Chapter 7

Three days of torture later, the healer perfects the cure. Quinn and I recover, and the plague in Belmor Town starts to fade.

We set out for the pack under blinding sunlight. I lean weakly in the carriage, Quinn's laughter filling the air.

"Shawn, I'm starving," she whines, tugging his sleeve as we pass the pack's grandest tavern. "I hear this place is amazing. Can we eat here?"

Shawn, who's never liked dining out, softens at her pleading eyes. "Alright."

I trail behind, watching them climb the stairs, Shawn's hand hovering protectively at Quinn's waist, like she's some fragile treasure.

At the table, he orders all her favorites, each dish earning a delighted squeal from her.

When it's my turn, he pauses, then says, "Pick what you want."

I force a smile, uglier than a sob. I told him my favorite foods countless times, but he never remembered. Quinn mentions hers once, and it's carved in his mind.

As we eat, a crash erupts next door. A wall splinters, and a figure hurtles toward us.

Shawn grabs Quinn, dodging aside. I'm not so lucky—the figure slams into me, a broken table gashing my shoulder. Blood soaks my clothes.

In the chaos, guards help me up and get me to the carriage. Shawn's focused on Quinn, soothing her, draping his cloak over her shoulders, ignoring the blood seeping from my wound.

It's only when I wince, stepping out of the carriage, that he notices. "What's wrong?"

"At the tavern, the table cut my shoulder when I got hit," I say calmly.

His brow furrows, a flicker of something—guilt, maybe pity—in his eyes. "Come inside. I'll get you bandaged."

In my room, he reaches for the salve, but Quinn steps in. "Shawn, let me. It's easier between she-wolves."

He hesitates, then nods. "Fine." He hands her the salve. "I'll wait outside."

Behind the screen, Quinn's smile turns cold. She scoops a glob of salve, secretly mixing in salt. "Hold still, sister," she says sweetly, then presses it hard into my wound.

I cry out, shoving her away instinctively. She stumbles dramatically, letting out a theatrical yelp.

"What happened?" Shawn bursts in, scooping her up.

Tears well in Quinn's eyes. "I was just helping with her wound, but she pushed me down. Maybe she's jealous you've been focused on me…"

"That's not true!" I gasp, pain throbbing. "She put salt in my wound!"

Shawn's face darkens. "Quinn's trying to help, and you accuse her of that?"

He pulls her closer, her sobs muffled against him. "Ever since I chose her as my equal mate, you've hurt her again and again. But no matter what you do, I'm bonding with her."

He storms out, Quinn in his arms, not sparing me a glance as I slump on the bed, blood dripping from my shoulder, my heart shattered worse than ever.