and said nothing. He still thought he was offering me another gift.

He went back to the celebration.

That evening, Gavin brought the final document to my room.

Token one hundred.

Rowan's authorized seal was stamped at the bottom. I unfolded the paper and read my request to dissolve the bond and leave. My fingers trembled, but I was smiling by the time I reached the end.

The elders still had to approve it. Then I could go.

“I can finally get out,” I said to the empty room.

“Yes, we can!”

I froze. The voice was bright, excited, and much too close.

“Who's there?”

“Hi, Nora. I'm Lyra. Finally here.”

My legs gave out. I sat on the floor with the document in my hands, listening to her inside my head.

Lyra.

I had a wolf.