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