Raven melted against his broad chest, pointing at me through theatrical sobs that filled the air with the sharp scent of false distress. "My love, she said the nesting grounds you gave me are hers. She even tried to steal the moon-gold you had crafted for me!"
"Who... who is she?"
Kael glanced at me, his expression flat and cold as winter stone. "I told you before. There's a rogue omega at the pack hall who won't stop throwing herself at me. That's her."
"I'll handle this nuisance. Don't worry your pretty head about it."
The crowd's murmuring shifted. Understanding dawned on their faces—followed by open contempt. They looked at me and laughed, their scorn washing over me in waves.
"Oh, so she's the delusional rogue. I was wondering why any wolf would stray with someone plainer than his bonded mate."
"Trying to seduce someone's mate and then destroying his mate's claimed territory? What's wrong with this she-wolf?"
"Why are you so obsessed with another wolf's belongings? Howling about it won't make them yours."
I laughed—a hollow, disbelieving sound that scraped from my throat.
I looked straight at Kael, each word precise and clear. "Kael. That moon-gold has my pup Seren's initials engraved on it. You commissioned the work yourself from the pack smith. What exactly are you trying to claim?"
His jaw tightened, a muscle jumping beneath his skin. "Who told you that?"
"The initials are obviously my mate's and my surnames. S and L."
What?
My mind went blank. S and L? For... their names?
But Kael had told me himself—our pup would be called Seren, Seren of the Ashvale line, because she was the living proof of our sacred bond.
Which meant...
When my daughter was born, they were already together.
The cruelest irony of all? Even our pup's name was a monument to their betrayal.
I drew a slow breath, letting the cold air fill my lungs as I pulled the true territory claim seals from my satchel and pressed them hard against his chest. "Kael Ashvale. Luna's nesting grants are not pack-shared assets—I'm telling you for the last time: get your she-wolf out of my claimed grounds."
"And return every piece of my daughter's moon-gold. All of it."
Kael hadn't expected this. He'd assumed I'd swallowed his lies like a submissive omega should—never imagined I'd show up armed with proof of my bloodline's authority.