a

's cruel laughter fading behind me. The night air was cool, a welc

hadowed me

a is," she sneered as I passed

n't give her the sat

he Laurel tree. The moonlight filtered through the branches, il

my dress. I needed to leave. Tonight. I couldn't stay

ened, pressing myself behind the thick tr

you sure a

rcus, Eth

ow and laced with worry. "The Moon Goddess doesn't make mi

"She's boring, Marcus. She's a dusty historian. S

d you," Marcus s

ar the arrogance in his smile. "I'm just teaching her a lesson. Sh

hitched in

u mean?" Ma

e pack humiliate her. I'll cut off her stipend. I'll make sure no other pack will take he

ing the cruelty

ress. She'll be so grateful s

y mouth to stop the scr

ted to enslave me. He wanted to destroy

sted, Alpha,"

p," Ethan corre

their footsteps fa

elt; it shattered, leaving behind something sharper. A col

oved a

ne. In its place was a clarit

pack shoes. I went straight to the loose floorboard under

nlaid with moonstone. It was the only thing of value I owned that didn't come fr

t, feeling the cool

r bange

f whiskey and Chloe's cloying p

ewhere?" h

e in my hand. H

k," he growled, stepping

I said, stepping

r home, your job, your body! You think you can

nged

ding my system. I wasn't

, Ethan!" I yelle

grip bruising. "I am your

like a physical weight, forcing my knees to bend. My wol

her. *We do

command with every ounce of willpower

tted out through clenched tee