C5

"Where are we?"

I asked the question the second I woke up on the dark velvet cushions of the private lounge inside the Winterfang Ancestral Keep.

The warrior assigned to watch my door bowed stiffly, his armor clanking against the stone floor. "Lord Evander is inspecting the perimeter defenses, Lady Maristella. He brought you here while you slept and ordered us to let you rest."

I rubbed my tired eyes, the heavy exhaustion of the past three years still dragging at my bones. I wanted to pack my belongings and retreat to the quiet southern cottage I had purchased with my own secret inheritance during my first year of matehood.

Before I let my parents know I had shattered my bond, I needed to take control of my family's merchant trade routes in the Frostfang Capital.

I had played the meek, submissive female for far too long, letting Alaric Thorncroft grind my true worth into dust.

"You," I pointed a finger at the guard. "What is your designation?"

The warrior blinked in surprise. "My name is Hadrian Stormclaw, My Lady."

I looked him over from his heavy boots to his broad shoulders, nodding slowly in approval. "You move silently and you keep your eyes down. You are my personal pack guard from now on."

Hadrian’s dark skin flushed a bright red under his collar, his hands freezing on his sword hilt. "My Lady... I serve the Alpha of the Keep. I cannot simply—"

"You serve me now, Hadrian," I interrupted, standing up and smoothing down my heavy velvet skirts. "Consider this your promotion. Now, fetch my outer cloak."

He stammered for a moment, bowing deeply before rushing off to follow my command.

I smirked, stepping out of the secured chambers into the sunlit courtyards of the Silverhoof Trail by Moonlake, where my brother had set up his temporary camp. The air here smelled of pine and sharp mountain wind, entirely free of the suffocating, artificial sweetness of the Thorncroft Alpha Manor.

As I walked along the edge of the riding grounds, I noticed hundreds of elite pack lords and nobles gathered around the fenced enclosures.

I stopped a passing council artisan, lifting my chin. "What brings this crowd to the stables today?"

The artisan sneered, her eyes sweeping over my full-figured, short frame with obvious judgment. "The most powerful Alpha of the eastern territories is rumored to be inspecting bloodlines here today, my Lady. Every noble house wants a treaty."

I gave a dry, mocking laugh and dismissed her with a wave of my hand, walking straight toward the central stables.

"I need a mount," I told the stable master, dropping a heavy silver coin onto his desk.

The master looked up, shaking his head. "Every beast is reserved for the visiting Alpha's entourage, Madam. You will have to wait for the next moon."

Before I could demand he find me a horse anyway, a shrill, familiar voice cut through the air.

"Maristella?" Ysoria Blackbriar cried out, limping forward on her bandaged foot.

I turned slowly, my gaze locking onto Ysoria, who was leaning heavily against Alaric Thorncroft’s muscular arm. Behind them, Fenric Hollowmere trailed like a obedient dog.

Alaric stopped dead in his tracks, his dark eyes widening behind his clear-lens glasses as he stared at me standing among the northern nobles.

"Maristella?" Alaric barked, his voice dropping into an aggressive, possessive alpha register. "What are you doing here? Did you follow my scent across the capital?"

I crossed my arms over my chest, letting out a sharp, humorless scoff.

"Do not flatter yourself, Alaric," I said, my voice dripping with absolute disgust. "I would rather choke on swamp-water than follow a cheating cur."

Alaric’s jaw tightened so hard I could hear his teeth grind. He stepped forward, his five-foot-eight muscular frame radiating dangerous, suffocating heat.

"You went too far with this little stunt," Alaric growled, reaching out to grab my wrist. "Get back to the Alpha Manor before I lose my temper."

Ysoria pressed her hand against Alaric’s chest, fluttering her eyelashes. "Please don't cause a public scene, Lord Thorncroft. Lady Maristella is probably just upset because she isn't used to high-society events."

"Shut your mouth, Ysoria," I snapped, stepping directly into her space. "This doesn't concern a lower mistress."

Ysoria gasped, shrinking back against Alaric with a pathetic whimper.

"Do not speak to her like that!" Alaric roared, his fingers clamping down around my arm with bruising force.

I didn't flinch. I twisted my arm violently, breaking his grip and shoving him back a full step.

"Don't you ever touch me again," I hissed, my dark eyes flashing with unadulterated hatred.

The entire stable yard went dead silent. Nobles and guards stared in sheer disbelief as an Omega openly defied one of the most powerful Alphas in the territory.

Before Alaric could lunge forward and drag me away, a cold, heavy voice cut through the tension from behind us.

"Is this a pack brawl, or are the Thorncrofts simply incapable of controlling their females?"

Alaric whipped around, his furious expression freezing instantly as his eyes landed on the tall, silver-haired Alpha stepping out from the shadow of the stables.

Cassiel Ravenscar stood there, his ice-blue eyes sweeping past Alaric with absolute boredom, locking directly onto mine with a sharp, calculating glint.