His Ritual, Her Decree

The slam of the heavy door echoed in the sanctuary. Rage burned in Roman's eyes as he seized my arm, his voice thick with resentment. "Kira, I went to great lengths to secure this alliance. Now you’ve driven Camilla off, and the Thorne clan will be spooked. This jeopardizes our bonding ceremony!"

Even now, his only concern was power. He grabbed a jacket, threw it over his shoulders, and pulled me toward the door. "Come with me. We have to find Camilla."

We had only taken a few steps when the door creaked open. Camilla's parents, Marcus Thorne and Eleanor Thorne, walked in carrying congratulatory gifts, their faces beaming with excitement.

"We had Camilla come to distribute these to everyone… Oh, Kira, you're here too." They sensed the icy atmosphere in the sanctuary and saw the grim expressions on our faces. Eleanor's voice slowly trailed off. "What's wrong? Did you two have a fight? The bonding ceremony is tomorrow…"

"Mr. Thorne, Mrs. Thorne." I wrenched my arm from Roman’s grasp. "Perfect timing. Tomorrow's bonding ceremony is canceled. Effective immediately, the alliance between the Monroe clan and the Silvercrest Pack is dissolved. All protection over the Thorne clan is hereby revoked."

Marcus staggered backward. Eleanor’s eyes widened in dawning horror. She rushed toward her daughter, who stood shrouded in Roman's jacket, and ripped the garment away. Eleanor froze, her gaze fixed on the fresh, glowing marks of Roman's bonding ritual entwined on Camilla’s skin. But Camilla remained defiant, her voice sharp as she blamed me for forcing Roman’s hand by delaying their bonding.

"Kira, you must be joking," Eleanor pleaded, turning back to me in disbelief. "We're allies, aren't we?"

"We're hardly allies," I said, my voice dripping with contempt as I glanced at Roman. "Besides, the Monroe clan never allies with an unfaithful Alpha."

A bitter laugh escaped my lips. For years, Roman had used pack business as an excuse to delay our bonding. The whole damn family had been playing me for a fool.

"Enough," I said. "In the Monroe clan, there is no forgiveness for infidelity."

I turned resolutely to leave. Just then, an urgent message broadcast through the pack’s mind-link exploded in my mind.

[Pure-blood heiress Kira Monroe publicly rejects her mate! Alpha Roman Valerius bonded with she-wolf Camilla Thorne during the ritual.]