Aysel's POV I leaned against Magnus's chest, fingers curling around his wandering hand, and gave him my most exaggerated pout. "But you said there wouldn't be outsiders today," I said, my voice soft and sweet, the kind that made even my own fur prickle in disgust. "So I assumed she must be one of the family's she-wolves." Then I smacked his chest - just a little harder than necessary. "Your fault. You didn't introduce everyone." It wasn't acting anymore; the irritation was real enough. Magnus only laughed, that deep, rumbling sound vibrating through me. His golden eyes glinted with amusement and something darker. "If I didn't introduce them," he said lazily, "it's because they're unimportant. Who knows which bastard cub or half-blood stray they've dragged home this season? Their scent alone dirties the air." His words sliced through the room like claws. Several of the young women stiffened, their postures rigid, eyes gleaming with wounded pride. I caught the faint, sour scent of shame - and fury. Rudi Sanchez's companion, a delicate-looking wolf named Alice, flushed red, her lip trembling. She'd been to the Shadowbane Keep several times with her "aunt," Rudi. Pretending Magnus didn't know her was a direct insult. Rudi's chest heaved. Being reminded of her own bastard origins always sent her into a frenzy. "How dare you," she hissed, her claws flexing against the table. "Alice is my brother's daughter - she's family. Unlike certain mongrels who slither into noble dens wagging their tails for scraps." The venom in her voice stung, but I only smiled. Then the girl beside her, Alice, pitched her voice soft and trembling, her gaze turned dewy with fake innocence. "Magnus... brother Magnus," she breathed, as if the words themselves might lure him closer. The sound of shattering porcelain cut her off. A tea cup hit the floor. The entire hall went silent.No one - not a single wolf - dared to move. To throw something in the presence of Bastien Sanchez, the Elder Alpha himself, was madness. And yet there I was, the culprit, my eyes wide and my lower lip trembling in perfect imitation of a wounded she-wolf. I turned to Magnus and buried my face against his chest, letting out a pathetic little whimper. "I don't care," I said, voice muffled and sweetly poisonous. "She's not allowed to call you that. I'm jealous. I'm petty." A sharp exhale from Magnus - half a laugh, half a growl. He ran his hand down my hair, fingers threading through the strands with proprietary ease. When he looked up again, the warmth was gone from his gaze. "Did you hear that?" His voice was quiet but carried through the hall like a storm wind. "The Luna of Shadowbane doesn't want you calling me brother. Mind your tongue, girl." The pressure that followed was tangible - his Alpha command flooding the room like molten iron. Alice crumpled under it, tears spilling freely now, her body trembling. Rudi's mouth twisted. "You've lost your mind," she spat, shaking with fury. "To act this way in the Shadowbane Keep - in front of your own blood-" She didn't finish. Her son, Noah, was spluttering, wiping hot tea from his face. Unfortunately, he was splashed by the glass I dropped, which I did on purpose."Get me a towel!" he shouted, eyes squeezed shut, water dripping from his chin. "By the gods-" The scent of singed fur hit my nose and I nearly laughed. Yes, I'd aimed for him. Not because I bore any real grudge against Alice - wolves falling for Magnus wasn't a crime - but because Rudi had decided to sneer at me the moment I entered, and her son had been staring at me like a hungry rat ever since. Alice was a guest. Rudi was an elder. But Noah? Fair game. Magnus had said I wasn't here to swallow insults. So I didn't. The tea had been simply... convenient. Unfortunately, it wasn't hot enough. He'd live. Shame. I sighed inwardly, already regretting that it hadn't scalded him blind. "Outrageous!" Bastien's voice cracked through the chaos, his cane striking the marble floor again and again, like the beat of war drums.Servants rushed forward - one with heart medicine for the Elder Alpha, others with towels, trays, and the scent of panic. The room dissolved into motion. The Shadowbane heirs glared at me, but none dared to do more than mutter about insolence and lack of breeding. Their words rolled off me like rain. Every wolf in the room could scent the truth - I'd targeted Noah. The fool had been ogling me since I arrived, tail practically wagging. He deserved worse than a splash of tea. Still, embarrassment curdled the air. Rudi's face was crimson as she turned on her son, slapping away his hand from his towel, her voice trembling with fury. "Useless cub," she hissed. "Can't even keep your eyes off another Alpha's mate. You've shamed us all." I almost smiled. The pack could snarl and hiss all they wanted - but today, I wasn't prey.