Three Stikes
Lena Pov
Julian tightened the reins, stopping his horse. His gaze moved toward the boundary marker behind me.
"Again?"
I almost smiled. "You remembered."
He said nothing, but his eyes moved over me before settling on my face.
"You came looking for me."
After last night, pretending otherwise would be pointless.
"My grandmother's birthday celebration is in two days," I said. "Silvercrest is holding a banquet. I thought I should invite you."
Julian remained silent.
"If His Majesty is free, my family would be honored by your presence."
His horse shifted beneath him. Julian tightened the reins, and the animal settled immediately.
"What happened to your face?"
Exactly the question I'd been waiting for.
"Luma Felona visited Shadowfang this morning. She wasn't pleased that Ethan spent the night in my room. Her warriors forced me onto my knees, and her Delta struck me."
Julian's eyes sharpened. "Inside Shadowfang Pack House?"
"Yes."
"And Shadowfang allowed it?"
I remembered Madam Wynne standing nearby, watching everything.
"Apparently keeping Bloodmoon happy is more important."
Julian's jaw tightened slightly. His gaze returned to my cheek. "Why haven't you treated it?"
That wasn't the question I expected.
"I've been busy."
He narrowed his eyes at me. For several seconds, neither of us spoke. I couldn't read his expression, and Sera had become strangely quiet too.
Finally, Julian made a low sound.
"Mm."
That was all?
I'd deliberately crossed into his restricted territory, removed my scent blocker and practically displayed Luma's handprint across my face.
And all I received was Mm?
Julian turned his horse.
"Your Majesty?"
He glanced back, his eyes lingering on my cheek. Something passed through his expression, the same strange intensity I'd noticed after our kiss.
Then he rode away.
I remained there, staring after him.
'Maybe he doesn't care,' Sera muttered.
'Maybe.'
But something else bothered me.
'Sera, how did you know he was coming?'
Silence.
'Sera?'
'I don't know.'
She sounded genuinely confused.
During our first encounter years ago, I'd felt something strange before Julian appeared. Last night, Sera had gone still when he came close. During our kiss, she'd felt something beneath the pain of my ceremonial bond.
And today, she'd known he was nearby before I heard his horse.
Three times.
That was becoming difficult to dismiss.
Whatever was happening, Julian remembered me from years ago. His attention hadn't begun when I approached him with wine.
That knowledge could be useful.
Ethan woke sometime that afternoon and left the packhouse less than an hour later.
Amelia returned while I sat near the window, cleaning the silver dagger I kept beneath my dress.
"Alpha Ethan has gone out."
I ran the cloth along the blade. "Where?"
She hesitated.
"Amelia?"
"Luma Felona sent for him."
Apparently one morning without him had been unbearable.
"What happened?"
"I don't know everything, Luna, but the servants are talking." Amelia lowered her voice. "Miss Felona had a confrontation with Lady Evelyn Locke."
My hand stopped. "Julian's sister?"
Amelia nodded.
Evelyn Locke was Julian's older sister and one of the most respected Lycans in the territory. Few Alphas would risk offending her.
"What happened between them?"
"Miss Felona was punished."
I placed the cloth aside. "How?"
"Three strikes across the face."
For a moment, I said nothing.
Luma had ordered twenty strikes for me that morning, although only one had been carried out.
And a few hours after Julian saw my swollen cheek, she'd received three.
That timing was interesting.
"Why?" I asked.
"Lady Evelyn already has problems with the Felonas. Months ago, Alpha Felona tried forcing three smaller northern packs into a trade agreement His Majesty had rejected. When Evelyn intervened, he publicly accused her of hiding behind her brother's authority."
My brows rose.
"She never forgave him," Amelia continued. "Today, Miss Felona went to His Majesty's estate demanding to know why his scent was on Shadowfang's Luna."
My stomach tightened.
Luma had smelled Julian on me and gone straight to his home.
"What did Evelyn say?"
"She told Miss Felona that the Somers girl wasn't hers to touch, and attacking a Luna inside her own packhouse was disrespectful. Miss Felona argued, so Evelyn ordered her to be slapped three times."
I stared at Amelia.
Luma had walked straight into a wolf's den and complained about being bitten.
Evelyn already had her own reasons to dislike Bloodmoon, but why had she mentioned me?
'You think Julian arranged it,' Sera said.
'I think it's possible.'
Julian hadn't promised anything when I showed him my cheek. He'd simply studied it and ridden away.
Yet before the afternoon ended, his sister had returned Luma's humiliation threefold.
Perhaps Evelyn had acted entirely on her own. Still, Julian Locke didn't strike me as a man who needed to dirty his hands to make a point.
"Miss Felona is furious," Amelia added. "She sent for Alpha Ethan and said if he didn't come immediately, he shouldn't bother coming at all."
A laugh nearly escaped me.
I picked up the sharpening stone and dragged the dagger's edge across it.
Amelia watched me.
"Luna, are you expecting trouble?"
I examined the blade. Its edge caught the light.
"No." I ran the stone over it once more. "I'm making sure I'm ready when it comes."
Amelia wisely decided not to ask anything else.
I looked toward the window.
Whether Julian had arranged Luma's punishment or not, it had happened only hours after I visited him.
And if Luma discovered I'd gone to see Julian that morning, three strikes across the face would be the least of my problems.
"Amelia," I said suddenly. "Prepare the car. I have somewhere to go.”
"Where exactly are we going?" Amelia asked from the passenger seat.
"Shopping."
She turned to look at me, clearly confused. Twenty minutes ago, she had watched me sharpen a silver dagger after telling me that Luma had summoned Ethan, so I understood why shopping hadn't been her first guess.
"For your grandmother's birthday?" She asked curiously.
"Yes, I still need a gift."
Grandmother Somers's celebration was tomorrow, and despite everything happening with Ethan, I had no intention of arriving empty-handed.
My father had already made it clear that Silvercrest Pack would not take me back if Ethan severed our mating bond, but that didn't mean I would let them cast me out of my own bloodline before it even happened.
At the boutique, I chose a silver bracelet set with moonstones and asked the attendant to wrap it. I was waiting for her to finish when my phone vibrated.
My mother had sent a message.
Your grandmother asked whether you're attending tomorrow. Your father told her you might be busy.
Of course he had.
I typed a reply telling her I would be there with Ethan, then hesitated before adding that we might be bringing another guest.
Amelia noticed. "His Majesty?"
"Possibly."
"You still don't know if he's coming?"
"No." I answered.
Julian hadn't answered my invitation that morning. He had simply looked at my swollen cheek, made that irritating sound, and ridden away.
A few hours later, his sister had ordered Luma to be struck three times. I still wasn't certain what that meant.
Before I could think about it any further, another message appeared on my phone.
This one was from Ethan.
Where are you?
I told him I was buying Grandmother's gift, and his reply came almost immediately.
Come home, we need to discuss tomorrow.
Apparently my mate had finally remembered I existed.
Ethan was waiting in the sitting room when I returned. Madam Wynne sat across from him with several shopping bags surrounding her, while two dresses and enough jewelry for three people covered half the sofa.
Ethan's gaze immediately moved to my cheek.
For one foolish second, I thought he might ask what had happened.
Instead, he said, "I heard you went out."
"I bought Grandmother a gift."
"Sit down. We need to discuss tomorrow."
I remained where I was. "I'm listening."
His expression tightened slightly, but he didn't argue. "I spoke with His Majesty's people this afternoon. I invited him to your grandmother's celebration."
That caught my attention.
"And?"
"He'll attend."
My fingers tightened around the handle of my bag before I could stop them. Julian was actually coming.
Sera stirred inside me, but I ignored the strange warmth that had appeared in my chest.
Ethan clearly mistook my reaction for amazement because satisfaction spread across his face. "I didn't expect him to agree so quickly either. His schedule is usually impossible, but apparently he has some regard for me."
I almost laughed.
I had personally invited Julian that morning, yet Ethan had spoken to his people afterward and somehow convinced himself that Julian had accepted because of him.
"You must have made quite an impression," I said.
"I've always told you His Majesty respects wolves who are useful."
Madam Wynne nodded proudly. "Alpha Felona sees Ethan's potential too. That's why Bloodmoon wants such a close relationship with this family."
Her meaning was obvious, and I had no interest in discussing Luma with either of them.
Unfortunately, Ethan did.
"Don't cause any more trouble with her."
I looked at him. "She brought warriors into our home and had me struck."
His gaze finally returned to my cheek. "She said you provoked her."
Sera growled beneath my skin, but I kept my voice calm. "By stopping her from entering our bedroom."
"Lena, I'm not arguing about this again."
"Neither am I."
I turned toward the stairs, but Madam Wynne stopped me.
"What about tomorrow?"
I glanced at the dresses covering the sofa. "What about it?"
"Which one should I wear?"
It took me a moment to understand. "To Silvercrest?"
"Obviously."
Ethan cleared his throat. "Your family's invitation only mentioned the two of us."
Madam Wynne's expression darkened immediately. "I'm your mother."
I almost smiled.
"You're family," I told her. "I'm sure Grandmother won't turn you away."
That satisfied her immediately, although Ethan looked considerably less convinced.
Tomorrow could deal with itself.
When I entered my bedroom, a black box was waiting on the bed.
Amelia followed me inside and explained that a Lycan guard had delivered it while we were downstairs.
My heartbeat changed before I even opened it.
A white-gold necklace rested against black velvet, with a dark red gemstone surrounded by tiny diamonds. Beneath it was a small card containing only four words.
Red suits you better.
I stared at the message.
During my first encounter with Julian years ago, I'd been wearing a red coat. There was no reason for him to remember something so insignificant, apparently, he did.
Sera shifted quietly.
'He notices too much.'
For once, I agreed with her.
Amelia leaned closer. "Is that from His Majesty?"
I closed the box and looked at her.
"You didn't see anything."
She sighed. "I saw absolutely nothing."
Wearing Julian's gift to Silvercrest was probably unwise, especially with Ethan beside me.
I intended to do it anyway.
