Thor

my stomach clench. It was a heavy, windowless cart, pulled by two massive black horses. The wood was stained dark, and the en

en much older than me. Their faces were tear-streaked and pale with terror. They were from common pack f

ed by a strange sort of morbid satisfaction. The Alpha's own daughter was being discar

red and impatient, checked off our name

sob and her knees buckled. She would have collapsed onto the muddy ground if

ith a mixture of shock and gratitude. "Than

r arm and, without a word, pulled mysel

itch black, with only thin slivers of light filtering through small ventila

immediately pressed themselves into the far corner, as far away from me and the do

gh wooden wall. I closed my eyes, focusing on my breathing, co

ls groaned as they rolled over the gravel path, the rhythmic clatter a grim soundt

rumbling of the wheels and the girls' quiet weeping.

's daughter?" It was the other gir

o the gloom. "Not anymore," I said, my

My story was my own, a heavy stone I would carry alone. Sharing it

bs, replacing them with a weary, resigned despair. I watched the forest pass by in fragmented

ging. It was like watching a cage I ha

eant to frighten us into obedience. A monstrous, cursed king whose inner beast was so savage, it tore

her whispers a desperate, fra

misery. She had watched my mother die. She had watched my father raise a hand to me. She h

dden hilt of my knife. The cold, solid steel was more real, more tr

girl was thrown forward, her head cracking against the w

atchel, pulled out my waterskin,

," I

could feel their astonishment. They had expected contempt, or at the v

rskin with a trembling

Praying won't help. All we have is what's left inside us. If we are goi

stopped. The frantic prayers ceased. The two girls just loo

rimposed over the passing trees. The girl in the reflection didn't look scared. She lo

break. I wou

ath come. It would have to f