tina'

t foot in for months ever since Niall's mom invited me to live at the

or, I fumbled with

body, and I gritted my teeth, refusin

e. Again.

ion boil

ful gesture that accomplished nothing

cided today was the day for my

l and slid to the floor a

't I suffered enough? Second place in my fami

ng on my own cries, a deep

door you're

ther fucki

apped, turni

masculine. Tall and powerfully built, with sharp cheekbones and a strong jaw. His dark hair

o didn't just win battles but erase

in, I'll need your insurance in

I'm so sorry. I thought

ad, gaze unreada

, injured, and now looking like a complete idiot

yself up and attempting dignity while looki

yebrow, gesturing to the door across th

oyed, but the way he said it ma

where

ve fool

smooth down my wreck of a dress.

with your

reboot like a malfunctioning i

ure and grace. As if the crazy woman who

de, I could feel those intens

ingers, wo

-fin

e was still watch

your door,"

surv

and pressed my

ly handsome neighbor probably thought I wa

handsome?Fuck. I re

nto my bed,

e me, hurt by rejection, her

," I whispe

my own wolf was giving

elf for him. Maybe it was the first ti

rown hair." I shoved my feet into heels that carved blisters into my skin, only for hi

e, ironing shirts that weren't mine. When the pack humiliated me, he di

His one and only. I was his project. His servant.

ong years,

with every breath. How pathetic, that I poured eve

. I curled into the wet pillow

ed away before

ira, "Are you okay, A

nd, "Chrissy, I feel off. I c

g to catch any

I said to Akira, not knowing if I was comfort

meant she couldn't identify potential mates-a devastating loss f

t and checked

an alliance with The Frostpelt Pack. A marriage alliance with one of the North's top three packs wasn't something they'd abandon easily.Ne

pic

g to keep them at bay. Maybe even felt guilty?

d my pity party. And

ive m

rrible social

ass to the door,

with legal rights to yell at me, stood there with narrowed e

happened to y

getting stale," I said with a lazy shrug,

ying that cra

y chin gently to inspect t

d hands

g her along-didn't need the whole b

collapsed into her arms, all

word fell out, q

ia

froze

l? Your mate Niall? The poster chil

, my eye

ng. Not a single

s photo. The slap.

ed, Ysolde looked re

isn't even here? I swear to Goddess, Chrissy, Beatrice could be o

t I found out what kind of mate h

ch growl

d lifted the takeout bags."

's weird my parents haven't called? They want

lotting. Your father isn't the t

d me into the bathroom to

ter, trying to wash away

I heard her on the phone.

ete as

t a

lieve what he

Carlisle,her brother.Unlike Niall

throat tight.She believed me without hesitation.When everyon

inst Niall's pack could create seriou

elf in a towe

y parents love

ch one stabbing through my abdomen. Each surge burn

he bathroom floo

st through

! What h

m words. "Pain...

up and rushed out

p to keep from screaming again. Thi

d in anguis

rayal," she wh

I already r

sn't fully faded," Akira

ck someone else? Couldn't even wait for our bond to com

d with painkil

orst waves subsided, she sat bes

tard," sh

ded w

shouldn't have to suffer alone through this pai

at her in

and it sure as hell isn't worth mourning. We're going out to

rejected and your so

minding you that you're Christina fucking Vance

k into bed and disappear. But lying here wallowing wh

k t

up."But if I collapse on the dan

. "Trust me, you won't