I opened my eyes to grey morning light slicing through the curtains. The bed beside was cold. No Simon. No heavy arm thrown over my waist, no breath on my neck. Relief hit first, sharp and sweet. Good. Let him stay gone.
I sat up slowly. The diamond on my finger caught the light like a handcuff made of ice. I turned my hand, watching it glitter. Heavy. Mocking. A brand.
Knock-knock-knock.
I dragged myself off the mattress, bare feet on cold floor, and yanked the door open.
A girl in her mid-twenties bead up at . Big brown eyes, brunette bun so tight it looked painful, tray of food balanced on one hand. She wore a neat charcoal work dress with the pack crest stitched over the heart.
"Morning, Gamma-Luna!" she chirped. "I’m Astrid, your new personal assistant! The Alpha assigned himself. I brought breakfast—poached eggs, salmon, fresh sourdough, and a triple-shot espresso because you look like you run on spite and caffeine. Also orange juice, but I can swap it for cranberry if—"
I stepped aside. She bounced in like a puppy soone had overdosed on sugar.
She kept talking while setting the tray on the table. "My duties include wardrobe, schedule, als, ssages, escorting you anywhere in the pack house, taking you on a pack house tour—which is today, blocking annoying people, fetching annoying people if you change your mind, basically anything you want except murder—that needs Gamma approval, ha!"
I poured coffee. Black. Didn’t offer her any.
She was still going. "There’s a gym on floor twelve, spa on nine, training grounds sub-level three, boutique on—"
"The Alpha appointed you?" I cut in, voice flat.
Astrid’s smile didn’t waver. "Yes, ma’am! Direct order. Said you’re new to the North and need soone who knows every corner."
"Tell your Alpha I don’t need an assistant."
She tilted her head. "Already too late. I can’t disregard a direct Alpha command without risking my throat. Literally. Northern wolves are big on hierarchy."
I rolled my eyes so hard it hurt. "Is there a boutique in this building?"
"Floor seven! Fashionfangs. The owner’s a vampire-wolf hybrid—super dramatic, calls everyone ’darling’ like she wants to eat you. Which she might. She’s rude but has the best leather—"
"Get the skimpiest outfit in the store. Short, tight, shaless. Sothing that makes anybody clutch their pearls."
Astrid blinked twice. "Yes, ma’am!"
I reached for Simon’s wallet on the nightstand, pulled out a black card. She waved it away.
"High-rank wolves shop free. Perks!" She was already at the door. "Back in ten!"
The door shut. I exhaled like I’d been holding my breath for years.
"I’ll have to get rid of her," I muttered.
I headed for the bathroom. Shower on scalding. I stayed under the spray until my skin went pink, trying to burn Simon’s scent off , trying to burn the ring off my soul.
When I stepped out, towel wrapped tight, water still dripping from my hair, Astrid wasn’t back.
I turned my back to the door, let the towel drop to reach for the robe—
The door opened.
I snatched the towel up, spun around clutching it to my chest.
Simon filled the doorway, eyes dragging down my wet skin like he owned it.
"You could knock," I snapped.
"You’re my wife." He stepped in, shut the door with his heel. "I can walk in on anything I want."
"This is a contract, Simon. Paper. Nothing else."
He smiled, slow and ugly. "That’s why you think I paid for your life? Because of paperwork?" He crossed the room. "I never stopped loving you, Irene."
I laughed—sharp, bitter. "You have the audacity of a man who fucked my cousin the night before our wedding and got her pregnant."
"That was years ago. I repented. Also, she ran away with my child."
"You repented by crawling back the second I was weak."
He stopped a foot away. "I’m giving you a fresh start. With . Where you belong."
He grabbed my waist, yanked against him, crushed his mouth to mine.
I shoved him off hard enough he stumbled. My palm cracked across his face.
"Take your hands off ."
He touched his cheek, calm. Too calm.
"You know, I can divorce you tomorrow," he said quietly. "One signature and you go back to Silvercrest. Murderer. They’ll chain you to the wall and let the executioner take his ti."
I glared. "Are you threatening ?"
"Warning," he corrected, smirking. "Be a good wife, Irene. Starting now."
Knock-knock.
Simon didn’t look away from . "Co in."
Astrid slipped inside, arms full of glossy black shopping bags stamped Fashionfangs in silver fangs. She bowed to Simon without dropping anything.
"Gamma. I brought options."
Simon nodded. "Pick the best one for tomorrow. Sothing appropriate for eting my family."
Astrid’s eyes went wide. "Family dinner? Oh that’s huge—"
"What happened to the bonding with the Alpha?" I cut in.
Simon waved a hand. "Postponed. The Alpha took his Luna on a last-minute trip. Mating moon thing. We’ll do the sealing when they return. Tomorrow is just my mother and sisters. Wear sothing... respectful."
He walked out.
Astrid exhaled like she’d been holding it. "Okay, wow. Tension city." She dumped the bags on the bed. "But I did get the skimpiest ones like you asked! This red one is basically three strings and a prayer—"
"Save it for later," I said. "Give the tour you’re dying to give."
Her face lit up like I’d handed her a prize. "Yes! Shoes!"
She grabbed my arm—actually grabbed it—and tugged toward the door. I let her. Better than being alone with Simon’s stench in the air.
Floor three hallway first.
"Private Beta floor," she rattled as we walked. "Only the Beta, his Luna, and two enforcers have access. Elevator needs keycard."
We took the stairs down one level.
"Floor two—guest suites for visiting Alphas and other high-ranked wolves. Super fancy. Gold faucets. Rumor says one visiting Alpha from the East brought six Ogas and they broke three beds. Security had to replace them before anyone noticed."
Floor four.
"Training suites. Combat rooms, weight rooms, sparring rings with reinforced glass because sotis wolves forget to pull claws."
She swiped her card at a glass door. Inside, wolves in pairs slamd each other into mats. Blood on the floor. Soone’s arm bent wrong and popped back into place with a wet crunch. Nobody flinched.
"North wolves train hard," Astrid whispered. "We lose more in training than most packs lose in war."
Down another level.
Then next—dical wing. Sll of antiseptic and blood. A male with half his face burned scread while healers held him down and poured silver-nitrate sothing over the wounds.
Astrid didn’t slow. "Silver poisoning cases mostly. Southern packs still use silver bullets. Idiots."
"What is silver poisoning?"
She looked at as if I had asked her what is earth.
She answered anyway. "It’s like a toxin for werewolves. It works faster than wolfsbane."
Elevator this ti. She hit fifth.
Doors opened to marble and soft music. Wolves in robes padded around, getting massages, facials, claws trimd.
"Spa level," she said. "Booked solid for three months. I can bump you to the front. Perks of being Gamma-Luna."
"I’d rather die."
She laughed like I was joking.
Floor seven—Fashionfangs. Racks of leather, silk, lace, all black and red and silver. The owner, tall, pale, blood-red lips, hissed when she saw Astrid.
"Astrid, darling, you brought fresh at."
"Gamma-Luna Irene," Astrid announced proudly.
The vampire-wolf bowed dramatically. "Anything you bleed on is half off."
I ignored her.
Down to floor one—kitchens and dining halls. Sll of at roasting made my stomach growl traitorously. Wolves in aprons the size of linebackers hauled whole deer onto spits.
"Pack eats together three nights a week," Astrid said. "Mandatory. Strengthens bonds. You’ll sit at the head table with Simon and whichever ranked wolves are in residence."
Sub-level one—armory. Walls of guns, blades, silver grenades, things I didn’t recognize that humd with magic.
"War room’s behind that door," Astrid nodded. "Only Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and council allowed. I’ve never been inside. They say the table is made from the first Alpha’s spine."
Sub-level three—training grounds. Underground arena the size of a football field. Bleachers full of wolves watching two fighters circle. One shifted mid-leap, massive black wolf tearing into a grey. Blood sprayed the sand.
Astrid tugged along before I could watch the end.
Back up to the lobby. Massive marble space, wolves streaming in and out. Portraits on the walls—forr Alphas, all dead-looking even in paint.
"That’s King Voltage," Astrid whispered, pointing to the newest portrait. "Taken down last month. New Alpha’s portrait goes up after the first full year."
I stared at the empty spot waiting beside it.
"Irene?"
I turned.
Daniella stood ten feet away, frozen, holding a stack of files against her chest. Sa dark hair, sa nervous eyes I rembered from Baron’s funeral. She’d vanished the week after we buried him.
"Daniella." My voice ca out colder than I ant. "You disappeared right after Baron died."
She glanced around, stepped closer, lowered her voice. "I... decided to settle down. Start over. New pack, new life."
Liar. I slled it on her—nervous sweat under her perfu.
"Settle down where?" I asked.
"Here. I transferred months ago. Administrative work." She hugged the files tighter. "I heard about... everything. I’m sorry."
Sorry. Right.
Astrid cleared her throat. "We should keep moving, Gamma-Luna. You have a fitting at two—"
Daniella gave a tiny wave and slipped into the crowd before I could press.
Astrid watched her go. "That was weird. She’s in records. Super quiet. Rumor says she is in a relationship with the General of the North army."
nothing wrong with moving on...
I filed that away.
Astrid tugged toward the elevator again. "Last stop—rooftop garden. Best view in the North."
I let her drag .
The elevator opened to wind and snow-dusted pines growing in neat rows under a glass do. Beyond the glass, mountains rolled white and endless.
Astrid spun in a circle, arms out. "See? Told you the tour was worth it!"
I walked to the edge, stared down at the territory. Tiny wolves moved like ants far below. Simon’s kingdom now. My cage.
Astrid ca up beside , voice softer. "You hate it here."
I didn’t answer.
"You hate him too," she said. "Everyone can sll it on you. Like burnt sage and rage."
I turned. "You always this nosy?"
"Part of the job." She grinned, but it slipped. "Look, I’m not your enemy. I’m literally paid to make your life easier. Use . Abuse . Send for coffee at 3 a.m. Whatever. Just... don’t shut everyone out. Northern wolves are brutal, but they’re loyal to their ranked females. You could own this place if you wanted."
I looked back at the mountains.
"I don’t want to own anything here," I said. "I just want out."
Astrid was quiet for once.
Far below, a black SUV pulled into the underground garage. Simon stepped out, flanked by enforcers. Even from this height I could feel his eyes searching the building for .
Astrid followed my gaze. "Tomorrow you et his mother. She’s old-school. Will expect you barefoot and submissive. Word of advice? Don’t give her either."
I almost smiled. Almost.
"Let’s go," I said. "I need to pick which skimpy dress will make Simon choke on his own tongue tomorrow."
Astrid whooped and practically skipped to the elevator.
I followed slower, the diamond on my finger catching the cold light, heavy as chains.
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