of the world. It bled across the forest as she stood by the river, knees trembling beneath her. The frigid water

was

ul sent by the Luna Goddess to r

o

was Alp

tered countless lives-including her own. The same man who had once looked her in

as her fa

t happened-the precise instant their eyes locked across the training yard. He had paused mid-conversation, his expression twist

Bond

er body had screame

en...

relief at finding their destined

d felt

toward her with purpose, his prese

actice spear in her hands, backi

she whispered, panic

w, wicked, victorious gri

r name out like a purr. "Don't yo

e

ther warriors, in front of Mir

idn't

n like

*

ver, still shivering, still trying

ess do this to her

ughts s

a pun

ot suffer

fists clenched in the

cho through the trees because it wasn't mea

wed. Silent

ildhood had been stolen. Her

ow...

. Her

he re

to be tied to him-not in

he river, voice trembling. "Even i

coiled around her soul. Because a rejection could not work unt

-

back feeling like a funeral march. Everyone had heard. The

is the Alp

u see

't let

with curiosity, some wit

the new Luna," one girl

the heat in that bed

an omega.

umbling. She knew how this worked. Ryder would claim her publicly. Use he

d, that moment came q

mmone

rivate q

-

me. She had cleaned it many times before-scrubbed the floor, polished the oak furniture,

liquid in a glass. His silhouette was sharp

he said wit

didn'

wly, his expression un

by the bond she didn't want. She stopped

her voice low bu

his glass to his lips. "Or perhaps the Goddess has

she snapped. "You've treat

y. "I don't have to

stomach

not be y

atly. "You'll be exactly wh

y, bile rising

e disg

ate. And you belong to me now. You will eat wh

he word echoing of

with fury. He gripped her arm, dragging h

have a choice

be yours,"

he said, and

a

of dominance. It burned, an agony she'd never felt before. A claim mad

.. si

let

he floor, tears f

e her, wiping blo

here," he murmured. "Wh

-

m. She didn't remember the corridor, t

membered w

fire in

ing, she was shaking violently. She collapsed against the wal

tether that now yanked at her soul. She could feel Ry

. Scream. Rip the s

ead, she

n

u

n

u

un," she

arse, raw, but f

ties me to him. I'll find

a way out. Ther

it kil

ren might b

was no

s not

as no

d cursed Lauren too- by giving her the wrong one. But curses could be broken. And La