ra

eyes. I sat up, my head throbbing with a fever that h

ingering in the room like the smel

gs gave way, and I collapse

ang. Gia, a low-ranking wolf who had been trying to climb the

chores today," she sneered. "Get up,

y vision swimming. "I

u're a waste of space. The Alpha only

bs before I could shield myself. The pain was blind

s. I tried to reach out with my mind, to call for help, but the Alpha'

he intricate pattern of the ceiling plaster, swimming like a refle

the room was quiet. I could h

by the heavy velvet curtains. Below, in t

r dust. Every time it struck her skin, the sil

s hands clasped behind his back. He didn

He alwa

thmically against the stone. He stopped in fron

ce dropping to a harsh whisper. "If the council sees you this weak,

ng with unshed tears. "I didn'

ed around the fabric of my sleeve, hauling me to my feet. H

y, Elara. When they hurt

The room smelled of old leather and power. He shoved me toward a large stone mortar

n pack needs my seal," he gr

tle. The grinding motion was agony, and a half-healed cut on my palm split o

nt, irrational fury

the arm and hauling me back to my ro

ll, ornate jar of ointment. He threw it at me,

gala is in two days. If you fail to stand bes

eave, but stop

e devoid of warmth. "You don'

tion in my chest. A flicker of something

n the halls. And when the new moon came, I would make sure he never saw me again-even