Marrying a Warhound (Cassian) novel Chapter 71

Chapter 71

HALDEN MORROW’S POV

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“Did you see how smug she is?” Reina hissed as she lay on her stomach, her voice strained with anger and pain. Every twitch of her body betrayed how raw her back was from the punishment, but her fury burned hotter than her wounds. “That was the face of a bully, Father. A bully who wanted to trample our family!”

Halden pursed his lips, his expression unreadable.

“Father, you must teach that woman a lesson!” Reina pressed, her fists balling tightly against the mattress. “Do not let her get away with this!”

Halden folded his arms, his gaze steady. “And how, exactly, do you reckon I teach her a lesson?”

Reina turned her head sharply, glaring at him with disbelief. “You’re asking me that? She humiliated me in front of everyone! She humiliated us. She dared to strike me, then ordered me caned like a criminal. And you just stood there!”

Halden’s eyes narrowed.. “I warned you before, Reina. Your mouth would bring punishment on you one day. I told you, time and again, that words can cut deeper than blades. Today it was the Princess Consort who punished you. Tomorrow, if you’re not careful, it could be someone far less merciful. Are you not going to stop until someone decides to take it on our family?”

Reina’s eyes widened, her face twisting in shock. “You’re siding with her? With her? Why are you favoring that woman over your own daughter?”

“I am not favoring her,” Halden said, his tone sharp enough to cut through her protest. “I am favoring the North. Do you understand the difference? She is the Lord’s wife. Whether you like it or not, she is the Princess Consort. You insulted her, you insulted the Lord himself. You spoke like a reckless child and accused her of witchcraft. You crossed the line, and you paid the price. That is only right.”

Reina’s lip trembled, her rage boiling back to the surface. “How dare a wolfless woman punish me? How dare someone who cannot even transform into a wolf embarrass our family like this? Are you truly going to allow her to do this? She isn’t even giving us face, Father!”

Halden’s expression hardened, but he didn’t raise his voice. “You speak of face, yet you gave none to her in the first place. You walked into her presence with arrogance, challenged her authority, and spat accusations at the woman chosen by the King himself. Do you think titles and family name will protect you forever? Do you think your father’s seat will shield you when your actions threaten the stability of the North?”

11:21 Wed, Sep 10

Chapter 71

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Reina turned her face back into the pillow, seething. “She wanted to embarrass me. Embarrass us. Everyone saw it. And you did nothing. Do you know how they looked at me? Like I was some common criminal.”

“You brought it on yourself,” Halden replied bluntly. “I cannot defend you when you are the one who fed the fire.”

Her fists pounded against the bedding. “So that’s it? You’ll let her trample us? You’ll let her show everyone that the Morrows can be slapped and whipped in the courtyard like dogs?”

Halden leaned forward slightly, his eyes narrowing. “Careful with your words, Reina. You are not the family. You are one daughter. And the family’s strength does not rise or fall on your pride. The North does not need your tantrums–it needs order.”

But Reina wasn’t done. She twisted to look at him again, her eyes blazing. “Then if you won’t protect me as a father, at least protect the family as its head! If you let this pass, the council will think we are weak. They’ll think we bowed to her. We must file a complaint to the council. We must demand the Lord himself hear of this. Let them judge if a southerner with no wolf has the right to punish the daughter of Halden Morrow.”

Halden studied her for a long moment, his jaw tightening. She was trying to light the flame of his anger, pushing the weight of the family name against him. He saw it clearly, but he also saw the hungry way she wanted revenge.

“The council?” he asked flatly.

“She clearly wanted to establish her authority,” Reina said. “Are you going to allow a bully to do that?”

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