Page 43 of Claimed By My Fiancé's Brother

Anastasia nodded once, and took my hand in hers.

“All right,” she said softly, her voice calm and soothing. “Just know I’m here for you. Always.”

Like she always had been—a perfect partner.

But for some reason, my gaze involuntarily found Eleanor, whose rapt attention was on the coronation.

She hadn’t so much as tossed me a curious glance since we reached the clearing. Forget the clearing, she’d been ignoring me for days.

The monster within me wasn’t the least bit pleased. He wanted me to take back my words. His mate belonged at his side, and he wanted her all to himself. He wanted all of her attention. He wanted to lose himself in her scent, her touch.

He wanted and wanted, but I couldn’t care less about the monster’s insatiable desires.

This distance between Eleanor and I was good. Great, in fact. This was the only sort of relationship we could have.

One of public tolerance and private hate.

“Long live Alpha Dylan. Long live Luna Micah,” the pack priestess announced. Dylan and Micah rose to their feet at her words. “Long live the Nightshade Pack!”

Howls of celebration filled the night air, the cheers of our pack members shaking the ground.

Micah stood straighter, a smile of triumph on her lips as she regarded the display. She looked up at her mate, perhaps hoping to share the moment with him, but Dylan’s gaze was fixed on Eleanor, who was currently speaking to Seraphina.

Micah’s smile vanished, and the monster within me stirred restlessly.

Dylan’s gaze left Eleanor and moved across the rest of the pack.

“My father served this pack all his life, and I hope to do the same,” he said finally, his voice carrying an air of authority that had been absent before the coronation.

“Even now, our enemies lie in wait, ready to attack at the first sign of weakness, but with the support of every one of you standing here, we will not falter.”

Louder cheers filled the air, but there was a heft to Dylan’s words that gave me pause.

The Nightshade Pack wasn’t currently embroiled in any wars. No one was stupid enough to stand against us.

The only pack that came to mind when he spoke of enemies lying in wait was the Bloodfrost Pack.

It was one of the largest packs we’d ever warred with. The last war we’d fought with them had nearly annihilated the alpha lineage of the Bloodfrost Pack and claimed the life of the alpha before Father. But thinking of them as a threat was foolhardy. The war with them had been over for decades.

Perhaps I was overthinking things.

The festivities began and drinks flowed around the rapidly constructed bonfire.

Anastasia pressed a cup of alcohol into my hands, but I didn’t take a sip. I was too busy counting the moments until I could leave.

In truth, I could leave anytime I pleased, but not without seeming like I was resentful or wanted to challenge Dylan’s new position as alpha of the Nightshade Pack.

There was already enough tension going around after Father’s sudden collapse. I didn’t want to destabilize things further.

Once Dylan was done with his first dance with his luna, I could leave without consequence.

The rising beat of the drums drowned out Anastasia’s words, or maybe it was my inability to stop staring at Eleanor that distracted me.

Eleanor offered a soft smile to Seraphina, who seemed to be on the verge of tears again. My sister returned the smile before excusing herself with a bow and suddenly running off to Goddess knew where.

There was something about that smile that reminded me of the last time we’d spoken, when she’d tried to comfort me and all I’d given her in return were harsh words.

I looked away, my free hand forming a fist at my side.

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