b“/bCome on, Ryder said, his usual cafefive grih returning despite his obvious difort. Can’t lie here all day.

1 epted his hand, wincing as he pulled me to my feet. Every muscle screamed in protest.

‘You didn’t have to do all five hundred, Nadiamented, eyeing me with something that might have been respect. “Adrian clearly said bone /bfonded wa enough for you.”

I shrugged, immediately regretting the movement as pain shot through my shoulders. “I don’t want special treatment just because I’m new. That wouldn’t fair to either of you.”

The truth was moreplicated. I didn’t want to be viewed as weak–as someone who needed profection or special consideration. I’d spent three wears proving my independence as a lone wolf. Now that I’d found my ce in a pack, I wasn’t about to position myself as the fragile neer whey couldn’t handle the same punishment as everyone else.

By the time I arrived at the orphanage, my arms and legs felt like they’d been filled with molten lead. Every step was torture, every movement a fresh reminder of this morning’s punishment. The children were taking their afternoon nap, the building unusually quiet as I gathered soiled bedsheets and clothing for washing.

Venus entered theundry room, her single armden with groceries which she deposited on a nearby counter with practiced efficiency.

“Need any help?” she asked, observing my struggle with an overflowingundry basket.

“I’ve got it,” I insisted, reaching up to hang a freshly washed bsheet /bon the drying lineb. /bMy trembling arms betrayed me, the wet fabric slipping from my grasp and nearly falling to the floor before Venus swooped in to catch it.

Despite having only one arm, she moved with remarkable coordination, tucking bthe /bcorner of the sheet under her chin to create tension while her right bhand /bsecured it to the line with wooden clothespins. Within seconds, she had aplished what I’d been fumbling with for nearly a minute.

“Thanks,” I mumbled, embarrassed by my own inefficiency.

Venus smiled, retrieving another sheet from the basket. ‘I heard about your punishment this morningb,/bb” /bbshe /bsaid conversationally. bFive /bhundred pushb–/bups for drinking wolf liquor with Ryderb?/bb” /b

Heat crept up my neck that had nothing to do with exertion. “Word travels fast around here.”

“Small pack, Venus replied with a shrug. “Everyone saw Adrian carry you out of the tavern bst /bnight. Quite the bspectacle/b, apparently.”

I groaned, covering my bface /bwith my hands. “It won’t happen again. I had no idea wolf liquor would affect me bso /bstrongly.”

Venus secured another sheet to the line, her movements smooth and practiced. “Adrian seemed particrly concerned about you,” bshe /bremarked, a bknowing /bsmile ying at her lips. “More so than I’ve seen him with other pack membersb./b”

“I’m sure it’s just because I’m a new member,” I said quickly, busying myself with sorting the children’s tiny socks into pairsb. /b“He feels responsible for meb./bb” /b

Venus shook her head emphatically. “No, no, no. It’s definitely not that.”

‘Please don’t start,” I sighed. Adrian isn’t my mate. We both know that.”

“And what if he isn’tb?/bb” /bVenus challenged, surprising me with her intensity. “What exactly does being someone’s mate guaranteeb, /bbanyway/bb?/bb” /b

She lifted the stump of her left arm pointedly. My mate did this to me. So forgive me if I’m not impressed by bthe /bMoon Goddess’s matchmaking skills.”

bI /bstood frozen, uncertain how to respond. “I’m so sorry,” I finally managed, the words feeling woefully inadequate.

Venus bwaved /bbaway /bmy sympathy with a dismissive gesture. ‘Don’t look at me like that. One arm for that bastard’s lifeb? /bbI /bconsider it a fair btrade/b. Her bvoice /bbcarried /bno bitterness, only a matter–of–bfact /beptance that somehow made her story beven /bmore heartbreaking. “bI /bdon’t bbelieve /bin this bdestined /bbmate /b

b1/2 /b

bChapter /bb44 /b

bnonsense /banymore. Sometimes the Moon Goddess gives us the bwinng /bboption /bjust so bwe /bcan revanine marielovi slowly and water da parte

bThe /bbright /bchoice. The phrase echoed in my mind. Had Leon made the right choles in rejecting me? Had I made the bright /bchoice in ruin

bVenus /bcontinued hangingundry, her movements never faltering despite our heavy conversation. I always wanted children, di malidad, Bal t de conceive. For years, I med myself, felt worthless as a Luna.”

She pausedb, /bher eyes distant with memory. “At first, I made excuses for him when the beatings started. He was an Alpha, he needed ban /bbheir/bb, /bit can my heal For failing him. I tried every herbal remedy, every old wivesb‘ /btale to cure my supposed barrenness.”fn290a Content originallyes from find·novel/fn290a

My heart ached for her as she continued, het voice steady despite the horror of her words.

Three years into our marriage, his temper worsened. He started bringing prostitutes home, unting them in my face. Her jaw tightened. “I considered requesting to break the mate bond, but he refused. Then one night, after I’d thrown out yet another woman he’d brought home, he came at me againb. /b

She took a deep breath. “That night, I fought back.”

I stared at her, shock mingling with a strange sense of admiration. This elegant,posed woman had survived unimaginable betrayal yet remained unbroken.

“After he was dead, Venus continued, her voice dropping almost to a whisper, “I found medical records in his office. It wasn’t me who couldn’t conceive–it was him. He’d known all along.”

Understanding dawned. “That’s why he wouldn’t agree to break the bond,” I realized aloud. “He was afraid you’d discover the truth if you left him.b” /b

Venus nodded, a sad smile ying across her lips. “I should have left the bfirst /btime he hit meb, /bmate bond be damned. But bI /bstayed, believing bthat /bsacred connection meant something.” She ced a gentle hand on my shoulder. “The bond matters less than bthe /bmanb, /bSkye. And Adrian is ba /bgood man.

“Yes,” I agreed softly. “His mate will be very fortunate.”

Eager to shift the focus away from Adrian and myself, I nudged Venus yfully. “What about youb? /bbI /bcan bsee /bhow bmuch /byou love children. Have you considered having your own? Marcus seems quite attentive to you.”

A genuine smile brightened Venus’s bface/bb, /bher eyes crinkling with mischief. “He’s still on probationb,/b” she said with augh. b“/bBut the outlook is promisingb./bb” /b

Before I could inquire further, the sound of small feet pattering down the hallway announced that naptime had ended. Venus and I exchanged a knowing look before heading out to greet the newly awakened children.

Hourster, after thest child had been fed dinner and tucked into bed, I gathered my things to head home. My muscles still ached from the morning’s punishment, but the pain had dulled to a manageable throb. Venus’s story had given me much to contemte–about matesb, /babout choices, about bthe /bdifference between destiny and agency.

As I pushed open the orphanage door, preparing to step into the cool desert evening, I froze in ce.

Adrian stood waiting outside, his tall figure silhouetted against the setting sun.