elow my breast, the kind that tore a gasp

d gone horribly wrong. My hand flew to my stomach, clutc

ach in front of the mirror

escribe, but it shimmered on my stomach, light pulsing like it was alive. It looked different from th

n't ther

s... She's

eavy and strange. The cottage felt crowded, as if someon

ng as quickly as it came, leavi

**

ght coming in through the window told me I was late.

ttress, but the stiffness in my shoulders wouldn't let me. Sleep had been hard to come by since I woke

lept or not, what mattered was the work.

day, the floor felt cold under my bare feet and I thought ab

ng crates of wine. My hands were raw, still stinging from scrubbing the kitchen

the day before and found out I was carrying a

emony which had turned the whole Ranch into a very c

d still hear the noise outside, voices rising and falling, tables being dragged across stone,

two dresses, both worn thin, one patched across the belly where the fabric had given up l

ars of wear. It had no shape, no color worth noticing, but it

mbling with the ties in my

thought of showing up late sent a shiver down my spine. I

ld didn't sound the same. The rush of wind carried every note, every sh

ining in the distance, the faint spice of roasted meat already smoking near the Alpha's yard. I heard laughter, too, not close but faint. A

in me had shifted. I didn't know how or why, but I shrugged it off. What was on

**

barking orders over one another, carrying barrels of wine, shoulders brushing as they carried crates, ladders,

at. The decorations were finally coming together and it should h

se I knew if they saw me, they'd whisper. The gir

to allow me to bump into anyone b

re you? And their scorn weighed more than the wor

eone al

Look who cr

tiffened. She walked towards me, sky blue silk hugging her

was destined for our Alpha Kai, Luna-in-waiting and she carried herself like

she call

wer. I just

sharp and cruel. "Ignor

ur skin met my vision tunneled, filled with light and smoke. A voice unfurled in my hea

is fire-born. H

nd with them came the flash of knowledge: Raven's power. Hea

mell of smoke still clinging to my se

e'd felt it too. She leaned in,

d I wonder, what will the pack, especially the