Thor

he best pieces of another moon-rabbit, stewing them slowly until the meat was falling off the bone and the aroma was a

the approval of my family wasn't enough. I needed the

door. It was the first time I had willingly walk

s the Alpha's disgraced mate, the Omega who consorted with rogues. I kept my head high and my steps even, clutching t

ocked my path. Jax. He wasn't alone. Two other rogues

ugly, against his pale skin. He sneered when he saw the pot in my hands

lue eyes, giggled. "She probably earned it o

by the prospect of a confrontation.

, clear sense of opportunity

but I pitched my voice so everyone could hear. "This food, Jax, is an

to an Elder was a sacred act. Jax

lf!" he roared, his desperation making him reckless. "You're a stain on t

us, and raised my voice in a formal declaration. "I, Elara Thorne, mate

own nail across my palm, slicing the skin. I held my hand out,

nothing to me. Any further harassment of my family will be co

ed him, but I had also cleverly wrapped myself in the authority of my absent mate. Jax's cronies took

o silence, his face

with a tremor of a mother's pain. "All I have ever wanted is to protect my childr

ing-it was a powerful combination. I saw the judgment in

she-wolf whose wisdom was etched in the lines on her face, stoo

clearing. "The Elder wishes to see what coul