a P
Ancestral Hall was
tion Ritual was the most i
er and elder of the Wh
in a moon-white gown, the c
t in a wheelchair, still pale b
crowd like venomous butterflies, whispering poison about me, suggesting
posturing as the "
, whispering earnestly, no doubt
tual b
son White, gave a brie
r took his plac
confirmation of the pack's young member
ard. "Elder Edgar, before w
the hall tu
ite Pack. Miss White has been... unwell. Her actions have been erratic. I fear her bloodline has been tainted,
ur rippled thr
miliating procedure, reserved for t
lashed across Elois'
their c
ge, trying to rise from he
alming hand
irt, my face
n't a
n't d
urned to t
ack Codex, does a person nominated for a Purity Inspection
ough the book in his hands. "Ah... yes. The Codex does state tha
llenge is this: you and the woman you claim as your fated mate will stand b
ations whenever a claim of divine mating w
ened its clear,
d, exposing any mark fashioned or falsel
ace went
in the crowd, looked lik
Pack recognize her and grant her status on the strength of this supposed bo
A man who lacks the courage to place his own claim beneath the Goddess
's expressi
e, but with the Codex open before the entire pac
nial staff and struck it on
vantes, step beneath the Moonstone Lamp and present your Mate Marks for inspe
ne m
d, revealing Candida
s though she could conceal the
pered, her voice t
orked sou
ad worn into the ha
lders, then to the pack members whose symp
clenched teeth. "I will not allow my mate to be public
ecame utte
of a lawful Honor Challenge will be e
gh the assembly again
onger expressi
re judg
Kirt Bradford accused White Pack's first heir without evidence, refused to submit his own claim to
rt's face, then drai
red her head
e an innocent woman caug
lice who had just been as
a White is denied. The accusation will be struck from the record. Kirt Bradford's forf
of his staff sea
oulders w
oping to stain my bloodli
wn credibility on the offici
hemselves, their gazes on him now f
him warmly earlier turned awa
Mama, the medicine Elois gives you is poison. A slow-acting curse. Your ri
body wen
th a dawning, horri
oying "concern," of the strange taste o
all at Elois, who was s
as a predat
d pain, doubt, and ang
her eyes were bright wi
ered Kirt, she slipped the simple, unassuming ri
gnet, a direct line t
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