Chapter 14. Reason?

Ally's POV

I swallow the knot forming in my throat, the clasp a token of defiance I'd left in secret, a silent scream against Nathan's iron grip. But James doesn't see it that way.

"Captain of the palace guard," he declares, puffing out his chest slightly. "That's what I become today, Ally." His words carry the weight of expectation, the burden of our lineage. "And yet here we are, dealing with your... indiscretions."

"James, you don't understand- " I try to reach out, my hand trembling, seeking a connection that I know I won't receive.

"Understand?" His laugh is sharp, humourless. "What I understand is that every time you lash out, every reckless decision you make, it threatens everything I've worked for. Our family's name, our standing- the future of the Silvermoon Pack rests on my shoulders."

My heart races, Dawn's growl rising within me, a p