Chapter 3

Tessa crouched down in front of me, face full of concern. "Josie, are you okay? Come on — let's get you to the healer."

I looked at that face. So sincere. So worried. It made my skin crawl.

"Why are you doing this to me?" My voice cracked. "What did I ever do to make you hate me this much?"

We grew up together. I took hits for her when the other pups ganged up on her. She used to cling to my arm and say we'd be together forever.

Tessa's eyes went soft and hurt. "I'm just trying to protect you, Jos. If Callum was really your fated mate, nothing I did should've shaken him. Don't you see? I'm doing this for —"

"You're not doing anything for me." I shoved her hand off. "Every single time, you destroy me and call it a favor."

She blinked. Innocent. Patient. "Okay. You're right. I'm sorry. Let's just get you out of here."

She pulled me up and half-carried me out of the dungeon. I could barely stand. She steered me away from the healer's den, through the back trails, toward the far edge of the territory.

A run-down hunting cabin. She pushed the door open — inside were three rogue wolves I'd never seen. They looked at me like I was meat.

Before I could move, Tessa screamed. She raked her own claws down her face. Tore her clothes. Pressed her body against mine — picking up my scent — then threw herself through the window.

She ran sobbing into the dark. "I'm sorry, Josie! I won't go near him again! Please stop hitting me!"

I lunged for the window. Too slow.

Seconds later, the door exploded inward. Callum took one look at me — bloody, weak, surrounded by rogues — and his eyes went red.

His palm hit my face so hard I hit the wall.

"You broke out of the dungeon to do this? You hired rogues to attack her?"

"She opened the door! She brought me here —"

He was shaking with rage. "Fine. Your life won't break you. Let's try your mother's. Remove her from the territory. Now. No one stops it."

I collapsed at his feet. "I'll apologize! I'll do anything — just don't touch my mother, please —"

"Too late." Cold. Final. "When Tessa wakes up and forgives you, I'll decide what happens to your mother."

I looked at Tessa in his arms. Her eyes were closed. Unconscious. Helpless.

Then — just for a second — one eye cracked open. Met mine. A flash of satisfaction. Then it shut again.

Guards came. They pushed me to my knees beside the bed where Tessa lay. One hour. Two. I knelt there, crying, praying she'd open her eyes and tell Callum to stop.

A guard walked in. His voice was flat.

"Your mother was escorted past the border. Rogues found her before sunrise." A pause. "She didn't make it."

Something inside me snapped clean in half. I doubled over on the floor. Blood came up my throat.

The guard pulled me upright. "Alpha is hosting a celebration for Miss Langford tonight. You're to attend, kneel in front of the guests, and apologize. That's your gift to her."

They brought me back to the den to get ready. Left guards at the door.

They waited a long time. I didn't come out.

When they finally kicked the door open, the room was empty.

The window was open. My scent trail ran cold ten feet past the tree line.

On the bed, there was a box.