was nothing compared to the hollow ache in her ch

ce trained beside her walked past without a glance. The omegas whispered when she entered a room. Even

ving herself. Years sta

y were all

r to her shared room with Kieran. She hesitated

wasn'

uched from the night before.

lowed it down. This is just another rough

g in protest. But just as she began to let herself r

ne lau

ste

ces gre

truth," a woman said, her to

"He deserves bette

knew that voice-Lillian, one of the female warri

talking ab

to her feet and stepp

their arms crossed, their faces smug. When they saw h

s filled with mock sympathy. "Oh, Lun

rs laugh

alms, but she refused to react

ight want to check the training grounds later. Ki

k like a blade

main blank. She wouldn't give them

ignoring the laughter that

-

f standing at the edge of the trai

ldn't come. That it didn't m

she

rring with Lillian. They moved in perfect syn

once been

re than an outsider wat

king Kieran onto his back. He let out a low ch

ting better

"Maybe I just hav

away before she

she walked back toward the packhous

ond was unbreakable. That no matter wha

no

wasn't

ondered-what if she wasn't me

the corridors of the packhouse,

eard rang in her mind

st have a g

hey moved together so easily, so effortlessly-li

felt

arp shoulder bumped into her

ere you'r

rc

ut the two warriors beside him c

r fists clenching at her

hed a brow

ed man named Tobias, let out a low laugh. "

the word made something

g to let them see her waver.

rwhelming. "A Luna is supposed to be strong, respected, wor

s hit li

his gaze, but it was hard

n't defend you. The pack doesn't follow you. And me?" His l

r, but before she could say a word, To

rcus. She's

moment longer, then s

ee of them walked off, their la

and uneven, her fingers

ing her. They were wai

s doing nothi

-

That

y dining hall, untouche

arely eat

Rowan slid into the seat across from

ke hell," he

out a dry la

arms crossed. "Kier

sted. "I don't

u're stronger than you realize. But you keep waiting

ed away, her

thing she hadn't alr

it aloud m

ed to stop breaking yourself for him. If you keep waiting

hard. "And what do

gaze, voice q

is

ttled deep

i

ted to.

d respond, the

an and a few others. They were lau

pt the room-and l

d, something flicker

e look

e was n

ched, something in h

as calm, but ed

mured. "He's

ngers dug in

ing Kieran. Fighting fo

hings got difficult,

was

for a man who wa

was as painful a

r eyes, inhaled d

me to sto

time