of the Shadowfang Pack. The air was thick with anticipation, b
ross the lands, and unyielding in his rule. Yet, in rare moments, she had seen something softer beneath his cold exterior. A flicker of warmth wh
he spoke, her w
hadowfang Pack, reject
ck like a blad
onvinced she h
ght of his declaration settl
ll, breathless sound. "
emained emotionle
of dread was
y sign of hesitation, any tr
led into fists.
dened. "I don't
uld feel their pity, their amusement. Even Liana, her stepsist
e. "You don't have a choice,"
means nothing to me." His voice was laced with irri
tightene
cause you are weak, Ayla. An
e cruel, cutt
ath hitch. "That'
You think because you blindly follow orders, it makes you worthy of standing beside me? You th
k of her eyes, but she
ake," she managed to
. The mistake was ever thinkin
e crushed the last bit
ed, her heartbeat h
d times, but never like this. Never with
are Liana as his new wife, further crushing Ayla. The betray
eady crumbling, but
eight of his words stole the breath fro
old and resolute. "Li
ell over
ped up, her body
t have hear
athering, her expression unreadable-for a moment. Then,
stomach
Her ste
their father had abandoned them. The one who had
o had know
as she turned to Kael, shaking
"She is stronger. More capable.
st, but it wasn't just the rejection th
rted, but no w
f she had already taken her place beside him. "Oh, Ayla," she said
i
th that had been right i
The way Liana had always been near Kael,
er and Kael. It had been
whispered, her vo
rug, her smile wideni
in her tone made Ay
rs, but she refused to let them fa
g her like she was nothing.
s clenched
rejection. This
e wors
a ha
r
er fate as his chosen wife, Ayla made a silen
ed, the world ti
kne
she heard was Kael's voice-low, ir