The Wolf Who Loved Too Late

Chapter Six

The door crashed open, and Grant barreled in.

His eyes locked on Delilah, surrounded by flames, and without a second thought, he scooped her up and bolted outside. I watched their silhouettes vanish into the smoke as the fire licked at my skirt.

Gritting my teeth, I scrambled to my feet, stumbling through the inferno to escape. But outside, a scene froze my blood—Delilah, perfectly fine, nestled in Grant's arms, sobbing dramatically. "Helena must hate me for taking the main courtyard. She tried to burn me alive…"

Grant's gaze snapped to me, cold as ice, as I staggered out. "If you didn't want to swap courtyards, you could've just said so. Why try to hurt Delilah?"

I trembled, not from the biting wind but from the sheer blindness of this wolf. "She started the fire herself."

"Ridiculous!" he snapped, cutting me off.

"Delilah's terrified of fire. She'd never do that.” Delilah tugged at his sleeve, her voice quivering.

"Don't blame Helena. It's my fault…"

"Look at how understanding she is!"

Grant's anger flared.

"You can't even own up to your mistakes. Is this the Carmichael pack's upbringing?"

I laughed, a sharp, bitter sound.

"Why would I confess to something I didn't do?"

"Stubborn to the end!" His face hardened. "Lock her in the woodshed. She stays there until she admits it!"

In the damp, freezing woodshed, I curled up in a corner.

Delilah had ordered the servants to cut off food and water, and the wind sliced through the cracks like a blade against my skin.

On the third evening, the door creaked open.

Grant stood there, Delilah wrapped in a fox-fur cloak at his side, looking down at me. "Ready to admit you were wrong?"

I lifted my head, lips cracked and bleeding, my voice barely a whisper.

"The only mistake I ever made… was letting myself be bound to you."

His eyes narrowed. "What's that supposed to mean?"

I tried to answer, but darkness swallowed me, and I collapsed.

I was out for two whole days.

When I woke, the sky outside was dim.

Nora sat by my bed, a bowl of medicine in her hands, tears streaming down her face. "Helena, you're awake!” "How long was I out?" My voice was hoarse.

"Two days and nights," she said, wiping her eyes. "Grant… he didn't check on you once. Took Delilah to stay at Cold Mountain Temple instead."

I stared at her, then gave a faint, bitter smile.

I should've been used to it by now.

"Don't let it get to you," Nora said, her voice soft. "Once that bond-breaking scroll takes effect, we'll head back to the Carmichael pack. No more of this nonsense."

I nodded weakly, about to speak, when hurried footsteps echoed outside. "Helena!" A young servant burst in, panting. "Grant sent word—you're to go to Cold Mountain Temple right now!"

Nora stomped her foot. "What's he playing at? You just woke up!"

"It's fine," I said, forcing myself to sit up. "The scroll's about to take effect. I want to talk to him anyway."

Cold Mountain Temple perched halfway up a rugged hillside, the path steep and treacherous. I dragged my still-healing body up the stone steps, each one a struggle. At the temple gate, a young monk greeted me. "Are you Helena? The General's waiting in the rear meditation hall."

Inside, Grant stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Delilah. He frowned when he saw me. "Took you long enough.” I didn't bother explaining. "What do you want?"

Before he could answer, the temple's abbot stepped forward, hands clasped. "Amitabha. I've read Delilah's aura. She's destined for many pups and blessings, but her path is blocked, preventing her from bearing young."

My heart skipped, a sinking feeling creeping in. I had a bad hunch about where this was going.

Sure enough, the abbot continued. "I've divined the source of this obstruction… and it lies with you, Helena."

"Absurd," I scoffed. "I've got nothing to do with her. How could I block her path?"

"Don't be upset," Delilah said, her eyes glistening with crocodile tears. "The abbot says if you take the vows and dedicate two years to temple practice, the blockage will clear…”