She'd posted images—a full spread of dishes that carried the unmistakable essence of Kael's cooking, the same recipes he'd learned from the Ironclaw kitchens.
I reached for him through our bond. Again and again, the connection went cold, deliberately blocked.
Then a message flickered across the pack-link. From Kael.
My moon, just finished the council session. Bringing home all your favorites. Be there within the hour.
I stared at the moon dial on the wall, counting every slow rotation of its silver hand.
An hour later, the ward-stones at our den entrance hummed with recognition.
"Selene, come eat! Got everything you crave."
The moment I saw those containers—not a trace of warmth left in them, the scent of the food already stale and cooled—
Tears spilled down my cheeks before I could stop them.
"Selene, is the pup giving you trouble? Just hold on a little longer, alright?"
He crouched down, gently massaging my swollen ankles with careful hands, his touch still familiar despite everything.
"It's all your favorites. Got delayed on the way though—a few territory disputes needed my attention through the pack-link."
"Wait here. Let me warm these up."
He grabbed the containers and headed for the hearth-stone.
My connection to the pack-net pulsed. A new reply on that mark-thread.
[My mate made way too much food, so I had him bundle up the rest. Picked out this adorable moon-rabbit container myself—can't have my precious wolf going hungry.]
The moon-rabbit container sitting on our table burned into my vision like silver against flesh.
The tears wouldn't stop.
So the foolish she-wolf in that mark-thread—the one being made a fool of—was actually me.
"Selene, it's all warmed up. Let me feed you."
I looked at Kael's gentle expression, his dark eyes soft in the firelight.
I still didn't want to believe it. That he could scheme against me with another wolf like this.
We'd been matched through the Council of Elders. He'd seemed so sincere during our courtship, so devoted to building our bond, so steady in his position as Beta.
We'd formed our mating bond because our bloodlines were compatible, but somewhere along the way, I'd fallen deeply in love with him.
Every time my heat passed without conception, he'd comfort me so tenderly, holding me through the disappointment.
When the assisted conception rite finally worked—when the healer confirmed the pup's heartbeat—he was even happier than I was, howling his joy to the moon.
I'd been naive enough to think our devotion had moved the Moon Goddess herself.
Turns out I was just stupid enough to walk right into someone else's trap.
I pushed away the spoon he held to my lips.
"Kael." I met his eyes, searching for any flicker of his wolf. "What if there was interference during the conception rite? I want to get it verified through a bloodline test."
His spoon froze mid-motion. Something flickered across his face—guilt, maybe, or the shadow of his wolf retreating.
"My moon, you've been reading too many old pack tales. That's impossible. A healer-den that established, with blood-craft that precise? They don't make those kinds of errors."
"But I'm scared. I asked around—the Blood-Scribe can perform a sire-line verification even now. Please, Kael. Let's just do it."
He set down the bowl, anxiety flashing in his amber eyes.
"Selene. I'm worried the ritual might strain you or the pup. Trust me—there's no way they made a mistake."
He pleaded with me, patient and earnest, his hand covering mine. But I wouldn't budge.
His pack-link pulsed with an incoming call. He glanced at the source.
"Selene, there's an issue with the border patrols. Let me handle this real quick."
He disappeared into the bathing chamber and turned on the water flow.
The rushing water drowned out his hushed conversation through the private link.
Five minutes later, he emerged—brow smooth, tension gone from his shoulders.
"Selene, if you're really that worried, then let's do it. I'll send word to the Blood-Scribe right now."
"Really? But you just said—"
Kael cut me off with a gentle squeeze of my hand. "Selene, I love this pup. But I love you more. If you have doubts, we verify the bloodline. Once you're at peace, the pup can grow strong and healthy."
Something nagged at me, a warning instinct deep in my bones. What had changed his mind so suddenly?
On the way to the healer-den, I found my answer in that mark-thread.
[The barren she-wolf suddenly wants a sire-line verification. Did she actually see this mark-thread?]
[Whatever. Let her test all she wants. One little blood-rite report won't be a problem for me to handle.]
