na

pressed against my ribs, heavier than the

r my flat stomach, shielding the tiny, flickering spark of life f

to breathe. The walls

a maze of high hedges and blooming roses, a place where Jackson and I used to play hide-

s tainted. I heard vo

ggle. It was high-pitched, grating, and dr

baritone that used to whisper

f ivy, my heart battering again

ing against my nerves. "It's depressing to look at her. And the Pack is tal

begged silently to the univer

sounded... tired. Impatient. "She's useless, Candida. A

gged glass ripping thr

a sultry purr. "When can I stop hiding? I want to

tling fabric and a soft moan. I squeezed my eye

are stubborn about the 'Fated Mate' tradition. But acci

ran col

's... gone?"

the title, the jewels, the access

ng to erase me. He intended to strip my life, my h

, Alpha," C

ue Luna," Jac

to hear more

zingly silent step, until I was

despite the weakness in my legs. I ran bac

a hidden drawer and pulled out a document I had drafted month

eparation

paration of assets and titles. But at the bott

ection

with tears, but my hand was stead

i

ification forced its way into my

anize the seating charts for the Coun

d, commanding. He was talking to me abou

want to scream. It

y, it mad

d, my mental voice flat, h

ose supplements.

ce where the poisoned v

, I

wall in my mind. I built it brick by brick, stacking

oc

The silence in my head was profound.

k clothes. I packed cash. I packed my mother's locke

d, I saw Candida walking with Leo, Jackson's

to carry her voice up to my prison. "She thinks he's working late

, Candida. Once you're Luna, don't

da smirked. "We'll s

asn't just an affa

ed my s

o the tiny life inside me. "I won't let yo

ad to wait for the "New Luna Welcome Party" tomorrow nig

eave in t

rvive the humiliation