"My mating ceremony's in two days. Still need to go try on my Blood Circlet. If you'll excuse me."
As he stood, the moonstone pendant at his waist swung into view. He made no effort to hide it.
It was Seraphina's. She had told me it was the only thing her mother left her. And she had given it to Caspian Stormfang.
He paused at the door, as if just remembering. "Oh, right. Seraphina transferred the deed to this den into my name. I hear you're fond of the pastoral life. Just remember, you're living under my roof now. Mind my rules."
My whole body went rigid. When Seraphina burned down the countryside den, she had told me this estate was bought for me. That I could fill it with moonberry bushes and silver-leaf fruit trees and herb gardens.
From the very beginning, she had never intended to give me anything.
"Caspian Stormfang."
I called after him, my voice scraped hollow.
"Has the young Pack Alpha Heir ever laid eyes on the Alpha Heir of the Crescent Dominion?"
Caspian froze for a moment. "What, you're going to claim you have some connection to the Alpha Heir? The one who barely shows his face at pack gatherings?"
I let out a bitter laugh. "I've heard he's fond of the Bloodhowl frequency. If we could earn even a smile from him, get him to attend your mating ceremony, wouldn't that be a feather in your cap?"
He looked half-convinced at best. "A wolfless wretch like you would know the Alpha Heir's preferences?"
"Believe it or don't. If it turns out to be false, it costs you nothing."
After Caspian left, I curled into the corner of the bed. My body burned with fever, and a vicious pain twisted through my lower abdomen, but no one came.
Looking back now, meeting Seraphina Blackthorn was the single greatest regret of my life.
Somewhere in the haze of unconsciousness, I caught the distant sound of a Bloodhowl threading through the night air outside the window. The frequency that only Ashvale blood could produce, and only Ashvale-sworn sentinels could answer.
Only then did I let myself breathe, and smile.
Long ago, my father and I had made a pact: no matter when or where, if a Bloodhowl carried on the wind, it meant I was in danger. Someone would come to take me away.
At some point, Seraphina arrived. She sat at the edge of my bed for a long while.
When she saw me open my eyes, she touched my forehead. "The fever's broken. Come on, sit up and have some broth."