via

a dissolved into a feveris

shift, the entire Pack had placed their bets on my death. I lay in my bed, staring a

e. But it irrevo

was deafeningly quiet. The sun was shining thro

walked to my desk and opened the bottom drawer. The j

I had no tears

ms inside. I didn't handle them with reverence anymore. I handled them with the caut

olden eyes I had sketched with such devotion. Now, all I

o the box and na

ivi

Healer. She was a kind Omega who had known my mother.

ashing over her lined face. "We th

d. My voice sounded raspy

the soup down on the nightstand. "Marcus... Alpha Ma

kno

u explain?" sh

y eyes dry. "Would

the answer. An Alpha does not listen to a Runt. Especi

er's quarters. I needed air. I was kneeling in the d

're

edar hit me, but it was

didn't bow. I just

eral vision. He looked tired

quickly," he said. His tone was stiff. "The G

ed the destruction of

ing his cuffs. "Once you are well, you will leave the Pa

t. But he was dressi

y, ripping a dandelion out by the ro

ke my tone. It lacked t

this weekend," he said abruptly. "Family only. He begg

of hope ignite in

s said. "I will b

, dirt smudged o

harsh. If I am seen escorting you, treating you

a PR

r stay her

alling over me, blocking out th

pulled out a small, black vel

e th

y dress and took the box. I

nd necklace.

art of my brain thought he was apolo

your aunt. She's been critical of Izzy. If you, the 'aggrieved

he woman who framed me. He wanted me to hand over a gift I could never

x. I wanted to thr

unt. And he w

ish, Alph

r was a n

so tight I thought my ribs would crack, but he

every bit the innocent Luna. She didn't smell like him. There was no Mate B

evoted. He filled her

her voice tight. She looked at me with pity, then

s I hate cherrie

signaling a server. "Bring

utes ago and hadn't even noticed. He didn't know I was allergic to shellfish, which was currently sitting on my pla

you, darling," Marcus announce

le went

lked around the table, the velv

he looked up at me, her

s," I said. My

and gasped. "Oh, Ma

d him. A deep, wet kiss t

nd resting possessively on Izzy's back. "Ev

Marcus. He wasn't looking at me. He was looking at

see me. He

y thread of hope that had surviv

t rejected.