She looked like a tragic heroine, eyes glassy, lower lip trembling. She even bared the side of her neck in a show of submission so practiced it could have been rehearsed.
Alaric's face twisted with anger. His voice was low and sharp when he turned to me.
"You've crossed the line, Selene," he said coldly. "Apologize to Ravenna."
The sound of it shocked even me. I laughed. Bitterly.
"You want me to apologize?" I said, my voice hoarse. "Alaric, do you know what this is?"
I shoved the silver-sickness report into his chest, my hands shaking. My throat tightened with emotion.
He didn't even look at it.
He tore the paper in half and glared at me like I was the problem.
"I don't care what that says! All I know is you've gone too far. Moon Goddess, you're carrying a pup, Selene! How could you be cruel to another she-wolf?"
Tears finally slipped down my cheeks, hot and silent. My whole body trembled, not from pain, but from sheer fury. My wolf trembled with me, pressing against the inside of my ribs, and I could feel her grief tangled so tightly with my own that I couldn't tell where mine ended and hers began.
Alaric saw me crying and for a moment, his expression softened. His tone shifted to something gentler.
"Alright… can you just apologize? I know I haven't been giving you attention these past few moon cycles. But I promise I'll make it up to you once the pup is born."
Then, without a trace of shame, he pushed me toward Ravenna.
She looked back at me, eyes glinting with smug triumph.
I looked hard at Alaric, wondering how the man who once swore he loved me could change so drastically the moment Ravenna came back. Had he forgotten every promise he made the day we stood before the Moon Goddess and sealed our bond? The place on my neck where his claiming mark still sat burned faintly, as though even it knew something was wrong.
I drew in a long, steadying breath.
"No," I said quietly. "I won't apologize. And Alaric… you've truly disappointed me."
Then I turned and walked away.
As I walked away, Alaric's face darkened. For a brief moment, panic flashed through his eyes. He started to take a step toward me, but then Ravenna clutched her stomach and groaned.
"Alaric, it hurts," she gasped, then forced out a teary plea. "But Selene's more important. Go after her."