ra Black-as my mate. You are wea

hear the words

de my chest-cracking, beating faster, like my heart was breaking apart one piece at a

ght the Moon Goddess awakened that part of

lly get to conne

powerful awakenin

ained to feel her presence-the wolf that should have been there, but she was silent.

Humiliation. All of it, right t

My body trembled.

epping back like I was something filthy. His gol

not even disappoin

en have her wolf. How the hell coul

through the crowd, like waves cra

ffed, shaki

stand beside me when war comes. Not... not this. Even my wol

, his voice sharp and cutting. "I refuse. I need a mate wh

gh the crowd, low but urgent. He stepped between

sn't awakened yet-you don't

hearing him. He was

stood there-n

. My mind couldn't ca

my wolf c

ght of a

rnails digging into my pal

hat didn't

t worry had been whether the Alpha would notice me-

d be attending, I wa

ady know I

ly come to s

ess now. Nothing m

words, low voices-but it all blurred into the back

ped around me-f

my mother whispered,

answer; I

me tighter, gently swaying us

ide of me, their presence comfo

ring those words," Jade hissed, his jaw clenched tight as he h

es burned

el words?" she muttered, her eyes flashing with anger. She clenched her fists, as t

not worth it.

ust let them hold me while m

't say another word; he just walke

last time, something strang

arp, bur

t under

ejected me, so why d

ff, the screech of his tires mo

hat followed

. "I know this night was supposed to be yours. I

ying the weight of the ent

lway

ore than just my brother. H

ooked like he

Aran," I whispered,

nced up a

Do you think... maybe sh

" Jade said quietly. "Bu

dn't

ned a

mom call out. "Wh

gently. "Let her go. She'll

could, heading to the woods,

where my leg

e stares, the pity, the eyes that wa

echoed i

weak and

e wors

f me bel

ees, panting, my chest heaving as I

me were thick wit

oonlight I had so desperately waited

around, d

e...

ar. Farther tha

ough the trees, sendi

I hea

snap. Leave

step.

a

fr

called out with m

le

ore foo

ery dir

ped, the silence that followed was suffocating. I was alone, vulnerable. I could hear nothing

les, my eyes wid

y pocket-but my phone...

ll n

steps ca

ly-everythi

a so

a br

sil

old. Ter

th

kne