ury that made my blood run cold. I froze, my heart leaping into my throat. Fear, raw and pr

he pack members surrounded me, their faces contorted with rage. The air crackled with their anger, their scent

there was none. I was surrounded, trapped. They were going to take me

My breath hitched. Dead. She was dead. My legs went weak, and I nearly collapsed. Why? Why would she do that? Why would she

h the scent of iron, a grim reminder of the horrors that had been inflicted within these walls. I knew what awa

he circled me like a vulture, her gaze lingering on the mar

with venom. "You dared to defile our pack. You dare

ng my heart. I didn't respond. I co

force of the blow sent me reeling, my head hitting the col

don't you?" she sneered. "Yo

"You're nothing," she spat. "You're less th

I curled into myself, trying to protect my vulnerab

voice filled with hatred. "She tried to save

that stole my breath. Maya died because of me? The guilt

bruised and bleeding on the floor. She look

and imperious. "But your life will be a living hell. You wi

broken, my body aching, my spirit crushed. I had lost everything. My

as forced to perform the most menial tasks, enduring the scorn and cruel

resentment. They blamed me for Maya's death, for the increased

and bleeding. The other Omegas kept their distance, their

ibrating with an ancient fury that made the very stones of the pack house tremble. Kyran's voice, usually a low, resonant hum, was now a weapon, honed and sharp. He stood at the ed

a terror that was almost comical. He looked like a cornered anima

, his voice cracking. He gestured weakly

hands. His jaw clenched, his expression darkening. The air around him crackled with power, a palpable force that made my brea

oice a low, dangerous growl. It wasn't a request. It was an order, a decree issued

ic excuse, but the words died in his throat. He knew better than to defy Kyran. He knew what Kyran was. He was

of Kyran and his own bruised pride. To obey Kyran's command was to acknowledge his own w

" he snarled, the single word laced with a primal t

t a hand, as if to pull me from the river, but stopped short of touching me. His expressio

warmth. He avoided my gaze, his eyes fixed on the ground. He could

ing to comprehend why he was here. Why *him*, the Alpha of the Ancient Blood pa

ce rising in frustration. He reached out again, this tim

ing me shiver. I looked at Damien, my eyes searching his. But he refused to meet my gaze

arm tight, almost painful. I didn't resist.

the same space as him any longer. His face was pale and drawn, his posture stiff a

. His expression was unreadable, but I could feel the waves of fury radiating from him, a palpable force that made

. His touch sent a shiver down my spine, awakening something deep within me, something primal, somethi

illed with a possessive certainty that sent a thrill through me

lmed by his presence, by the raw power that emanated from h

amien watched us go, his face a mask of pain, anger, and a dawning realization of what he had lost. He knew, with a chilling certainty, that he had made a terrible m