a P

Ancestral Hall was

tion Ritual was the most i

er and elder of the Wh

in a moon-white gown, the c

t in a wheelchair, still pale b

crowd like venomous butterflies, whispering poison about me, suggesting

posturing as the "

, whispering earnestly, no doubt

tual b

son White, gave a brie

r took his plac

confirmation of the pack's young member

ard. "Elder Edgar, before w

the hall tu

ite Pack. Miss White has been... unwell. Her actions have been erratic. I fear her bloodline has been tainted,

ur rippled thr

miliating procedure, reserved for t

lashed across Elois'

their c

ge, trying to rise from he

alming hand

irt, my face

n't a

n't d

urned to t

ack Codex, does a person nominated for a Purity Inspection

ough the book in his hands. "Ah... yes. The Codex does state tha

llenge is this: you and the woman you claim as your fated mate will stand b

ations whenever a claim of divine mating w

ened its clear,

d, exposing any mark fashioned or falsel

ace went

in the crowd, looked lik

Pack recognize her and grant her status on the strength of this supposed bo

A man who lacks the courage to place his own claim beneath the Goddess

's expressi

e, but with the Codex open before the entire pac

nial staff and struck it on

vantes, step beneath the Moonstone Lamp and present your Mate Marks for inspe

ne m

d, revealing Candida

s though she could conceal the

pered, her voice t

orked sou

ad worn into the ha

lders, then to the pack members whose symp

clenched teeth. "I will not allow my mate to be public

ecame utte

of a lawful Honor Challenge will be e

gh the assembly again

onger expressi

re judg

Kirt Bradford accused White Pack's first heir without evidence, refused to submit his own claim to

rt's face, then drai

red her head

e an innocent woman caug

lice who had just been as

a White is denied. The accusation will be struck from the record. Kirt Bradford's forf

of his staff sea

oulders w

oping to stain my bloodli

wn credibility on the offici

hemselves, their gazes on him now f

him warmly earlier turned awa

Mama, the medicine Elois gives you is poison. A slow-acting curse. Your ri

body wen

th a dawning, horri

oying "concern," of the strange taste o

all at Elois, who was s

as a predat

d pain, doubt, and ang

her eyes were bright wi

ered Kirt, she slipped the simple, unassuming ri

gnet, a direct line t