I took a step back, but the floor creaked under my foot. Alaric opened the door and found me standing there. He looked startled. Guilty, even. He stepped outside, pulled the door shut behind him, and led me to a corner of the hallway. His scent, cedar and cold iron and storm ozone, pressed close in the narrow space, but underneath it clung something else. Night jasmine. Copper. Her.

"Selene… you heard that, didn't you?" he asked hesitantly.

I didn't say anything.

He hesitated again before speaking. "Ravenna's been having trouble sleeping. Do you think you could let her borrow the token for a bit?"

I nodded slowly, but at that moment, a sharp pain twisted through my side. I winced and swallowed it down.

"I'll give it to her, but on one condition."

Alaric's face lit up like I'd just handed him the moon. He stepped toward me, ready to wrap me in a hug, but I took a step back before he could touch me.

Ravenna's scent was all over him, that cloying night jasmine threaded through with copper and wet ash. It made me want to gag. Somewhere deep in my chest, my wolf curled away from it, pressing herself small against the far wall of my ribs.

"I'm glad you're finally coming around," he said with a relieved smile. "Once Ravenna has the pup, I'll give it back. Don't worry. Your place in this pack isn't going anywhere."

So he did remember what the token stood for.

"I don't care if she never gives it back," I said quietly. "I just need you to sign this."

I turned and walked upstairs.

A minute later, I came back down with the Bond Severance Writ in hand, already flipped to the page where his signature was needed.

"There's no need to be upset," he said softly, like he was trying to soothe me. "Ravenna's not going to keep it forever. Like I said, I'll return it once she has the pup."

He signed the writ without even glancing at it.

As soon as I held the signed Bond Severance Writ in my hands, the storm inside me quieted. I never expected it would be this easy. My wolf lay still for the first time in days, not relieved exactly, but no longer fighting.

Alaric gave me a small smile. "I know I haven't been there for you these past few moon cycles. Go ahead and buy whatever you want. I'll take care of the bill."

So that's why he was so quick to sign. He thought this was just me angling for a shopping spree.