Thor

pes across the floor. I hadn't slept. I had sat on the floor, my back against the doo

or. It wasn't my father or sister. It was t

o the Gathering Square." The voice was

defiance be a private matter.

d at my reflection in the cracked mirror above my dresser. A pale, wild-eyed girl stared back,

users, the most practical clothes I owned. I didn't bother with m

er for decades. Their faces were grim, but I saw a flicker of something-pity? surprise?-in their

shame. Pack members stopped what they were doing to st

that

t her f

attacked th

olfless bitch finally go

who no longer existed. A girl who cared what they thou

anked by Marley and Seraphina. Seraphina looked smug, her arms crossed as she watched me ap

platform and left me there, expose

ver the crowd. His Alpha voice boomed across

we celebrated a joyous union, a new beginning for our pack.

, lost in a drunken rage, insulted her Luna and defied h

eement rippled

s purpose. For too long, Elara has been a burden to this pack, a wolfl

, the Lycan King demands a tribute. A sacrifice to appease his cursed nature and en

a Thorne, will carry the 'honor' of this tribute. She

o the Lycan King ever returned. Some looked shocked. Some looked relieved it wasn't their daughter

eaning," my father declared, his voice ringing with false

is expression imperious

ts silent on the stone. I ignored Seraphina's sneer and Marley's triumphant smirk. I walked unt

saw their faces-the curious

nd. My public humiliation. My

as w

the whisper they were used to. It was clear, stead

th a strength I didn't know I possessed. "

d. Alaric's eyes

power. "I stand here as a pack member cast out by her Alpha. I am not an 'honorable

d by outrage. "I am being sent to die so that a 'better' daughter does

plainly, hung in the

ather sends his child to her death. Some of you pity me. Some of you scorn me. But most of

watching as people shifted u

e vow. "Remember your silence. Because I swear to you now, on t

h, my entire being focused into

n who stood by and watched this happen, every person who called me a

ctly at my family, a curse spo

will regret the day they

s utterly, profoundly silent. The only sound was

laric e

mmand. The force of it was a physical wave, making the crowd cringe and co

my arms in iron grips, their touch rough and bruising. They

hem. I didn't sc

form. On my father's face, contorted with rage. On my sister's, pale with shock. On Marley's, h

zed thei

I would spend the rest of my life, however lo