ry'

Had I slept? Not a wink. Every second, there was a dull, p

was his

rnered him near the armory, de

e had said coldly, turning his back t

demanded, ensuring our voice

ained

elders about us?

remony is very important

him in bitt

rate shred of hope as I went to my quarters to change. Maybe he spoke

ng me, I dressed in

ontingent of warriors. He didn't even glance my way. I began walking to

oaching, he grimaced, turned

I rationalized. If we get too close befor

tent, I idly lifted the c

my brea

eighboring pack sat on a stool, casually spinn

s knit

lar-the traditional piece given

tranger ho

et the piece down with a polite, vacant smi

out, offering a tight nod bef

eart hammering against my ribs as I walked tow

ed clearing was s

rriors stood in a flawless formation, while the elde

e word of the High El

locked entire

y unreadable. Every time his dark, obsidian eyes drifted over the crowd and met mine, my hear

ing voice cut th

formal proclamation! Let the Alpha and his chosen f

pped a beat.

mate will now

ook a step forward, draw

epped onto the stone platform. Her movements were smooth, like silk gliding over ice. He

, and my stomach com

oman from Se

no

spare me any

ward, reaching out his

med across the pin-drop silent clearing, "accept you,

blow, utterly shattering the

mating collar and fastene

ed a flaw

you, Alpha Draven, a

with a sudden

t real, i

ack-before my very eyes

und mine across the clearing and a look

de my chest, like glass bre

gs deep into the cro

mpletely trapped in my lungs as our bond twis

es trembling as the reality

nd the Pack erupted into th

ing a future built

lashes, blurring the celebrato

ldn't

round and aggressively shoved my way through the dense crowd, ig

wolf whispered, the heartbreak in

going to m