Mate's Vengeance
"You're new here. Two weeks, is that right?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"And in those two weeks, you've decided to involve yourself in matters that are well above your station." Celeste stopped directly in front of her, forcing Sera to look up. "This garden belonged to the Alpha's first mate. It's deeply personal, deeply painful. What makes you think you have any right to touch it?"
It was a test, Sera realized. Celeste was trying to gauge her intentions, her threat level.
"I didn't think of it that way," Sera said, carefully injecting uncertainty into her voice. "I just saw something dying that could be saved. I'm sorry if I overstepped. I'll stop immediately if that's what you want."