Rosalind clutched her injured chest and tried to lunge forward, but Celeste's wolves pinned her down. "Shut your mouth. A low-ranked she-wolf has no business running it in front of our lady."
Celeste's voice drifted down from above me, soft as silk. "My lady, all you need to do is apologize. I won't hold it against you."
"Or is it that you look down on me? That you think I'm some shameful unbonded mate not fit to be seen?"
The guard roared. "I'll count to three. If you haven't bowed your head to the ground by then, I won't be gentle about it."
I kept my chin raised. He counted, loud enough for every wolf on the street to hear. "One. Two. Three."
Then he brought the pommel of his blade down hard against the back of my skull. My forehead slammed into the stone pavement with a sickening crack.
Blood ran down from my hairline. Rosalind screamed, sobbing. "My Luna! Have you all lost your minds? Our mistress isn't the heir's bonded mate! You have the wrong person!"
Celeste laughed. "Oh? Now you won't even claim your own title?"
"My lady, it's only a couple of bows. Surely you're not frightened?" Her voice dropped low. "You were so proud of yourself just a moment ago."