Magnus had faced down rogues, battled rival packs, and stood firm against threats that would make most wolves cower, but nothing, absolutely nothing, had prepared him for the sheer mortification of walking through the castle corridors while everyone whispered about his sex life.
The rumors had spread like wildfire. By mid-morning, it seemed every single person in the pack knew that Gamma Carina had been seen leaving his chambers at dawn in last night's rumpled dress.
He couldn't walk five feet without catching snippets of hushed conversations that immediately ceased when people noticed him approaching.
"Did you hear about Beta Magnus and—"
"—carrying her shoes—"
"—never would have guessed—"
"—Lord Gray must be furious—"
Magnus kept his expression neutral, his stride purposeful, acting as if he couldn't hear the gossip swirling around him like autumn leaves in a storm.
