Dominic Silvermane's Arc

Chapter 3 of 9

The rival pack left at dawn. Dominic stood at the door of Moonfang Lodge and watched their tracks fade into the snow. The white-haired woman waited by the hearth in the coat he had given her. She wore his colors now. But she had not spoken his name once. He had claimed her before both packs, and she still looked at him like a stranger. He crossed the room. His pack watched from the edges. They needed to see her accept him, or the doubt would spread. Two of his wolves stood near the stairs, arms folded, saying nothing. He felt their eyes on his back like teeth. "Walk with me," he told her. She followed him to a quiet corner. He reached into his coat and drew out the pendant. His mother had worn it. His grandmother before her. Pale stone carved into a wolf's face, cool in his palm. He held it out. "This belongs to the luna of my pack," he said. "I want you to take it. Not because I paid your debt. Because I chose you." She stared at the pendant. Her green eyes filled. "You don't know me," she said. "Two days ago I was nothing to anyone." "I know you're mine," he said. "I felt it the moment our eyes met. But I won't force the chain around your neck. The choice is yours." Her hand hovered over the stone. Then the front door slammed open. Scarlett walked in, snow on her shoulders, cheeks red from cold. His beta had left in anger the night before. Now she was back, and her green eyes went straight to the pendant. "You're giving her that?" Scarlett's voice cracked. "That was your mother's. I stood by you for years. I bled for this pack. And you hand our future to a woman who won't even say she wants it." The room went silent. The two wolves near the stairs leaned in. This was the crack they had waited for. Dominic did not look away from his mate. "Scarlett is my beta," he said, loud enough for all of them. "She's right that loyalty matters. But a luna isn't chosen by loyalty. She's chosen by the bond." He turned to the white-haired woman. "So I ask you plainly. Will you stand at my side?" The woman looked at Scarlett. She looked at the watching pack. Her fingers closed around the pendant. She lifted it over her head and let it rest against her chest. "I will," she said. A murmur ran through the pack. The two wolves by the stairs straightened, faces tight. Their opening had closed. Scarlett stood frozen a moment. Then she turned and walked out into the snow again, and this time the door stayed open behind her, cold pouring in. Dominic had his luna. But his beta was gone, and she knew every weakness in his house.