Chapter 3

The Blackwood pack's founding festival was moved up two days.

Damian said it was because I'd been feeling low lately and he wanted the celebration to be livelier.

"You don't have to join the hunt." He fastened my cloak himself. "I'll keep the safest place for you."

"Today everyone is going to know who matters most to me," he said just as Kelsey came in from outside.

She lowered her head, but a smile tugged at the corner of her mouth.

The festival was held in the valley.

Every year before that, the Luna had worn the silver laurel crown and lit the first torch with the Alpha.

I did not attend last year, after I lost my sight.

This year Damian said the ceremony would be simplified.

Only when I was seated on the platform did I learn that what he called simplifying the ceremony meant giving my place to someone else.

Kelsey wore a silver-white gown, with the laurel crown on her head.

The Elder presiding over the rite glanced at Damian, hesitating.

"Alpha, this is against the rules."

Damian said quietly, "Mara can't see, and she can't join the hunt. Kelsey handled all the preparations this year. Let her stand in once."

"Standing in is for lighting the torch. Not for the wife's crown."

Kelsey moved at once to take it off.

"Never mind, I shouldn't be wearing it."

Damian held her hand down.

"It's only a ceremony."

Then he looked back at me.

"Mara doesn't care about formalities."

Everyone believed I could not see.

So no one knew I was watching him leave the symbol of my status as his mate on another woman's head with his own hands.

I truly did not care about the crown.

What I cared about was that he decided for me that I did not care.

After the lighting came the first dance.

Damian was supposed to come back and take my hand.

Instead Kelsey turned her ankle on the steps.

He caught her immediately.

The crowd cheered them on.

Someone laughed and said, "If she's standing in anyway, she might as well dance the first dance too."

Damian hesitated.

For only two seconds.

Then he held out his hand.

Kelsey put hers into his palm.

I sat up above and watched the whole dance.

When it ended she walked past me, very slowly.

She mouthed the words without a sound.

"Blind women don't need pretty things."

I held my cane and did not move.

Damian finally came back that night.

He dropped to one knee in front of me and put my hand against his face.

"Was it very loud today?"

"It was fine."

"Kelsey filled in at the last minute. Don't read into it."

"What would I read into it?"

He gave a small laugh, as if relieved.

"True."

He put his arms around me.

I could smell the scent blocker on his collar, far too strong.

I knew exactly where he had just been.

I did not cry that night.

I only changed the count from ten days to seven.