Chapter 2

Mara

Three days later, Ronan finally showed up to my coming-of-age ceremony. He was late, and he had Sera on his arm.

Her lips were swollen. Above his open collar, fresh scratches marked his skin. The wolves near them exchanged knowing looks.

In my first life, seeing them like that would have crushed me. I would have demanded an explanation, desperately wanting him to care that he was humiliating me at my own celebration.

But this time, I felt nothing. I simply looked away.

Ronan moved Sera behind him, as if he expected me to attack her. When I made no move toward either of them, his smile tightened.

I turned toward the hall, but he stepped into my path.

"What, nothing to say, Mara?" he mocked. "Afraid I'll reject you in front of everyone?"

"Tell you what," he drawled. "Meet me at the hot spring behind the mountain later tonight. Come naked. Maybe, just maybe, you can convince me to let you into my bed."

Sera pouted, tugging at his sleeve. "Ronan... I thought you liked my body better."

"Of course I do, baby." He pinched her cheek affectionately. "That spring is actually for you. I had them put healing herbs in the water. We're just waiting for your leg to get better."

She peeked over his arm, shooting me a smug, triumphant smile.

Around us, the surrounding wolves laughed and threw out crude suggestions. The sound dragged me back to another life—another crowd laughing while I stood in front of my mate, trembling, too angry and humiliated to speak.

Back then, he had openly bragged that he loved seeing me upset. When someone actually tried to defend me, he'd just scoffed and said I was the one begging for his attention anyway.

I had loved him long before any of that. And in his twisted mind, that had been enough to make every single humiliation my own fault.

Sick of looking at his face, I tried to push past him. He caught my wrist.

"Oh, come on. Still playing hard to get?" he taunted. "A little late to act shy now, isn't it?"

I forcefully yanked my arm out of his grasp. "Watch your mouth, Ronan."

"Wow, now you want respect?" He sneered, "You've spent years begging to bond with me. Don't stand here and pretend you don't want my bed."

"Who told you I was choosing you?" I asked.

He blinked at me for a split second. Then he threw his head back and laughed, and his friends eagerly joined in.

"Seriously? Who else would you even look at? Everyone here knows you'd die for me." He paused, glancing toward the grand hall with a sudden, dark amusement. "What—my brother?"

I remained perfectly silent.

"Darius has spent years rotting in the Black Forest." He snorted "A guy from Shadowfang Pack challenged him recently. Darius skinned him alive. Left the bleeding body hanging from a tree."

Ronan leaned in close, his gaze roaming my face.

"You really want to bond with that monster? What, are you trying to get yourself killed?"