Chapter 9

Dawn had not yet broken when Shawn stirred the morning after the binding. Quinn was still asleep in his arms, and a quiet smile touched his mouth; at last he had claimed the heart of his chosen mate.

"Shawn!" The steward's urgent knocks shattered the quiet. "We've got a problem!"

Frowning, Shawn threw on a robe and opened the door. The steward, sweating profusely, blurted, "Leah's carriage—it was empty!"

"What?" Shawn's eyes widened. He shoved past the steward, sprinting to the side wing.

Inside the bridal chamber, the ceremonial headdress and robes lay in perfect order on the bed, yet the bride had vanished. Preoccupied with Quinn the night before, he had failed to notice that no one had stepped into this room.

"Shawn…" Quinn trailed after him, wrapping a shawl around herself. "Maybe Leah's just upset. She'll come back in a few days…"

"Find her!" Shawn kicked over a table, his voice a growl. "Send wolves to the Mason den. Now!"

Half an hour later, a scout returned. "The Mason den knows nothing of Leah's whereabouts. Her maids are missing too."

Shawn's fists clenched, knuckles whitening. He'd seen both carriages leave the Mason den yesterday. How could she vanish?

"Keep searching!" he barked. "Find her, no matter what it takes!"

In the days that followed, Shawn pulled every string he had. But each lead fizzled out, clues slipping away like smoke.

A half-moon later, a scout returned from the borderland with staggering news. "Shawn, Leah… she's now General Jason's mate."

The teacup in Shawn's hand shattered. Jason? The cold-blooded war god of the borderland?

"Impossible…" His voice rasped. "She wouldn't…"

The scout bowed his head. "Their binding was the same day as yours. Jason rode back from the border just for it."

Shawn reeled, struck dumb.

"Saddle my horse!" He surged to his feet. "I'm going to the borderland!"

"Shawn, think this through!" his advisors pleaded. "The borderland's far, and Alpha William just ordered you to oversee the river trade…"

Quinn threw herself at his feet, clutching his leg. "Shawn, she's bound to another! Why chase her?"

"Stay in the den," he snapped, shaking her off. "This is between me and Leah. Stay out of it."

Quinn crumpled to the floor, a flash of venom in her eyes.

Shawn rode day and night, reaching the borderland general's den on the seventh day. Dust-covered and breathless, he stood before the closed gates, chest heaving.

"I want to see your lady," he told the guards, voice cold.

The guards didn't flinch. "The general's orders: no outsiders."

"Outsiders?" Shawn laughed, bitter and sharp. "Do you know who I am?"

The guards stood firm.

As they argued, the gate cracked open, and the steward peered out. "Shawn, go home. Leah says she's Jason's mate now. You're nothing to her."

Shawn froze, ice flooding his veins. She wouldn't even see him?

"Tell her if she doesn't come out, I'll wait here a full day!"

The steward sighed and shut the gate.

The sun blazed overhead, but Shawn stood rooted, unmoving. Not until dusk did the gate creak open again.

"Shawn, go back," the steward said, handing him a letter. "This is from Leah."

His hands shook as he opened it. A few sparse words stared back: Past is dust, gone like smoke. Take care, and leave me be.

He crushed the paper, gaze drifting to the den. Through a half-open window he saw Leah beside Jason; a borderland map lay between them. Jason murmured and pointed; Leah answered with a soft smile—one Shawn had not seen in a long while.

"Leah!" he shouted, voice raw. "Come out!"

Inside, the two turned at his voice. Jason's brow furrowed, and he strode out.

"Barging into my den, Shawn? That's not wise," Jason said, his voice sharp as a blade.

Shawn sneered. "I'm here to take my she-wolf back."

Jason's eyes flashed with cold fury. "She's my lawfully bound mate."

"So what?" Shawn drew his sword, pointing it at him. "She was meant to be mine!"

Blades gleamed, but Leah rushed out, stepping between them. "Stop!"

She turned to Shawn, eyes cold. "You're on forbidden ground. Push it further and I'll call in Belmor's enforcers. Even a prince pays for breaking pack law—so think twice."

Shawn staggered, her unfamiliar stare cutting deep. "Fine!" he choked out, voice trembling. "I'll go. I'll give you time to think it over."

With that, he turned and left.