Chapter 3

Brielle isn't done with us.

At the Blood Moon Ball, she keeps Mom on her feet all night — pouring her wine, kneeling to fix her shoes, presenting her cup with both hands. Every Luna in three territories watches the proud Luna of the Thorne Pack serve a rogue.

When she's bored of that, she pulls us out to a quiet lake behind the Ball.

She unhooks one of her moonstone earrings and flicks it into the dark water.

"Pick it up."

Mom doesn't move.

Brielle's voice goes sharp. "Maren. You are my maid tonight."

Mom finally lifts her eyes. Cold. Steady. Old Ashford fight.

"The moonstone set doesn't make you a Luna. You're still a rogue."

Brielle's hand flies up.

I throw myself between them and shove her back hard.

"Don't you dare touch my mother!"

"You little bitch — "

She swings at me. Mom yanks me into her chest and Brielle's nails rake across her neck instead, leaving four red lines.

For one second, my mother's eyes catch fire. The Alpha blood rises in her. Brielle actually steps back.

Then it's gone.

Brielle laughs. "Look at you. A toothless old wolf. All bark."

"Fine. You don't. But your daughter? She's going to suffer for it."

"You wouldn't dare." Mom is shaking. "Elise is the Luna's daughter. You touch her and I will haunt you out of your skin."

Brielle smiles. "oh the Luna's daughter. But you know. Plenty of packs have already asked my Alpha to promise Elise in mating. Should I tell him to say yes to the Crowley heir? Or the Vance heir?"

Two of the most rotten males alive. One trades she-wolves like coins. The other has buried three of his mates already.

Mom's whole body trembles. "Fine. I'll pick it up."

The lake water in autumn is freezing.

Mom wades in step by step. Within moments her lips are blue. Her hands shake too hard to grip anything.

I scream for her to come back.

Brielle smacks me hard. Twice.

"Shut up, you little bitch. One more sound and I cut your tongue out."

My cheek burns. I glare at her with everything I have.

A voice cuts the air. "What is going on here?"

Damon.

Brielle's face flips in half a second. She grabs my hand and slams it against her own chest — then throws herself backward into the lake.

The splash is huge.

Damon dives without thinking. He drags Brielle out, holds her against him, panic and tenderness all over his face.

He doesn't even glance at Mom drowning in the center of the lake.

A passing pack warrior pulls her out.

Brielle clings to Damon, soaked and shaking, then sees me and screams.

"No — please — I'm sorry — don't hit me again, please — "

"I never touched you!" My voice rips out of me. I point to my own swollen cheek. "She made my mother go into the cold water for an earring! She called me a little bitch! She slapped me!"

Damon finally looks at Mom.

She's barely breathing. After everything her body's been through, the freezing lake almost finished her.

Something flickers in his eyes. Almost regret.

Brielle bursts into tears against his chest before he can speak.

"Luna, I know you hate me. Fine. Hurt me, I deserve it. But teaching Elise to lie about me…"

"Yes, I slapped her. Because she called me a bitch. She insulted my dead parents. I'm a rogue, my Alpha, but I have pride. I would rather die than be treated like that — "

She lunges toward the water again like she's going to jump.

"ENOUGH." Damon's roar shakes the trees. "Elise. Attacking the Alpha's second. Drag her to the Pack Hall. Twenty lashes."

"NO!"

Mom drops at his feet. Soaking. Bleeding. She slams her forehead into the stone in front of every guest there.

"I raised her. Whatever she did, punish me. Take mine."

Damon's eyes are ice.

"Forty."

...

The Pack Hall is cold. Stone. Old.

Mom kneels on the floor, swaying. The silver-laced whip comes down and her skin opens on the first hit. Silver — to a wolf — is fire under the skin. She doesn't scream. She bites her lip until it bleeds.

I drop to my knees and claw at the stone floor, begging anyone, the Moon herself.

My skin splits. Blood runs into my eyes.

The forty count finally ends and Mom coughs up a mouthful of red and folds forward into the dark.

I have her carried back. I send for every healer in the territory. I sit by her bed all night. Sometime before dawn, I fall against the side of her bed.

Footsteps wake me.

Damon.

He kneels by her bed. His fingers shake as he peels the bandage off her back. The whip marks are deep, raw, crusted black with silver burn.

His eyes go red. A tear lands on her shoulder.

He starts cleaning the wounds himself, hands careful, voice ruined.

"Maren. Why are you so stubborn."

"Brielle is not perfect, I know, but she has a good heart. She saved my life in the Northern War. I owe her that."

"Look. If you really can't stand her, then once she gives me a pup, I'll send her out and you and I and Elise will be a family again. Like before."

I keep my eyes shut. I don't want to see him.

There is no before anymore. There is no us anymore.