Hoofbeats cut through the air. A column of riders reined to a halt before us, the scent of road dust and distant pine rolling ahead of them. "What is going on here?"
I looked up. Ferris Shadowmere sat high in the saddle, surveying the scene, his traveling cloak still powdered with the grit of the northern roads. He had only just returned to the capital. The dry cedar bark and copper of his scent hit me before his gaze did, and my wolf went very still.
The instant Celeste saw him, she threw herself forward. Ferris swung down from his horse and caught her. "Celeste. What are you doing out here?"
Celeste crumpled against him, tears streaming down her face like rain on pear blossoms. "My lord, your bonded mate tried to beat our pup to death."
"She kicked me in the stomach too. It hurts so badly now. You have to stand up for me and our child." Celeste clutched at Ferris, her voice pitched to carry across the gathered wolves.