since set, but Ari

om pressing in on her like a cage. Her gaze never left the seared mark on her wrist. It pulsed

scrape it away, to draw blood until nothing remained but torn flesh. Ye

r tears burning behind her eyes. My father's pride. My pack's respe

had been taken. She wanted to scream until her throat bled. She wanted to howl to the Goddess, demanding to

rse

int

it to

ey had ever been in the crowd. Each word dug into he

olf the spirit that was supposed to be her strength felt uncerta

me the

gh her stomach like fire, rising and falling in violent waves. Aria doubled over, clutching her ab

that scorched her throat and tears that streamed freely down her chee

came in r

n, as she collapsed onto the floor. Her body re

its frame. Then came th

ri

e when she saw her best friend sprawled on the gro

pressing a trembling hand to Aria's forehead. Heat radiated aga

wrist hard enough to leave marks. Her eyes were wild, desperate. H

s, torn between duty and loyalty. Every instinct screamed at her

ering, "Then let me fetch something for yo

ing, the sick

ore. Her skin had taken on a sickly pallor, her lips cracked fro

ce. She pressed a hand to Aria's forehead again, whisperin

Aria croaked, her

into her satchel. She pulled out a small strip of

ered, her voice low, as though afraid the walls themselves might over

ords slammed into

sharp, shaking her head violent

d with pity. "Aria, p

beaded at her temples, her breath catching in her throat. Her enti

. Red bloomed across green. The paper

stretched in

rch on the wall was like thunder. The air itself s

hter with each second. Her hands trembled in her lap. She

this. Anythi

o faint lin

orld

h shattered

h, trembling violently. "No, no, no.

hing her abdomen as though she could squeeze the truth away, a

gna

as pr

, louder and louder, until i

. The child of the str

soaking the pillow beneath her. Her body shook a

ddess who had once been her light. "Wh

e her friend, wrapping trembling arms around her. "Aria, breath

nd broken. "My father will kill me. The pack will exile me. Elo

ence in the storm. Its voice was faint but insistent.

n her entire world had already collapsed and an

them notice

ly ajar, the latch

the sharp intake of br

her hand clapped over her lips as her eyes widened with shock. Her puls

gna

supposed heir of Silverfan

's child no one even knew

owly, twisting int

shadow. Her father, Beta Lucas, had alw

you fight

you lead

you be stro

in her chest. She had trained until her muscles screamed, but still

Goddess had handed her th

A ruin so deep it

e it-the way the Elders' faces would tighten in disgust, the way the whispers of the

? Aria w

would finally be dragged int

dor that led to the Elders' quarters. A place where whispers be

a breathless laugh,

ally, I can