My entire being felt hollow, as if my wolf had been ripped from my soul. I slumped back against the chair, drowning in despair.
They tore away Mara's outer dress while laughing and raising their middle fingers at me in crude challenge.
"Kael Nightthorne, you're more pathetic than a mangy cur."
"You have nothing left to wager with, and your mother has only one piece of clothing remaining. What will you do now?"
Darian Frostveil rose to his feet with a triumphant grin, practically dancing with savage glee.
The other males reached through the cage bars, their hands roaming over my foster-dam's exposed skin.
"Stop it! Stop this immediately!"
"Please, no! Son, save me!"
"Please..."
Her desperate pleas, my furious roars—none of it moved Selene Frostveil to show even a shred of mercy.
"The final round is about to begin!"
"Kael Nightthorne, if you have nothing left to stake against us, then we'll simply declare that your mother will be—"
"Who says I have nothing left? I'll wager my life against you all."
"Darian Frostveil, do you dare stake your remaining hand and your other leg against me?"
The moment those words left my mouth, the entire sea-den erupted in wild excitement.