morning. Her heart pounded

as the omen of her faile

s a spec

Alpha. King Cahir would be in attendance

ny. A gift to Cahir, her life offered up to appease

andar, that monster, get to live? Why should he

ld die

he'd

nt ceremony. The Omegas rushed aroun

ipped out of the Omega quarters, running

only comfort. She couldn't

ia's scent, the black wolf

arms around Rena. The wolf pressed her he

her voice breaking. "Leave th

at her, refu

fighting back tears. "You have to live for m

d, nudging Katia's

hand and struck Rena's side hard

nd again, tears finally

and backed away, her eyes

ceremony was about to start. Li

herself and

k for you," she said

ned to the Omega quart

shed red, her full lips twisted with rage. "The cerem

She turned and heade

exhaustion. Xandar had tormented her all night. She'd barel

open a gues

fr

n the bed wi

t? Get out!" Kaelen sna

a word. Her expression didn't

er two hours. Kaelen had plenty of

imbed off the bed. She watched him silently pull on

with Katia in the hallway. He grabbed her

re igno

h hands wrapping around

Katia said calmly. She stared at

alk back

ped her acr

ust, wrinkling his nose. "Been

heart

oldly, his fingers digging into her jaw. "If y

atia's eyes, but

't put Ren

d," she sa

ered and r

, went to the bathroom to clean up

, but she couldn't punish her

frowned. A moment later, she realized the man was Katia's father. It

briefly. She didn't car

. The last time they'd spoken was the night she lost Carol

d smoothly. People cheered for the Head Alph

toward the podium, the cheerful at

a war drum. The closer she got to the hall, the faster it beat. Fear and longing intertwined, driving her to

closer she got, the more her heart ached. As if she longed for someone or s

full run. When she reached the hall, she yanked

lent. All eyes t

sat in their chairs, facing the rais

ed through the

ng windows, bathing him in light and casti

ped into the hall, he

was

ne making he

led with so many different scents, but there was n

orld revolved around him. She didn't think about anythi

used her inde

e, King Cahir s

es dangerously, watching this young w

ted from the audience

ia in shock. An Om

doing here?!" Beta G

him, along with th

ia as she walked stea

ior. His hands trembled slightly. He recognized

tion made h

his couldn't

's chest. He knew that a threat was