"My lady, regarding tonight's accounting—"
I raised a hand and gently pulled Garrick behind me, then leaned closer to Selene.
"You've decided to make an enemy of me tonight, haven't you?"
Selene nodded without hesitation, her words cutting like fangs.
"Absolutely."
"I actually considered honoring our past connection by letting you experience a taste of how the upper ranks feast. But you've proven yourself incapable of accepting such grace."
"Since that's how it is, I'll teach you a lesson tonight—help you understand exactly what kind of creature you truly are."
Her words didn't anger me. Instead, I found myself laughing.
"My apologies, but unlike you, I know precisely where I stand in the hierarchy. You're the one who's lost all sense of her own rank."
The moment those words left my lips, the wolves around the table erupted into hostile murmurs.
"Kael Nightcrest, you've really become addicted to this delusion of grandeur. Looking down on Selene? If you had any real standing, would she have cast you aside like dead weight?"
"Exactly. Her mate is an Alpha whose territory holdings are worth hundreds of millions. If you scraped together everything you own, would it even amount to the scraps from his ledgers?"
"He's nothing but a fool living in fantasy. If he actually tries to pay, nobody lend him a single coin!"
I ran my tongue across my teeth and swept my gaze across every face in the room.
"What fascinating observations. But I don't just look down on Selene Frostveil—I look down on all of you."
"Because everyone seated here is nothing but refuse."
I've never been one for excessive socializing, but I understand basic pack courtesy.
From the moment I sat down until now, these so-called former packmates hadn't exchanged a single word about genuine bonds or shared history. They'd spent the entire evening groveling and fawning over Selene.
Why should I preserve the dignity of wolves this desperate to lick boots?
My declaration instantly made me the target of every hostile glare in the room.
Marek Hollowmere shot to his feet in fury, slamming his palm against the table with a thunderous crack.
"Kael Nightcrest, someone like you doesn't deserve to share a meal with us. Pay your debt and get out!"
Selene watched the chorus of mockery grow louder, her smile deepening with satisfaction.