a P
is face a thunderous mask of hum
. A misunderstanding. The ritual will continue. Next, will
o had coasted through life on my father's name. He swaggered forward, a
is shoulder into mine. He leaned in, his v
sister'? You're cursed. Everyone knows
her children years ago, that my bloodline carried a taint that weakened any Alpha I was paire
hat lie had follow
n my veins t
ndant. It held goblets of warmed, spiced wine for the ritual.
smirk widened. He turned his bac
his final
motion, I s
let shattered a
ed wine, heated for the ceremony, soaked through his fine silk
into the air, howli
lence. To commit an act of violence du
and ran to her son. "Esley! My baby! Alea Whi
ard had sliced my palm open, and blood drippe
mbling, bloody
were brave enough to whisper it in my ear. Be brave enough to say it before the Elder
ll wen
ted with pain and
with me is doomed. That is not an insult against one woman. Tha
the crowd. The shift wa
and Clara Coleman White. If I am cursed by birth, then you are claiming the White line is tainted. You are claiming the Coleman
ace changed. So
nder Pack law, a charge against the ruling bloodline must be sup
opened, but no
e Elder who recorded it. Name the sacred test that proved it. Or adm
face we
y. "This is absurd! He is hurt. He d
r me," I said coldly. "He can
s and still kept your betrothal when my mother's estates, my dowry, and White Pack influence benefi
jaw c
ars losing access to power and calls the woman he cannot contro
the faces around me: not blind agree
front murmured, "There was nev
but audible, "I only ever he
d my cousin the same thing last winter. S
vague gossip, but names, source
shifting. The po
ms, was still screaming. "Mother!
son united in their vileness, a
my blee
e of Pack law. "You have insulted the main bloodline of the White Pack.
oed in the c
ou are no longer kin to m
f Elois Mercado. You have no claim,
. In the middle of the Lineage Ritual, before the Elders and the
red at me, their fa
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