Page 151 of The Ashpaw: Part One

“And so you decided to destroy her nest in jealousy?”

“No, Alpha, no,” she cried, grabbing his tunic and burying her face in his chest. Her whole body shook, and she whimpered.

The sound was… it used to be endearing. But ever since he’d started spending more time with the omega, there was something about it that unnerved him.

He patted her on the head. “Out with it, then.”

“She… she…” Kyntha whimpered again. “She came out with willow bark!”

Darion paused. She had said it like it was proof of something, like he should know what it meant.

He waited for her to explain.

“Willow bark, it is… a heat inducer.”

Darion froze. Was such a thing even possible?

“Come again?”

Kyntha looked up at him, tears lining her lashes. “I read about it a long time ago, that omegas could bring their heat early by chewing on willow bark.”

Then her face scrunched up as she began to sob again. “She’s trying to sabotage the ceremony! She will fall into a heat and require you to tend to her, leaving me alone during the final rituals. I just know it!”

Darion patted her again, looking away as he processed this information.

Kyntha had been in his ear about the omega from even before her designation emerged, worried there was something wrong with his bound Solvekh, that she coveted his courtship with Kyntha and wanted him for herself.

And because of that, he had misinterpreted her behavior, and it had almost cost the omega everything.

“You incorrectly trusted the word of an attendant before, and I nearly mutilated her because of it. I will not sentence her based on this accusation alone.”

“I understand, I’ve apologized for believing the Solvekh,” she said, sniffling. “Please… wait but a day… and if… if she doesn’t fall into a heat, my fears were unwarranted, and you may punish me however you see fit.”

“But?”

“But,” she said slowly. “If I am right…”

Darion nodded. It was a fair proposal, and allowed him time to think on what had happened before reacting rashly.

He’d done too much of that recently.

“Fine. Go to your room, Kyntha, and stay there. If by tomorrow evening she still has not fallen into heat, we will discuss the penalty for your egregious actions. And I will not be kind.”

Kyntha wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing his cheeks. “Thank you, Alpha. Thank you… That’s all I ask.”

* * *

Darion drove the training blade into the Solvekh’s shoulder hard enough to knock him back a step across the packed dirt.

“Again,” he ordered.

The Solvekh was newly made. Strong, but undisciplined. He reset his stance immediately, chest heaving. Around them, the training yard rang with clashing steel and wood, shouted commands, and the pounding rhythm of boots as soldiers drilled beneath the afternoon sun.

The Solvekh lunged, and Darion twisted aside, catching his wrist and sweeping his legs out from under him in one smooth motion. The wolfkin hit the ground with a grunt.

“Too slow,” Darion said, offering him a hand up.

Before the Solvekh could take it, a guard hurried through the yard gates, breathing heavily.