Page 109 of The Ashpaw: Part One

“Take that off so I may have a look at the damage.”

Kyntha screamed again when his hands touched her, and he spun around so quickly he nearly knocked Fern over.

“You will stop this madness!” he hissed. “She did nothing to provoke you this evening, and I will not tolerate this poisonous jealousy in my own home. Understood?”

Her eyes widened, her mouth dropped, and then she whined softly.

Fern’s ear caught the sound at once, having made similar sounds herself recently as her wolf grew stronger inside her.

Something about it was… off. But Fern couldn’t quite put a finger on why.

Darion leaned towards her for a moment, then shook his head. “Go back to your chair.”

Sniffing, her eyes tearing up again, she did as instructed, and Darion finally took Reinn’s tunic off Fern, pulling back pieces of the tattered gown and clicking his tongue against his teeth at the angry marks Kyntha had made.

“I don’t think these will scar, thankfully, but they will need to be treated.”

Then he swallowed, his whole demeanor thawing into something warmer.

“And I’m sorry I didn’t provide you with clothing. I haven’t kept a Naravekh before, and Kyntha arrived here with all of her own belongings. It simply didn’t even cross my mind I would need to outfit you.”

Fern finally let the shock ebb so her emotions from the ordeal could reveal themselves, and she inhaled a shuddering breath. “I haven’t eaten since breakfast, and you didn’t see me all day, and—”

“Oh, little omega, come here…”

He brought her into his chest, and even the comfort of his scent and his strength was undercut by Kyntha, the smell of her and the sound of her, muttering and growling as her mate-to-be held another in his arms.

But gods, it felt so natural to surrender to him. She cried, and he let her, holding her and rubbing her back.

Her wolf, similarly, was only halfway appeased, enjoying the attention but keenly aware of the competing presence in the room.

I will rip out her throat if she stops this, she growled.

Fern ignored her, just wanting to stay in Darion’s arms for as long as she could.

She’d gone almost a month without touch, and now even a day was too much.

Once everything had been released, he gave her a quick kiss on the top of her head, and then seated her in another chair, standing before the two of them.

“I cannot allow discord,” he started. “You two may not always get along, but the clan will need to see us as a united front. To set an example for them to follow. If a she-wolf comes to me and says she will not accept her mate’s petition for a Solvekh, how can I tell her it is her duty to step aside and allow him his chance for an heir when my own mate openly attacks my Naravekh in public?”

“But she—”

Darion held out his hand. “Kyntha, I have entertained your empty complaints of her for long enough. She did not seduce me, she does not speak ill of your character or countenance, nor does she plot to take your place. I chose her for my Naravekh because it is my right to have her. And if I did not want her here, she would not be here.”

Her wolf was less than enthused with his defense of her.

He says nothing of his desire for us? Of our beauty? Of how we are a much better mate than that sniveling little imposter?

Imposter of what?

Her wolf merely chuffed.

“So I want you to apologize.”

Kyntha growled low until it petered out, and then something strange happened. Her shoulders dropped, her neck tilted as she blinked, and then she looked towards Fern.

“I am sorry for overreacting today. Surely you can understand why seeing you arrive in my dress was upsetting, but it does not excuse my behavior. I hope… I hope we can become like sisters in the future, raising our pups together with Darion as our alpha. Don’t you?”