The Alpha Who Never Marked Me Begged Me Back

Chapter 3

Lila's POV:

On the fourth day, the Northlands replied. Malcolm agreed to marry me instead. The map enclosed with his letter crossed out Greystone Gorge and marked the Old Post Road instead.

At the bottom, he wrote: Keith Sayer has gone to inspect it. If anything seems wrong, stop. Do not rush the wedding date.

I put the letter away and signed the marriage contract. Father gave me the shops Mother had left behind and asked when I planned to tell the others.

"Before I leave."

When I stepped out of the study, Miranda caught hold of me. "Lila, you've always doted on your sister. Talk to your father again."

"The marriage is settled."

Daphne clutched my sleeve in panic. "If I really go, Ian will hate you for the rest of his life!"

I pulled free. "Then let him."

That afternoon, Ian came in with a bundle of cloth. His gaze fell on the winter clothes folded beside my bed, and he frowned immediately.

"Are you packing Daphne's things?"

I didn't answer. I picked up a cloak and placed it in the trunk.

He put a hand on the lid. "I'm still begging Alpha to let her stay, and you're already packing her things."

"Someone has to go."

"So you want her gone?" He looked at me. "Lila, she hasn't slept well for days. If she sees this, what do you expect her to think?"

"What if I were the one going north?"

He frowned. "Lila, don't say things you don't mean."

"Would you stop me?"

"I already agreed to marry you. What else do you want me to say?"

He placed the little wolf sword beside the trunk.

"I have enough to deal with because of Daphne. Don't make this any harder."

He wouldn't mark me, and he wouldn't let my sister go.

"Ian, if I said I was willing to step aside for you and Daphne—"

Before I could finish, a maid called from the doorway to report that Daphne was refusing to eat again. Ian released the trunk at once and picked up the rose-carved wooden sword.

"I'll go see her. Don't overthink it."

I handed him the other sword too. "Take them both."

At the door, he looked back. "Once I settle the alliance marriage, I'll come talk to you."

I laughed at myself.

In Ian's mind, my sister always mattered more. If she called, my words could wait until later.

I closed the trunk and called Poppy. "Come with me to the Moon Goddess's temple."

After the priestess understood why I had come, she led me before the altar.

"Since neither of you has marked the other, either mate can sever the bond by rejecting it. You will be weak for a while, and he will feel it break too."

My wolf recoiled, whining uneasily.

I pressed a hand to my heart and soothed her softly. "You can't bear to leave him, can you?"

Her whine made my nose sting. "But we've waited once already. He never chose us. Not once in eight years. This time, let's learn to let him go. All right?"

After a long time, she finally quieted and curled against my heart.

I looked up at the priestess. "Arrange it for tomorrow, before the farewell procession."

When I returned, Ian was walking with Daphne. The moment he saw me, he pulled his arm from hers.

Daphne's smile froze for an instant. Then she lowered her head, her eyes turning red.

"Are you still mad at me?"

"No." I looked at Ian. "Go on. Stay with her."

He frowned. "Lila, she only just agreed to come outside today."

I nodded and stepped aside for them.

Yet he didn't move. Daphne tugged at his sleeve and murmured that her ankle still hurt. Only then did he turn back and steady her.

I walked past them without stopping.

Before, if he only let go of my sister's hand, I could be happy for days. I would forget every hurt that came before it.

Now I only wanted to check my luggage so I wouldn't leave anything behind tomorrow.