"The heir gave orders. No one, not even his bonded mate, is to mistreat his chosen companion. Forgive the offense."
He moved to seize me. My wolf went still inside my chest, not with fear but with something colder. Something that tasted like warning.
Rosalind threw herself in front of me. "You wouldn't dare! Do you have any idea who my Luna is?"
The warrior shoved Rosalind aside. "Doesn't matter who she is. She's wronged the heir's companion, and she'll kneel and apologize for it."
Nana Ashwick clutched her swollen, reddened cheek and screeched, "Warrior! This vicious she-wolf can't bear pups yet still clings to the position of Luna, tormenting our mistress!"
"Once the mistress delivers the heir's firstborn son, she'll surely be elevated to honored mate or equal Luna. Then it's the mistress who'll be the true lady of the pack!"
"A barren she-wolf like her should be thrown out of the estate. Go on, hit her! The mistress will answer for it."
Celeste spoke in that soft, fragile voice of hers. "My Luna, even someone as high and mighty as you must own up to her wrongs. Just apologize to Nana, and we can put this behind us."