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It was almost like the sparkling adoration I saw in his eyes during the ritual wasn’t real. Maybe he figured out somehow that I had hoodwinked him. Maybe he’d woken up, remembered it was Selena he loved and he’d realized that I was to blame for tearing him apart from his true mate.

Maybe I was to blame.

I firmly shook my head to clear those thoughts. This had to be Cersey’s doing. At least I had my duties, and Cara, and the comfortable silence of loping through the forest in wolf form. Until I didn’t.

The training field at Whittemore Gulch was filled with more people than usual. Something had happened. The tension was palpable. Jesse was more abrasive than usual, and suddenly it became clear why.

As soon as I saw Alpha Nathaniel, I ducked my head and tried to circumvent the main crowd so I could find Cara on the fringes. I could sense, by the heat in the air and the smell of rain and pine, that Orion was with him too. The knowledge set my body aflame and it yearned to pull in his direction. I ignored it with no small amount of difficulty.

“Diana!”

The sound of my name silenced my thoughts and the voices of those closest to me. It was Cara, and I could tell from the direction of her voice that she was standing right next to Alpha Nathaniel. I had no choice but to step forward.

I inclined my head to each of them, pointedly avoiding Orion’s gaze as he stood beside his father.

Cara turned to Nathaniel. “Diana and I have been patrolling the borders, according to Jesse’s schedules.”

Nathaniel nodded at the information but addressed me. “Diana, what can you tell us about the human activity?”

I swallowed to ease my suddenly dry mouth. “They live in tents by the river. During the day, they remain at their campsite, but their scent trails throughout the forest. We suspect they leave at night. You will need to ask the night patrols what they have witnessed for a full picture.”

“Noah has informed me that the night patrols have seen no activity from the humans. We need a different approach.” Nathaniel paused, looking between Jesse, Cara, and his son. I did not know what secret message they shared. “We will watch them in twenty-four-hour shifts, so that we can better tail their activities. Cara and Jesse will be the first group. Diana and Orion will be the second group. Remember, you do not engage them unless you are attacked.”

The assembled crowd erupted in a slew of whispers at the plan, but I couldn’t hear them over the rushing sound in my ears. Alone with Orion? For twenty-four hours?

I jumped at a sudden hand on my arm, but it was just Cara, her gentle touch tethering me through the sudden rise in my panic. “Go and prepare. Jesse and I will rendezvous with you at the river spot this time tomorrow for the tradeoff.”

“Why can’t I go with you? Why does it have to be with…” I couldn’t say the name.

Cara arched an eyebrow. She did well before in not mentioning the obvious thing, but it seemed even she couldn’t avoid it. “You know why. You are Orion’s mate, which makes you the future luna. He wants you to be together, for the pack to see you together. To trust in your leadership.”

Something above my shoulder caught Cara’s attention and she stepped back.

I didn’t need to turn to see. Fiery scents of wood and smoke and spice overwhelmed everything else. I couldn’t do anything to stop Cara’s retreat. Left with no other recourse, I slowly turned to face Orion.

His sheepish gaze was trained on the ground. Too ashamed to meet my gaze, no doubt. I couldn’t blame him.

“Diana,” he began, hesitating.

I said nothing, waiting for him to continue.

He took a deep breath. “My father assigned us together on the patrol.”

It suddenly dawned on me that he was grasping, searching for a reason to talk to me. This was a way for him to come to terms with our forced partnership. I struggled to keep my voice even. “Yes, the alpha was quite clear in his instructions. Rest assured, I will prove a diligent partner on our patrols. Our…” I trailed off, reconsidering my words. I couldn’t look him in the face. The desire to touch it, to stroke his cheek, was too much. My throat pricked, and my eyes grew hot. I fought to hold back the tears. “The events of the… Blue Flower Moon need not affect my duty.” I turned to leave.

“Maybe we should talk about that,” he said suddenly. “The coupling ceremony. We’ve barely spoken since.”

My throat closed around my words, and I could easily imagine what he’d say next. He would want to reject the fated bond in favor of Selena. Or maybe he knew… he knew I had been to see Cersey–

“There’s no need,” I said, glancing at him in earnest. The heat simmering between our bodies made my eyes water. It was too much, and I had to look away. “I know you care for my sister. I will not hold you back from your true desires.”Even if I desire you.

He reached out to me, but I knew that the moment he touched me, my resolve would be swept away by the breeze. I stepped away from him, dodging his grasp, and hurried home to prepare for our shift together.

ORION

“What are you doing here?”

I expected Selena’s question, but the lacerating tone disarmed me. In our time together, I never knew her to be anything but compassionate and empathetic. Sure, she could be selfish at times, but not at the expense of others. But her fire now crackled with white rage that threatened to lash out at any passersby. Whatwas Idoing here?