The two weeks passed like sand through an hourglass, each grain marking another moment closer to Dorian's doom.
When the final day arrived, Alpha Gray didn't waste any time. He appeared at Dorian's study door at dawn, Carina trailing behind him with her eyes downcast and her shoulders tense.
"The full moon is tonight," Gray announced without preamble. "The engagement ceremony will take place at sunset. The elders have already been notified."
Dorian looked past Gray to Carina, noting the way she wouldn't meet his eyes and the fresh bruise barely concealed by powder on her jawline.
His wolf snarled at the evidence of Gray's continued abuse, but there was nothing he could do about it without making things worse for everyone.
"Carina," He said gently, "is this what you want?"
Gray's hand clamped down on his daughter's shoulder hard enough to make her wince. "Tell the Alpha how honored you are by this match."
