“Fine,” I said through clenched teeth. “If you refuse to hear the truth, then let the enforcers handle it. We’ll see who’s truly filthy here—you, with your lies, or me, with the sins you invented.”
“The enforcers?” He stepped closer, eyes glinting with disdain. “You still think you have any leverage left?”
He sneered. “You might not care about your name, but I care about mine.”
Then his voice dropped, cruel and final. “Thank the moon we were never bonded. If you had become my mate, you would’ve been the greatest stain on my life.”
My gaze fell to the shattered communicator at my feet—and something inside me finally snapped.
“After everything you’ve done,” I said coldly, “you can forget about your ascension tomorrow, Alaric.”
The clearing erupted in laughter.
“Have you lost your mind?” Lilith clutched her stomach, laughing so hard she nearly doubled over.
Alaric shook his head, smirking. “Do you hear yourself? Who do you think you are? You honestly believe you have the power to stop our pack from rising?”
His eyes glittered with mockery. “What, do you think you’re some kind of Queen Wolf of the Elite Circles? That one word from you could bring my ascension ceremony crashing down?”