My grandfather was the Grand Patriarch of Silvercrest.
I’d grown up so sheltered that the bitterest thing I’d ever tasted was coffee.
At the Moon Harvest Feast, one of my mate Adrian Blackwood’s childhood pack friends raised his glass and spoke in the Old Wolf Tongue.
“Lucky you. Your Luna and your Favored She-Wolf are both about to have a pup. Which one are you going to be with?”
Adrian was carefully peeling a pomegranate for me. Without even looking up, he answered in the Old Wolf Tongue.
“I’m flying to Frostvale Territory tonight to be with Serena when she delivers.”
“Besides, Serena was left with lasting injuries after saving my life. This might be the only pup she’ll ever be able to carry to term.”
“Then what about Elena?”
Adrian set the bowl of pomegranate seeds in front of me. “Serena’s carrying my child, but Elena will always be the only Luna of Blackthorn Pack.”
“Elena’s strong. She’ll be fine in the Central Territories. Serena needs me to look after her.”
I lowered my eyes to the pomegranate seeds. My phone vibrated in my pocket.
It was a message from my grandfather, the Grand Patriarch of the Silvercrest Dominion.
[Elena, the Royal Succession Oath you willingly took eight years ago expires today. You may now reveal yourself as my heir and command Silvercrest Dominion’s royal resources freely. The Royal Healing Circle is standing by. I’ll bring you home whenever you’re ready.]
What Adrian didn’t know was that I’d spent three years working as a Pack Diplomatic Interpreter.
I stood and pushed away the bowl he’d prepared.
“It’s windy up here. I’m leaving.”
Adrian Blackwood, your part in my life was over.
…
I’d barely taken two steps when the conversation behind me stopped.
Adrian shoved the bowl at his childhood friend and hurried after me.
He caught my wrist, looking exasperated.
“Why are you leaving without saying anything? Are you feeling sick?”
A gust of night wind made me shiver.
Adrian immediately took off his coat and draped it over my shoulders.
Then he glanced at his friend and laughed in the Old Wolf Tongue.
“Elena’s such a pain. She’s stiff as a board and has no idea how to have fun. Serena’s a real woman. You wouldn’t believe how affectionate she is with me.”
But the moment he turned back to me, his expression softened into something almost loving.
“Elena, I’m sorry.”
“A major territorial operation in the Northern Territories has been hit by rival pack sabotage. Our pack supply network is close to collapse. I have to fly out tonight and deal with it.”
He held my hand, sounding utterly sincere.
“I promise, the moment things stabilize, I’ll fly straight back and be there.”
I looked into his eyes.
My stomach suddenly churned.
I quietly pulled my hand away.
Adrian took it for sulking.
Right in front of me, he spoke softly to Serena Vale in the Old Wolf Tongue.
“Sweetheart, I saw the pup cribs you sent me. The pink one is beautiful. I’ll bring it myself.”
He was certain I couldn’t understand the Old Wolf Tongue.
In his eyes, I was nothing more than a pampered little songbird, completely dependent on him for survival.
Just then, my phone vibrated again.
The Royal Healing Circle my grandfather had arranged confirmed they were ready to move at any moment.
“Elena, your due date is almost here. Things are dangerous outside.”
Adrian took my handbag and handed my phone to Beta Derek beside him.
“The healers say you should avoid unnecessary screen time so close to delivery. Stop reading all those ridiculous pack news broadcasts.”
“I’ve arranged for you to stay at Blackthorn Healing Sanctuary, the best in the city. Be good and rest there.”
I didn’t argue. I nodded. “Okay.”
The car soon pulled up outside Blackthorn Manor.
Adrian opened the door himself and carefully tucked my coat around me against the night wind.
He bent down and kissed my forehead.
“Wait for me. I love you.”
The door closed.
As the car rolled away, I leaned back and watched him in the rearview mirror.
The moment Adrian turned around, the tenderness vanished. He eagerly pulled out his phone, made a call, and hurried back inside.
I closed my eyes and remembered the pack territory conflict we’d been caught in three years earlier in Westhaven City.
I’d been running a high fever. To protect me, he’d wrapped his only coat around my shoulders.
He stood in the freezing rain until his lips turned blue, yet still smiled and said, “Elena, as long as I’m alive, I’ll never let you suffer even a moment of cold.”
What a joke.
So this was what love came to in the end.
I opened my eyes, calm again.
Adrian Blackwood, if you’ve chosen her, don’t ever look back.