The Mate He Rejected
Caomh demanded, his voice suddenly tight with panic.
I didn't answer him. I threw the jacket onto the floor. It landed right in the puddle of spilled rosehip tea, the dark, sweet liquid soaking rapidly into the silver crest, staining it brown.
Loud gasps echoed all around me. Disrespecting the pack colors was a massive, unforgivable offense.
"I, Meghann Clemmie Nelson," I said, my voice ringing clear and strong over the crowd, "accept your rejection."
Caomh flinched violently as the finality of the words settled over us, completing the ritual.