Elara's own guards administered the lashes. Not a shred of mercy. Within minutes the entire street echoed with screams. The scent of blood rose thick and coppery into the air, and my wolf threw itself against my ribs, snarling, clawing to get out.
"Your Highness, have mercy! We'll never work for the consort again!"
"Never in this lifetime! Please, mercy!"
"Elara!"
I lunged forward, half out of my mind with fury.
A maidservant caught my arm and held me back.
"Your Highness, please don't make things worse for yourself. Surely you know. The Alpha Heir has been in love with your brother since they were pups."
The air left my lungs.
I remembered asking her once whether she truly had feelings for me. That smile she gave. Saying nothing.
In that moment.
I understood.
I understood everything.
My wolf went still inside me. Not growling, not pacing. Just still. The kind of still that comes when something breaks so cleanly there's nothing left to fight.
Elara's gaze settled on me.
"You could have gone after anyone. But not him."
Her voice was ice.
"As of today, you and I are no longer mates."
Because I'd poached her beloved's wolves, she'd sentenced our bond to death.
I laughed. Bitter and hollow.