“Gunnar, that’s enough!” Wulfric snaps.
Lyall’s eyes fill with terror, and he shoves me away from him. “You want to know who I’m seeing? It’s—it’s Arlo.”
I must have misheard.
Lyall could not possibly mean that.
He would never betray me in such a way.
“I just… I assumed that since you did not want him, that it was all right if I did,” Lyall rattles on, but my ears are ringing.
Lyall. And Arlo.
He’s courtingmy mate.
Arlo isletting him.
Gods, no.
How could Lyall do this to me?
This is all my fault.
Why did I reject him?
If I hadn’t rejected Arlo, he wouldn’t have—wewould be—
But I did.
I did this.
I pushed him away. Rejected him in front of my whole pack.
I made my choice, and these are the consequences.
“I see.” My voice comes out flat.
Lyall swallows. It’s loud in the quiet. “Have I offended you?”
My shoulders jerk. “The witch is not mine. Do as you like with him.”
“Gunnar, he’s your—”
“He’s nothing to me!” The windows rattle with the force of my rage and pain.
It doesn’t matter. Arlo is not mine. Will never be mine.
It’s better this way. I made a vow, and I will uphold it until I am but ash amongst the ruins of my ship.
“My mate, the one I chose… he’s gone.”
“Brother—” Lyall reaches for me, and I know if I do not leave now, I will crumple into his arms and break in a way I haven’t in years.
I shove past him and out into the night before my tears have a chance to fall.
Chapter 2
Arlo
