was rejected, the

ike it was watching us bl

ed so tightly my nails dug into my palms. Inside, I could hear her muffle

was w

rd eve

shaky

of pain she tr

r name as she begged

hed the b

cared to acknowledge. When Draven said those words "I reject h

ow

s what

a in tit

d have k

reathe. If I went back out there right now, I'd end up dead or dragging Drave

needed was

ed someon

cing when I h

. Hes

t as her door

e how small she looked. Her eyes were red and swollen, her face pale. The bond sca

ried t

early b

d guard," she murmured.

lied flatly. "

ed weakly

cking her view of the hallway as voices drifted

h," I said, jaw tigh

omething painful and raw.

kn

enough," sh

e when she flinched. "You were too muc

tretched b

r knees

around her automatically. She clung to me like I was t

eld

er while

the pack celebrate

ent, something i

t her best fr

her s

few days

She and her friends followed Seris through the

cted O

king an Alpha

rateful Draven no

ced eve

re they notice

ne afternoon as I stepped between them an

're an Omega, Theo.

Touch her again and

idn't

tha

et. Withdrawn. Like she was folding herself smaller a

ldn't

during meals. Slept on the floor outside

" she asked one night, vo

"Because so

on't ow

t in. "That's w

ter, the a

g through Moonveil territory, heavy and undeniable. My w

powerful

learing like static. I stood beside Seris, my body angled

ck has requested e

murs wer

n ter

king'

y h

eart

didn't visit o

ited for

curled into my

," I said

hen I

e forest seemed to bow as figures emerged from the shadows, war

center wal

lpha I'd ever seen could compare to. His presence

Lyc

e k

e clearing and the

rld wen

reath

e, my wolf whispered in awe

ut thinking, placing mys

whatever he was, I would not

going throu