“Hey, stranger.” She brightened, and I felt guilty for staying away so long. “You’re early.”

  “Hey. Yeah. Um, where’s Silas?”

  “He went for a run with Drew, but they should be back any minute. Do you want to wait for him—?”

  “No, this is… better.”

  “Okay.” She drew out the word, finally tuning into my nervousness. “Listen, I want to apologize again for how distant I was these last few weeks. My visions are no excuse for hurting you or our friendship like that.”

  “It’s okay, Kel. This isn’t about that.”

  “You forgive me?”

  “I forgive you.”

  “Thank the goddess.” She sighed in relief then returned to her look of concern. “What’s going on?”

  I took a deep breath. “It’s about our bargain.”

  “Ah. The unnamed favor. You’ve come to collect.” She wiggled her brows dramatically. When I didn’t laugh, her amusement turned to wariness. “I already told you, I’m not going to kill anyone for you,” she reminded me.

  I shook my head. “You’re a really dark person, you know that? It’s always straight to violence with you.”

  She crossed her arms. “Can you blame me? I learned from my elders.”

  I snorted.

  She had a point.

  “Are you going to tell me what you want, or do I have to guess?” she asked when the silence stretched.

  “You’re the seer. What do you think?”

  My sarcastic retorts were nothing more than a diversion—I was being a chickenshit. And Kel knew it.

  Her eyes narrowed. “I think I liked you better when you pretended to be nice.”

  I wrinkled my nose. “No, you didn’t.”

  She grinned. “No,” she agreed, “I didn’t.”

  When I didn’t grin back, she cocked her head. “Is this about Silas?”

  I stiffened.

  “Look, I meant to call you. The law forbidding lupin and hexes…it’s been removed. The council voted after Drew and I—”

  “It’s not about the law.”

  Her arms fell; her shoulders too. “Look, Chloe, whatever it is, I can handle it. Just ask me.”

  Okay. Here goes.

  “The blood oath Cohen made with the Lone Wolf alphas,” I said. “I want you to break it.”

  She stared at me, obviously not expecting this to be my request.

  “But… it’s a blood oath.”

  “Yes.”

  “It can’t be broken.”

  “Maybe not while Cohen was alive. But he’s gone. And without his blood singing the song of the oath, the magic that makes it work has weakened.”

  “You can’t know that.”

  “Kai Stone crossed our boundary line.”

  “What? When?” Her voice pitched high with worry, and I winced.

  Probably should have told her about that before.

  “He visited Silas,” I said. “He told me the spell had a loophole that allowed him on our lands for a certain length of time before it would react to his presence here.”

  She frowned. “That shouldn’t be possible.”

  I waited while she processed my words—and their implications.

  When she looked up at me again, I could see the light of understanding beginning to dawn. “The power of an unnamed favor bargain is stronger than any other magic we wield.”

  I nodded. “More powerful even than blood oaths.”

  She studied me. Not unwilling. Just uncertain. “Silas would be able to go back to his pack.”

  “I know.”

  “And this … this is what you want most?”

  I tried not to feel the sting her words caused.

  What I wanted most—or who—wasn’t something she could grant with her favor, no matter how powerful a bargain like ours might be.

  “Silas has lived his whole life at the mercy of other people’s manipulations: his mother leaving because being with a wolf wasn’t safe, the curse, which ultimately killed his father, and then sacrificing himself to come here in order to save his people. What I want is for him to have a choice.”

  “Even if that choice isn’t you?”

  I looked away. “Picking me when he has no alternative isn’t a future I want.”

  The words burned my throat, but even underneath the heartbreak, they were still true. I didn’t want Silas if he couldn’t have anything else. And more than I wanted him, I wanted him to be happy. I always would.

  This.

  This was why he hadn’t come for me. I knew it in my bones. Just as clearly as I’d read it through our bond.

  He couldn’t choose me when he never had a choice in anything else. Not even if it meant rejecting his wolf’s mate.

  “Is it weird if I tell you I’m proud of you?”

  My lips quirked. “I can take your weirdness.”

  She grinned. “Good, because I am. You’re a badass, Chloe Payne. I’ve always known it. And I’m so glad you’re finally showing your badassery off to the rest of the world.”

  “Thanks.”

  I wanted to feel good about it too. And maybe I would have if it didn’t mean I was using said badassery to send Silas off into the sunset without me.

  “Okay,” Kel said. “I can use our bargain to lift the blood oath.” She hesitated. “But that means all of us can come and go. Hexes and wolves. For that, I may have to present to the council first.”

  I bit back my irritation. “Fine. But in the end—”

  “It’s a formality,” she said gently. “Our bargain stands. No matter what.”

  I let out a breath. “Thank you.”

  “Thank you for what?”

  Drew strode in, clearly unaffected or unconcerned by our tight expressions. Or the fact that we were clearly in the middle of something. Silas lingered near the door. I felt him even before I turned to confirm it. His eyes collided with mine, and it was like the clash of a storm cloud meeting the thunder.

  My heart squeezed, and I looked away. Back at Kel.

  Drew eyed me quizzically, oblivious. Idiot. “What did I miss?”

  I rolled my eyes.

  Kel poked him in the ribs. “None of your business, nosy. Come on. Mom’s making breakfast for dinner.”

  Drew’s eyes lit, clearly already distracted by the idea of Arnie’s cooking. “Lead the way, woman.”

  When she did, he slapped her ass as he fell into step behind her.

  She hissed at him, and I watched in amusement as they bickered all the way out the door.

  When they were gone, Silas looked at me.

  I looked everywhere but at him.

  The silence between us built, and I had the distinct feeling we were headed toward…something. I just didn’t know what. And I wasn’t sure I wanted to find out.

  The pressure of his gaze threatened to undo me.

  “Chloe,” he said at the same time I shook my head.

  “I can’t do this.”

  I tried shoving past him out the door, but he grabbed my wrist. His grip wasn’t tight enough to stop me, but the feel of his skin against mine paralyzed me anyway.

  I shut my eyes, hating that I might cry.

  “We have to work this out,” he said quietly.

  “Wrong,” I said, “We don’t have to do anything.”

  Lie.

  Our wolves were demanding a lot of things right now—things neither of us seemed inclined to give them.

  “Chloe, you’re my pack.”

  Pack. Not mate.

  His words were gentle. But they weren’t enough.

  “I can undo that,” I said softly. Finally, I dragged my gaze to his. “If that’s what you want.”

  Pain flashed in his expression.

  “Is that what you want?”

  “I don’t think it’s about what I want,” I said.

  “Of course it is,” he shot back. “Chloe, when was the last time you chose anything for yourself instead of what people wanted you to do?”

  I sighed.

  “I outed my wolf, Si. That’s all I ever wanted. To live openly as my true self. And you… you gave me that. So, thank you. And I’m sorry.”

  “For what?”

  “For hurting you. I shouldn’t have rejected you the way I did. My fear—”

  “You don’t owe me an apology,” he said. “You don’t owe me anything.”

  “So. What now?”

  The question hung between us, its true meaning a spear aimed to strike.

  Silas still held my wrist. My skin heated where he touched, and I knew he felt that heat just as much as I did.

  “I want you, Chloe. Not just for my wolf.”

  It was all I wanted to hear.

  But it wasn’t enough.

  “If you could go home to your pack, would you?”

  His brows drew together, and the split-second hesitation nearly crushed me.

  “That’s impossible. Why even ask a question like that?”

  “Would you?” I pressed.

  “You’re my mate, Chloe.”

  “And you’re here against your will.”

  “I’m here because my pack needed me to make a choice.”

  “That’s my point, Si. You never had a choice. Not about coming here and not about me being your mate.”

  His expression hardened. “We always have a choice.”

  “Exactly. And now I’m giving you yours.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “I called in my favor. With Kel.”

  “What favor?”

  I realized too late how it would sound to him now. After everything.

  My words came out haltingly. “Kel and I struck a bargain. Back when she asked me to tutor you.”

  Stutteringly, I explained it to him.

  His eyes narrowed with every word.

  “You were paid to help me.”

  His tone was flat.

  “You make it sound…” I shook my head. “It wasn’t like that.”

  “Then what’s it like?” He didn’t give me a chance to explain before he went on. “You used me. To get something you wanted. What else could it sound like?”

  “What I feel for you is real.”

  “What’s the bargain? What do you get for helping me?”

  “I…”

  Words sprang to my tongue, but I held them back. Then swallowed them down. The betrayal in his eyes told me what he’d think of my request. He’d only see it as more manipulation.

  Instead of giving him more reasons to hate me, I pulled my arm free of his hand.

  He stepped back like I’d burned him.

  “Drew and Kel are waiting,” I said quietly.

  Then I walked away.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  The council didn’t come with us, which left only Kel, Drew, Arnie, Silas, and myself traipsing through the woods in a tense silence that weighed me down with every step. Silas hadn’t spoken to me since our exchange in Kel’s office two days ago. The feelings coming through our bond had gone quiet. I could barely feel him anymore. It hurt worse than when I felt his distance. At least, then I knew he’d stayed away because he thought it was what I wanted. Now, he was doing it because it was what he wanted.

  I didn’t regret my request, though.

  If it meant he could have a choice in his own life, I’d do it over and over again.

  “We’re here,” Kel announced as we all stepped up to the boundary line.

  A moment later, several figures emerged from the trees on the other side.

  My heart thudded hard inside my chest.

  Decades’ worth of fear had been so ingrained in me I couldn’t help but feel it. Then I pushed it away again.

  Ash and Kai, the Lone Wolf alphas led the group. Hand in hand, they approached the boundary line on their side and stopped just before crossing it. Kai caught my eye and offered me a small nod.

  On either side, they were flanked by faces I remembered from the day the curse was broken. Their security team. A guy and girl—twins from the looks of their shared features. One with pitch dark hair and the other with bright fiery red. She eyed me with hostility, but I didn’t take it personally. We all had prejudice in us.

  Behind her, another male hovered protectively. Her mate, my wolf instincts told me.

  And cutting through them all was Claudia Archer.

  She stood with chin held high and eyes soft as they landed on Arnie.

  She’d filled out since the last time I’d seen her. Recovered from the horrors Cohen had inflicted. Humanity looked good on her. She looked happy.

  My heart ached as she stared longingly at Silas.

  Almost happy.

  “We’re all here then,” Kel said. She looked at Ash, the female alpha. “Ready?”

  “One second.” Ash strode closer, but instead of addressing Kel, she veered away and stopped in front of me.

  “You’re Chloe.”

  “Yes.”

  “You’re Silas’ mate.”

  “Ash,” Kai hissed from behind her.

  “What? I’m not going to beat around the bush. You know me better than to expect that.” She turned back to me. “Well?”

  “I am.”

  “And you’re the reason we’re here, lifting the blood oath that traps him.”

  Silas whipped his head toward me. I felt his eyes burning into my cheek. I couldn’t blame him. I’d made Kel promise not to tell him where the idea had come from. But I wasn’t going to deny it now. Besides, what did it matter?

  “Yes,” I said quietly.

  “And you helped take Merle down and his little shitbag son, too.”

  Wow, Ash didn’t pull any punches.

  “I did.”

  She smirked at me. “Nice work.”

  “Thanks.”

  “You ever want to run with us, just say the word.” She glanced at Drew. “Both of you. All lupin are welcome on our land.”

  “Sweet,” Drew said.

  “All except broody assholes who sucker punch their alphas,” a voice called out from the lupin’s side.

  I glanced toward the sound and spotted a blond guy in a leather jacket smirk-glaring at Silas.

  “Sure, Pres, next time I want to sucker punch someone, I’ll find your mom,” Silas shot back dryly.

  The pretty boy hooted with laughter. “I missed you, asshole.”

  Silas shook his head, and my chest panged with the loss I knew was coming.

  When I looked up, Ash watched me with a knowing expression that made me wonder if she didn’t have the magical gift of mind reading.

  “You ready?” Kel asked.

  “Let’s do this shit,” Ash said, somehow managing to sound both friendly and completely in charge as she retraced her steps back to where Kai and Kel waited.

  Kel stepped closer, nearly toe to toe with Ash and Kai now. She pulled a dagger from her pocket and held out her palm, slashing the skin open with the sharpened point.

  Her words were soft, but I recognized the language she spoke. Ancient. Powerful. The language of our ancestors. Of old magic itself.

  Magic thickened the air around us.

  But I didn’t look at the energy converging around the blood being spilled. I watched Silas.

  His jaw was set, his shoulders stiff.

  He faced forward, eyes glazed, lost in some memory I couldn’t touch.

  Through our pack bond, a cascade of emotion swept over me. Over him. I couldn’t read one before it was chased away by another. My fingers twitched, itching to reach for him.

  I clasped my hands together and planted my feet.

  A moment later, magic flashed in a long line up and down the boundary line. Bright as the sun, it blinded for a single breath; then it winked out again.

  Kel stepped back. Ash and Kai exchanged a look.

  “It’s done,” Kel said.

  Then, every single pair of eyes turned to Silas.

  Kel gestured forward. “You’re free,” she told him. “You can go. If you want.”

  I held my breath.

  After what felt like an eternity, Silas walked forward.

  The moment his boots crossed the boundary line, I turned and ran.

  *.*.*

  Hours passed. I didn’t know how many. My wolf took over, and I let her, glad to be rid of my human thoughts. Even without them, the pain remained. My heart had shattered, and I knew there’d be no mending it, not ever. I did my best to accept it and then gave over to the sense of my wolf. She howled her own hurt to the moon as it rose.

  Then we ran some more.

  When I finally shifted back, I found myself on the doorstep of the apartment behind my house.

  Once, I’d thought of it as my mother’s place. Now, it belonged to Silas.

  Traces of him were everywhere.

  The kitchen cabinets he’d sanded and re-stained. The floorboard he’d repaired. And his scent lingering in the corners.

  I sat on the stoop, unwilling to go inside but not ready to walk away.

  It felt like a metaphor for my life.

  Dimly, I heard tires crunch over gravel out front.

  Great.

  Company.

  Just what I needed.

  With a heavy sigh, I pushed to my feet and rounded the house. I stopped short at the sight of Vylan. Whoever I’d been expecting, it wasn’t him. And then a second figure climbed out of the passenger seat.

  My breath stuck in my throat as Silas walked over.

  “My apologies for dropping in on you like this.” Vylan’s words were a dim echo in a cavern of screams. Silas. He was here. Why?

  “Chloe?”

  I blinked and refocused on Vylan.

  “Is it Rusty?” I heard myself ask. “Has he been hurt?”

  “What? Oh, no, the boy is doing fine, thanks.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “No, I can see that you don’t.” Vylan looked back and forth between Silas and me. I could tell he was curious about the tension, but he didn’t ask for details. And we didn’t offer.

  Vylan cleared his throat. “May I ask you a question, Chloe?”

  “Sure.”

  “Am I to assume your reason for declining the Induction process had to do with maintaining your secret?”

  “Part of it.”

  “Would you share with me the other part?”

  I frowned, still trying to understand where this was going. And why Silas was here at all. “It’s more than just keeping my wolf a secret,” I said. “From what I’ve heard, the tests are incredibly triggering for shifters. No one’s ever completed Induction successfully without being a full-blooded hexerei.”