Selene sat outside on a carved wooden bench, sunlight filtering through the trees. Two handmaidens stood nearby — one pouring tea, the other fanning her lazily. Across from her sat another woman, well-dressed and refined, the mark of high birth evident in every movement.
Dain leaned closer to Kael and murmured, "That's Althea. Alpha Corven's daughter."
Kael's eyes narrowed. "From the Stoneveil pack," he muttered. "What is she doing here?"
Selene laughed at something Althea said — light, easy, utterly unbothered. She looked every inch the picture of leisure, not the woman accused of conspiring and kidnapping the king's mate.
Dain and Kael, followed by two guards, approached the cabin. Selene's head turned, surprise flickering across her face.
"What is this?" she demanded, rising to her feet. "Are you here to join us or what?"
"Don't pretend you don't know why we're here," Kael said, his voice sharp.
