The ride back to Vermont Pack felt shorter.

Nina noticed they didn’t take the same road as before. The carriage moved faster this time, barely stopping except when Seven came to speak quietly with Rodrigo before riding ahead again.

Rodrigo hardly spoke to her.

He answered Seven when needed, gave a few instructions at the stops, then went quiet again. Most of the journey, he slept, leaning against the side of the carriage like she wasn’t even there.

Nina kept wondering if she had done something wrong the previous night.

She thought about everything that happened. Their conversation was fine, and he had allowed her to sleep beside him. Nothing stood out as wrong, yet he barely looked at her now.

After a while, she stopped thinking about it and focused on the view outside instead.

Morning light was already spreading across the sky when the gates of Vermont Pack came into sight.

The carriage slowed.

Rodrigo sat up immediately and stepped down the moment it stopped. He glanced at her once — quick, unreadable — then walked straight toward the pack house.

Nina stayed inside for a few seconds longer before following.

Seven opened the door and held out his hand. She placed her hand in his and stepped down carefully.

She looked up. Rodrigo was already gone.

The front doors opened again.

The Matriarch stepped out, leaning on her walking stick, Lady Gina following behind her.

Nina straightened, her hands gripping the front of her dress without thinking.

The Matriarch stopped in front of her, her eyes glancing at her from up to down.

"How are you, child?"

"I am very well," Nina replied, a faint smile on her lips.

"I heard you fell over a cliff. Taking the Alpha with you."

So they already knew.

"I was chased by wolves," Nina replied.

The woman looked at her for a long moment, her gaze moving slowly like she was trying to read something on her face.

’’Thankfully, nothing went wrong.’’ she said finally. Her head titled to Lady Gina who was standing behind her.

"Take her inside," the Matriarch said to Lady Gina. "She will remain in her room until the eleventh night. Nothing must happen before then."

Nina’s stomach tightened.

Lady Gina stepped forward. "Come with me."

Nina glanced back toward Moreen.

’’Let’s go,’’ she said.

"She will not follow," the Matriarch added calmly. "You must be kept away from everyone for now."

Nina’s lips trembled, then she gave Moreen a small smile before turning away.

Guards were already waiting inside the house.

Lady Gina signaled to them and they followed immediately, their footsteps steady behind her.

Lady Gina led her to her chambers and pushed the doors open.

Nina stopped when she entered.

The room looked different.

The windows had been sealed with iron bars. The doors reinforced. The four guards stood outside while three were already waiting inside the room.

Nina gulped.

"The Matriarch wants you safe," Lady Gina said. "These guards will remain here."

Nina looked at them again.

Seven guards.

The eleventh night was still days away.

"Can Moreen stay with me?" she asked quietly. "I’ll need help."

Lady Gina shook her head. "We need these guards to focus on only you, unless you do not mind your maid dying."

Nina drew a breath, and then she nodded.

Lady Gina turned toward the door, then paused.

"I will see you on the eleventh night."

She looked back once.

"Don’t die."

Then she left.

The door closed.

The guards moved into position without looking at her. They stood so still it almost felt like they weren’t even there.

Nina walked slowly to the bed and sat down.

After a moment, she lay back and stared at the ceiling.

She wasn’t leaving this room again.

Not until the eleventh night.

Not until... she died.

Her fingers curled into the sheets, as her breathing slowed.

She was never going to see him again.

During the journey, she had started thinking maybe they were getting a little closer. He had let her sleep beside him twice. He had talked to her without sounding annoyed. She thought... maybe things were different now.

Maybe she had been wrong.

Maybe he had only been kind because she was going to die anyway.

Nina turned onto her side and pulled her knees closer, burying her face against them.

...

Rodrigo’s study had gone dark without him noticing. The lantern had burned low, the embers nearly out, and the curtains shifted where wind pushed through the gap in the window.

He didn’t move to fix any of it. He sat with several books spread open across the desk, his brows drawn together, and read the same passage for the third time without taking a word of it in.

He turned a page.

Then another.

A knock came at the door. His hand stilled against the page.

"Come in."

The door creaked open and the Matriarch walked in, her staff tapping softly against the floor.

She stopped by the door, her eyes fixed on him for a minute.

"I heard the Luna fell over a cliff."

Rodrigo kept his eyes on the book. "News travels fast."

"You saved her."

He flipped another page.

"Should I have let her die?"

The matriach crossed the room, and pulled the chair in front of him out, sitting down, she placed her staff against the table.

"That isn’t what I asked."

Silence settled between them as Rodrigo didn’t bother to reply. His eyes kept scanning the pages, not lifting for once.

"The girl dies tomorrow," The Matriach said.

Rodrigo’s hand paused slightly on the paper before moving again.

"What does that have to do with me?" he replied, his tone dismissive.

Eloise’s brows creased as she watched him.

"I just wondered... if you would want to see her one last time."

Rodrigo leaned back slightly, closing the book.

"Sabrina is just one of the numerous brides you’ve chosen, Grandmother."

"And yet you know her name."

He stilled, his eyes fixed on her. His jaw worked as he straightened and turned back to the book.

"I am busy," he said flatly. "If there is nothing else, you may take your leave."

Eloise stared at him for a moment and then she stood, and turned towards the door.

She opened the door and stopped, then turned to look at him.

"The girl had asked for you several times."

His eyes lifted.

"I thought you might want to know."

The Matriarch turned finally, crossing the room and shutting the door behind her.

The room grew quiet again.

Rodrigo stared at the open book in front of him.

He remained seated.

Minutes passed.

The book stayed open.

Unturned.