RIA'

instincts screamed at me to escape, but every movement sent fresh waves of agony rippling through me. I could feel their e

, inch by agonizing inch. My fingers dug into the cold dirt, the gri

as like velvet wrapped around a dagger. Before I could react, h

gh my body. It wasn't pain exactly-it was strange, electric, like tiny lightning bolts coursing under my skin. I gasped, m

times, but I'd never felt this. connection. What was this? My heart pounded in my

ows furrowed, and the cruel grin he always wore faltered. He blinked

eering and laughter cutting off abruptly as they turned to him. "The sun is about to rise. That me

witnessed him snap my parents' necks without hesitation, his gaze devoid

ut not including Alpha Magnus. Yet our touch has confused us both. I pray

ment, an inscrutable expression flashed across his face. It wa

eria," he said coldly. "Next

begin to understand what had just happened. All I could do was curl up on the ground, too exhaus

lt when Magnar touched me. They meant something. I didn't know what yet

rocessing what had just happened-not with the day already creeping closer and the risk of punishment looming if I didn't show up on

ke early and start our work without disturbing the rest of the pack. Convenient for them. For us, it was just another remin

es at least not anymore. Talking was forbidden, and so was looking at one another for too long. In ten years of living here, I didn't k

ff limbs and preparing for another day of servitude. Their blank expression

meant I had to move fast. Any delay could mean another round of pun

idn't matter. Breakfast needed to be ready before the pack started their day. I started pulli

ack teas without sugar, and ten with sugar. I repeated the order

hose days, we were relegated to cleaning up after everyone had eaten, scrubbing their pl

ut I pushed through it. There was no time for weakness. Weaknes

ng the room in a pale glow. The house was beginning to stir above me. Footst

tomach growled, but I ignored it. We weren't allowed to eat until after ever

strange waves I felt when he touched me, the way his expression had changed fo

on it, not now. There were t