Rejected then Claimed by the Alpha
“The last time I lost everything was because I listened to men like you.”
That hit its mark. Marren’s eyes flickered, Alric’s shoulders stiffened, but neither answered quickly. For the first time, they weren’t holding the ground as firmly as they thought.
Finally, Alric spoke again, voice hard enough to scrape stone. “So this is your answer. You will defy the council. You will defy the blood of your own line. You will throw away your crown for her.”
“Yes,” I said. Not loud, not shouted, but firm. Iron in a single word.