"Did you hear? The Elder Councilor's trueborn daughter petitioned the Supreme Alpha himself to get a Blood Circlet for the young Alpha heir. Traded three generations of warrior bloodline honors for it!"
"Well, he is the heir to the Stormfang Pack. He deserves that kind of ceremony."
"They're a perfect match in bloodline standing. What a striking pair they'll make."
The Blood Circlet they spoke of had been my favorite in the stronghold. I simply hadn't reached the age to take a mate, so my father never bestowed it upon me.
On my own mating night with Seraphina, all I had worn was a wreath of moonflowers she'd woven by hand.
She had said, "My Fenris deserves the finest things in the world. Even an Alpha Heir's Blood Circlet wouldn't be too good for you."
And now she had traded her family's honors to give that very circlet to Caspian Stormfang.
That evening, Seraphina brought a whole box of the pastries I loved.
She sat across from me, her expression calm. "Eat something. You haven't had a bite all day."
I picked up a piece and ate it slowly, in small bites.
But watching her act as though nothing had happened filled my chest with a bitterness I couldn't swallow.
"When did it happen?"