nda'

. I drew back at the white light filtering through the small window as my muscles creaked, I

he was around my age, I suppose. "Time to get going, Miranda. You're packhouse duty today," she drawled. She gave me an

clothes foreign on my hands. All tha

ld just vanish, but no, I wa

he packhouse, which pulsed with vitality. I trailed th

day and looked away. They

ther over nonsense and the orde

y and wheeled around, meeting my gaze. I hadn't

coffee cups and pastry and pushed it into my shaking hands. "Don't spill it. Alpha Colton has no pa

't want to serve him. Colto

traight in front of me, and it was colder now than before. My heart was racing madly as I reached

the door and

ess, cold voice boome

itting by the fire, his presence crushing and oppressive even in s

down," h

, my heel caught on the edge of the rug. I stumbled, waved my arms to balance, and the tray tipped, coffee sliding

mess. Just

cted as if I wasn't even worth it. He didn't say anything, simply

o the study a

fate had other plans. Running down the hallway, my vision darkened with a blurring dizzin

rs I could hardly see the pyre. And not long after, I hea

had I been

the stairs, his frigid

things often?" He a

e that, I'm sure," he said afte

rose and handed me another set of papers as if nothing were amiss. "Email

as a ghost who haunted the packhouse – cleaning rooms, getting foo

he brain-stunning chores double up until my feet throbbed in th

. When finally the sun dipped below the leaves of the tre

coffee into my flushed hands. "Take this to the Alpha

my palms damp as I returned to Colton's room. Eve

enough to meet his gaze. I kept my gaze only on the

let go of the cup from my hands. And coffee s

crazy?!"

to apologize but my

Colton's face near mine. My heart thumped as his face drew nearer. It was just an inch from my fa

s stiff body. I caugh

, but this time his voice wasn't quite

e last thing I saw before everything went black was

hen-n