Page 121 of The Werewolf’s Wrong Mate

“Not one,” she said. “Two. And if I collapse before the hunt, your proof is invalid because the test failed before it started. You want old law, fine. Then use it cleanly.”

Malrec studied her. For the first time, he seemed less certain she was only a body to remove. That didn’t comfort me. Predators paid attention to things that cut them.

Evelyn’s mouth curved slightly. “You argue well for someone who claims not to be using the mark.”

Cassie looked at her. The bond warmed with a feeling I recognized too late.

Disgust.

Not fear.

Not insecurity.

Disgust.

“Sweetheart,” Cassie said, and every wolf in the room seemed to notice the blade under the human softness, “I survived a cheating ex, my mother’s emotional blackmail, and a bridesmaid dress in a color called bashful rose. If I wanted to manipulate a room, you’d know.”

Sava looked down. Lucien, standing near the door, briefly looked as if he respected her.

The wolf did more than respect her. The wolf wanted. Not because of the mark, because she was hurt, cornered, furious, and still standing inside herself.

I locked that want down before it reached my face.

Too late.

Cassie’s eyes flicked to mine and a faint flush rose in her cheeks. She felt something. Not all of it, but enough.

Ronan stood.

“Two nights,” he said. “The hunt convenes at moonrise. If Cassie Morgan survives the course and Ian returns her before dawn, the bond is acknowledged under old law until the full moon decides what modern law cannot. If she fails, no one touches her without my order.”

Malrec began to object.

Ronan’s eyes cut to him. “No one.”

The council lowered their eyes.

One by one.

Evelyn lowered hers last, but it wasn’t submission. It was patience and that was far worse.

The meeting ended without ceremony. Wolves left in quiet streams, all of them careful not to look too long at the human woman in the study or the enforcer standing between her and the room.

When the doors closed, Cassie sagged into the chair. I was in front of her before I remembered moving.

Sava didn’t stop me.

“Cassie.”

She opened her eyes. “Don’t start.”

“You agreed to be hunted.”

“I agreed to be proven inconveniently alive under the rules currently available.”

“You are hurt.”

“I’m aware. The bite keeps sending newsletters.”