“No, no, no,” Serena groaned, clutching her head. “Yesterday I argued with him. I even said his knot was… defective. He’ll never look at me again, Naya. I’m finished.”
Naya blinked at her in disbelief. “You actually said that to the king? Why did you pick a fight with him?”
Serena paced, her voice sharp with frustration. “I’m tired of this place. I came here … okay…running for my life, chased by a tiger in the forest, then I ended up trapped here, bonded to the king, forced to bear his pups just so I could leave. And instead of safety, all I find here is danger after danger! I told him I wanted out. I even shoved him… and stormed off.”
Naya’s eyes widened. She truly pitied her. “But how did you even end up in that forest?”
Serena froze, remembering Naya’s warning that Selvayra was forb
