Alaric’s reaction was laughter, sharp and mocking, as though I had just made the world’s most absurd joke.
“Regret?” he barked. “The only thing I’ll regret is ever meeting a faithless she-wolf like you!”
He extended his hand toward Lilith. The two exchanged a triumphant smile and strode together to the center of the clearing.
It was only then that I noticed—their matching ceremonial attire, a designer set of dark tailored leathers and a flowing gown of deep crimson. He raised their joined hands high, his voice loud and commanding over the gathered pack.
“Tomorrow marks the most crucial day in the history of our territory—our ascension! None of this would have been possible without the effort of every wolf here. Together, we shall continue to rise to greatness!”
The pack erupted in cheers, the forest shaking with howls of approval and thunderous applause.
The endless flattery of Alaric and Lilith, hailed as the perfect golden pair of the pack, rang sharply in my ears. Alaric’s eyes swept over me, indifferent, as though I were nothing more than a shadow passing through the clearing. I felt utterly invisible, a ghost among wolves.