"Once I bear the heir's pup, even the position of his bonded mate will be mine."
"Honestly, how has someone as foolish as you survived this long? The seat of Luna Shadowmere, wasted on someone like you. What a pity."
"The day I enter the pack estate as the true Luna, I'll have you kneel before me and serve me in deference as a concubine. Just the thought of it makes me smile."
She straightened up. "My lady, you still owe one more bow."
"This one is for the pup in my belly. After all, you did kick him earlier."
When I lifted my head, the passersby flinched. My hair had come loose from its pins, and the blood from my forehead was matted into the dark strands, making the sight all the worse. Somewhere beneath the copper scent of my own blood, I could barely catch my own scent anymore. The moonflower had gone faint, buried under iron and pain.
"Moon Goddess, she's bleeding. This is going too far."
"She's the heir's bonded mate, for pity's sake. If someone dies over this, there'll be hell to pay."
"Exactly. That unbonded she-wolf has some nerve."
Celeste only glanced at the guard. He pressed harder. I clenched my teeth and braced against the stone. "You wouldn't dare. I am the Alpha's..."