The cellar door creaked open, letting in a shaft of light that hurt my eyes. I’d been sitting in darkness for hours, replaying the disaster in the Great Hall over and over. My mate choosing another woman. The cruel command that I remain unmarked forever.

“Aurora.”

I scrambled to my feet at the sound of Alpha Magnus’s voice. He never came down here. Never spoke to me directly unless absolutely necessary. Fear shot through me like ice water.

“Yes, Alpha,” I whispered, keeping my ...