“Why didn’t you like it?” Kael repeated the question, this time with urgency.

I scrambled for an excuse, and nonsense tumbled from my lips. “Because the rose was too flashy. Beautiful when it blooms, but it will wither. Useless and worthless. A powerful man like Alpha Draven chasing a girl with flowers and cute dolls... too stingy.”

“Stingy?” Kael chuckled, then slowly licked his lips and lifted my chin. “Then... is this brooch stingy too?”

I followed his gaze downward. ...