Maya’s heart pounded. She could hardly believe the words falling from her father’s lips. “Father, that’s an abomination. Their bond was sealed before the Moon Goddess herself. Do you understand what you’re saying? To even think of such a thing—”
Gerald cut her off with a bitter laugh. “The Moon Goddess, child? Who told you she's in support of the bond? Were you at the ceremony? And as for Alexander, he is Alpha, yes, but he is not unshakable. If his Luna falters, if whispers spread of her disloyalty, if she is seen as unworthy—then the bond matters little. The pack will reject her. And when the pack rejects, so too does the Alpha’s power weaken. That is when opportunity strikes.”
Maya’s stomach turned. She took a shaky step back, staring at her father as though seeing him for the first t
