CHAPTER 35: DO YOU CARE YET?

CIAN

I sat behind my desk and stared at the papers in front of me without really seeing them.

The words blurred together. Numbers became meaningless. My mind kept circling back to that room. That goddamned moldy room with the damp sheets and the rash crawling up her arms.

Why had I interfered?

The question sat in my chest like a stone. Heavy. Uncomfortable. I should have left it alone. Let the pack hierarchy sort itself out. Let the omegas handle their own petty jealousies and punishments. It wasn’t my job to micromanage every slight between servants.

But I hadn’t left it alone.

I’d walked into that room and felt something snap inside me. Seeing her there, covered in welts, standing in a space that was actively poisoning her. The rage had come so fast I barely had time to control it. And that rage wasn’t logical. It wasn’t calculated. It was pure instinct screaming at me that something was wrong. That my mate was being harmed.

My mate.

I hated that phrase. Hated what it implied. That bond tied me to someone I didn’t choose. Someone who’d lied and schemed her way into my life. Someone who’d taken the place meant for another.

But the bond didn’t care about logic. It didn’t care that I wanted nothing to do with Fia. It only knew that she was mine, and she was hurt, and that was unacceptable.

I rubbed my temples and tried to focus on the work in front of me. Trade agreements. Border disputes. Pack business that actually mattered.

A knock interrupted my thoughts.

"Come in."

The door opened and Ronan walked in. My Beta. My closest friend. He looked concerned. That wasn’t unusual. Ronan always looked concerned when pack drama was involved. It was part of what made him good at his job.

"I heard what happened," he said without preamble.

"Word travels fast."

"When the Alpha tears into pack members and demotes them to latrine duty, yes. Word travels." Ronan closed the door behind him and walked closer to my desk. "The omegas are saying you defended her."

"I didn’t defend her." The words came out sharper than I intended. "I defended pack law. She’s my Luna whether I like it or not. They can’t just decide to put her in a room with black mold because they don’t approve of her."

Ronan crossed his arms. "That evil omega deceived this pack. She stole her sister’s place. She tricked you into a bond you didn’t want. Honestly, Cian, I think she deserves the worst."

I looked up at him then. Really looked at him. Saw the anger in his eyes. The righteous fury that had no place in a Beta’s reasoning.

"This," I said quietly, "is exactly what I’m talking about."

"What?"

"You. You’ve fallen for it too."

Ronan frowned. "Fallen for what?"

I stood up and walked to the window. The grounds of Skollrend stretched out before me. Beautiful. Orderly. Mine.

"I’ve been punishing her," I said. "Since the moment she arrived. Cold shoulders. Sharp words. Making it clear I want nothing to do with her. And the pack has noticed. They’ve taken their cue from me. If their Alpha hates her, then they’re meant to hate her too."

"She deserves it."

"Maybe." I turned back to face him. "But there’s a difference between punishment and endangerment. Between showing disapproval and allowing harm. Those omegas put her in a room that could have killed her if left long enough. And they felt justified doing it because I’ve been broadcasting my contempt for her since day one."

Ronan was quiet for a moment. I could see him thinking. Processing. His jaw worked.

"I hadn’t thought of it like that," he admitted finally.

"Neither had I. Until this morning."

"So what are you saying? We’re supposed to just accept her now? Pretend she didn’t lie and deceive this pack?"

"No." I shook my head. "I’m saying I need to find a way to punish her without putting her authority as Luna in question. There’s a balance here. She deceived us, yes. But she’s still Luna of Skollrend. That position comes with certain protections. Certain standards."

Ronan nodded slowly. "The bare minimum then."

"What?"

"Give her the bare minimum." Ronan uncrossed his arms and stepped closer. "In times of old, there were puppet Alphas. They enjoyed every privilege that came with royalty. The best rooms. The best food. All the outward trappings of power. But everyone knew they held no real authority. They were figureheads. Symbols. Nothing more."

I considered that. Turned it over in my mind.

"You’re saying treat her like a puppet Luna."

"Exactly. She gets the title. The respect that comes with the position. But no actual power. No real involvement in pack decisions. She exists as Luna in name only." Ronan’s expression brightened like he’d just solved a complex puzzle. "That way the pack knows she’s protected by her position, but they also know she hasn’t really won anything with her deception."

It wasn’t a bad idea. It was actually clever. Give Fia the outward appearance of acceptance while making it clear she’d never have real influence. Let her live in luxury while knowing she’d never be more than a pretty ornament.

"Thank you, Ronan."

He smiled. "That’s what I’m here for."

Then he pulled something from his jacket pocket. An envelope. Cream colored with elegant script on the front.

"This came this morning." He set it on my desk. "A wedding invitation. From Alpha Julius."

I stared at it. "Why would Julius invite me to anything?"

"Could be about peace." Ronan shrugged. "He must recognize that a business battle with Skollrend won’t work. Maybe he wants to extend an olive branch."

I picked up the envelope. The paper was thick. Expensive. The kind used for important occasions. And it was perfumed. That sweet cloying scent that some packs favored for formal events.

"Let’s hope your hypothesis is right," I said.

"You’ll go then?"

"I’ll go."

Ronan gave a satisfied nod. He started to turn toward the door, then paused. "Should I have them bring you breakfast? You’ve been working since dawn."

My stomach chose that moment to growl. Loud enough that we both heard it.

Ronan smirked.

"No," I said. "My mother will probably meet with Fia today. I need to start getting comfortable eating with her."

The words felt strange coming out of my mouth. Getting comfortable. Like that was something that could happen. Like I could just sit across from the omega who’d stolen my intended mate’s place and make small talk over eggs and toast.

But Ronan was right about the puppet Luna strategy. And part of that meant maintaining appearances. Acting like everything was normal even when it wasn’t.

"Alright." Ronan gave a short bow. "I’ll see you later then."

He left. The door clicked shut behind him.

I looked down at the perfumed invitation again. Lifted it to my nose. The scent was familiar. Light and floral. Nothing offensive but unnecessary for a wedding invitation.

I opened my desk drawer and dropped it inside. I’d deal with Julius and whatever political games he was playing later.

Right now I had to go eat breakfast with my unwanted mate.

The walk to the dining room felt longer than usual. My boots echoed in the empty hallways. Most of the pack was already up and about their duties. The house was quiet in that way it only got during morning meals when everyone gathered in their respective spaces.

The dining room doors were already open. I walked through and stopped.

The table was set. Elaborate as always. Crystal glasses. Silver utensils. Plates that cost more than most people earned in a month. The food was lush. Grand. Platters of eggs and bacon and fresh bread. Bowls of fruit. Pitchers of juice and coffee.

But Fia wasn’t there.

I’d expected her to be there before me. Early even. Trying too hard to make a good impression or prove she belonged. That’s what someone in her position would do, wasn’t it? Show up early. Be perfect. Try to earn approval.

An omega stood near the wall. Waiting. Ready to serve. I recognized her. One of the senior house staff.

"Did the Luna not know it was time for breakfast?" I kept my voice neutral.

The omega bowed her head slightly. "She knows, Alpha. I sent the Omega you demoted to tell her this morning. But I don’t know why she hasn’t come down yet."

I frowned. Looked at the empty chair across from mine. The place setting waiting. Unused.

"Should I go get her?" the omega asked.

"No." I waved a hand. "Don’t worry about it."

I sat down. Pulled my plate closer. Started loading it with food even though my appetite had diminished somewhat.

Maybe she was still upset about this morning. Still dealing with the rash. Still adjusting to the new room. There were plenty of reasonable explanations for why she wasn’t here.

But that didn’t stop the small spike of irritation I felt. Or was it concern? I couldn’t tell anymore. The bond made everything complicated. Every emotion was tangled up with that connection. My feelings. Her feelings. The instincts that said she was mine and should be here.

I cut into a piece of bacon. Put it in my mouth. Chewed.

It tasted like nothing.

The omega stood against the wall. Silent. Waiting in case I needed anything. The room was too quiet. Too empty. I’d eaten alone plenty of times. Preferred it actually. But this felt different.

Because she was supposed to be here.

I ate mechanically. Toast. Eggs. More bacon. I wasn’t tasting any of it. Just going through the motions because I’d told Ronan I needed to get comfortable with this. With eating across from Fia. With acting like this was normal.

But she wasn’t even here to make it uncomfortable.

I glanced at the empty chair again. Through the bond I could feel her. Somewhere in the house. Alive. Not in distress. Just... absent.

Where was she?

The thought came unbidden. I pushed it away. I didn’t care where she was. This was better actually. Easier. I could eat in peace without having to look at her across the table. Without having to make conversation or pretend this situation was anything other than what it was.

A disaster.

A trap.

A bond I never wanted.

But the irritation didn’t fade. If anything it grew stronger. Because she should be here. Not because I wanted her company. But because this was part of the arrangement now. Part of the puppet Luna strategy. She had duties. Appearances to maintain. And showing up to breakfast was one of them.

I finished eating faster than normal and stood up. The omega moved forward to clear the plates but I waved her off.

"Goddess, let me get out first."

I walked out of the dining room and through the halls back toward my study. My mind was already churning. Planning. There was work to do. Pack business to attend to. I couldn’t spend all day wondering why my unwanted mate had skipped breakfast.

But as I walked, I felt it through the bond. That pull. That awareness of her somewhere in this house.

And underneath the irritation, buried so deep I almost didn’t recognize it, was something else.

Worry.