But Cedar didn’t give her a chance to finish. "I’ll be bonded to both of you. You, Fern, and I. That's the sole method to resolve this issue and maintain harmony."
Her stomach twisted at the thought. A ritual. Bonded to them both. To him and Fern, in a union that felt more like a trap than a choice.
"You can’t be serious," Lavender chuckled, but stinging tears were streaming down her face. "You want me to accept this, to accept her?"
Cedar stepped closer, gripping her wrist. "I don’t want this either, but it’s what we must do for the pack. The bond, the ritual—it will help you understand. It will help you heal with the wounds brought by Fern mating with me."
"I don’t need healing," she spat, pulling her arm from him. She was aware that Fern was watching from a distance and amused by the argument happening. "I need freedom. And I need to be rid of this pain."
Cedar's gaze hardened once more, the alpha within him emerging as his eyes flickered to his wolf's amber ones. "This is the only way forward. Do not make this harder than it has to be."
Before she could respond, he turned and left. Lavender stood there, shaking.
How could she accept it? He was offering her nothing but chains that had once been a symbol of their love.
—
That night, as she lay in bed, the sound of footsteps outside her room jolted her from her thoughts. She opened the door to find Fern standing there.
"I thought we should talk," Fern said in a sweet face and voice.
Lavender’s wolf growled. This woman, this interloper, would not take her place in Cedar’s life.
"Talk?" Lavender echoed, raising her brow. "About what?"
"About how you’re going to make this work. About how you’re going to let Cedar and me be happy."
A wave of disgust washed over Lavender. She could feel the sharp edge of Fern’s words.
"You’ll never replace me," Lavender said firmly.
"Oh, Luna. I already have." Fern whispered in her ear.
Lavender sat on the edge of her bed, her hands trembling as she stared at the small bundle of herbs Dr. Dahlia had left for her. The healer had been a quiet but constant ally in her journey, teaching her how to harness the power that had always been within her, but she hadn’t known how to use it.