ABEL

t like drownin

ike it had been fused to the mattress with molten lead. Every small, involuntary twitch of my muscles sent a fre

es immediately. I st

and hearth-fire. Here, the air was sharp and heavy. It smelled of damp stone, old iron

r satisfied smirk when it worked. The wet thud of the lash. The forest, the arrow and then the man. Th

ed my e

ewn basalt, dark and unforgiving. I was lying on my stomach, my chest supported by a firm bolster to keep the weight

furs beneath me. A low groan escaped my throat, but I forced my elbows t

g" guardians of the valley, the Blood-Wing were the shadows that kept them looking over their shoulders. They were

of the enemy's nes

six hours stitching your back together. It would be

ed in shadows. It was the same voice from the woo

ribs. I turned my head slowly, the movem

assive chest. He wasn't wearing his furs now; he was in a dark, sleeveless tu

se piercing grey eyes, scanning me as if I w

voice was raspy, like I had been sw

resence seemed to shrink the room, making the stone walls feel like they were closing in. "And I susp

n, vibrating tether that pulled toward him. It was a cruel irony. I had been rejected by one mat

e Luna who couldn't keep her Alpha's interest. I found out why he rejected you from the rumors thro

ago, I would have flinched at those words. I would have cried and tried to ex

r in Moonlit. Now, I was filled with rage. Fille

the flare of agony in my back until I was sitting on the edge of the bed, the furs draped lo

wing. He obviously expected me

being my guest gives you the right to speak to me in the tone you wish. In this Pack, your pe

lap. Then he reached out, his large hand hovering near

at him, my jaw

per. "About how useful you are. A woman who knew her place at his side. Wit

insults and humiliation I was put through.

realize he made a mistake and come to