Her eyes were swollen and red. She looked at me, heartbroken. "My lady, wait for me. I'll go find a pack healer."
I struggled to prop myself up and pulled a box from beneath the bed. Inside lay the Death Walker's Iron Medallion, cold against my fingers, humming faintly with the old oath bound into its metal. I pressed it into Rowan's hands.
"Rowan, take this to the Alpha King's court. Give it to him and tell him Perenna Ashvane is calling in her Blood Debt. Tell him I want a Moon-Sealed Bond Severance."
Years ago, when the Alpha King himself had traveled to the Hollowmere Pack to bring the Alpha Heir and the Beta Lord back to Ironhold Territory, he'd been so grateful for my saving their lives that he promised me one request, anything I asked.
I had never dared waste that chance. Now, finally, it had a purpose.
Hadeon didn't return with Soren Ashwick until the following afternoon.
By then, the pack healer Rowan had summoned was already on his way out.
Hadeon caught the healer by the arm. "How is my mate?"
"She'll live. But I'm afraid..."
Hadeon's voice dropped low, unsteady in a way I'd rarely heard when it concerned me. "Afraid of what?"