an instant, how he turned his back, as if the bond between them meant nothing. As if she herself was nothing. Her chest ached, her wolf silent and wounded deep inside her. She had spent

Logan hadn't spoken to her yet. He hadn't formally rejected her. Maybe, just maybe he was in denial. Maybe

was

ing for such great needs. Gatherings like these happened never but either in a council of war or in any greater announcement of high importance, all tense into s

a is going to addr

ng to rej

he is. She'

into fists at her sides. She scanned

rong, composed, commanding. He wore his authority like a second skin, and even now, s

waited for him to acknowl

did

hiteclaw Alpha stared back-a middle-aged man whose grayi

began, that deep voice vibrating down her spine. "There is so

e silen

ed in a h

gan finally said, and for one fleeti

uld accept he

the Nightfang Pack, rejec

rced her hear

hattered. No. No, this couldn't be happening. She had expected hesitation. Denial. Maybe even avoidance.

"She is unfit to stand beside me as the Luna of my pack. I will n

ped from beneath her feet. It was

us agreement, their condem

r been stro

be thinking, pai

s a s

er wolf whimpered, curling into itself, unable to bear the pain of the rejection. The weight of the pack's scorn smot

did

dened. "Then it is settled.

crashing over her. She had lost everything. Logan turned away,

rst was ye

ear. "You have been rejected by your mate and deemed unworthy of the title of Luna. A

what would come ou

cast out from th

. She wasn't being rejected; she was being erased. Trem

len

roat c

d, "after which time you'll be considered a rogue. If you

like she w

e pack, even if they had barely ack

her, he had destroyed her.

ny sign of regret, of hesitation, of pain. But his face was blank. Co

shaking so badly she could barely pack her belongings. There wasn't much. A few clothes. Some herbs she had gathered. A single book she had mana

ya stepped over the borders of Whiteclaw. The final strand of the bond snapped at the very instant she crossed the boundary. A sharp, searing pain tor

. And yet... As she sat there, alone beneath the darkening sky

ll, had ripped her heart from her chest and left her to rot. But she would not rot. S

one

uld reg