"You'll accept the bond, or you'll leave the pack. The Alpha's voice echoed cold and uncompromising in the council chamber." His sharp eyes fixed exactly on Luca, who stood stiff, his mouth tense and fists clenched at his sides.
Luca remarked, his voice low and boiling with rage, "You can't be serious."
The Alpha said, "This isn't a request," with a tone that suggested no debate. "The Mate's Mark is a lunar Goddess sign. Against it is against her will; I will not let your intransigence endanger the pack.
My heart racing, I sat quietly at the side of the room. Though I wasn't sure he would like it, my gut prompted me to stand out and protect Luca. This was about his status as the future Alpha, not just about the link anymore.
And should I go as well? Luca remarked, his voice both calm and lethal.
