h a slit allowed by the swelling, I realize

only a thin layer of hay separating me

become of me now. But the answers to

you a

hear echoed from beyond th

aring at him with ha

" he sneered. "Who would've thought the orphan girl had such a temper? This

" I spat, grit

cause I showed you a little favoritism,

ce, and I felt my wolf, Nyra, whimper i

ak and submissive I had b

let you stay-but if that's your attitude, maybe I

e?" My voice trembled more than

. Or

ess, I'll tell you. Someone has to be sent to the Selection, righ

lace your sister? Wasn't it

feels to become the playthi

your sister as my Luna, I was willing to keep you on the side. But

sat in silence, eyes

er the Alpha King...

me from my haze. I realized I hadn't moved in h

cla

still blurry, and saw him

red weakly

e used to protect me from bullies, from the cruel

d grown into something m

or him. Even though the Moon Goddess hadn't fated us as mates

I was being violated-was that I was breaking my promis

," he said coldly, no

arms and dragging me out. My leg

e same strong back that once

tor. Now leading me to ruin

ish to believe he

eria Ruffin, accused of assaulting th

ed in the central square. The elders, warriors, the Beta, a

iberate," the Alpha said smoothl

ur-when the King's guard comes for the tribute

idn't even know if he knew we were mates. But

ed in support o

ending to be magnanimous. "We are no

ed bit

en he selected girls for the King's tri

ross him, and you-or someo

the charade? We all k

charges? Just a smokescreen. I had two opti

," the Alph

r votes quickly. I o

cl

of the la

cked

us-our first meet in the forest, the

brought warmth into my li

, dragging him from hesita

sacrifice," he s

s. I shut my eyes agains

dn't broken our bond because he had a

e all the pain life had handed me,

ai

well shouted

d called 'moth

ch a light punishment. This w

r face to heal. You can't

at me like

do you suggest?

whipped. Lik

rowd

... even the strongest wa

umiliation, whose approval I had be

hing. A hollow

own as I laughed

isgust, some with hatred, b

is tribute arrived dead," I said flatl

de them

can survive that whipping. If she d

but I can't grant your reque

stormed up

felt something wet hit m

e than hell and beg for deat

ered, hatred thick in my voice.

had for her had

ng resentment. The kind she had harbored since the da

pha King's g

me off in t

er of the pack, I look

never been home

of the territory, a lo

cl

rejected the bond. B

knowing he could hear me-

ease you from the bond the Goddess placed upon u

nd. But I knew.