Clink.
The ring slipped from my finger, hitting the ground.
Maxwell was so wrapped up in Madeline that he didn't even notice he'd given me the wrong one.
He took the she-wolf's ring with the tracker.
"I'm so sorry, my mate," Madeline's voice sobbed through the ring.
"I don't crave despair, but this cage-my claws are splitting my palms from scraping at the bars. The wolf inside's howling to tear free, and I swear it'll take me with it if it can't."
"Don't talk nonsense,"
Maxwell's deep, commanding growl cut in.
"I'm your wolf. You're sick, and I'm not about to ignore that. Come on, let's get out of here for a bit."
"Really?" Madeline's voice lit up, trembling with hope. "I'm not dreaming? I can actually leave this place?"
"When has your mate ever lied to you? We're going now."
"Madeline, you haven't had a chance to leave the villa before, but I've had your anniversary gift ready for a while. This is your manor. I'm staying here with you today."
Madeline's joyous laughter rang out, and then my phone buzzed with a text from Maxwell.
Sophie, got a big client meeting.
Back tomorrow night. Have fun, and tell me if you need anything. Love you.
I gripped the phone so hard my knuckles whitened.
A tear fell, smearing the word "mate" on the screen.
He could buy two identical manors, one for each of us.
But he could only be a true mate to one she-wolf.
I felt like some dirty secret, a shadow in their light.
But not for long.
I wiped my tears and left the manor, heading home to throw myself into my dance.
I'd only passed the first round of the Belvaria contest. If I wanted my left leg to carry me further, I had to work harder than any wolf out there.
Maybe the shock of betrayal sparked something, because ideas started flowing.When I practiced, my hand brushed the ring.
The switch clicked, and Madeline's tear-choked voice spilled out.
"One day's a scrap of moon in a dark sky. I'll slink back to that villa. Sophie gets to walk beside you in the light... but me?" A low growl rumbled . "I'm just a shadow that howls for a place at your side."
Silence followed.
My breath caught, my arm trembling.
The memory of my leg being severed, the unbearable agony, roared back to life.
Maxwell knew how much I hurt, how much I hated her.
That's why he kept her hidden, locked away.
He'd never let her parade in public.
But then, after a long pause, his voice came, low and final. "Alright."
