Freya’s POV
+8 Pearls
The mockery in my eyes must have struck deep, because Caelum’s throat worked as though he’d swallowed stones. Whatever excuse he’d been about to utter lodged there, unsaid.
Lana’s voice cut in like a whip crack. “Caelum Grafton, your dam and your litter–sister just tried to drag your bonded into a trap, and you want to call it a misunderstanding? If she didn’t have the training she does, do you even grasp what would have happened to her?”
Color red in his cheeks–Alpha or not, her wordsnded like ws.
The door swung open again, this time admitting the enforcers.
Fear rolled off Giselle in choking waves; her wolf was practically cowering under her skin. “I don’t want to go to the station. I don’t want to–Brother, help me! I can’t go to prison!”
Eleanor’s face finally lost its imperious cast, reced by dawning fear. She clutched at Caelum’s arm. “Son, don’t let them take me and Giselle<b>!</b>”
He looked at me then, his expression taut. “Freya… my mother’s getting on in years, and Giselle’s still young. Maybe we
could…”
Lana snorted. “Young? Your sister’s well past her first shift. And your dam didn’t look fragile when she was trying to rake Freya’s face off.”
Caelum ignored her and kept his gaze on me. “This is a Silverfang matter. A family matter. What do you say?”
Family. The word hit like ice water down my spine. My heart sank lower with each beat.
What was I expecting? That after seeing with his own eyes what happened in that room, he’d stand beside me for once? That he’d dernand justice for me?
Foolish. The only thing I’d been given tonight was yet another disappointment.
“You’ve never once treated me like family,” <b>I </b>said, voice t. “So how does this count <b>as </b>a family matter?”
<b>“</b><b>You’re </b>my mate. How could we not treat <b>you </b>as family?” he shot back.
<b>“</b><b>Mate</b>?” A humorlessugh <b>escaped </b>me. “Caelum, if it were Aurora in my ce tonight, would you still be saying that?<b>” </b>
He <b>froze</b>.
Aurora stepped forward, calm and polished <b>as </b><b>ever</b>. <b>“</b><b>If </b>it were me<b>, </b><b>I </b>wouldn’t make things difficult for Caelum. Freya, you haven’t suffered any real harm–why be so relentless<b>?</b><b>” </b>
I smiled, sharp and cold. “Then I hope if <b>this </b><b>ever </b>happens to you, you’ll keep your word.”
Her wolf bristled. “You+”
“Enough,” one of the enforcers barked. “You <b>can </b><b>all </b><b>speak </b><b>at </b>the station.”
The two males who’d been groaning on the carpet <b>were </b>hauled out Eleanor and Giselle were next.
The glint of silver cuffs must have pushed Giselle over the edge, because <b>she </b>thrashed harder, voice breaking. “I’m innocent -it wasn’t met <b>wasn’t </b>me!”
When Caelum didn’t lift a linger to stop them, she spun and seized Aurora’s sleeve. <b>“</b>Aurora, help me! <b>Mother </b>and <b>I </b>were doing this for you! And you knew about it-”
That hit like a thunderp. Caelum stared at her, stunned. “Aurora… you-”
Aurora’sposure cracked. “I… what? How could this be about me? <b>I </b>knew nothing!”
12:49 PM P P ?
+8 Pearls
“You did! You said if the money didn’t go to Freya, it could go elsewhere. Otherwise, why would Mother and I act?” Giselle shouted.
The two of them turned on each other like rival she<b>–</b>wolves, slinging filth back and forth.
“Didn’t you say you wouldn’t put Caelum in a hard position?” Lana’s voice dripped venom. “Why not admit what you did now, and spare your lover the trouble?”
Aurora’s cheeks med; the words hit her like open–handed ps.
<b>“</b>Caelum, believe me–it has nothing to do with me!” she pleaded.
“How can you just wash your hands of it?” Eleanor spat. “If it wasn’t to clear the way for you to mate with Caelum, we’d never have done this!”
Caelum’s temples throbbed visibly.
“Take them all,” the enforcer captain said, tired of the pack drama. Even Aurora found herself in their custody. Then his gaze swung to me.
“I’ll ride with a friend to the station to give my statement,” I told him.
He nodded. “We don’t have room in the cruiser anyway.”
Caelum went with them, but not before giving me a long, unreadable look.
When they were gone, Lana and I headed for the lift to get to the parking deck. Heat was creeping into my skin, a slow burn that made my pulse thrum.
“You’re flushed,” Lana said, brow furrowed. “Are you sure you’re fine?”
“I’m fine. Let’s <b>just </b>get this done.” I could ride the heat out.
“I’ll bring the car around to the front,” she said.
The lift chimed at the ground floor.
<b>“</b><b>Go </b>on to the garage<b>,” </b><b>I </b>told her<b>. </b>“<b>It’s </b>only a few steps to the main doors<b>. </b>I’ll walk myself.”
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