As the healer delivered the news, attendants' voices drifted in from the corridor, dripping with envy:
"Alpha Nightfall cherishes Omega Seren so much! She just had a little scare, and he walked away from a territory alliance pact without blinking—stayed by her side the whole time. Her recovery chamber is overflowing with healing herbs and moon-blessed supplements. I just saw him hand-feeding her bone broth himself!"
"That's so sweet! This is what real devotion looks like when an Alpha has power. But wait—isn't Alpha Nightfall already mated?"
"Oh, you mean that notorious bond-breaker? She shared heat with another wolf before the ceremony. Tainted goods. Alpha Nightfall's just too honorable, letting her keep the title. As if someone like her deserves to be called his Luna."
Bond-breaker.
The word dragged me back to my mating night, when Alaric had spat it at me with the same contempt.
I'd walked into the bedchamber still wearing my ceremonial silks, words of explanation ready on my lips—and froze.
Two pale bodies tangled on our mating bed, their scents mingled in a way that made my wolf howl in agony.