Money alone couldn't settle this debt. I retrieved my Moonstone Comms Sigil and found it shattered beyond repair.
"I can pay tribute for what you claim I took, but you destroyed my sigil. You owe me restitution as well."
"Ha! That worthless little trinket? Worth maybe a thousand silver at most? I could toss scraps at you like feeding a stray omega." Lily Hartwell's lips curled with contempt.
"But what you owe us isn't just a thousand—it's ten million in blood-price!"
The pack hall erupted in mocking laughter.
They thought I had no resources to pay, and that I was foolish besides.
"You're wrong. My sigil isn't worth ten million. It's something wealth alone cannot purchase."
"Listen to this!" someone howled. "The gold-digger claims her broken trinket is priceless!"
"She's completely moon-touched."
Kael Hartwell regarded me with open disgust, as if the years we'd spent as intended mates now made his stomach turn.
The two elder wolves had lost patience. They stalked closer, pressing me to pay.
"Worthless female, stop playing dumb. Hand over the tribute now."
"If you can't pay, I'll have someone take a blade to your fingers. That'll teach you proper submission."
Lily heard this and let out a sharp laugh.
"Cutting fingers is too simple. I want her stripped bare, a submission chain locked around her throat, and paraded through the territory like a disobedient pup."
The gathered wolves erupted with approval, clapping and howling their agreement.
"Now that's a proper punishment. Strike at the heart of her pride—it'll warn off any future thieves."
"Yes, yes! Lady Lily is so clever."
My eyes burned crimson as I glared at Lily. She merely pulled out a slim cigarette, placed it between her lips, and lit it. She drew in smoke and blew it directly into my face.
"What? Don't like looking at me?"
"Too bad. Choke on it." She laughed coldly.
Rage unlike anything I'd ever felt surged through me. But I couldn't act against her. Not yet.
Lily had made it clear—even if I called for pack law enforcement, the local authorities would side with the Hartwells.
The urgent matter was settling the tribute first.
"If we're exchanging debts, then let's settle them all at once."
"I'll pay their claimed losses. But you shattered my sigil. You must pay me in return."
Lily narrowed her eyes and looked at me sideways. "Fine. I'll pay."
She reached into her pocket and threw a thousand silver notes at my body.
"Is that enough for your precious trinket?"
I smiled coldly. "Not even close."
"I told you, its value—"
"Are you trying to test my patience?" Lily snarled, throwing her cigarette to the ground.
