My eyes burned red. My body wouldn't stop shaking. "And what about me? You don't owe me anything? You don't owe this pup anything?"
Caelan reached out and brushed the tears from my cheek, his eyes full of tenderness.
"Seraphina, listen. I'm only taking a mate. I'm not abandoning you."
"There's a walled estate on the outskirts of the territory. I've already secured it. If you like the quiet life, I'll have someone plant moonflower bushes and herb gardens in the grounds for you. Whatever you want, I'll make it happen. Trust me."
I stepped back, shaking my head over and over.
"I won't be locked away in some back den as your mistress. I won't let my pup and me live in the shadows for the rest of our lives."
But Caelan simply walked toward me, his expression unchanged, his tone calm. His scent rolled ahead of him, charred oak and bitter iron, and for the first time it didn't smell like home. Something underneath it had gone sour.
"I've never thought of you as a mistress. As long as you don't make trouble in front of the lady of the pack house, you'll still be my mate there. Isn't that enough?"
I kept shaking my head. "No. I'm not going anywhere. I'm staying right here."