Chapter 6

Lucius's POV

When I heard Miranda had been forced to kneel in the main estate courtyard, something hot and protective surged through me.

I arrived in twenty minutes.

She was still on her knees in the snow, shoulders trembling, face pale beneath carefully fallen strands of blonde hair.

"Lucius," she whispered when she saw me.

I lifted her without thinking.

Behind us, Thompson said, "Alpha Wilde, Former Luna Beth ordered—"

"I heard the order." My voice was cold. "And now I'm ending it."

Miranda clung to my coat, shaking.

Once inside, I placed her on the sofa and examined her reddened knees. Guilt and anger mixed uneasily in my chest.

"What were you thinking?" I asked. "If Grandmother summons you, you send for me first."

"I was scared." Her eyes filled instantly. "Viya tricked me. She wanted this."

I paused. "Viya doesn't play tricks."

Miranda stared. "You're defending her?"

"I'm stating a fact."

"She set a trap with that tea set!"

"Grandmother gave Viya that set. She would never risk damaging it over petty revenge."

Miranda's expression hardened. "You sound very sure of your wife."

The word wife landed awkwardly between us.

"She is gentle," I said. "Too gentle sometimes."

Miranda pulled her legs back from my hands. "Can you honestly say you have no feelings for her?"

I looked away.

Ray, my wolf, growled inside me. Tell the truth.

"I married Viya for the pack," I said.

"That wasn't my question."

"I have never touched her."

The lie tasted bitter.

I had touched the bond. Not her body, not the way Miranda meant, but worse. I had drugged that bond. I had mixed herbs into Viya's tea, telling myself it was necessary. I had weakened Serena because I feared the pull of fate would drag me away from the woman I believed I loved.

Ray paced in disgust. Coward.

Before Miranda could respond, a soft sound came from the doorway.

Viya stood there, wearing an apricot coat and holding a gift box tied with a perfect butterfly bow.

Her face was calm.

Too calm.

"Lucius," she said, "Grandmother asked whether you'll attend the Blackwood Pack dinner tomorrow."

I straightened. "Of course. I'll take you."

"Alright."

Her gaze moved briefly to Miranda on the sofa, then back to me. No accusation. No tears. That somehow made me feel worse.

"What's in the box?" I asked.

"A gift."

"For whom?"

"You."

I frowned. Then realization struck.

Our anniversary.

I had forgotten.

Viya placed the box in my hands with a small smile. "It was for yesterday, but your birthday is soon. Consider it early."

"Viya, I—"

"It's fine. You're busy."

She said it lightly, as if excusing me was a habit she had perfected.

Then she turned and walked away.

Something about her steps looked wrong. Stiff. Painful.

Ray snapped, She is hurt.

I started after her.

Miranda hissed behind me. "Lucius, my knee—"

I stopped.

Just for one second.

That second was enough for Viya to disappear through the door.

Miranda's voice shook. "You see? Even now, she makes herself look pitiful and you chase after her."

"She did nothing."

"She exists between us."

The accusation filled the room.

I looked down at the gift box in my hands. The bow was tied with such care that I could picture Viya sitting alone, adjusting it until it looked perfect.

Had she waited for me last night?

Had she worn something beautiful?

Had I been with Miranda while my wife prepared an anniversary gift I forgot to receive?

Ray's voice was low. You are losing her.

I almost laughed bitterly.

Had I ever had her?

Miranda noticed the gift box too.

"Aren't you going to open it?" she asked lightly. "Since Viya prepared it with such care."

Her sweetness was a knife.

I held the box tighter. "Later."

"Why later? Afraid I'll see something touching?"

"Miranda."

"No, answer me." Her tears had dried, leaving anger behind. "If she is only a political wife, why does a forgotten anniversary gift make you look like someone kicked your ribs in?"

I said nothing.

She laughed bitterly. "You keep saying you chose me, Lucius. But every time she lowers her eyes, you act like you've committed a crime. Maybe the real problem isn't that Viya wants too much. Maybe it's that you gave her too little and still expected her to adore you."

Ray went still inside me.

Because for once, Miranda had said something true.

For the rest of the afternoon, I carried the gift box with me like a problem I refused to solve. I set it on my desk, then moved it to the shelf, then finally placed it in the locked drawer beneath my private documents.

Ray gave a humorless growl. You can hide a box. You cannot hide from what it means.

"Enough."

But my wolf was not done. "She remembered. She always remembers. You forget her, then punish her for being hurt."

I looked toward the window. Outside, the courtyard where Miranda had knelt was already swept clean of snow. Evidence disappeared quickly in Alpha houses. Too quickly.

A thought came, unwanted and sharp. How many times had Viya's pain been swept away before I returned home? How many bruises had healed under long sleeves while I stood beside Miranda and called myself loyal?

My phone buzzed with another message from Miranda.

[Will you come upstairs? I don't want to be alone.]

I stared at it for a long time before replying.

[Rest. We'll talk later.]

For the first time, I did not go to her immediately.