LL

my skin, keeping me chained to the cold stone wall. I can barely see in the darkness

echoes off the walls, making me flinch. "Stea

ond. White-hot pain explodes across my back, and

y voice barely above a whisper. "Ple

nother scream I

oars. "Hand over what y

hake my head. "There's nothing t

tearing me apart from the inside out. I try to explain, try to m

y voice cracks. "I'm

tually, the pain becomes too much. My vision blurs, my body goes numb, and I let myself collapse against

heaving. He steps closer, studying my limp form. Seemingly sat

rance. "Frederick!" Dylan's voice c

e as he leaves. The heavy door slams sh

footsteps. The rustl

voice drips with ven

s not fooled. Her fingers dig into my chin, forcing m

red nails pressing harder into my skin. "Do you know why? Because you're nothing but a l

did

es. And then you're going to march yourself into that arranged marriage like a good little girl. You should be grateful, honestly. This is your only cha

ia says it-like she knows something, like there's a truth

king. "Please don't do this. We have the

s, but there's nothing funny about the sound. "I should

es my ears ring. Before I can react, she's storming towa

or sla

eally do lose

*

ing through a small, grimy window. I'm back in my room-if you can even call it that. It's barely big

able, making me shiver uncontrollably. But that's not why I'm shaking. Heat radiates from

enth birthday. The day I've been waiting for my entire life-the day

o me," I whisper

pathetic even

he pai

out. My body convulses as something inside me tries to claw its way to th

My first tra

n. I bite down on my hand to keep from screaming, tasting blood as my canines lengt

can't take any mor

like a lifeline, pulling at something primal deep in my chest. My wolf

a

ed by an invisible thread. I can't stop myself. Don't want to stop myself. The pain of t

me through the pack house. I know where I'm goin