Chapter 2

Tears streaming down her face, she dropped to her knees, forehead hitting the ground. "Rue grew up with the Alpha. Please, Alpha, save her.

Kane's hand, the one intertwined with mine, went slack. Dropped away.

"Why would she do something so stupid?" he muttered. "I told her I'd give her a title after the wedding." He caught himself mid-sentence and shut his mouth.

He turned to run. Nearly tripped on the ritual circle steps. Remembered, it was his wedding day.

Every chieftain in the North was watching. If he left now, by tomorrow his father's desk would be buried in letters demanding his head.

So he stopped. Looked at me. "Liora, I need to check on Rue. I'll come back and finish the blood covenant. The wedding's set, what's the hurry?"

I widened my eyes, made my voice small and pitiful. "Alpha, this is a matter of life and death. Why don't I come with you? A Luna should handle household affairs, after all."

Kane looked relieved. "Yes, yes, of course."

So the Alpha and his bride-to-be left the ritual circle halfway through the ceremony to visit a wet nurse's daughter.

The crowd whispered behind us. They couldn't believe it.

Inside the wooden house, Rue was wearing a Moonlight Gown. The kind a bride was supposed to wear for the blood covenant.

She'd dyed cheap burlap white herself. The stitches were crooked.

Her half-shifted claws were pressed against her own throat. Her fingertips had already broken skin. Blood trickled down her neck, dripping onto the white dress.

She saw Kane walk in. Burst into tears. Threw herself at him.

"Alpha, I didn't mean to, I just want to be with you."

"I know I'm lowborn. I can never be your Luna. But I wanted, just once, to wear a Moonlight Gown and complete the blood covenant with you."

"You know I've wanted to be your mate since we were children."

Kane pulled her close. His face was twisted with pain. "Why are you so stupid? I told you I'd give you a title after the Luna moved in."

"Why would you do this? If anything happened to you, how could I go on? Are you trying to rip my heart out?"

Rue took his hand. Placed it gently over her stomach.

"Alpha, the healer came a few days ago. I'm carrying your pup. Two months. I didn't want my child to be born lowborn. To be mocked and called bastard. That's why I..."

Kane's face lit up. "Really? You're carrying my pup?"