Chapter 27: A Mother's Fury
(Elara's POV)
"Our courtship is over," I announced, standing in the middle of my mother's living room.
The words hung in the air for a moment, heavy and final. The silence that followed was deafening, broken only by the ticking of the old clock on the mantle – a family heirloom that had survived even when our pack status hadn't.
Mrs. Damon recovered first, her perfectly painted lips parting in shock. "What did you just say?"
"I severed our potential mate bond last month," I repeated, my voice steady despite the racing of my heart.
Mrs. Damon's eyes widened. She lunged forward, grabbing Damon's arm with such force that her claws partially extended, breaking through the expensive fabric of his sleeve.
"Explain yourself," she hissed, her voice barely
