Chapter 95. It Begins

Riley’s POV

“I challenge you to a duel.”

Lucien’s calm voice split the air like a blade.

Riley’s breath caught in her throat, and for a brief moment, she could do nothing else but turn, wide--eyed, towards her mate.

Alder stood frozen, his eyes narrowed and his jaw tight.

Her heart sank further as she saw his expression. That was all the confirmation she needed. His silence spoke louder than whatever words he might have had to say.

Cold fear gripped her heart as she waited for her mate to speak up, to deny and refute the accusation, but no matter how long she waited, he never spoke up.

The murmurs around her from the elders thickened, it rippled through the ranks of the pack wolves until they were no longer whispers but a storm of shocked voices.

Riley, stationed safely at the back with most of the other elders, knew with a chilling certainty that if she allowed the silence to stretch further, there would be no coming back.