CELESTE’S POV
I’d never hated the sight of a smile more in my entire life.
My team had come in dead fucking last, barely crossing the exit zone before time ran out, battered, bloodied, and humiliated.
And Ethan—our fucking Alpha—instead of directing his fury at the one responsible for our failure, he’d smiled at Elara with something dangerously close to approval.
“You led well,” he said, pride infused in every word. “Win or lose, you upheld Frostbane’s honor and spirit.”
Those words struck me worse than any of Ashar’s blows.
Elara, propped up on a bench in the resting room with her ribs bound, still managed a satisfied smile. “Thank you, Alpha.”
That look, so smug, so self-assured, was like a knife twisting in my chest. She’d stolen everything from me—my command, my authority, my rightful place as fucking champion.
And my own brother praised her for it.
