The gathering was already loud when Linnea carried the water jug in.
Every table in the Alpha hall was full, and nobody moved to make room.
Siv: Keep your eyes on the floor.
Siv: If Torren looks at you tonight, I will feel it for a year.
Torren came through the doors and got three steps in before he stopped.
His head turned. He was scenting the room, and then he was scenting her.
He crossed the hall so fast the benches scraped.
Torren: Mine.
Then his mouth was on hers.
His mouth was hot and sure, and it tasted like wine.
Linnea's hands came up before she knew it. She gripped his coat and pulled him closer.
She kissed him back. Her whole body woke up and leaned into him.
Someone in the hall gasped.
Verity: Torren.
He pulled back. His eyes were dark and wide, and then they went cold.
Torren: No. That was a mistake.
Torren: Look at her. She can't shift. She can't fight. She can't give me strong sons.
Torren: Any wolf here could have her behind the grain store, and it would mean more than this.
Laughter rolled around the hall, ugly and slow.
Linnea's face burned. Her hands would not stay still.
Linnea: I felt it too. You felt it.
Linnea: Please. Not in front of them.
His hand snapped around her wrist and squeezed until the bones ground.
He shoved her back. Her shoulder hit the iron hook, and her lip split on her own teeth.
Blood ran warm down her chin.
Torren: Say one more word to me and I'll have you put out on the ice.
Torren: You'll freeze before morning, and no one will come looking.
She believed him. Her whole body believed him.
Verity: That's enough. She's not worth the mess.
Verity: I'll take her into my house. She can scrub pots and sleep by the fire.
Verity: Most would give her less.
Torren: Verity is my mate.
Torren: Say it, all of you. Say her name.
The pack said it. The sound filled the hall like a bell.
Linnea found her mother by the door.
Linnea: Mama.
Siv: I told you to stay out of sight.
Siv: You are no daughter of mine tonight.
Jessa pushed through the crowd and got an arm around her.
Jessa: I'm here. I've got you.
Jessa: You're not alone. Not for one second.
Gratitude hit Linnea so hard she nearly went down.
She wanted to crawl out of that hall on her hands and knees.
She wanted to be small enough that nobody could see her bleed.
Then her hands stopped shaking.
Linnea: I'm still standing.