Chapter 6

Three days later, I was summoned to the Alpha's manor.

Damien was waiting at the door.

When he saw me, his throat worked, but no words came out.

Finally he said, simply, "Go see my mother. She wants to talk to you."

He smiled and added, as if to reassure me, "Don't worry. It's good news."

In the sitting room, the Luna was drinking tea.

She saw me and sighed. "Lucienne, why did you do so badly at the Gala?"

Before I could answer, she set down her cup. "I want the truth."

I steeled myself. "I don't want to be Damien's mate."

The Luna's eyes went wide. She glanced at Damien.

He blinked, then twisted his mouth and spread his hands, like it was nothing to him.

The Luna took my hand gently, her voice soft.

"What's wrong, Lucy, dear? Did you two have a fight?"

"Three months ago I asked you, and you said you wanted to be his mate."

Damien glanced at me and gave a low whistle.

I lowered my head, trying to think how to explain it to her.

I was no longer the foolish she-wolf of my previous life, the one who'd clutched a thorned rose so hard she bled all over.

Back then I'd been infatuated with Damien, and with my blood and my abilities, I'd become his mate as if it were only natural.

Heidi and I shared a birthday. Every year, on the night of it, Damien spent it with her.

It was always the next day before he remembered to throw me a makeup celebration.

"She's not like you, born noble. She's just a little she-wolf with impure blood."

"If I don't keep her company, who will? You understand, don't you?"

It was the same excuse every year. He couldn't even be bothered to come up with a new one.

Later on, Damien would stare at me and sometimes let slip, "Honestly, apart from the blood you were born with, you're not really any better than Heidi."

And when I'd look at him, shocked, he'd shrug and say, offhand, "Luck's part of it too, of course."

He chalked it all up to luck. I'd simply been luckier than Heidi.

The Luna's voice broke into the memory.

"Damien, take Lucienne out to the garden. Talk it through properly."

She squeezed my hand. "That moonstone bracelet, the Luna's bracelet, I still want you to have it."

The Luna had always been kind to me. I couldn't bring myself to refuse her to her face.

But Damien was a different matter.

This time, he'd finally have his chance to be with Heidi out in the open.

So let him be the one to say no to the Luna.

"I think," I said evenly, "we should hear what Damien wants."

Damien watched me with the ghost of a smile, something unreadable at the corners of his eyes.

At last, he spoke, slowly.

"All right, Mother. Whatever you say."