Page 153 of The Ashpaw: Part One

The omega sobbed and moaned, grabbing at her hair and skin like it offended her.

It offended him.

“You couldn’t be grateful with the attention you had, hm? Had to make me believe you honored Kyntha’s request, that you respected her. All the while you plotted against her like the vicious little temptress you really are.”

“Please, I don’t know—”

“Do you or do not have willow bark?” he asked.

The omega wrapped her arms around her stomach, hissing and crying. “I do, but—”

“Did you get it from the healer?”

She whined and gave one, small nod, her face scrunching as a cramping wave rode her.

He had one hand on the doorknob. “Then that is all I need to know. For the punishment of your deception, I sentence you to suffer this heat alone. No alpha will tend to you. No mercy will be granted.”

She sobbed, still reaching for him. He almost gave in, and then shook his head to clear it.

“And I will not bed you until my true mate gives me my heir.”

He opened the door and shut it behind him before his wolf and instincts could intervene, already commanding him to return to her.

The guard looked at him, shock in his face. “Sir?”

Darion took a deep breath, the air still tainted but much cleaner in the hall. And then he looked at the guard.

“Meals only until it breaks.”

He swallowed, wincing when a desperate howl broke the air. “Sir…”

“That is all!”

Darion stormed towards Kyntha’s room, ready to shower her with the attention and pleasure she deserved, which was only ever going to be for her.

Chapter 35

Fern

Isentence you to suffer this heat alone.

Fern clenched her teeth through the next wave as it tore through her, stealing even the ability to breathe. Hoping it would finally be enough to render her unconscious.

She didn’t think she could take it anymore.

Not just the heat, the all-encompassing ache that promised to ease only with an alpha’s touch.

But also the pain of her alpha’s heartbreaking yet inevitable betrayal.

She should have known better than to believe that Darion would ever do the right thing for her. That he would ever rule against Kyntha in her favor.

What could Kyntha have even said to Darion to villainize her heat? To turn the most vulnerable moment in her life into a weapon against her?

Her wolf howled inside her, Darion’s ruling almost hitting her even harder than it did Fern.

He is dead to us.

I told you…