Because she was friends with Anara, my voice insisted.

Yes, but he betrayed her, too, I added.

Makawee paused at the entrance to the corridor that led to her office, watching me as I debated with myself.

The small smile she usually gave me was noticeably absent, while her concern was more than obvious. “Is something troubling you, Celia?”

“Um. No.” Although that’s what I claimed, I remained cemented in place.

“If you have another appointment, child, I’m certain we can speak at another time,” she suggested.

“No.” I pushed forward. “Now’s good.”

My speech was off, and everything felt forced. If Makawee noticed, she failed to show it. Her waist-length white hair drifted behind her while she walked, despite the lack of haste in her step. Like always, she wore an earth-tone dress, no patterns, no frills. This dress didn’t even have buttons. It was a simple brown pullover with short sleeves.

Her bare feet passed silently over the dark wood. For someone who rarely wore shoes, her feet always seemed perfectly clean.

Although I’d never stepped into Makawee’s office, it was exactly as I’d imagined it. Simple tones of cream lightened the otherwise dark wood, and Native American tapestries and throws of deep reds added color to the walls and furnishings.

“Please make yourself comfortable,” she said, motioning to the worn leather couch. She turned away from me as she stepped into a small kitchenette.

I was glad she wasn’t watching me. I had to force myself to sit, the urge to race away from her continuing to needle me.

She poured hot water from a teapot into an antique ceramic pitcher. “May I make you some tea?” she asked.

No. She means to poison you.

My eyes widened. I couldn’t believe where my thoughts had wandered. My tigress typically ruled my instincts, but as I reached to stroke her, I sensed her pulling away from my caress. She didn’t appear to know me. Or welcome me.

What the hell?

“Celia, would you like some tea?” Makawee repeated.

“Y-yes. Thank you,” I managed.

Makawee used a small wooden tray painted with flowers to carry the pitcher, ceramic mugs, and tea supplies. She placed it on an old oak table in front of me, using care not to spill the contents. The pitcher and mugs appeared to have come from different sets, but they were pretty and complemented one another beautifully.

Makawee filled two small gold balls with loose tea, placed them in the cups, and added hot water. “How is the pain from your injuries?” she asked.

“Fine.” She raised her eyebrows slightly, enough to let me know she didn’t completely believe me. “It comes in spasms,” I admitted. “But for the most part it’s manageable and doesn’t impede me in any way.”

Makawee nodded, seemingly satisfied with my more honest response. “Forgive me for asking, but has your cycle returned?”

Her question caught me off guard. But I answered in spite of the emotions it stirred. “No.” My cycle had always been irregular, but after how Anara had butchered me, it hadn’t returned. Makawee was probably hoping I could still become pregnant.

But you can’t.

You’re barren.

And it’s her fault.

My thoughts betrayed me, hurting me more than anything Makawee could have asked. Yet my response was uncalled for—and I couldn’t stop it. I leaned back, patting my belly and smiling as I spoke. “Sorry, no future saviors of mankind growing in here,” I said simply.

Then I took a sip of my tea!

Makawee’s eyes widened in time with mine.

I thought I was going crazy. And maybe she did, too, but instead of calling for help or trying to restrain me, the sadness dulling her dark eyes seemed to engulf the room. “The fault is ours alone, Celia,” she said quietly. “Martin and I were never blind to what you and Aric share.”

They why did you keep us apart, bitch?

I clutched the arm of the leather couch and glanced around, certain someone else spoke. But it was my voice!

Makawee stirred her tea, unaware of my venomous thoughts and keeping her voice light as she continued. “Aric had always been strong, intelligent, and confident, a born leader. He was the envy and admiration of all weres, including those who had accomplished tremendous deeds in their lives. Yet there was something always missing, a piece that kept him from desiring to embrace his full potential.”

The gentleness in her tone diminished my bitterness and rising hysteria. I clung to her words like a lifeline. At that moment, I knew she was the only thing keeping me grounded. “P-please continue,” I begged her.

Makawee considered me. I thought I sensed her power reach out to me, which thankfully helped me settle further. It reminded me of the way my mother used to stroke my hair, a feeling so genuine and pure it almost made me cry. She smiled as if she understood, then took a sip of her tea and spoke. “The day Aric first saw you, he returned to the Den an absolute mess. He was inexplicably quiet and didn’t seem to comprehend anything anyone was saying. He spent most of the day staring out in the direction of the lake, the very place he’d found you.” She laughed a little. “His Warriors and students were understandably worried, unsure what ailed their impeccable Leader. But Martin and I knew; we recognized the signs. His wolf had met his mate.”

When Aric expressed the depths of his feelings, he took my breath away. When others told me how much I meant to him, I mostly squirmed and blushed. But to hear it from Makawee was an entirely different experience.

Her retelling of the moment that changed my life was both humbling and a tremendous honor. She recognized that Aric loved me long before he ever told me.

I stared at my hands. Despite how touched I felt, I couldn’t help questioning why she told me. Instead of asking her, I simply remained quiet. Sometimes when you want someone to speak, all you have to do is wait and listen.

This was one of those moments.

“We tried to discourage him from seeking you out, once it was clear you weren’t one of us,” she admitted. “But destiny had other plans.”

Yes. She did.

Makawee shook her head. “Celia, we never meant to hurt you or Aric. Our only intent was to protect our sacred earth as only we as weres believed we could. But I fear our vanity may have destroyed us all.”

I met her eyes. “You think you interfered with destiny?”