roat raw with rage as I

le stretching into a cold, mocki

ela?" Tears of betrayal burned my eyes, but I forced th

in my shoes, you would have done the exact same thing. Mother said your wolf was finally awakening, and she needed you complete

licking her wrist toward the

do you mean

vy iron gauntlet struck the side of my head. Pain exp

focating air of the underground dungeons fi

pack

to be dead. My father had literally ordered my execution in front of the ent

vering in the freezing gloom. That was when I felt

s sh

s man from the

ed my senses, sending a sharp, intoxicating shiver straight down my spine. Warmth bloomed deep in my chest,

eart. He was telling the truth. I could feel it through the newly forged bond thru

its hinges, shattering the quiet. Heavy footsteps echoed d

She set it down in the center of the cell and sat, smoothing out her flawl

ing her legs. "Well, Father received an urgent, unexpected call early this morning. He and M

t if you weren't dead yet, you were to be brought back unharmed. He even said if you were wounded, you should be treated in the infirmary immediately. No

efore I could flinch away, her cold, delicate fingers

he murmured softly, her eyes glinting with d

. I slapped her hand away with every ou

e done to me!" I leaned forward, my knuckles turning white against the dirt. "If you want me dead, kill me right now while you have the chance!

iped her hand against her skirt, a pathe

because I had no choice, but I hope you'll under

or behind her. The soft, cruel smile never left her lips, making

ed back in carrying a covered wooden tray holding a plate and a bras

ered sweetly, gazing down at me with fake pity. "Please tr

epped back, locked the iron bars, and v

ip of water somewhere deeper in the dungeon. My stomach twisted with agonizing hunger

g my pride, I crawl

portion of white rice. Hungry and desperate, I s

ired, and clearly spoiled, the food had been carefully arranged to lo

outh, I grabbed the brass cup, threw my head back

ting hit the back of

lly hit my nose. It wasn't water. It was urine. Angela

sly until everything in my stomach poured out onto the stone floor. I retched and sobbed

dark, crushing despair suffocating my chest. Angela hadn't just framed me-she had systematically destroyed my digni

ed until my tear ducts ran dry, letting the exhaus

! BANG

nst metal shattered the silence,

sion blurred and my head spinning. The heavy cell door was t

the dim torchlight behind them. Their faces were grim, hardened, and complete

a vice-like grip that bruised my skin instantly. He yanked me to my

he damp walls like a death sentence. "The Alph