A P

rand hall like a la

nd I could feel the weight of their judgment. The air was t

her? Drav

. large. And

less. What a disgra

to see the pity and disgust in their faces. Their words were meaning

av

a king waiting for an execution. When his stormy eyes met mine, a flicker of

droning on about ancient bonds and the bles

n the parents were calle

and the same arrogant air as his wife, stepped forwa

ligations of an old contract," he annou

d through the guests. It

the microphone, her painted lips curled into a sneer. Her voice

wledge a wolfless woman of ques

ned me at my own mating ceremony. I stood there, exposed, the centerpiece of a humiliating

. This was too much, even for him. It was dishonorable. It

ay something, anything, when a voi

t is the mean

Alpha of a small, insignificant pack, but he had a spine of steel. My adoptive

. "Are you breaking the pact? Do you wi

rfume and feigned sympathy. "My poor baby," she wailed, loud

y shoulders shake, playing t

loud. He hadn't expected the

truth!" Eleanor shrieked. "S

contract was witnessed by the Goddess herself! Are you defy

ouncil. Their involvement would mean a formal inquiry, a

oice was low, but it cut thr

oug

nts, his expression unreadable. "The ceremony

authority. He would not allow his parents to undermine

ell silent, their fa

the Elder pronounced us mates, I felt an invisible chain lock around my soul. The

a low command. "You will be housed in the east wing

by a crowd of well-wishers,

n't you worry, sweetie," she whispered, her