She faltered, a flicker of guilt crossing her weathered face, but she lifted her chin with false pride. "That's right. Now leave—unless you'd rather be dragged out by the enforcers."
Kael stepped closer, his dominant scent pressing against me as he lowered his voice to a threatening growl. "Lyra. I told you through the pack-link to stay out of this."
"Raven gave the Ashvale bloodline a son. My mother is overjoyed at the prospect of a male heir—if you make a scene and she suffers a moon-sickness collapse, that burden falls on you."
"Return to the den quietly, and you can still carry the title of Ashvale Luna. Officially."
I used to love the way his scent wrapped around me—cedar and wild rain. Now it made my wolf recoil in disgust.
A small voice cut through the gathered pack members: "Mommy!"
Every nerve in my body went taut. My wolf surged to the surface as I spun around.
Seren stood at the edge of the onlookers in her pup-school uniform, her little pack-satchel bouncing as Rowan guided her through the gawking wolves.
"Mommy, why are you on the ground?" Her keen young eyes found the blood on my knee, and tears spilled instantly down her round cheeks. "Mommy, you're hurt!"