My heart turned to ice within my chest.
I looked at Kael with the last shreds of hope draining away.
"Kael, are you truly going to be this cruel?"
Kael's face twisted with reluctance, but he turned away, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Just hand the token over to Mother first."
I laughed bitterly.
It tasted like ash in my mouth.
What kind of wolf had I chosen to bind myself to?
My hand trembled as I raised it, pointing toward my satchel.
"Behind our bonding portrait..."
Morwenna snatched my satchel with greedy claws. Inside lay the portrait of our small family—me, Kael, and our pup together.
She ripped the image out without hesitation and let it fall to the floor.
Just as I'd hidden it, the Moonblessing token gleamed behind the portrait.
"Finally found it!"
Vesper rushed forward immediately.
"Wait—verify the rune-marks first. Make sure she hasn't tricked us."
They examined it over and over, checking the sacred inscriptions multiple times before breaking into triumphant laughter.
"It's the real one."
I stared at them with hollow eyes.
"Can we take my mother to the healer-den now?"
Kael moved quickly to help my mother stand.
"Come, I'll drive the carriage."