"Well, it seems we have a winner," Damien announced, his voice cutting through the stunned silence. He withdrew his sword from Kaelen's throat with deliberate slowness, a smug smile playing on his lips. "And a bet to honor."
Kaelen remained on the ground for a moment, chest heaving, eyes fixed on the sky above him. The cut on his arm was bleeding, staining his shirt crimson. When he finally rose to his feet, his expression was unreadable.
"Alpha Kaelen has lost the wager," Damien continued, addressing the crowd of pack members who watched with bated breath. "And as agreed, Luna Seraphina may slap him. As many times as she wishes."
All eyes turned to me. I felt frozen in place, conflicting emotions warring inside me. Part of me—the part that had suffered years of humiliation at Kaelen's hands—thrilled at the opportunity for retribution. But another part hesitated, uncomfortable with this public spectacle.
