The Lycan King's demand hung in the air like a death sentence.
"Alpha Maxen," he said, his voice deceptively soft, "explain to me why this human was living among wolves without Council approval."
Maxen's face had gone ashen. His eyes darted around the hall as if searching for an escape route, but there was none. Not with the King standing before him.
"Your Majesty," he began, his voice unsteady, "it was a complicated situation—"
"Uncomplicate it," the King cut him off.
I remained on my knees, my bound hands aching behind my back. Every instinct screamed at me to run, but where would I go? The hall was filled with wolves who had turned their backs on me. Outside waited the King's men.
Maxen's jaw tightened. "Her mother was my mate."
Murmurs rippled through the crowd. Even I couldn't hide my shock. My mother? His mate? But she was human, married to my father. I'd seen the photos, heard the stories.
"Your mate," the King repeated, skepticism dripping from each word. "A human."
