"She knows the Alpha King's decree protects her from being cast aside, so she acts without fear."

Celeste straightened up, trembling, and looked at me through her tears. "I know my station is lowly. I came specifically to beg my Luna's mercy. I never imagined she would try to end my life."

"The heir told me that while he was away from the territory, no matter what I had to do, I was to protect myself at all costs. Even if it meant overstepping."

"Since that's how it is, my Luna, don't blame me."

Celeste rose to her feet with Nana Ashwick's help and shouted, "Guards!"

Several armed pack warriors emerged from behind her, their eyes hard and their stances wide. Celeste pointed at me. "Bind her. I want to see whether the heir, once he learns his own bonded mate tried to murder his pup, will sever the bond or not."

I jabbed a finger at my own nose. "Sever the bond with me? Does the heir have the nerve? Tell him to try."

The lead warrior approached with a stony face. "My Luna, why must you bully a helpless she-wolf?"

"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."

I let out a cold laugh. "Apologize to her? You think either of you are worthy of that?"

Celeste sighed. "If that's how you want it, I can't help you." She shot Nana Ashwick a look. The old woman lunged forward and struck me hard across the face.