na'

not after last night. My neck still throbbed where Andrew had marked me, the skin hot and tender under the collar of my shirt. I'd spent the

sy from running over. She grabbed my arm, her fingers digging in a little too ha

you everything about the forest, the kiss, the mark. Y

me. "I know, and I will. But hiding? That's not nice. Plus, everyone's talking about this

rest, I'd broken down and spilled it all to her, about the pull, the bite, Andrew's words claiming me as his mate. She'd hug

shirt higher to cover the mar

around, their voices buzzing as they spoke to themselves. I caught snippets of it as we walked through

utiful eyes and body shape, flipping her hair. "I mean, Al

nows it's Selene Blackthorn. She's from that allied pack, with a str

rything I wasn't, high status, confident, the daughter of an Alpha. And yeah, she'd been there before me, kissing and having him without anyone's permission. The tho

ot near the back. "Ignore them," she wh

ss like always. Andrew's mother was behind them, her graying hair pulled back, her expression proud too. And there was Selene, standing way too

silent, heads turning, bodies stilling as their eyes were all on him. His steel-grey eyes swept over

alled you. There's been talk, pressure from elders, from allies, even from within our own ranks. As Alpha, I've led this pack through th

ned up, like his words were a spotlight just for her. She gl

ve heard the rumors. The speculations

ed me against the tree, his breath hot on my neck, the sharp pain of his bite, the fierce kiss that had left me breathless. "Y

llow weakness beside me as Luna. This pack deserves streng

dding in agreement. "That's right," someone

s gaze was piercing, unblinking, and my skin prickled uncontrollably. "The Moon Goddess must have made a mistake mating me to a low class

m parts of the crowd, whispers slicing through the air. "She really

her snickered. "

r face in fury. "Elena, no..." she says the m

rk on my neck burned fiercer than before, a throbbing reminder of his clai

my hand free and ran, pushing through the crowd, our elbows jabbing

king hands. The space was tiny, just a bed, a rickety table, and that little mirror on

knew he would reject me i

door, followed by banging fists. "Please, talk to

ther by sheer will. More tears streamed down my face. How could he

ow you're hurting. Let me in. We can figur

still replay the whispers from the courtyard echoing in my head, their laughter, Sel

ck. Clara eventually gave up, her footsteps f

ft. By the voice , I realised it wasn't

alled. "It's Elder Rowa

skipping. Elder Rowa

ally cared about me. He's a widower and an orpha

lled it open. He was there, glarin

me to call him that. Always reminding me to see him as a fa

as he wiped my tears with the back of his palm. "I saw wh