ndra

stess insisted. "All of you.

his eyes. "I will not bind myself to a wolfless weakling. I'd

I face death every day. If this is how I go, so b

arius added. "Being bound to her would destro

a long time ago," Zane said q

you," the High Pries

. "I've spent my entire life building my power. I will not throw it

e word. They genuinely would r

s shouting, arguing, some agreeing with t

d there, fe

o me with tears in her eyes. "Surely you don't

ey've made their position very clear. They'd rather die tha

ean that," s

at you think I'm worthless. That I'm weak. That I'm an embarrassment. So why would I want to

id. "She agrees.

to die!" the High

"I'd rather die free than live

arred Alpha said. "We need

h Priestess said, her voice breaking.

Theron said, crossi

ther four Alpha

added. "Since apparently t

nto a chair, looking defe

. "But we're fools w

you from the Void,

ourselves to a wolfles

omething. Hurt, mayb

ust fel

I said, "I'd like to

ran said, waving his ha

held high, even though I could feel everyone stari

ually agree

preservation

d ridda

ce pale. "Miss Vane, I heard eve

ng to die in less than a year, but at least I won't

't funny,

h, I'll cry, and I'm not giv

silence. When we got there, she

e said. "Some way to break the cu

tioned it." I sank onto the fancy couch in my s

don't wan

t to spend my life with five people who literally said they'd

have an ans

alone in my fancy room

going

a year, I w

ath would be peaceful. At least I wouldn't have to keep fighting, ke

red, angry a

to fight. Wanted to show these id

ed to her. "Let them

than all five o

n't need to

as weak. Let them

I'd stop the Demon King. I'd do i

they realized what they'd

y, from these

die knowing I was

y never fig