nda'

arse. His body trembled, muscles straining as he hung, c

g his face twist in pain each

ood b

y trapped, an

cker of defiance still burning in his

oice low and steady, a warning la

and hazy with pain. "No one," he rasped

t deserve to live." My words were sharp and cold, but h

make me talk," he whispe

y thief. There was a hardness in his gaze, a fa

I turned to Morris, the head guard, who was sta

in fear. He was silent for a moment before he b

e cracked, the desperation breaki

nhooked his wrists from the chains

t scraping against the stone floor

red breath, letting the

econd ticking by, each one b

he pleaded, voice barely a whisper. "

lips, but I hid it. I turne

by terror. And something more-

my expression calm even as a

opped his gaze to the floor, as if saying her name was a

The name echoed like a

bound by blood. And no

e, or worse. The realization settled ove

y composed, to keep my expression neutral,

my fire, the sister I had saved, who ha

She was

owing the bitter twist of b

not show

ng my reaction, hoping perhaps for

family ties had long since

icy and calculating, "even my own b

n, unable to meet

ll we need." Morris and the guards lifted hi

hey dragged him from the room, leaving a trail o

ts swirling like dark clouds. I ha

to those driven by power, and

ssa, Maria'

☆☆☆☆☆☆

rt

ia'

movement had a purpose-to attract attention or avoid it, to sell yourself or shield yourself.

osen-a body for sale, a product. I wasn't

mers, nerves on edge as I brushed past strang

ot a glare my way, though I'd done nothing to her. Her grin was all

issed, whipping h

d, I kept my eyes forward, walking away fro

into a weapon, making others feel

here two days-long enough to know who to avoid but not l

stale powder. I found my locker and pulled o

I adjusted my clothes, I heard them-Carol and her crew w

listen. They wan

is coming tomorrow," one o

xcitement and dread, as if s

ol's eyes went wide

He's coming to pick a mate. R

lse race. Alpha Noleen-the most

g one of us... choosing me-it made my s

listened. I knew Noleen's reputation. C

ho I was-Maria Kindeyheston, daughter

destroy the werewolves. She died in that cause,

choose me as his next... po

om, and Carol's friends glanced at me with mocking sm

I'm sure he'll look at y

laughed. "Maybe if you be

er was sharp

at them, holding back

my mother had taught me-no, I couldn't

who'd love nothing more than to clai

ed past them, my heart racing

it swung open, and one of the

as flushed

he gasped, her voice

nxious gasps, adjusting their makeup and

p in disbelief. "W

ze. Alpha Noleen was h

hrough me, icy

went cold as the bloo

me, if he r