“What are we going to do?” One of the council elders shouted, his voice cutting through thousands of other voices.

“We understand that she soiled the ground by participating, but regardless of that, she stood victorious. This is the moon goddess telling us all wolves- whether male or female decide to write their destiny,” he said, coming closer to where Draven was.

“But the bond–” he sneered, bitterness lacing in his tone. Wolves shifted uneasily in the stands, the weight of the mate bond pressing down on them. The chants became louder– they wanted her head.

“Kill her.”

“She betrayed the packs.”

“She wasn't supposed to be his mate. The moon goddess made a mistake. An abomination”

“She belongs to the White Pack.”

Liora's chest rose and fell as she took a shallow breath, her throat raw. She wanted to scream, to run, to tear free of Draven's iron grip. But his hand was locked around her wrist. His golden eyes burned down at her.

“You need to give her to us for further judgment.”

“She's mine,” he dragged her forward, pressing her against his chest.

Kaelen froze, his piercing eyes glued to her body that was tightening pressed on Draven's own.

“You were supposed to participate this year, Draven. You made a humiliation of the ritual, and you reduced her–” his eyes darkened. “ The only person you knew I ever loved.”

Draven smirked. “You were never meant for her. You knew it, and you allowed yourself to think that Liora would be yours.”

“She is mine,” Kaelen thundered. “Our marriage has been sealed since we were five. She loved me.”

“You knew this, and you were jealous of how well she relates with me, and now you are trying to bond with her. Mate bond. How true can it even be?” Kaelen questioned.

“Her body screamed my name, her wolf leaped for joy when I was around her. You weren't enough for her– she needed danger. And I have it,” Draven tilted slightly.

“You were just like your father. Cold, heartless, and never feel for your mate. You are a beast.”

“Oh, really?” He smiled, he reached for his blade, raising it enough for the light to catch the steel, and moved faster than she could think. The tip of his sword pressed against her throat, biting into her flesh just enough to draw a little blood.

Gasps erupted from the crowd, and even Liora's father, seated high above, flinched.

“Noooooooo,” the word cut through her lungs. Loud and panic burning through her veins.

Kaelen's face turned cold, his hand tightened around his own blade. “Don't you–”

Draven leaned in, his lips brushing the fresh wound. Liora's body froze, her pulse hammering. He kissed the blood, pushing Liora's head inside more, his teeth sending shivers down her spine as pleasure surges from her stomach. Her body became so weak that she held tightly to his clothes, ignoring the gasps that were coming from the crowds.

The bond screamed to life, and Liora's wolf cried out in joy, leaping towards him, tail wagging, howling with joy. The mark is sealed.

Liora's eyes filled with tears, her legs buckled, and she collapsed against his chest, her sobs breaking free.

“Why?” She choked, her fists striking against his chest. “Why would you do this?”

“You hated him,” Kaelen finally broke his silence. “Why?”

“I still do,” Liora cried out, trying to reach him, but Draven held her back, his jaw hard and his grip strong.

“Please believe me, Kaelen. I don't want this.”

“You accepted the bond,” he answered slowly. “You fucking did.”

“I didn't know what came over me. Please, I never loved him,” she screamed, but the crowd got wilder.

“Because you are mine,” Draven leaned in.

Liora's sobs deepened. She now belonged to a man she had feared since she was a child.

Draven tilted her chin up with two fingers, forcing her tear-streaming face to meet his. “Don't cry for him.” He said, his tone sharp with jealousy, “ He lost you the moment the moon goddess chose me.”

She shook her head, violently raising her voice. “No….you stole me”

“Outrageous”

“She must die.”

Her father rose to his feet, his face cold and anger all over his eyes. “Enough,” his voice carried across the arena.

The crowd fell into silence.

Her chest heaved as she turned her gaze to meet his. “Father, please,” her voice coming out as desperate.

“You have disgraced this pack, Liora. You have shamed us all. You defied tradition. You broke the bond we promised the white pack and now….” His jaw clenched. “You bind yourself to our greatest rival.”

“Father, I didn't–” her stomach twisted painfully.

“Silence”

She flinched.

The Alpha's aura rolled over the crowd, but Draven did not yield. Instead, he stepped forward with his own aura clashing with it.

“She's mine,” Draven growled. His arm snaked firmly around Liora's waist. “And if anyone dares touch her, they will answer to me.”

Gasps broke through the silence, the two Alphas' power clashed.

Her father's lips curved into a bitter smile. “Then you will answer for her, wolf. She will be imprisoned until the next moon. After that….” His gaze cut. “Her wolf would be sealed forever until her real kiss,” her father cursed.

Pain shot through her head down to the lower chest. She screamed, blood rushing through her nose and her ear buds. “No,” she pulled against Draven's hold, her face filled with her blood. “Father, please! Just listen”

“I can't hear my wolf anymore. Father, what did you do?” Her face broke

“You gave yourself to him as a whore. A disgrace to your mother and to me.”

Guards surged into the arena surrounding them.

“Take her,” Liora's father raised his hand.

Her heart shattered.

Hands gripped her arms, prying her from Draven's grasp. She thrashed, screaming, her nails clawing at the dirt as they dragged her across the arena floor.

“Father,” her voice hoarse. “You can't do this to me. I'm your only daughter.”

“You are no daughter of mine.”

“Please… he did something to me. I didn't want to–”

Her father didn't look at her.