Her palms made a painful impact on Kora's pale face. The blow turned her face aside. A sharp sting spread across her cheek, and the goblet tray clattered against her hip. One glass tipped, spilling water over her gray dress. She bit her lip to stop a cry, tasting blood almost at once. Luna Marguerite stood over her, her emerald gown shining beneath the corridor lamps. Her eyes narrowed with disgust. "Must you make noise over everything?" she snapped. "The Grand Mating Ball is about to begin, and you are still stumbling around like a clumsy human." "I'm sorry, Luna." Kora lowered her eyes and steadied the tray with shaking hands. "It won't happen again." "It had better not." Marguerite smoothed the front of her gown, as if the sight of Kora had left a stain on it. Then she swept away, leaving behind the sweet smell of roses. Kora pressed her fingers to her cheek. It hurt, but the surprise hurt more. Luna Marguerite had never struck her before. Why tonight? Why now, when Kora had spent the entire day making sure everything was ready? She swallowed the sting and picked up the fallen glass. Life in Dusk Moon Pack was not always cruel in ways people could see. Kora was not starved or locked in a cellar. She had a bed, meals, and work. She was simply overlooked, as if she were another piece of furniture in the palace. She cleaned rooms, carried trays, and answered every order without complaint. When the former Alpha and his Luna had still been alive, they had treated her kindly. Their daughter, Vivienne, had once seemed kind too. But after her parents died, something changed. Vivienne's smile grew sweeter, her words sharper, and Kora became the person she enjoyed reminding of her place. That morning, Vivienne had appeared at Kora's door before sunrise, already dressed in a pale gold robe. "Up, Kora," she had said, smiling as if she were offering a gift. "Today must be perfect. Help the other maids, polish every glass, and make sure no guest has a reason to complain." Kora had sat up at once. "Of course, Princess." Vivienne tilted her head. "And don't embarrass me. You know how people talk about wolfless servants." The smile stayed on her face, but the warning in her voice did not. "I won't," Kora promised. Vivienne was the golden princess of the pack. Kora was only her handmaid. Kora had learned not to expect more. Now, with the last of the preparations done, she carried the tray toward the ballroom. The grand doors stood open. Music drifted into the corridor while the ballroom glittered with crystal chandeliers and polished marble. Alphas in dark velvet suits stood in groups, their voices low and confident. Lunas wore gowns in ruby, sapphire, and emerald. Unmated daughters laughed behind their gloved hands, watching every powerful man who crossed the room. Kora moved among them with a tray of champagne flutes, careful not to brush anyone's sleeve. She had learned to walk quietly and keep her gaze lowered. Being unnoticed was safer. She was eighteen and had never shifted. Not once. No wolf had answered inside her, no claws had broken through her fingers, and no howl had ever risen in her throat. Most wolves assumed she was human. Some said it to insult her. Others said it as if they were stating the weather. There were days when Kora almost believed them. Now the air changed. A scent crashed over her so suddenly that she stopped breathing. Pine. Storm. Cedar smoke. Lightning striking raw earth. It was too strong, too deep, and it seemed to reach into her chest and pull at something she had never known was there. Kora blinked. The ballroom blurred around the edges. Her hearing sharpened. She could hear the scrape of shoes on marble, the whisper of silk, the beat of music from the musicians' corner. She could even hear someone's heart pounding nearby. What was happening to her? Her hand jerked. A flute tipped off the tray, then another. Champagne spilled over her wrist and down the front of her dress. The tray slipped from her fingers. It hit the floor. Crystal shattered across the marble with a crash. The music stopped. Conversations died. Silence spread through the ballroom for a moment, until Kora could hear her frightened breathing. Every head turned toward her. Across the room, a man on the dais looked straight at her. His silver eyes caught hers and held them. Killian Ravenscroft, Alpha King of the Northern Realm. He was tall and broad-shouldered, with black hair swept back from a hard face and a jaw that looked carved from stone. Midnight silk covered his powerful frame. Even from across the ballroom, his presence pressed against Kora's skin, making it difficult to draw a full breath. Then heat burst through her body. Something golden pulled tight between her ribs. It was not a sound, yet a word echoed inside her mind, clear and impossible. Mate. Her knees weakened. She caught the edge of a nearby table before she could fall. Her face burned, her breath came in short gasps, and a small whimper escaped her before she could stop it. On the dais, Killian went rigid. His silver eyes darkened until his pupils swallowed the light. His hands curled into fists, claws scraping his palms. Inside him, his wolf slammed against his control, roaring one word again and again. Mine. Kora could not look away. She had never felt anything like this. She had no wolf, no experience with a mate bond, and no idea why the king was staring at her as though the whole room had vanished. Killian stepped down from the dais. The crowd parted at once. No one dared stand in his way. But before he reached her, Vivienne glided forward in a pale gold gown. Her smile was bright, her posture perfect. She linked her arm through his as if she had every right to touch him. "Your Majesty," she said in a honey-sweet voice, "there's no need to concern yourself. It's only Kora, my handmaid. She's here to serve." For one second, her smile slipped. Her eyes flashed cold and triumphant, as if Kora's very existence had offended her. Killian did not look at her. He acted as though she had not spoken. He stopped in front of Kora. His gaze moved slowly over her face, her stained dress, and her trembling hands. She hated that her body still reacted to him. The golden pull inside her tightened whenever he came closer. His lip curled. "A wolfless handmaid dares meet my eyes?" The words struck harder than Marguerite's slap. Kora's mouth opened, but nothing came out. Killian moved closer. His scent surrounded her, overwhelming every other smell in the room. A vein pulsed in his neck. His fists trembled at his sides, as if he were fighting something inside himself. The golden cord between them pulsed once. Then it began to fray. "This must be a joke," he said, raising his voice so every guest could hear. "I will not have a wolfless nobody rule beside me." Whispers broke out around them. A woman covered her mouth. Someone laughed. Kora heard the word wolfless repeated from one guest to another, each time with more contempt. She stared at Killian, waiting for him to explain. Waiting for him to say there had been some mistake. Instead, he lifted his chin. "I, Killian Ravenscroft, Alpha King of the Northern Realm, reject you, Kora, as my fated mate and any claim to my Luna." The golden cord snapped. Pain ripped through Kora's chest. She doubled over, clutching at herself as if she could hold the pieces together. Her breath vanished. A hot line slid from her nose, and blood dripped onto the broken crystal at her feet. She could hear people gasping, laughing, whispering. She could hear her heart breaking beneath it all. Vivienne leaned toward Killian and whispered something into his ear. Kora could not hear the words, but she saw his mouth twitch into something close to a smirk. That was all she could bear. She turned and ran. Her bare feet slapped against the marble as she fled through the ballroom. No one reached for her. No one called after her. She passed the side doors and stumbled onto the stone path beyond, where the cold night air struck her wet face. Behind her, the music began again. Laughter rose to cover the scandal, and the grand ball continued as if she had never been there. Kora kept running into the gardens, one hand pressed to her aching chest. But even as she fled, she could feel Killian's gaze burning into her back. It was hot. Furious. Unfinished. He had rejected her before the entire realm. He had cut their bond and called her worthless. So why did he look as if he was not done with her yet?

Killian Ravenscroft stood on the dais, staring at the doors through which Kora had disappeared. The music had started again. Guests were returning to their conversations, and servants were already clearing the broken crystal from the marble floor. To everyone else, the scandal was over. But inside him, something was tearing him apart. MINE. The word slammed through his head again. His wolf was not calming down. It was pacing inside him, snarling and throwing itself against the walls of his control. MINE. MINE. MINE. Killian clenched his jaw. He had rejected the wolfless handmaid in front of the entire realm. He had made his decision clear. There was nothing left to discuss. So why did his chest feel as though someone had driven a blade through it? The broken bond throbbed inside him. Every heartbeat brought another wave of pain, sharp enough to make his fingers twitch. He had rejected women before. He had dismissed offers of marriage and ignored countless unmated she-wolves who wanted to stand beside him. None of them had made him feel like this. Then Kora's scent reached him again. Moonflowers after rain. Wild honey. Beneath them lay something darker, something old and powerful that stirred a strange feeling deep inside his bones. His wolf lifted its head. Find her. Killian's fingers curled. "Your Majesty?" Vivienne's voice pulled him from his thoughts. Her hand was still wrapped around his forearm. Her perfume, a heavy mixture of lilies and something sweet, clung to him. Normally, he would not have noticed it. Tonight, it made him want to push her away. "The introductions are waiting," she whispered. "We should continue before the guests begin to wonder." He looked down at her hand. She followed his gaze and smiled. "Everyone understands what happened. You did what was necessary." Necessary. His wolf snarled. Killian slowly removed her hand from his arm. "Excuse me." Vivienne's smile stiffened, but she recovered quickly. She turned toward a nearby Alpha and greeted him as if nothing had happened. Killian did not wait for another word. He left the dais and entered the side corridor. The moment the ballroom doors closed behind him, his control began to slip. His claws pushed through his fingertips. He dug them into his palms until blood ran down his hands, but the pain barely distracted him. His wolf wanted to hunt. It wanted to find Kora, drag her back to the palace, and make certain she never disappeared from his sight again. Killian refused to listen. He was the Alpha King. No woman, no matter what the Moon Goddess had decided, would control him. He reached his private chambers and slammed the door behind him. The frame cracked. A guard outside immediately straightened. "Your Majesty, is everything-" "Leave." The guard fell silent. Killian crossed the dim room. A low fire burned in the hearth, and moonlight poured through the tall windows. He gripped the mantel and stared at his reflection in the silver mirror above it. His eyes were half-shifted. His pupils had swallowed most of the silver, and his canines were longer than normal. He looked like a man fighting to keep a beast inside him. That was exactly what he was doing. He pressed a hand against his chest. Pain answered him. "Damn it." He had smelled thousands of she-wolves throughout his life. Beautiful women had approached him from every corner of the realm, hoping to catch his attention. Their scents had never affected him beyond a passing interest. But Kora's scent remained in his nose even though she was somewhere outside his chambers. He could still remember the way she had looked at him before he rejected her. Her storm-gray eyes had been wide with hope. Then he had destroyed that hope. For one brief moment, he remembered the blood dripping from her nose onto the broken crystal. His fingers tightened against the mantel. He did not care. He could not care. A knock sounded at the door. "Enter." Beta Callum stepped inside and closed the door carefully behind him. He took one look at Killian's face before stopping several feet away. "The ball is proceeding as planned," he reported. "Princess Vivienne is handling the guests. The visiting Alphas have agreed to remain for the night." Killian said nothing. Callum hesitated. "Should I send guards after the handmaid?" "No." The answer came too quickly. Callum raised an eyebrow. Killian turned away from him. "She has been banished from the hall for tonight. That is enough. Let her sulk wherever she wishes." "Of course, Your Majesty." Callum did not sound convinced. Killian could feel his Beta studying him, searching for a question he was too loyal to ask. "Is there anything else?" Killian demanded. "No, Your Majesty." "Then leave." Callum bowed and walked out. The door clicked shut. Killian remained still for three heartbeats. One. Two. Three. "Guards!" The door opened almost immediately. A royal guard entered and bowed. "Your Majesty?" "Find the wolfless handmaid. Bring her to my chambers quietly." The guard hesitated for only a second. "At once." Killian dismissed him and turned toward the window. He should not have done that. He had already rejected Kora. Calling her back would only complicate matters. He could have left her alone, allowed the bond to fade, and returned to his duties. Instead, he stood there, waiting. Ten minutes later, the guard returned. "The handmaid is here, Your Majesty." "Send her in." The guard stepped aside. Kora entered alone. Killian's wolf lunged so violently that he nearly shifted. She wore the same gray dress from the ballroom. Champagne stains covered the front, and her hair had come loose around her face. Tear tracks marked her cheeks. Dried blood remained beneath her nose, and her bare feet left wet prints on the rug. She looked exhausted. She also looked at him as if she expected another blow. That should have satisfied him. She had seen what happened when someone challenged him. Yet the sight of her lowered head made something twist painfully inside his chest. "Look at me," he ordered. Kora's shoulders stiffened. For a moment, she did not move. Then she slowly raised her head. Her eyes were red from crying, but their gray color was clear beneath the tears. Her face was delicate, her lips slightly swollen from where she had bitten them, and her beauty struck him with an unexpected force. How had he never noticed her before? He had seen her in the palace. He must have passed her countless times. Yet he had never looked closely enough to remember her face. Now he could not look away. The bond was broken, but the pull remained. His wolf pressed against him, desperate to reach her. Killian stepped closer. Kora held her ground, although he saw her fingers curl at her sides. "I rejected you as my Luna," he began. "That decision will not change." Her expression tightened. "But there are other arrangements we can make." She stared at him, waiting. "I can make you my private mistress." The silence that followed was almost insulting. Killian continued before she could answer. "You will have a private suite, fine clothes, and anything you need. No one will be permitted to touch you. You will have my protection, and no one in this palace will dare mistreat you again." He watched her face. "In return, you will come when I call you. Our arrangement will remain secret. You will have no crown and no title, but you will want for nothing." He reached toward her, stopping just short of her waist. "Think carefully, Kora. I can give you a life most women would beg for." His wolf growled at the distance between them. Killian lowered his voice. "I could take what I want by force. I am the king, and you have no power to stop me." Kora went pale. For the first time, he hated the words coming from his own mouth. "But I won't," he added, his jaw tightening. "My wolf refuses to let me hurt you." He did not understand it. He wanted her close, yet something inside him demanded that he be careful with her. It was an unfamiliar feeling, and he resented it. He reached out and brushed his thumb against the side of her neck. Kora shivered. His wolf quieted for one precious second. Then she stepped away. "No." Killian stared at her. "What did you say?" "No." Her voice shook, but she did not lower her eyes. "I will not be your secret. I will not be anyone's shame." The words struck him harder than he expected. His hand closed around her wrist. Kora flinched, and he immediately loosened his grip. Rage rose inside him, tangled with a hunger he could not explain. No one refused him. No one looked him in the eye and rejected an offer from their king. Yet Kora stood before him with tears on her cheeks, refusing to surrender. His wolf snarled. Mine. Killian released her and stepped back. His claws tore through the arms of a nearby chair as he gripped it, splintering the wood beneath his hands. "Get out." Kora looked at him for one final moment. Then she turned and walked toward the door. She did not beg. She did not apologize. She did not even look back when the door clicked shut behind her. Killian stood in the middle of his chambers, breathing hard. The ruined chair lay beside him, its wooden arms shredded beneath his claws. He had rejected Kora before an entire ballroom. He had offered her protection and wealth, and she had refused him without hesitation. He should have been relieved. Instead, his wolf paced inside him, restless and furious. Killian stared at the closed door. No one refused him. No one. Yet all he could think about was chasing Kora down, dragging her back into his arms, and proving to the entire world that she belonged to him. And for the first time in his life, he was afraid that his wolf might win.

Kora made it back to the maids' dormitory without falling. Her legs shook with every step, but she kept her head up. She had already been humiliated in front of the entire pack. She would not give the servants another reason to pity her. The moment she closed the door, her strength disappeared. She slid down the wall and landed on the cold stone floor. Her hands went straight to her chest. It hurt. Not like a broken bone. The pain was deeper, as if someone had reached inside her and torn away a piece of her heart. The bond. She could still feel where it had snapped. Kora pressed her palm against her chest and shut her eyes. Her gray dress clung to her skin, damp with spilled champagne and sweat. Her cheeks were still wet, and the blood beneath her nose had dried. She could still feel Killian's hand around her waist. She could still hear his voice. Be my mistress. A bitter laugh escaped her. The Alpha King had looked at her like dirt in front of hundreds of people. Then he had summoned her to his room and offered to keep her in his bed. Had he thought she would be grateful? Perhaps she should have been. He was the most powerful Alpha in the Northern Realm. One word from him could give her a comfortable room, beautiful clothes, and protection from the people who had spent years treating her like she did not matter. For one terrible second, she had wanted to say yes. Not because she loved him. Not even because she wanted his money. She had wanted to feel wanted. She had wanted someone to look at her and see more than a wolfless handmaid who should keep her eyes lowered. But Killian had not offered her love. He had offered her a place where nobody would see her. He wanted her in his bed, but he did not want anyone to know she existed. Kora wiped her face with the back of her hand. "No," she whispered to the empty room. "Never again." She forced herself to stand and changed into her thin nightdress. Her cot creaked when she lay down, and the rough blanket scratched her skin. She pulled it over herself and turned toward the wall. Sleep refused to come. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Killian standing before her. His silver eyes burned with anger, but there had been something else beneath it. Something she could not understand. Then she remembered Vivienne. They had once been close. When Kora was twelve, Vivienne had been the only person in the palace who called her a friend. They had shared sweets beneath the stairs, whispered secrets after midnight, and laughed whenever Luna Marguerite complained about the servants. Then, almost overnight, everything changed. Vivienne stopped sharing her secrets. She stopped eating with Kora. Soon, she began giving her orders instead of asking for her help. Kora had never understood why. She had blamed herself. Perhaps Vivienne was ashamed of having a wolfless girl as a friend. Perhaps she wanted to fit in with the other princesses. Tonight, however, had felt different. Vivienne had watched Killian reject her with a smile she could barely hide. Kora's stomach tightened. A soft knock came at the door. She sat up. "Who is it?" "It's me. Tilly." Kora opened the door a little. The young maid stood outside, twisting her fingers together. "What's wrong?" Kora asked. "Princess Vivienne wants you in the east wing. Right away." Kora's heart sank. "Did she say why?" Tilly shook her head. "She looked upset. I think something happened during the ball." "Did she ask for the healer?" "No. Just you." Kora hesitated. Every part of her wanted to stay in bed and pretend the night was over. But Vivienne was still the princess, and Kora was still her handmaid. She pulled her gray dress over her nightdress and tied her hair back. "Thank you, Tilly." The younger girl caught her arm before she left. "Kora, are you all right?" The question almost broke her. For once, someone had asked. Kora forced a small smile. "I'm fine." Tilly did not look convinced, but she released her arm. Kora followed the empty corridor toward the east wing. She found Vivienne waiting outside a guest suite. The princess had changed out of her golden ball gown and now wore a pale robe. Her hair hung loose over her shoulders. Her arms were crossed, and her face looked pale. "Kora," she said. "Finally." "You sent for me?" Vivienne pressed a hand to her stomach. "I don't feel well." Kora stepped closer. "Should I get the healer?" "No." "But you look sick." "I said no." Vivienne's voice sharpened before she quickly softened it. "I'm sorry. I just feel dizzy. And nauseous." Kora studied her face. "Did you eat something bad?" Vivienne shook her head. "It started after the toasts. I think someone put something in my drink." Kora went still. "What?" "The wine." Vivienne looked at her. "You brought it to me." "I brought champagne to the tables. You asked for water after the first dance." "Did I?" "Yes." Vivienne's lips pressed together. "I remember you carrying a tray near my table." "So did half the servants. I wasn't the only one serving drinks." "Come inside." Kora followed her into the guest suite. The room was lit by several candles. A small table stood beside the window, holding an empty goblet and a silver tray. Beside the goblet sat a tiny glass vial filled with dark liquid. Kora stopped. "What is that?" Vivienne pointed at the table. "That was in my drink." Kora stared at the vial. A bitter smell reached her nose. "What's inside it?" "Nightshade, according to the healer I called before you arrived." Kora's stomach dropped. Nightshade was poisonous. "Vivienne, I didn't put that there." Vivienne picked up the empty goblet. "Your fingerprints are on the stem." "I carried hundreds of glasses tonight." "And your scent is on it." Kora shook her head. "I never touched your wine. I swear." Vivienne set the goblet down. For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then Vivienne's worried expression disappeared. "You should have stayed where you belonged." Kora stared at her. "What?" "Do you really think I didn't notice how Killian looked at you?" "He rejected me!" "And then he summoned you to his chambers." Vivienne stepped closer. "Do you think I wouldn't find out?" Kora's blood turned cold. "How do you know that?" "Does it matter?" "Vivienne, I didn't poison you." "Of course you didn't." Her smile was cruel. "You were simply unlucky enough to be the perfect person to blame." Kora took a step back. "You planned this." Vivienne's eyes hardened. "I want you out of my way. Permanently." Kora could hardly breathe. "Why? What have I ever done to you?" "You exist." The answer was so simple that Kora could not speak. Vivienne reached for a small bell on the table and rang it. Two royal guards entered immediately. "Take her," Vivienne ordered. Kora backed away. "No! You can't do this!" "She poisoned the princess," Vivienne said. "Take her to the holding cells." The guards seized Kora's arms. "Please!" Kora struggled. "I didn't do anything!" Vivienne pressed a hand to her stomach and let out a weak cry. The healer arrived moments later. He examined the goblet and vial, then checked Vivienne's pulse. "Nightshade," he confirmed. "She needs rest and treatment." Luna Marguerite swept into the room. "What happened?" "Mother," Vivienne whispered. "Someone tried to poison me." Marguerite's gaze landed on Kora. "You?" "No, Luna! I didn't do it!" Marguerite crossed the room and slapped her. Kora's head snapped to the side. "You ungrateful peasant!" Marguerite shouted. "We gave you a place to live, and this is how you repay us?" Kora tasted blood in her mouth. "I didn't poison her." Vivienne shook her head weakly. "Perhaps it was a misunderstanding. Kora has been upset tonight. The King rejected her, and she may have felt jealous." "I am not jealous!" Kora cried. "I would never hurt you!" Marguerite turned to her daughter, her expression softening. "Even now, you defend her. You have such a kind heart." Vivienne's eyes filled with tears. "She's still my friend, Mother." Kora stared at her. Friend. The word hurt more than the slap. Vivienne stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Kora. "I'm sorry," she whispered against Kora's ear. "You should never have come here with me." Then she pulled back and spoke loudly enough for everyone to hear. "I know Kora would never do this on purpose." Kora stopped struggling. There was no point. Nobody would believe her. The guards dragged her from the room while Vivienne called after them. "Please, be gentle with her! I'll speak to the King. I'll ask him to show mercy." Her voice sounded so sincere that Kora almost believed it. Almost. The holding cell was dark, damp, and cold. Kora sat on the narrow stone bench with her knees pulled against her chest. She had no idea how much time passed before footsteps sounded outside. The door opened. Killian entered. His silver eyes settled on her, and her heart gave one painful beat. "Kora." She stood quickly. "My King, I didn't poison Vivienne." He looked at the guard, who handed him a report. "The evidence says otherwise." "Then the evidence is false!" "Your fingerprints were on the goblet. Your scent was on it. The healer confirmed the poison." "Because I served drinks at the ball!" Killian's jaw tightened. "Treason carries the death sentence." Kora's fingers went cold. She had known the punishment, but hearing him say it made the cell feel smaller. "Please," she whispered. "You know I wouldn't hurt anyone." For a moment, his expression changed. Then he looked away. "Vivienne has asked me to show you mercy. She believes you may have acted out of jealousy." "She's lying." His eyes snapped back to hers. "Choose your next words carefully." Kora swallowed. "She framed me. I don't know why, but she did." Killian approached the bars. "You could have avoided all this." She stared at him. "What?" "You could have accepted my offer." Understanding hit her like a blow. He thought she had done this because she refused to become his mistress. "You think I poisoned her because I wouldn't sleep with you?" "I think you made a foolish choice." Kora's eyes burned. "You offered me a life where I would have to hide every day. I said no. That doesn't make me a criminal." His hands curled at his sides. "Say yes now, and I can still protect you." For one moment, Kora imagined it. A warm room. Good food. Clothes that did not belong to another servant. Guards who would not slap her or order her around. But she would still belong to someone who had publicly rejected her. She would still be the woman he kept in secret. "No," she said. Something flickered in his eyes. "Even now?" "Even now." He stared at her for a long moment before straightening. "Take her to the border at dawn. She is banished from the Northern Realm. If she returns, she will be killed on sight." Kora gripped the bars. "Killian, please! I'm innocent!" He turned away. "Take her." The door slammed behind him. Kora sank onto the bench, shaking. Banishment was not death. She would live. She had no home outside these walls, but perhaps that was better than staying somewhere everyone wanted her gone. She pressed her forehead against her knees. "Moon Goddess," she whispered, "please let this be the dawn of a new beginning for me." A memory rose in her mind. Vivienne's arms around her. Her soft voice. Run fast, handmaid. My friends will be waiting beyond the border. Kora lifted her head. The blood drained from her face. Vivienne had not planned to have her banished. She had planned to have her killed. And dawn was coming.