"Tomorrow marks the new cycle. I've spent every Turning Night here for years, as your bonded mate. You're really casting me out now?"
Raven's face went pale. She let out a soft whimper, clutching her stomach where she claimed to carry a pup.
"I don't feel well," she murmured, her voice thin and pitiful. "Something's wrong with the pup."
My in-laws rushed to her side, faces creased with worry. Rowena's hand went to Raven's back, steadying her.
"What's wrong? Where does it hurt?"
"My stomach... I feel awful. I'm scared for the pup."
As she spoke, her frightened gaze fixed on me, her voice quivering. The performance was flawless.
My mother-in-law abandoned all pretense. She turned and murmured something to Ronan, her words too low for even my sharp hearing.
He strode toward me, hostility radiating off him in waves. His Alpha dominance pressed against me, trying to force submission.
"Leave. There's nothing for you here. You're just making everyone miserable. Your presence is stressing the pup-bearer."
I froze. He was actually throwing me out of the pack den.
My throat burned. I tilted my head back and laughed, refusing to bare my neck. "And if I don't?"