Vessa turned to me with a look of open disapproval.
"Miss Thornheart, I thought you were merely vain. I never imagined you'd be reckless enough to steal from the Ironveil bloodline. That's a death sentence under pack law."
"Even if I wanted to help you, there's nothing I could do."
"Why are you still wasting your breath on her? She's committed a crime this serious. I'd like to see who's going to save her now."
I clenched my teeth and pointed at the moonstone amulet. "The Alpha Prince gave this to me. If you don't believe me, we can go ask him ourselves."
Fenris let out a derisive scoff. "You think you can just demand an audience with the Alpha Prince?"
"I'll give you one last chance. Where did this amulet come from?"
My answer was the same. The Alpha Prince gave it to me.
When Fenris saw I wouldn't budge, the frost on his face deepened. "Not talking, is that it?"
"Sentinels! Drag her before the Pack Council. Let's see how long she keeps up this act."
They seized my arms and hauled me toward the council hall, stumbling and wretched. The scent of woodsmoke and iron filings and old blood rolled off the sentinels who gripped me, and my wolf curled tighter into herself, small and silent somewhere behind my ribs.
The crowd of onlookers swelled with every step.
"Isn't that the Thornheart firstborn? What's going on?"
"Word is she stole something from the Alpha Prince. War Commander Ashclaw is having her dragged before the council."
"Miss Thornheart and the War Commander grew up together. I always assumed he'd claim her the moment he returned victorious. Never thought it would come to this."
"You're telling me. Look, she's still wearing her ceremonial furs. I heard she threw away her dignity and offered to be his second mate, and he still turned her down."
Strange, pitying, contemptuous looks pressed in on me from every direction. I could feel every gaze like a physical weight against my skin, and my wolf, who should have snarled back, who should have risen in defiance, did nothing. She lay still, barely breathing. As though the part of me that was meant to fight had already given up.
Just as despair was swallowing me whole, the thunder of hooves broke through the noise.