o enter the bowels of the palace. The shadow it cast was long and thin, cutting across the filth of my floor like a blade. I could

finally snapped into focus, my breath hitched. It was Mali, the Royal Physician. The man who had

d they realized the horror of last night? Had Kai's conscien

f. I tried to sit up, but the silver chains

send you to

look like a man on a mission of mercy. He looked like a man walking toward a gallows. He knelt besid

nestled in velvet, was a long, shimmering needle

fsb

against my ribs like a trapped bird. "No," I whispered,

Not that. Anyt

at me," I begged,

. Don't leave me al

map of sorrow. His hands, usually so steady

is voice so low I could barely hear it o

, my sons will find themselves in the same chains you are wearing b

i wasn't just breaking me, he was poisoning everyone I

child," Mali

ire at first, and then, a terrifying, absolute silence. My wolf, who had been pacing and snarling in the back of my mind since the rejection, let out a final, whimperi

in silence and left

rds, entered the room. They didn't speak. They grabbed the silver chains at my wrists and yanked me upward,

ndeur of the throne room was staggering. The entire clan was gathered, a sea of faces

should have been mine, sat Lia. She looked radiant in a gown of shimmering silk,

ugh the silent court. She stood up, her

place in this palace where you could find redemption

h. From it, she pulled a signet ring, t

ur cell this morning," Lia declared, her voice

man who spared your life. You tr

d jagged in my throat. I looked toward the e

e sound thin, lacking the Alpha-given authority I once car

, her eyes brimmi

be betrayed by someo

r radiating off him enough to make the air hum. He didn't look like he believed her, b

ear," Kai said, his

feet of your Luna and apologize for your crimes against this clan, I will al

ectant, cruel eyes. My wolf was gone, suppressed b

lie," I spat, my vision blurri

e my rank, you can take my wolf, and you can take my bloo

ed to the guards, his voice

to the c