Chapter 4

　　Kael's POV

　　My Pack had been hit by Rogue attacks, one after another, near the border between Bloodthorn and Blackwater, and the losses were heavy. I'd come through to survey the situation and arranged to meet Jace at this border tavern, to discuss joining our Packs to wipe out that Rogue band.

　　Left alone, it would only keep growing, and sooner or later threaten both our territories.

　　I hadn't expected Bloodthorn's Alpha, Nathan, to avoid meeting me,or to run into someone I never thought I'd see.

　　"What, scared out of your wits? Forgotten your manners already?" Jace rose slowly, toying with his dregs. "I send you for berries, and you smash the plate. Now you want to run? What do you take me for?"

　　She turned around slowly. "Alpha Jace, the fruit is dirty. Let me bring you a fresh plate."

　　"No need. Let's change the game." Jace yawned lazily, his gaze wandering over her without interest. "Hey, ugly. Clean up these plates first, then sing us a song to liven things up. If it's bad, you don't walk out that door tonight."

　　I heard her murmur a low "yes," and she turned to gather the dishes off the floor. I held my wine and let my gaze drift over her, careless.

　　From the first moment I saw her, her features had seemed familiar.They reminded me of the woman I'd seen in the woods days before.

　　Just a much uglier version.

　　Someone had witnessed my execution a few days ago. By custom, a witness doesn't get to live.

　　Every wolf carries a scent. And I had found nothing.

　　The investigation turned up nothing. She had vanished into the night, and however many times my people swept the outer territories, not a whisper surfaced.

　　Ordinarily I could read a person's scent within a few steps. But the whole room was a tangle of wine and blood, nearly impossible to pull apart.

　　If she really was that witness, I should be killing her right now.

　　What irritated me more was my wolf, Fenrir. He had been restless and on edge all day.

　　Ever since we entered Bloodthorn territory, this wasn't the first time.

　　Across the room, someone knocked into her by accident. She lurched, her back falling into my chest without warning; then she went down with the plates, wine cups shattering everywhere.

　　"I,I'm sorry..." She scrambled up in a fluster.

　　As she turned to collect the dishes, edging closer, bending for the overturned cup at my feet, a faint scent of fir wood drifted into my nose. Was it hers?

　　The collar of her robe had come loose, gaping open,beneath it, a small patch of old scarring showed faintly. Dark in color, its edges rough, like something cauterized over.

　　I rose almost without thinking and walked straight over. Under the startled eyes of the room, I crouched down slowly, until I was level with her.

　　Up close, her face looked like a crude mask. The eye makeup was smeared as if she'd cried all night; her lips were painted an ill-fitting dark red. But the eyes behind the false lashes and dark shadow were very bright.

　　The instant our eyes met, my wolf Fenrir went quiet.

　　"Kael?" Jace sounded taken aback.

　　I ignored him.

　　"What's your name." I watched her lowered face, my voice soft but carrying a pressure that allowed no escape.

　　"Lilia Voss."

　　I raised my hand and with precision, flicked open the collar of her rough robe and the strap of the shift beneath. As the fabric slid away, the tattoo on her shoulder lay bare under the candlelight,a butterfly, its colors uneven, like the hasty work of a clumsy hand.

　　My fingertip traced the outline of those wings, bit by bit. The moment it touched her skin, I felt her violent shudder, clear as anything.

　　It sat exactly where her shoulder blade met her collarbone. If I wasn't wrong, what it covered was a set of claw marks.

　　So it is you.

　　That night in the woods, my Beta had left a wound exactly like that on her shoulder.

　　With the pad of my thumb, I wiped away the blood at the edge of her cheek that hadn't yet dried. She flinched hard,but didn't dare dodge.

　　I studied her embarrassment and panic, and spoke low. "Are you afraid of me?"

　　"Afraid..." Her lips trembled. "You just cut off his ear..."

　　"He listened to what he shouldn't have," I said. "No use keeping the ears."

　　"In the same way," my voice dropped lower, "if someone saw what they shouldn't have, and said what they shouldn't have,what do you think the punishment should be?"

　　She fell silent, pressing her lips together, the cheap lipstick smearing even worse.

　　"Cut out... the eyes? The... tongue?"

　　"Smart."

　　"Kael, what the hell are you doing?" Jace walked over, stopping a few paces away.

　　I didn't look at him. Now that I was certain Lilia was the witness, she had to die. In the name of disciplining a lowly Omega, I could snap her neck right here with perfect legitimacy.

　　As for Jace,an outsider. Once this trouble was handled, any excuse would send him on his way.

　　"You know why I'm asking you." I said it quietly to Lilia.

　　My unmoving face was reflected in her pupils. She shook her head frantically. "I... I don't know..."

　　"You don't?" A cold laugh escaped me. "Then why did you hide just now?"

　　She froze,clearly, she hadn't expected that question.

　　"You were afraid I'd recognize you," I said.

　　Her breath stopped short.

　　"Kael, you've frightened my singer." Jace again, impatience edging in.

　　I didn't turn around. "She's careless in her work," I said flatly. "I'm teaching her the rules."

　　Jace snorted. "Then take your time teaching. I'm still waiting to hear her sing."

　　My gaze settled back on Lilia's face.

　　"You're clever," I said, low enough that only she could hear. "You know when to play the fool, and when to cry."

　　"I don't want..." she murmured, despair filling her voice.

　　"That's not for you to decide." I leaned close to her ear and spoke in a voice only the two of us could hear. "Your life belongs to me now."

　　My hand rose slowly and settled around her neck,my usual way of carrying out an execution.

　　She closed her eyes, wet lashes clinging together.

　　My thumb rested against the side of her neck. Under it, her pulse raced faster and faster, her chest heaving hard beneath the robe.

　　I drew my fingers in, ready to force the life out of her,and Fenrir roared.

　　Her scent. I finally caught it.

　　Fenrir howled.

　　"Let her go, you fool!"

　　His voice was deafening. "She is our mate!"