Mira woke to searing pain.
The sharp smell of Silvermist antiseptic filled her nostrils as the harsh lights of the Pack Medical Center stung her eyes. She instinctively tried to raise her hand to shield her face but flinched when the IV needle in her hand pulled painfully.
“Back in the land of the living, are we?” the Pack Healer said while changing her bandages. “Must have pissed off someone powerful. Two bottles to the skull–thirty–seven stitches.”
Mira gingerly touched the bandages wrapped around her head and asked hoarsely, “Who brought me here?”
“Your packmate–Summer, right? She stayed all night, poor thing. Had to leave for some emergency at the den. Said she hired a professional caretaker for you.”
Mira felt something hollow form in her chest.
Not Lucien. Of course not. The Alpha of Shadowpine hadn’t even bothered to bring his own mate to the Medical
Center.
Where was he?
She reached for her phone. As soon as her fingers touched the screen, a Wolfgram notification appeared:
Saela Ashmorne: [My protector knows exactly how to make everything better]
In the attached video, Saela held out her delicate hand with a pout. “Look, Alpha. I cut my finger when the bottle
broke.”
The camera shifted to show Lucien kneeling before her, an expression Mira had never seen crossing his features–tender concern mixed with barely restrained longing. His long fingers delicately placed a silver healing wrap on Saela’s fingertip. Then he bent down and pressed his lips to her finger, his voice rough with emotion: “There. The pain is gone now.”
Mira stared at the screen, feeling as though someone had driven a silver blade not into her head, but directly into her heart. The pain made her entire body go numb.
Taking a deep breath, she dialed L–1, the emergency line for pack law violations.
“Territory Enforcement. I need to report an assault.”
Later that evening, Lucien pushed open the door to her recovery room.
He wore a black coat, his features hard and cold, eyes burning with barely contained fury. “You called the Enforcers on Saela? For assault?”
“Yes,” Mira met his gaze directly. “Class Two.Intentional Harm. Clear violation of Pack Law, Section 73.”
-12andhua‘ No Longer a Stand In for His Forbidden Love
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Chapter 3
Lucien’s voice dropped to a dangerous growl. “She acted out, I know. But I’ve already made her face the consequences within the pack. It’s in the past now.”
“Consequences?” Mira let out a harsh laugh, the disbelief evident in her tone. “What exactly were these so–called consequences?”
“She’s young and impulsive,” he replied, his voice softening with obvious affection. “I’ve restricted her to the den for
a day.”
Mira stared at him for a long moment before laughing–a raw, painful sound that made her stitches pull. “Are you fucking kidding me? I’ve got thirty–seven silver–threaded stitches in my skull, and you gave her a day in timeout? This isn’t justice, Lucien–this is you protecting your precious Saela from the law! What happened to all that pack law bullshit you’re always preaching about?”
His eyes darkened dangerously. “Mind your words. This is pack justice as I see fit.”
“I’ve arranged for the charges to be dropped,” he continued coldly. “Don’t waste your time with other Enforcers. No one in North Territory will oppose the Alpha of Shadowpine’s decision.”
Mira clenched the sheets so tightly her claws began to emerge, pricking through the fabric.
The great and principled Alpha of Shadowpine–the one who lectured endlessly about pack law and proper behavior–was willing to throw it all aside to protect his precious Saela. How ironic that this powerful wolf, who built his reputation on fairness and order, would become so blatantly unjust when it involved the woman he truly desired.
A thousand bitter words died in her throat, and all she managed was:
“Lucien, what have I been to you these past six years? If you never cared for me, why did you make me your Luna?”
His brow furrowed deeper. “Who said I don’t care about you?”
After a pause, he continued, irritation creeping into his voice, “That’s enough. Don’t make a scene. This ends here. I’ll stay at the Medical Center for a few days, and I’ll make sure you’re properly compensated when you’re discharged. Just drop it.”
He spoke as if he were bestowing some magnificent favor upon her–the great Alpha deigning to spend time with his injured mate.
Mira felt a bitter smile twist her lips.
Of course. She had always been the one chasing after him–telling him she wanted him, begging to be with him, pleading to be marked by him…
When had he ever taken a single step toward her?
Six years of effort, all dismissed as “making a scene.” And now, when his beloved Saela had nearly killed her, his grudging attention was supposed to be received as some divine blessing from the Moon Goddess herself.
What a joke her life had become.
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Ilan Love
Chapter 4
Chapter 4
