alpha wing were col

se of the absence of warmth. The pack had never been cruel to m

nce was louder

nificance. The bond throbbed at the base of my neck like a pulse I couldn't contr

oom, I paused at th

th

pers. No laughter. No

e and shut the

om was

ade neatly, the curtains drawn back to let in light, and yet it

e it d

at the mark on my neck. It was still f

ma

been real. The bo

presence

bond reacted like a wounded animal. It pulled tight for a moment, t

spered to th

was asking the bond

green, the trees standing tall like silent witnesses. The air smelled like wet earth

n my chest, not from

ld he d

moon like a promise, then trea

room, my h

was over

as just...

e had r

didn't care a

n't ask for

wanted co

as being

k against the wall, and pre

me close. The way the pack had watched in awe. The way his e

the morni

sile

dist

reje

nd the bond pulsed like a h

he floor, until the sound of footsteps ou

r opene

stepped inside, her e

ring you food," she said

too stunne

ed, "He said you are not to

oat ti

voice barely a

ward the door as if she ex

eplied. "But he said..

ed to

e

I was

I was

e than a possession he

stood, trying to con

I said, for

left quickly, closin

red at the food. It looked

g felt nor

wly, my m

he refused to speak to me? Why had

treat me li

late away, my

sed again, l

d feel

e should feel. Not l

like a di

o

acha

gr

eaming, but he w

e wors

sn't the only o

k felt

y they looked at me like I was a problem. A

nly rejecte

g rejected

n shot thro

stop the tear

ause I

finally realiz

't just a

s about

cting me because

because he didn't

't want

want respo

one who could for

again, as if it sen

ly, anger boil

n't sta

place where I was t

the door a

ridor w

, moving through the

now where

w I needed

bre

I belonged so

, keeping my head low. The servants looked at me wit

d the outer d

e sky. The pack ground

ldn't loo

t

y glance felt

and stepped out

d felt t

br

al

nking, my feet carrying me away from t

comed me like

wind, and for a moment, I felt somet

ac

he forest, my heart po

now where

I couldn'

t

e bond felt

ready begun to dista

and sat down on a falle

and I felt it like a he

es and tried t

myself that th

el woul

would eventual

own, I kne

t a momenta

eginning of so

d was s

he only one