"The Denmaster obviously extended this honor because of my mate Darius's standing. What right do you have to play the gracious host? You are thanking him as though any of this has anything to do with you!"
She shoved past me and strode up to Garrick, her chin lifted with entitled pride.
"I will thank Denmaster Ronan on behalf of my mate. Consider this toast my gesture of respect."
"Once Darius finishes his current affairs, we will personally visit the Denmaster to express our appreciation properly."
Selene raised her goblet and drained it in one smooth motion.
As the last drop passed her lips, a strange expression began to spread across Garrick Pineward's face—something between confusion and barely suppressed disbelief.
He opened his mouth to say something, but a single sharp look from me silenced him immediately.
I reached for my coat draped over the chair back and turned to face the gathered wolves.
"I have other matters to attend to. Enjoy the rest of your evening."
"Oh, and Marek—in the future, don't bother inviting me to gatherings of this caliber."
I truly couldn't stomach another moment in this place.
Selene Frostveil's insufferable posturing made my wolf snarl with disgust beneath my skin.
But I had no interest in exposing her lies.
The social debt and face from this meal—I'd consider it my final gift to her.
Yet as I passed by her seat, she suddenly seized my arm.
"Kael Nightcrest, aren't you forgetting something?"
"What would that be?"
"Settling your own portion of the bill."
I tilted my head, certain my ears had deceived me.
"Selene, has your mind gone completely feral?"
"The Lodge Marshal clearly stated tonight's expenses were waived. What exactly am I supposed to pay?"
Selene let out a cold, mocking laugh, her eyes dripping with contempt.
"The waiver exists because my mate commands respect across territories. What does that have to do with you?"
"Since this gathering was hosted under my name, I decide who benefits from my generosity."
She strode to the entrance and ripped the itemized ledger from its hook.
"Tonight's total comes to eight hundred thousand in pack credits. Split among twenty former packmates, that's forty thousand each."
"I've covered everyone's share—except yours."
"Forty thousand. Will you pay in trade goods or have it drawn from your personal stores?"
Garrick Pineward stepped forward quickly, attempting to interject.