Arminda POV:
The holding room was basically a glorified closet with a chair. I sat there shivering in my wet clothes until dawn broke. My ankle throbbed in time with my heartbeat.
Finally, the door opened. It wasn't Coleton. It was Charly.
She leaned against the doorframe, munching on an apple. Her "injured" leg seemed perfectly fine.
"Still here?" she smirked. "Coleton is busy with the lawyers. He wants to make sure you don't steal any pack secrets before he kicks you out."
"Just give me the papers, Charly," I said, standing up. "I want to go."
"In a minute. First, I need to check something in the library. You're coming with me. Coleton doesn't want you left unsupervised."
She grabbed my wrist and yanked me down the hall.
Inside the library, Charly walked straight to the display case that held the Pack's most prized possession: the Sacred Totem.
It was a delicate carving made from the bone of the First Alpha, inlaid with moonstones. It hummed with ancient magic, protecting the pack's borders.
Charly opened the case. She tossed the relic in the air and caught it like a tennis ball.
"Put that down," I said, my voice low. "That is not a toy. It connects us to the ancestors."
Charly turned, a wicked grin on her face. "Oh, look who's lecturing me. You're lucky you aren't in a cage right now."
"Put the Totem back, Charly."
"Make me."
She threw it high in the air. She made a show of trying to catch it, but her hands "slipped."
Crash.
The ancient bone hit the hardwood floor. It didn't just break; it shattered into a hundred pieces. The hum of magic in the room died instantly.
My breath caught in my throat. This was sacrilege. It was a crime against the pack's history.
Heavy footsteps pounded down the hallway.
"What was that noise?" Coleton burst into the room.
He saw the shards. His face went pale. "The Totem..."
"She did it!" Charly screamed immediately, pointing a manicured finger at me. "I caught her trying to steal it! We struggled, and she threw it on the ground! She said if she can't be part of the pack, she'll destroy it!"
Coleton turned to me slowly. His eyes were darkening, his wolf surfacing in a blind rage. A low growl vibrated in his chest-a sound that usually makes submissive wolves drop to their knees.
"You..." Coleton stepped toward me. "You destroyed my father's legacy out of spite?"
"I did not," I said calmly.
"Don't lie to me!" He roared. He grabbed me by the throat, pinning me against the bookshelf.
His grip was tight, cutting off my air. I could smell his fury-it smelled like burnt wood and ozone.
"I should kill you," he hissed. "For treason."
I clawed at his hand, but he was immovable. I looked into his eyes, searching for the man I saved. He wasn't there.
"Check..." I choked out.
"What?"
"Check... the crystal," I gasped, pointing to the corner of the ceiling.
In every room of the Alpha's mansion, there are Magic Recording Crystals. They are like security cameras, but they record essence and intent as well as image.
Coleton froze. He looked at the crystal, which was glowing faintly blue.
Charly's face dropped. "Coleton, wait, don't-"
Coleton released me. I slid to the floor, coughing. He walked to the wall and placed his hand on the activation rune.
A holographic projection flickered into the air. It showed Charly clearly tossing the relic, laughing, and letting it smash. It showed me standing by the door, horrified.
Silence filled the room.
Coleton stared at the image of his "Chosen Mate" desecrating his heritage.
I waited for the explosion. I waited for him to banish her.
Coleton turned to Charly. She was trembling, squeezing out fake tears.
"I... I was just curious," she sobbed. "I didn't mean to! My hands were slippery from the lotion! And Arminda scared me!"
Coleton's shoulders slumped. The rage vanished from his scent, replaced by weary resignation.
He walked over to Charly and took her hands.
"Are you hurt?" he asked softly. "Did the shards cut you?"
I stared at them, disbelief washing over me.
"No," Charly sniffled. "I'm just so sorry."
"It's okay," Coleton murmured, kissing her forehead. "It's just an object. We can get the Elders to repair it. Stop crying, Charly. It breaks my heart."
He looked over her shoulder at me. "Clean this mess up, Arminda. And be careful not to leave any dust."
He led Charly out of the room.
I sat on the floor among the ruins of the pack's history. I picked up a piece of the moonstone. It was cold and dead.
Just like my love for him.
