The following Wednesday, the 26th, was marked on the lunar calendar as the day of the corporate ritual. Ashley stood before me, dabbing at the moisture in her eyes before she straightened her spine. The shift in the wind was palpable; she finally smelled the rot in Riley’s desperation and the rising power in mine.
"Keep a record of every hunt offer that comes through the link," I commanded, my voice like a calm winter spring. "Don't reject them yet. We’ll use that evidence when the moon is high on Wednesday. If you have any predatory instinct left, Ashley, you’ll see that being the Alpha’s mistress is a short-lived reign compared to standing with the true Luna."
Ashley bowed her head. She saw Riley playing the "wounded pup" to gain sympathy, while I was using Riley as a jagged stone to s
