Candace
"Let the marking now begin-"
Ragnor cleared his throat, cutting the priest off mid-sentence.
Star's ears pricked instantly inside me. Candy… something's wrong.
My stomach tightened painfully. Why would he stop the ceremony now? They could not reject me anymore. Iglanced sideways carefully. Ryker was not even looking at me.
His eyes were fixed entirely on Deidre instead, and a slow smile pulled at the corner of his mouth while she stared back at him through swollen, tear-filled eyes. Cold dread slithered violently down my spine.
Deidre was smiling too and it wasn't the broken, devastated smile she had worn minutes ago for the pack. This one was subtle, tucked carefully at the corner of her mouth where only someone watching closely would notice it.
Aunt Elena leaned toward Uncle Nathan, whispering something into his ear while a smug expression spread slowly across her face.
My heartbeat hammered against my rib cage.
