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A wolfish whimper peeled up my throat. “But she’s innocent. She hasn’t done anything wrong.”

He gave my hand a comforting squeeze. “I know that. But her existence is a threat to our pack. As long as she lives, the bond will continue to turn us against them and each other. One human life isn’t worth the loss of so many others. We have to think of the greater good.”

I nodded sadly in agreement.

He was right. The future prosperity of our pack was more important than the life of one outsider. More important than the pain I knew her loss would cause me. She was my mate, and Fate only offered the bond once. I wouldn’t get another. But every wolf had sacrifices to make for the pack. This was mine.

“Okay,” I said. “I’ll do it tomorrow. I need a little time to prepare myself.”

I looked into his eyes pleadingly, and he smiled sadly and nodded.

“Tomorrow then.”

Relief washed over me, and he patted my back as he stood.

“The moon is up,” he said. “I’ll go outside and make my moon song. The pack will rejoice at the good news.”

He went to the door and left the room, leaving me alone with my despair. I didn’t want to be alone. The silence only made the cries in my head louder, and I couldn’t stand it.

I shot off the bed and jogged after him, catching up to him at the stairs. Neither of us said anything as we made our way through the castle, and although I hated the quiet, I didn’t want to talk. His presence was the only comfort I could draw on, and it would have to be enough.

We went out through the kitchen door to the garden, and the bright moon above cast its glorious silver light on us, soothing my soul ever so slightly. I let myself savor it as I followed Jax past the garden to the base of the tree line, where he stopped and closed his eyes as he turned his face up toward the moon.

He took in a deep breath, his chest expanding with it, then let out a mighty, melodious howl. The moonlight absorbed the hauntingly beautiful sound, pulling it up into the sky and sending it out into the night.

The message rang in my mind, as I knew it would soon ring in the minds of my pack.

Varinya is abandoned. The castle is empty, just waiting for our occupation and dominion. Come and thrive.

As the message faded, a sort of peace settled over me. Our pack was coming. We’d finally have everything we’d prayed for over so many generations. This was all a good and wonderful thing for everyone.

I just had to cut my heart out first.

Chapter 9

Aliya