After blocking Trent, I found myself at my mother’s grave, my claws gently tracing her name on the cold stone. My human father had died when I was just a pup, leaving my werewolf mother to raise me alone in the shadows of the pack. Her only wish was to see me mated to Trent, but that dream had died with her.
As I stood there, mourning, Trent appeared, supporting Winona, who held an urn. The scent of death clung to them both. "Trent, this place is close to my den. If I bury my baby here, it’s like he never left," Winona whispered, her voice carrying over the wind. The "baby" she spoke of was no child but a beloved pet puppy she had adopted.
I was ready to leave when Trent blocked my path, his eyes dark with suspicion. "Are you following me?"
The accusation stung, but I had no fight left in me. "No, I’m just leaving," I growled low, turning away.
But Winona wasn’t finished. "Niana," she purred, her eyes glinting with malicious satisfaction, "my puppy died, and Trent stayed with me for his funeral. Please, don't misunderstand." Her words were honeyed, but the look she gave me was a challenge.
"Good for you," I muttered, resisting the urge to bare my fangs.
Trent scowled. "Niana, can’t you show some sympathy? Winona’s in pain. Why do you have to be so cold?"
His words were like a dagger, twisting in my chest. I had given him everything, yet here he was, defending Winona. I was tired, too tired to fight anymore.
"I don’t need to hear this," I said, my voice ice cold, before turning my back on them.
Trent followed me; his steps heavy as he caught up to me. "Are you still upset about the wedding?"
"It’s over, Trent," I said, my voice flat and final.
"Winona needed me. You’re strong. You can handle yourself. But she needed me," he insisted, oblivious to the hurt he was causing. "Please tell your mother I’m sorry. Let’s reschedule the wedding."
His ignorance was the final straw. "There’s no chance," I snarled, my voice breaking.
Desperate now, Trent grabbed my arm. "Okay, I know I messed up. But your mother treated me like her own son. She would want us to be together. Let’s set a new date."
Once, I might have wavered, but not now. My mother was gone, and my last tie to Trent was with her. "I won’t marry you," I said, shaking off his hand and leaving him behind.