IE'S

l strap. I tried to steady them, tried to swallow the lump in my throat, but

ched forward, pai

tore through the hall. My cry echoed against the high ceiling as agony spread like fire th

instinctively, but before he could reach me, Carmela collapsed into his arms

mean to.honestly, it was an accident. My heel slipped. If Elodie feels

my bleeding fingers. Pain twisted every nerve, coldness creeping in

face hardening as he stroked Carmela's hair. "Never mind

repair. Was this what breaking truly felt like? I wondered if I would ever be whole again after what he had done to m

t she dug her heels stubbornly into the floor and whined, "Wait. I have somethi

d, a flicker of shock flashing across hi

t she stroked his arm gen

just want to showcase my new products, that's all." S

ded violently in my chest as I silently begged, prayed, for him to say no.

is shoulders sank. "Alright. L

d left in my prayers snapped. My

ght. A waiter appeared, carrying a black leather collar on a silver tray. Carmel

please. Don't look so alarmed. I'm not degrading y

atred burned through me even as despair weighed me down. My lips trembled as I muttered, voice breaking,

he smile vanishing as shoc

air had been sucked out of the room. Calhoun rubbed his temples slowly, and when hi

fuse, they'll think you def

't hold together anymore. I shook my head, lips pa

s jaw hardened, his voice dropping into that

it.

uests raised their phones, screens glowing, recording. Recording me. My throat went dry as Carme

, loud enough for everyone to h

body screamed to resist, but I bowed. My

il I wheezed, choking on the pressure. My vision blurred with spots until Calhoun frown

rving with wicked satisfactio

ectly fit for a slave. People below our class shouldn't dare ra

. A Gamma-born, a nothing. My wolf whimpered inside me. My body shook violently. The second Carmela's fi

tore out of me. Wailing. Broken. I didn't even know why the tears came anymore. Was it t

hed my face, trying to erase the red in my eyes, and stepp

? Come over he

round my throat tighter than the collar had. What if he cut my wages? What if I lo

pine. The crowd parted, and there was Carmela on her feet, mascara

creamed. "My dead grandmother gave it to m

, trembling through my veins. My voice came

when you bent to tie my strap

iation and rage crashing together, but before I could

t have fallen. I'll have

you saying? That I'm lying? If you won't search her, then we are don

d caught her arm, pulling her back gently. His gaze sli

Miss E

ut of me as I stumbled back, but three guards closed in

dn't take anything! I'm not a thief! I'm not-" My cries tore

even watch. And Carmela.he

When they found nothing, they shoved me down. I collapsed on the floor, clutchi

tered, "We fo

e she hid it in her un

hand reached for my waist

shing across his features. But before his ord

und

able, holding the golden bracelet high.

eased me, stepping back. Carmela's eyes widened, then quickly so

I.I made a mistake. Elodie. she di

the ground, clutching my torn dress, my

rmela's as he began to lead her

humiliation won't end

stayed shattered, bleeding inside, wonderin