Chapter 36. Unlaid Plans

Ainsley

“The pact that promises you to my son,” Izan answers.

His teacup clings softly against the saucer as he settles it onto his knee, the sound cutting through the sudden silence that falls over all of us.

I’m too stunned to answer immediately.

My father had always threatened to mate me off to another pack as a punishment, holding it over me like a looming guillotine, ready to fall on my neck at a moment’s notice if he ever decided he had enough of my disobedience.

He loved to use whatever excuse he needed as causation for continuing his tally of my wrongdoings. It excused him from accepting any kind of responsibility for holding me to such a high standard that it was completely unattainable. Or for helping create my rebellious personality in the first place.

I always thought those particular threats were empty.

He’d never allow his property to be let go that easily—handing me over to another pack would completely erase the hol