The Alpha Prince's Rejected Mate
He leads me deeper into the Ancient Heart, past the ceremonial stones used in pack rituals and toward the massive oak that stands at the very center – the First Tree, said to have been planted by the Moon Goddess herself when she blessed our kingdom with her favor.
But as we approach, something feels wrong. The energy that usually emanates from the tree – warm, protective, life-affirming – is different now. Colder. Discordant.
Noah stops abruptly, pointing to the base of the ancient oak. "Look."
I step forward, my bare feet silent on the moss-covered ground. What I see makes my stomach churn.