Fenris stood speechless, unease flickering in his eyes. He took an involuntary half-step back, his retort forced and lacking its earlier conviction: "I... of course I claimed you because I wanted you as my mate! If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have given Selene the time of day!"
He paused, as though struck by an idea for how to make amends. His tone softened slightly, though it still carried an air of Alpha condescension: "I know you've been wronged. I've already contacted the Pack Enforcers to have your claim withdrawn—it's handled. Just focus on recovering. Once you're better, I'll give you a grand mating ceremony. Consider it my way of making it up to you."
As he spoke, his chin lifted slightly, his eyes gleaming with self-satisfaction—as though this ceremony were some magnificent gift, enough to erase all his betrayals and cruelties, enough to make her weep with gratitude and bare her throat in submission.
Lyra looked at him, and her stomach turned. The last fragile thread connecting her to their intended bond snapped and crumbled to ash.
Once, he'd trailed after her everywhere, eyes bright with adoration, promising to complete their mating bond the moment they came of age. He'd sworn to give her the grandest ceremony in the territory, to make every pack celebrate their union. Back then, his voice had been reverent, sincere. He'd memorized her favorite moonflowers, the style of ceremonial dress she wanted, planned every detail with breathless excitement—as though binding himself to her would be the greatest fortune of his life.
And now, this ceremony he'd once begged to give her had become a consolation prize. A way to dismiss her. A favor tossed to an Omega who should be grateful for any scraps of his attention.
For days, Fenris hadn't set foot in the healing wing.
Lyra couldn't have cared less. She welcomed the quiet. Each day the pack healers changed her bandages, let her wounds knit together under careful poultices, and she counted down to her release—just two more weeks, and she'd cross the borders into foreign territory, leaving this pack of betrayal and pain behind forever.
But on the morning she was set to leave, the door to her recovery chamber swung open, and an unwelcome visitor walked in.
Selene.